It remains nip and tuck in our "Clash Across the Pond" Fantasy Premier League Draft league, a division pitching UK and US Fantasy Football pundits head to head.
Paul McKinnon has a one-point lead over his US rival Neal Thurman heading into Gameweek 28.
We caught up with the UK manager to find that he was already scouring the market for players with Gameweek 31 in mind.
Gameweek 27 results
| Team | Score | Team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sutherns Comfort (UK) | 60 | 48 | Rotoworld_PL (US) |
| Woody Allen (UK) | 40 | 25 | Jonty's XI (UK) |
| Sean's Super Subs (US) | 41 | 21 | Andy's All Stars (UK) |
| Get on the Snake (US) | 41 | 72 | 10 Huddersfield Lane (US) |
Team Name: Woody Allen
Current Squad: Courtois, Pope, Otamendi, Stones, Valencia, Lowton, Robertson, Gundogan, Walcott, Sanchez, Choupo-Moting, Sane, Giroud, Firmino, Rondon.
Forward thinking
It may still be a month away but Gameweek 31 is already shaping my plans.
Due to the FA Cup quarter-finals taking place on the same weekend, only eight teams are currently guaranteed to feature in that Gameweek.
With that in mind, I’m already looking to bring in players who not only have a fixture in Gameweek 31 but who will also offer me a favourable run of matches up to that point.
That way, I hope to get the jump on my rivals and land some of my Gameweek 31 targets well in advance.
Rondon on radar
Among those eight teams, West Bromwich Albion (HUD, WAT, BOU) and Huddersfield Town (WBA, SWA, CRY) will face opponents in the bottom half of the table in three of their next four matches.
The Baggies’ Salomon Rondon has hinted at form – only Harry Kane (20) and Sergio Aguero (19) have fired more shots than the Venezuelan’s 14 over the last four Gameweeks.
I'm also tracking Alex Pritchard. He made an instant impact on his home debut for Huddersfield Town in Gameweek 27, delivering a goal, an assist and 12 points.
Elsewhere among the Gameweek 31 contingent, both AFC Bournemouth and Watford have two home fixtures in their next three and could also offer some handy free agents.
Crucially, all four of those sides remain engaged in the relegation battle, and Draft managers would be wise to turn to them in the quest for unlikely heroes in Gameweek 31.
Gameweek 28 fixtures
Woody Allen v Sutherns Comfort
Sean's Super Subs* v Rotoworld PL*
Get on the Snake* v Jonty's XI
10 Huddersfield Lane* v Andy's Allstars
*US teams
The FPL Draft GW28 Waiver deadline is Friday, 23 February, 11:30 GMT
