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Welcome to Gameweeks 4 and 5, Rotoballers! Just like the previous campaign, we are continuing our soccer coverage to include the great game of Fantasy Premier League. So, even if you are a seasoned veteran or a rookie navigating your first 38 gameweeks, we will set you straight. We're here to provide the advice to help you snag those weekend-making green arrows and avoid the doom and gloom of a red arrow.
Gameweek 4 takes place on Saturday and Sunday before a quick turnaround for Gameweek 5 on Tuesday and Wednesday. The squad didn't want to leave you hanging for that quick midweek gameweek, so we decided to create an extended version of the roundtable.
The Gameweek 4 deadline is 6:00 am Eastern on Saturday, August 27, and the Gameweek 5 deadline is 1:00 pm Eastern on Tuesday, August 30. 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 and betting perspective.
RotoBaller FPL Staff Roundtable - Gameweeks 4 and 5
The Staff Roundtable is an attempt to get you inside the mind of our FPL staff. Our top soccer writers 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 3!
We've got three weeks of games to work with now. Is it already time to ditch the Liverpool triple-up?
- Euan Leith: If you're triple-up consists of Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Andrew Robertson, then yes. However, if you've replaced Roberston with Luis Diaz, then I would stick. The Columbian forward is the most dynamic player for the Reds over the last two games and deserves more chances to return for your FPL side.
- Jamie Steed: Not yet, Salah is still a top-5 scoring midfielder, and Liverpool has a relatively soft schedule until October, so I'm not entirely jumping overboard. I expect a reaction over the next fortnight too.
- Mark Kieffer: Triple-Up? Definitely. But Salah leads the EPL in chances created, and Trent Alexander-Arnold is tied for fifth. I have both of these players on my roster, and I think I will keep them for now. The bad defense does hurt some of the upside of these two, though.
- Brandon Wampler:
The 'Big Six' begin their European competitions in the next couple of weeks. So which high-priced player are you most worried about suffering from squad rotation?
- Euan Leith: Man City manager Pep Guardiola already came out and said Erling Haaland would not play three games in one week. Therefore, I may replace the Norwegian Viking with the English Knight, Harry Kane, in a couple of weeks. Kane and Salah are the top two "nailed" premium players in the game. This season, they won't come off the field in the Premier League or Champions League.
- Jamie Steed: I'm not too concerned in the early stages as most teams will continue to prioritize their Premier League lineups with minor tweaks to their European teams to begin their campaigns. Manchester City might be more inclined to rotate given the depth they have in their squad, so Kevin de Bruyne or Erling Haaland are probably the two I'm most unsure about.
- Mark Kieffer: You have to think anyone from Man City. They are so stacked. Guys like Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, and Riyad Mahrez. Also, Haaland is young but has struggled to stay fit at times and could be limited when the European play really kicks up.
- Brandon Wampler:
Results-wise, the 'big at the back' strategy had a terrible gameweek. As a result, are you looking to invest more of your transfer budget in the midfield and upfront?
- Euan Leith: We've seen the strategy's upside and downside this season, and I'm trending away from it as the season moves along. I've downgraded Andy Robertson to Ivan Perisic with one of my two Free Transfers and used the funds to shore up a leaky Leicester goalkeeper situation I put myself in.
- Jamie Steed: Not yet. Teams had less of a preseason than usual, and the defenses require more organization on the training grounds, so I expect things to tighten up at the back for some clubs in the next few weeks.
- Mark Kieffer: I am playing a 4-4-2 at the moment. I like the goal bonus and the clean sheet chances with the midfield and defense. I do not like spending big at forward; those players offer multiple goal upside but have a lower floor too.
- Brandon Wampler:
The itch to play the Wildcard chip grows stronger with every gameweek. Do you have a plan on when to play it, or will it be a spur-of-the-moment idea?
- Euan Leith: After the atrocious Liverpool performance on Monday, I wanted to rage hit the Wildcard and start fresh. Fortunately, I slept on it, and now I've calmed down. I will do my best to make it to the international break, but I'm certainly waiting until after the transfer deadline.
- Jamie Steed: I still think some clubs have a lot to do before the transfer window closes, so I'm not even considering using it until the deadline passes and we have a clearer idea of some squads and their starting lineups. Depending on which players are brought into the league, I'll decide how soon I want to use it.
- Mark Kieffer: My original plan was to use it after Gameweek 8. I don't want to jump on any early trends. I am sticking to one transfer per week and will use it if I get in a bind early on, otherwise, somewhere around the first international break.
- Brandon Wampler:
With an American manager and a couple of national players on the team, we've got to talk about Leeds. Are any of the Elland Road gang in your thoughts for the upcoming gameweeks?
- Euan Leith: It's now or never for Rodrigo, in my opinion. Leeds has the fourth-easiest schedule of the following five gameweeks, and you need to take advantage of the Spaniard's form as soon as possible. He's not in my plans currently, but a hit to get the former Real Madrid player in my side could happen before Saturday's deadline.
