FPL Team Of The Week GW29 - Best XI For Gameweek 29

7 min. read
FPL team of the week
Ben Dinnery Football Expert
By Ben Dinnery

We’re well under budget this week (£91.5m), but a smaller outlay does not mean a reduced return.

The double-game week gives us some nice differential options to consider, and I’m expecting big things from my side this week. Of course, the international break means it is never plain sailing! Good luck, everyone.

FPL Points Predictor Tool

FPL GW29 XI:

Goalkeeper

Nick Pope (£5.4m / Predicted Points - 7.2)

Given their indifferent form since the turn of the year, are we sleeping on Newcastle assets? I believe so… and with two enticing fixtures, I’m prepared to back the Magpies.

Manchester United at St James’ Park on Sunday appears to be the tougher of the two matches. Still, with home advantage, plus crucial absentees from the visitors’ starting XI, the Black and Whites could avenge their Carabao Cup final defeat.

And with a trip to West Ham three days later, it comes as no surprise to see Nick Pope joint highest for predicted points among goalkeepers.

Substitute: Daniel Iversen (£3.8m / Predicted Points - Not available) – A starting placeholder.

Defenders

Pervis Estupinian (£4.7m / Predicted Points - 5.9)

The Seagulls have great odds for a double clean sheet, with their home game against Brentford coming in at 40 per cent, while the odds at Bournemouth are a little better (48%).

Estupinian adds attacking appeal to clean sheet potential, and the South American is attracting interest, having averaged 5.22 FPL points per 90 post-World Cup with seven returns in his last eight matches.

Fabian Schar (£5.0m / Predicted Points - 7.3) and Kieran Trippier (£6.1m / Predicted Points - 8.4)

As mentioned in my reasoning for selecting Nick Pope, I believe the clean sheet potential is high during this round.

Suspensions and injuries have weakened the Manchester United side, while West Ham are among the worst attacks this season with just 24 goals, which is bottom-six output and only two better than basement boys Forest.

Kieran Trippier leads the way in terms of FPL points (154) for defenders – sixth overall – and his attacking threat, combined with Newcastle’s ability to shut out the opposition, is why the right-back has returned in all but eight game weeks. Trippier is top for predicted points in defence, with teammate Fabian Schar ranked fourth.

Ben Chilwell (£5.8m / Predicted Points - 8.2)

The Blues have two good home fixtures. On Saturday, Aston Villa arrive at Stamford Bridge, and even though the side has improved under Unai Emery, Chelsea are highly fancied with a 61 per cent chance of keeping a clean sheet.

Liverpool, on the other hand, have had an indifferent campaign, with a poor season on the road that has only returned 13 goals, a whopping underperformance of their 24.68xG.

Since the restart, Graham Potter has focused on improving the backline, with the third-best goals against and fourth-best xG conceded. Chilwell is another defender who loves being involved higher up the pitch, although the side hasn’t been as good in the attacking third. 

Chilwell has the fourth-best odds of any return for defenders combined with the second-best predicted points output.

Substitute: Kurt Zouma (£4.4m / Predicted Points – N/A) – A starting placeholder.

Midfielders

Alexis Mac Allister (£5.4m / Predicted Points - 7.2) and Solly March (£5.1m / Predicted Points – 7.1)

These two are the best Brighton midfielders currently, although Kaoru Mitoma deserves a special mention as he is another excellent pick – he is also topping the table for Fantasy Premier League transfers for this round (234k).

Alexis Mac Allister has come to the fore in recent matches, and his numbers outshine his teammates. 

Over the last five games, the Argentine has a higher xG, more shots in the box and better xPoints than both Kaoru Mitoma and March. But while there isn’t much between the other two, March gets my vote as he has the better overall points per 90 and much higher xGI over a longer period.
  
Brentford have kept only four away clean sheets all season, whereas Bournemouth have the second most goals conceded since Gameweek 17, so we can expect two entertaining matches.

The projected data puts Mac Allister as having the joint best-predicted points, making him one of my FPL captain picks, while March has a highly impressive 77 per cent likelihood of returning.  

Bruno Fernandes (£9.8m / Predicted Points - 8.5) and Marcus Rashford (£7.3m / Predicted Points - 9.4)

There is a bit of a gamble here, but Marcus Rashford is worth the risk due to his massive potential. 

Fernandes and Rashford have been in great form this year, and the double-game week presents a great opportunity to rack up more points. A trip to Newcastle will be challenging, but United should fare better at home to Brentford. 

Rashford sits alongside Bukayo Saka for the most FPL points since the World Cup, although the United star comes out on top per 90. Fernandes’ output hasn’t been as good, but nonetheless, he has still managed an impressive 5.92 FPL points per 90 and 0.67 Goal Involvements. 

Bruno is joint top for predicted points with a 78 per cent chance of returning, whereas Rashford comes in at ninth with a 73 per cent likelihood of a goal or an assist.

Substitute: James Maddison (£8.1m / Predicted Points - 4.7)

I am not a big Foxes fan, so I have given you the option of choosing Ollie Watkins as a possible replacement. There may be an element of FOMO (fear of missing out) by not having Maddison in your team, but don’t let that be the reason you select him. 

The FDR (fixture difficulty rating) gives Leicester the best fixtures of all teams, but the games against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa may be more demanding than predicted with Roy Hodgson taking charge of the Eagles.

Ongoing injury issues have hampered Maddison – just a 4.04 FPL point average since his return to the side – but as their talisman, he is the only player within the Foxes’ squad worthy of consideration.

Forwards

Ivan Toney (£7.7m / Predicted Points - 7.4)

Toney makes the squad due to his consistency despite a problematic double.

Brighton and Manchester United away will be tough, especially as the Bees’ best form tends to come at home. But they do know where the goal is, and Thomas Frank’s side can be a threat to anyone.

Even though Toney has a potential Football Association ban hanging over him, he has delivered 5.59 FPL points per 90 on average since Gameweek 17 and given his well-documented ability from the penalty spot; there’s always a chance of him getting on the scoresheet. 

Ollie Watkins (£7.2m / Predicted Points - 6.7)

I’m leaving his selection down to you, but recent form means I will be plumping for the Villa man. The forward has the fourth-best predicted points among forwards, and both fixtures look like they could have goals. 

Chelsea have improved, but they are far from perfect, as Everton highlighted last time out, and Leicester have conceded the second most goals since the World Cup restart. Watkins has averaged 6.9 FPL points per 90 over the last two months, helped by eight-goal involvements from his previous nine games. He has the form, and Villa are certainly performing on a more consistent level compared to the Foxes.

Substitute: Brennan Johnson (£5.7m / Predicted Points - 6.2) – A starting placeholder, but check his fitness status first after he missed out for Wales during the break.

Best FPL Tips For Gameweek 29:

FIRST PUBLISHED: 12th August 2021

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Ben Dinnery
Ben Dinnery Football Expert

Ben Dinnery is the founder of Premier Injuries, a website used to track and record injury data for the British Premier League.

Described by The Telegraph as the “country’s leading data injury analyst,” Ben provides statistic insight and data to a host of broadsheet outlets and some of the world’s leading media organisations.

A regular contributor on talkSPORT radio and BBC Radio 5 Live, Ben’s data is published globally through his work with Sky Sports, NBC Sports and ESPN plus a host of other leading media broadcasters.