The theme of this week's Fantasy Challenge is "Legends". In this Gameweek, players who have been at their club for five or more seasons will earn double points. There is an unlimited budget for your five-a-side team.
Here, FPL expert Chris James (@Elfozzie) reveals how he’s tackling Gameweek 21.
Pick your Fantasy Challenge team NOW!
Goalkeepers
The timing seems oddly appropriate for an Everton fan celebrating the return of David Moyes to Goodison Park, and it’s one of "our own" that forms my no-brainer goalkeeper pick in the form of Jordan Pickford (£5.0m). Currently the second top-scoring No 1 in FPL, he’d be a worthwhile pick even without the option of double points.
However, in his eighth season at the club he’ll qualify for the double-points bonus and I also fancy Moyes to give Everton extra encouragement and ensure the defensive line is even tighter.
In truth, if you’re looking for seasoned 'keepers the pickings are relatively slim. Of the other 20 highest-scoring goalkeepers, only Liverpool’s Alisson (£5.4m), Manchester City’s Ederson (£5.3m), and West Ham United’s Lukasz Fabianski (£4.1m) qualify. However, given their opponents and how many goals the three goalkeepers' sides have been conceding of late, I’m not totally set on any of them.
Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez (£5.0m) could be another good option against Pickford and an Everton side who haven't been scoring many goals. The only other option I may consider would be Newcastle United’s Martin Dubravka (£4.2m) if, as it appears, Nick Pope (£4.9m) doesn’t make the starting line-up. A struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers at St James' Park feels a decent option!
Target Newcastle and Man Utd players
Before picking outfield players, the first task is to look at the fixtures and target the sides I feel who have the best chances of goals or clean sheets.
In-form Fulham away to a struggling West Ham side had seemed a no-brainer, but with Graham Potter offering a possible new-manager bounce, I’m going to avoid Fulham players and focus instead on Newcastle at home to Wolves and Manchester United hosting Southampton at Old Trafford.
Newcastle v Wolves feels a good encounter for a double-up. Though Alexander Isak (£9.3m), Anthony Gordon (£7.5m) and potentially Lewis Hall (£4.9m) may be hot assets in regular FPL, none of them have been at the club long enough to qualify for the double points in this week's challenge.
So the assets I’m going for here are Jacob Murphy (£5.1m), who has been at the club since 2017 and has produced three goals and five assists in his last six matches, and Fabian Schar (£5.4m), who in his seventh season at St James’ Park offers the potential for a clean sheet and has an eye for goal, having scored twice already this season. Joelinton (£6.0m) could also be worth considering on the back of two double-digit hauls in his last three matches.
As usual, and especially with Fantasy Challenge, as team line-ups appear and my knee starts to jerk, it’s certainly not impossible I’ll wimp out and slot Mohamed Salah (£13.7m) into the midfield over Murphy!
While Ruben Amorim’s new-look Man Utd side may be stuttering, there are still some Fantasy assets worth considering, especially in a home fixture against 20th-placed Southampton. Bruno Fernandes (£8.3m), in his sixth season at the club, is the standout option for the Red Devils.
He has 11 goal involvements this season in the Premier League, plus he scored in the third-round FA Cup win over Arsenal. Even though United are inconsistent, Fernandes has proved that he can deliver a huge haul against weaker opposition, such as when he returned 17 points against Leicester City.
Elsewhere, Harry Maguire (£4.9m) could be worth a punt in defence, especially with Diogo Dalot (£5.0m) suspended.
For my forward pick, I'm going for Jamie Vardy (£5.5m), who is in his 13th year at Leicester and is still hitting the net, with six goals and four assists to his name this season.
In terms of captaincy, it’s a close call between Murphy and Fernandes, but I’m going with the Man Utd man to score big against Southampton.
Other players to consider
Nottingham Forest v Liverpool
In terms of form, both Nottingham Forest and Liverpool would get the nod, but as they are playing each other, I’m a little more wary of adding assets from either side.
So even though it’s true that the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.2m), Virgil van Dijk (£6.4m), Andy Robertson (£5.9m), Diogo Jota (£7.2m) and Salah qualify for the bonus (and I do feel wary of going without Salah in ANY fantasy side), I’m personally skipping them this week. Meanwhile, as none of Forest’s major assets qualify for the double points I’m giving their players a miss too.
Brentford v Man City
Brentford against Man City is similarly tricky to call, given City’s unpredictable form (admittedly they have won two matches on the spin now and put eight past Salford in the FA Cup too) and Brentford’s home form.
If we skip past defences, Phil Foden (£9.2m) and Bryan Mbeumo (£7.8m), at Brentford since 2019, are both midfield options who could be considered, but neither Yoane Wissa (£6.2m) nor Erling Haaland (£14.8m) would qualify for double points.
Everton v Aston Villa
I’ve already predicted that Everton v Villa will be a tight game, so Ollie Watkins (£8.9m), in his fifth season at the club, just about squeezes in to qualify for double points alongside defenders Matty Cash (£4.4m) and Ezri Konsa (£4.4m).
On the other side, the likes of Seamus Coleman (£4.3m) and Michael Keane (£4.0m) would comfortably qualify, as would Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.4m), who could be given a boost by a new manager returning if he's fit to play!
Indeed, Calvert-Lewin is one of only six forwards who benefits from the bonus. Two of these are red-flagged and Danny Welbeck (£5.5m) hasn't featured since Gameweek 15 due to injury. But even with a lack of other forward options, Calvert-Lewin doesn't really appeal.
Arsenal v Spurs
Arsenal against Tottenham Hotspur typically offers goals, but with injuries on both sides, I’m not comfortable with the defences and attacking options that qualify for double points. Options going forward appear limited to Gabriel Martinelli (£6.8m) or Son Heung-min (£9.8m), neither of whom are in rich form.
Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth
Cole Palmer (£11.4m) is a hotter prospect for Chelsea against AFC Bournemouth, but not one who’ll pick up double points. Nor will any of his team-mates, unless Reece James (£4.8m) is given a run-out.
It’s the same story for the Cherries in terms of their hottest options. The likes of Lewis Cook (£5.0m) or David Brooks (£4.9m) aren’t likely to be high on the Fantasy watchlist.
This is where it is important to weight up picking players for the bonus or just going for the best players of the week.
