Fantasy Premier League

Tinker in attack to maximise Fantasy fortunes

By The Scout 24 Jun 2017
Watford v Crystal Palace

Want your players to face easier opponents every Gameweek? The Scout has a trick that works with Troy Deeney and others

Related Articles
How rotation policy can give FPL home advantage
Pair up Forster and Begovic for Fantasy benefit
Which defensive pair can offer FPL value?

Premier League teamsheets are often decided by the strengths of an opponent, and Fantasy Premier League line-ups should be no different.

Earlier this week we explored how rotation can ensure that most of our starting XI avoid playing away.

This can also apply in attack.

Any manager would be hesitant to leave a big-name striker on the bench, and the same is true in Fantasy; we don't spend millions on midfielders and forwards just to leave them in reserve.

But cut-price players (those selected in the fifth midfielder and the third forward slots) can be shuffled in and out of the XI.

These two positions should be linked when assembling our initial squads. By selecting a pairing that can swap according to the fixture it allows us to switch formation from 3-4-3 to 3-5-2.

The tactic can help to maximise the value gained from budget players.

We have already identified pairs of clubs who can offer 38 successive home matches. These provide a starting point for our selection.

Let's look at some examples. 

Benik Afobe, AFC Bournemouth
A pairing of Benik Afobe (right) and James Ward-Prowse would guarantee managers 38 home Gameweeks

AFC Bournemouth's Benik Afobe recorded three goals and three assists from six starts at home in 2016/17.

Meanwhile, Southampton's James Ward-Prowse produced two goals and three assists at St Mary's Stadium.

The pair will likely cost us £12.0m or less and can alternate in our line-ups to always guarantee a home fixture.

Using the same two clubs, we could instead consider Saints forward Charlie Austin and Junior Stanislas of AFC Bournemouth.

That partnership would again provide 38 successive home matches.

If we go one further and start to assess fixture difficulty, then the options open up.

Linking players from West Bromwich Albion and Watford looks particularly promising.

We could sign the Baggies' Matt Phillips and Troy Deeney of Watford and swap the pair, avoiding last season's top seven over the entire 38 Gameweeks.

It is optimistic to think that we can avoid injury and suspension and find a pairing that can serve us over the season.

But a short-term rotation strategy can certainly help to narrow the list of low-cost candidates to consider come the week of July 10, when the game launches for 2017/18.

See more

Which defenders to pair up

Latest Videos

More Videos

Video is currently not available.

21 Nov 2024

From then to now: Pep Guardiola's Premier League journey

Look back on the Man City manager's career so far after he signed a new contract

Your details have been submitted successfully.

You have already entered this competition. Please check your email for further information.

Your details have been submitted successfully.

Create a Premier League account

Continue

You are logged in as

Enter your details