Fantasy Premier League: Gameweek 36 Staff Roundtable

Welcome to Gameweek 36, Rotoballers! This season, we are expanding our soccer coverage to include the great game of Fantasy Premier League. So, if you are a seasoned veteran, or a rookie navigating your first campaign, we will set you right as we look to acquire those weekend-making green arrows and avoid the doom and gloom of a red arrow.

Let's get ready to rumbleeeeeeee! Sixteen games occupy our FPL schedule this weekend as 12 teams have a double gameweek. It's a chance to leap up in your mini-leagues and gain a ton of rank in the Overall standings. It starts at a regular time (for once) with four games at 10 am Eastern. Our FPL lineups lock at 8:30 am Eastern on Saturday, May 7. 

Also, check out the rest of our excellent soccer coverage as the team gets you all set for every English Premier League and UEFA Champions League slate from a DFS perspective.

RotoBaller FPL Staff Roundtable - Gameweek 36

The Staff Roundtable is an attempt to get you inside the mind of our FPL staff. Our top soccer writers - Euan Leith and Jamie Steed will answer questions each Gameweek to give you an idea of how they view the games. So without further ado, let's kick off Gameweek 36!

It's the biggest gameweek of the season. So what are your master plans?

• Euan Leith: I've got 12 players with a double gameweek, so I can't justify using my Free Hit chip. I'll save that until 37 or 38 for now. I can't get to Son without a -8, so that's a no-go. So I'm looking at doing the responsible (but boring) thing and rolling the Free Transfer.
• Jamie Steed: I’ve been looking at using my transfers to bring in players with two games this week, so I can save my Free Hit for GW37. As a result, I have eight players with two games without having to use additional transfers or any Wildcard.

If you had to bring in a premium player to replace Mo Salah for the final three gameweeks, who would it be and why?

• Euan Leith: It's Son Heung-min for me. The newest addition to Twitter hasn't made it onto my team all year, and I have incredible FOMO every time he takes the field. Tottenham is battling for fourth place, and they'll need every ounce of his talent to reach Champions League football.
• Jamie Steed: I’d probably go with his teammate Sadio Mane. He’s been playing the more central role of Liverpool’s front three since Luis Diaz’s arrival, and he’s thrived in the role. He just nudges out Kevin de Bruyne.

Chelsea's form has dipped, and now they are looking at Arsenal right behind in 4th. Do you think Tuchel will be forced to keep a tight rotation?

• Euan Leith: I doubt they slip out of the top four, but I don't think they want to fall behind Arsenal either. Tuchel is looking for the right XI heading into next season, but the results aren't coming through as he hoped. I could see him keeping everyone healthy in GW36 before the F.A. Cup final next weekend.
• Jamie Steed: Yes, but I do believe they’re secure in fourth. I think Tuchel has faith in a handful of players and is still searching for the best out of a couple of forwards.

Luis Diaz is having a phenomenal season since joining Liverpool. He's currently £8 million. What price do you think he starts at for 2022/23?

• Euan Leith: Whatever Mo Salah is + £0.1 million. Just kidding. He's been a star since arriving in the Premier League. I would love him to be £8.5, but I think he could be up in the £9.5-£10m range.
• Jamie Steed: Salah and Mane will be more expensive but around the £9m - £9.5m range.

What is one change you would like to see in the FPL game next season?

• Euan Leith: I hope they keep the two Free Hit chips. It was entertaining to have that option this year. If they could give us one mulligan chip every half-season to make a sub after the matches have been played, that would maybe bring another aspect to the game.
• Jamie Steed: Being able to swap out players up until their kick-off. Still sucks having to lock your team in an hour before the Friday evening or Saturday afternoon game when there’s games being played three days later. No reason it can’t be the same as other fantasy sports in that regard.

Who's keeping a clean sheet this week?

• Euan Leith: I'll take Aston Villa keeping Burnley out of the net on Saturday before they welcome Liverpool for an offensive onslaught on Tuesday night.
• Jamie Steed: Manchester City and Chelsea (both with games against Wolves) should keep at least one clean sheet. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they both kept two.

Which defensive player is providing an attacking return?

• Euan Leith: Joao Cancelo feels like the only City player locked into playing 180 minutes this gameweek. After an emotionally-draining Champions League loss to Real Madrid, they also need to rebound. So getting Cancelo involved in their playmaking seems like a solid option.
• Jamie Steed: Reece James. Wolves just conceded three at home to Brighton and looked dreadful, so he could get something from that game. Then comes Leeds, who have struggled with the left side of their defense all season.

Who is your favorite premium midfielder or forward for this gameweek?

• Euan Leith: Mo Salah has two opportunities to score points this week. He's getting at least one return.
• Jamie Steed: I’m going with Mo Salah. He sat last weekend, so I expect him to start Liverpool’s two games this week. He’s got a decent record against Tottenham (five goals in ten games) and a great record against Aston Villa (four goals in five games).

What are your transfer plans heading into this gameweek?

• Euan Leith: All my guys are doubling, and I kind of like their matchups. It's looking like I'll somehow roll the transfer.
• Jamie Steed: I’ve brought in Phil Foden and Eddie Nketiah. Both with two games and I fancy Nketiah to start both games, but I’m a little concerned Foden only starts one of City’s.

Who's getting the Captain's armband?

• Euan Leith: As I said earlier, Mo Salah has two chances to score an attacking return. It's Mo Salah's gameweek, and we are just living in it.
• Jamie Steed: I’m currently thinking of Foden, but I just don’t believe he’ll start both games, so I may pivot to Mason Mount.

Finally, what's your bold prediction for this week?

• Euan Leith: Man City drop points. I'm not sure how you recover from that Champions League tie, and I think it carries into the Premier League. Other than that, Everton finds itself above the drop with three games left and dreaming of a great escape.
• Jamie Steed: Tottenham finishes the week in fourth place, Leeds ends the week in the relegation zone, and Manchester City opens a three-point gap at the top.

Is there a question you would like to have answered every week? Hit us up on Twitter @RotoBaller. We would love to hear your feedback and ideas!