Every fantasy manager knows that once we hit April, we are fast approaching the business end of the campaign.
And with a heavily congested schedule to navigate over the coming weeks, fantasy premier league transfers carry an extra burden due to their potential impact.
FPL GW29 Transfer Tips:
The Good
Arsenal
Despite having no doubles, the Gunners should not be overlooked.
Talk within the community suggests moving on of their assets, but you shouldn't become too fixated on these, or you'll potentially forfeit a hatful of points due to the side's high ceiling.
Given the uncertainty surrounding Gabriel Martinelli as a nailed-down starter, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka remain their best-attacking assets.
Only Manchester City have scored more this season (66), with 50 per cent of those goals coming since the restart (GW17). Defensively, the Gunners remain strong, and with no domestic cup distractions, focus can stay entirely on the task in hand.
Brighton
With two Double Gameweeks and more to come, plus some of the best numbers in the league, the trebling up of the Seagulls is a real consideration. However, the real conundrum: is which players should we target?
Pervis Estupinian is the standout option in defence, with seven returns in his last eight matches and a 5.22 FPL point average per 90 post-World Cup.
He is essential, especially as Brighton have some defensively favourable fixtures on the horizon. Estupinian also brings an incredible attacking edge, with the third-best assists (5) from all defenders in 2022-23.
Brighton offers the best captaincy considerations in Gameweek 29, with in-form midfielders Kaoru Mitoma and Solly March the best options.
Both are excellent FPL Tips, and with nothing to choose between the two, the decision is a coin toss.
The only immediate negative is the Seagulls' blank (GW32), although their competitive pricing means players can easily be rotated or transferred out.
The Bad
Liverpool
The Reds are attracting attention with a sea of green fixtures and two scheduled doubles.
But I'm keen to reiterate the point I made ahead of the previous double - the team is not good enough on a consistent level.
Liverpool face City and Chelsea on the road when the fixtures resume, and with only three wins away from Anfield all season, they are an easy avoid.
The Reds have lost 4 of their previous six, with the only victory coming at St James' Park against ten-man Newcastle.
They have been poor in front of goal – scoring just 13 times – a massive underperformance of more than 11 goals based on their 24.68xG.
Waiting will help, as Gameweek 34 holds more appeal with Tottenham and Fulham arriving at Anfield. The Reds' home form is keeping their season alive, with the third-best goals output (34) and second-best xG, and even without the 9-0 win over Bournemouth, the numbers are still good.
But making moves so far in advance seems foolhardy, given injury rates and potential suspensions – Liverpool are a swerve for now.
West Ham
The Hammers are another side attracting the interest of the community due to their doubles in weeks 29 and 34. But which players are we realistically considering?
Their attacking assets offer little appeal due to the fact that West Ham have the biggest underperformance on goals this season with a -10.87xG Delta. The arrival of Danny Ings in January was meant to address that, and he has stirred some interest.
The striker has the third-highest expected points for the upcoming round of fixtures and is ranked fourth for predicted points amongst strikers.
Despite matching their xG data since the beginning of February, the Hammers' attack remains poor, sixteenth over those six matches, meaning even Danny Ings is struggling to improve things.
Defensively, clean sheets have been a rare commodity, having only managed to keep out the opposition five times in 2022-23, the joint second-worst record.
Even a roll of the dice is difficult to justify as the data backs too many better options. Newcastle have the best defence in the league, while Southampton have improved under Ruben Selles.
Despite two doubles and the seventh-best run of fixtures until the end of the season, I see little justification in any of their assets. I'd look elsewhere, with Brentford or Brighton ticking boxes at a similar price point.
Ones To Watch
Injury and Squad Rotation
I always advise FPL managers to tread carefully around the break, leaving potential transfers for as long as possible. This week is especially important with a glut of double fixtures and a host of player withdrawals.
Erling Haaland has provided the biggest talking point so far, and while many may write his groin issue off as an International Injury, his absence from the Norway squad for crucial Euro 2024 qualifiers suggests his availability is touch and go.
Marcus Rashford was another key absentee, leaving owners hopeful that some retail therapy Stateside (in New York) was just what the doctor ordered.
Tottenham
Following his astonishing post-match rant at Southampton, it seemed only a matter of time before Antonio Conte and Spurs would part ways.
So for now, Cristian Stellini takes charge, and supporters remain hopeful of a Champions League qualifying place after he impressed during a recent stint while Conte was recovering from gallbladder surgery.
There could be a real bounce, with the mood lifted and some of the toxicity removed.
Tottenham still have a lot to play for, and they sit in a precarious position with Newcastle, Liverpool and Brighton all vying for a Top 4 spot.
Having played 28 games, Spurs have no scheduled doubles, although their run-through until the end of the season looks quite good.
Harry Kane remains their best-attacking asset, while Pedro Porro or Emerson Royal appeal if either wingback comes to the fore - they could be a great, cheap, low-ownership asset.
Best FPL Tips This Week:
FIRST PUBLISHED: 16th August 2021