- Jamie Steed: I had Brenden Aaronson on my watchlist, and Patrick Bamford is someone I was looking at, but his health is still a question mark. Rodrigo's goals have been a bonus, but I'm conscious about chasing a hot streak. The other Leeds player I'm keen to see more of is Luis Sinisterra, who is building up his fitness following a preseason injury. But Jack Harrison remains my favorite Leeds player, as he has been since the start of last season.
- Mark Kieffer: The next four fixtures look good for them. Jack Harrison and Rodrigo are the two players I am considering the most.
- Brandon Wampler:
Who's your favorite goalkeeper to roster over the next two gameweeks?
- Euan Leith: In the £4.5 million range, I like Robert Sanchez from Brighton or David Raya at Brentford. Sanchez sees Leeds at home, then Fulham on the road. Meanwhile, Raya will look to keep Everton and Crystal Palace off the scoresheet.
- Jamie Steed: With some teams having back-to-back home games, I'm targeting a keeper who has two home games. Ederson and Aaron Ramsdale are the standouts in that regard. Jose Sa is someone I expect to keep at least one clean sheet, given Wolves' style of play and games at home to Newcastle and away to Bournemouth.
- Mark Kieffer: It's a toss-up between Ederson (Crystal Palace then Nottingham Forest) and Ramsdale (Fulham and Aston Villa).
- Brandon Wampler:
Which defense do you believe in the most right now? Would you double up on any team?
- Euan Leith: I still believe in the Man City defense with Ederson and a defender. I would like to see the odds on them not conceding three goals in a game for the rest of the season and then place that wager immediately.
- Jamie Steed: Arsenal has only allowed five shots on target, the fewest in the league. At home, Fulham and Aston Villa are two solid games, although I don't expect the same back four to feature in both games. Maybe Saliba and Gabriel will, but I think the fullbacks might rotate, so it's worth considering they might only play one of the two games.
- Mark Kieffer: I think these defensive pairings are ways to get exposure to good teams if you can't fit the premium players. Combinations like Cancelo-Ederson if you don't have KDB or Haaland (or even if you have one of them), or Zinchenko-Ramsdale if you didn't jump on Saka-Martinelli-Jesus at the beginning of the year.
- Brandon Wampler:
Who are the must-have sub £7 million midfielders for the next few gameweeks?
- Euan Leith: Gabriel Martinelli feels like a cheat code this year. Even with his price rising to £6.4 million. I'm bending the rules a bit here, but Wilfried Zaha (£7.1) is playing some great football right now, and Palace's fixtures get a lot better after this week against Man City.
- Jamie Steed: Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard are standouts. Rodrigo has taken the headlines for Leeds, but, as I said earlier, I'm a big fan of his teammate Jack Harrison. James Ward-Prowse is always a set-piece threat but has two tough fixtures, so I'm holding off until gameweek six before considering him.
- Mark Kieffer: It's hard to pick just one. Jack Harrison, Pascal Gross, and Martin Odegaard are three to consider in that price range.
- Brandon Wampler:
If you could bring in any player you don't have on your team for this quick turnaround, who would it be and why?
- Euan Leith: Up front, it would be Ivan Toney. Brentford's leading man looks incredibly comfortable in his second season of Premier League action. In the middle, it's still James Maddison, as he has a return every week.
- Jamie Steed: With back-to-back home games, I expect a reaction from Liverpool, so Mo Salah is someone I'd want, but I went a different route this season and would need to use a Wildcard to bring him in which I'm not prepared to do.
- Mark Kieffer: KDB is a player I dropped after the first week in an overreaction. He is tied for 2nd in chances created, tied for first in assists, and tied for 7th in shots on goal.
- Brandon Wampler:
Who's getting the Captain's armband in Gameweek 4 and an early look at Gameweek 5?
- Euan Leith: Mohamed Salah isn't going to let Liverpool go four games without a win. He's smashing Bournemouth single-handedly. Gameweek 5 will be more interesting because managers will rotate their squads, but the safe option right now would be rolling with Salah against Newcastle at Anfield.
- Jamie Steed: I'm going with Martinelli, although Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus are both in consideration. I might go Jesus this weekend and Martinelli on Wednesday as I can see Arsenal making a few changes over the two games, and Martinelli might not start both games. So that will give me a chance to see the Saturday lineup and have an educated guess on what the midweek team will be.
- Mark Kieffer: Salah in Week 4 for sure going against Bournemouth. Week 5 will be a toss-up between Salah, Saka, and Martinelli (if not someone else on the team). Arsenal has Aston Villa that week, while Liverpool has Newcastle.
- Brandon Wampler:
Finally, what's your bold prediction for the next couple of gameweeks?
- Euan Leith: Arsenal maintains a perfect start and makes it 5-for-5 in wins. Southampton picks up at least two points in their home games against Manchester United and Chelsea.
- Jamie Steed: Manchester United and Liverpool win both of their games and move into the top eight. Everton finds themselves bottom of the table going into gameweek 6. And Jadon Sancho finally starts to look like a star, bagging the most points of any player during gameweeks 4 and 5.
- Mark Kieffer: Liverpool score the most goals in the next two game weeks, and Leeds lose both of their next two EPL fixtures.
- Brandon Wampler:
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!
