🏆 GW30 FPL Draft Zone - Weekly Brief 🏆
Hello and welcome to the FPL Draft Zone Weekly Brief, and after a little break for the FA Cup, the Premier League returns with Gameweek 30 this Saturday - and boy oh boy, it’s a big one.
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Home Sweet Home (The Matchup Gems) 🏠
Some teams are looking at home fixtures that are tastier than that first celebratory pint after a January detox. If you own assets from this little lot, hold them close!
• Arsenal: Hosting Everton at the Emirates Stadium - the Gunners haven’t lost to the Toffees in any of their last six meetings. 🏰
• Liverpool: Anfield welcomes a struggling Spurs side who have conceded 21 goals in their last six matches against Liverpool - an average of 3.5 a game. But don’t worry Tottenham fans, you’re in red-hot form right now so I’m sure you’ll be just fine… oh wait a minute... 🏟️
• Manchester United: The Red Devils welcome Aston Villa to Old Trafford - with the home side having won their their last five meetings with the Villans in Manchester. 🔴
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Waiver Wire Whispers: The Spicy Picks 🌶️
The Sunderland Stalwart 🛡️ Dan Ballard is quietly becoming a DEFCON king, racking up six returns in his last eight matches. He’s already pocketed a 9-point return against Brighton this season, and if he repeats that feat against the same opposition this weekend, you’ll be one happy draft manager.
The "Jesus" Resurrection 🇧🇷 If your frontline is looking a bit thin, Nottingham Forest’s Igor Jesus has started the last three matches under new management. He’s had two assists in that time and there’s some juicy fixtures on the horizon - including Spurs next week and Burnley in GW33.
The Slot Machine Punt 🎰 Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha is fast. He dribbles. He’s unpredictable. He commits defenders. And crucially, if he starts this weekend he’ll be up against Spurs, a side who look terrified of their own shadow. A gamble with a monumental upside.
The Stat-Man’s Dream 🍒 Marcus Tavernier is back from injury and has immediately racked up 1.94 xGI in just two games. He’s facing a Burnley side that has conceded the most goals and the most XG in the league - so if you own him start him, and if you can get him SIGN HIM.
The Hammers' Secret Weapon 🔨 El Hadji Malick Diouf is the full back nobody is talking about but everyone should be targeting. With four returns in his last five games (including four clean sheets and two assists), he’s a dual-threat asset who could be a season-saver once this weekend’s Manchester City fixture is out of the way.
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The "Safe Bet" Squad 🏆
If you’re tired of overthinking and just want points on the board, these guys are as reliable as a rainy Tuesday in Stoke:
Rodrigo (Man City): The one-time Ballon d’Or winner is showing his class again, starting the last eight matches and hitting six double-digit DEFCON returns in that time.
Mads Hermansen (West Ham): He’s cemented himself as the Hammers' #1, and he’s averaging 6.2 points across his last five matches. With City and Villa up next, he’s going to be a very busy boy - with save points surely a guarantee.
Casemiro (Man Utd): He’s actually the second-highest FPL points scorer at United this season, even outperforming Brian Mbuemo. If he’s free on your waivers, snap him up, buttercup.
Good luck this week - may your victories be sweet and your rivals be salty! 🥂