This week’s Fantasy Challenge places emphasis on the final match of Blank Gameweek 34 (BGW34), from which all players can earn double points.
From an unlimited budget, managers must select a five-a-side squad set out in a 1-1-2, 1-2-1 or 2-1-1 formation. Nottingham Forest and Brentford players will no doubt be a focus for many Fantasy Challenge squads due to their raised points potential, but there are several other appealing fixtures this Gameweek - as well as some FA Cup enforced blanks to be aware of.
As usual, players will be locked from any changes once their team has started their first match of the Gameweek, but you can otherwise tweak any remaining slots in your line-up - and even enter a full squad - up until the final deadline at 19:30 BST on Thursday.
Crucially, this means you can see teamsheets from each fixture before finalising your selections.
Here, Alex Dakers identifies some of the best Fantasy Challenge picks for BGW34.
Pick your Fantasy Challenge team NOW!
Thursday
19:30 BST: Fantasy Challenge Deadline
Nott’m Forest v Brentford
Last Monday’s win away at Spurs saw Chris Wood (£7.0m) get back amongst the goals for the first time since Double Gameweek 25, and the clinical New Zealand striker needs just one more attempt to go in for his league tally to reach 20 for the season.
In midfield, Anthony Elanga (£5.4m) - who has three goals and an assist across his last four starts, and scored in his side’s 2-0 win against the Bees in December - and Morgan Gibbs-White (£6.4m) - who, like his Swedish team-mate, also has 15 attacking returns in this league campaign - are strong shouts, with winger Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.1m) and reliable starter Elliot Anderson (£5.0m) offering differential alternatives.
Forest’s backline has kept more clean sheets, with 13, than any top-light side except league leaders Liverpool this season, and another one here should help their fight to remain in the qualifying spots for next season’s Champions League. Goalscoring centre-back Nikola Milenkovic (£5.1m) has been an integral part of those defensive efforts so far, as has goalkeeper Matz Sels (£5.1m).
They’ll have to contend with the dynamic Brentford duo of Yoane Wissa (£6.6m) and Bryan Mbeumo (£8.0m), though. Wissa has racked up seven attacking returns (five goals, two assists) in his last eight league matches.
Penalty-taker Mbeumo, meanwhile, recorded 18 points last weekend thanks to two goals and an assist, which took his own tally of attacking returns to 25 (18 goals, seven assists) this season. Eight of those have come in his last eight matches alone, and the Cameroon star has six double-digit hauls since the end of August - only Salah and Cole Palmer (£10.6m) can beat that across the league.
