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Welcome to Gameweek 28, 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.
The action kicks off at 7:30 am Eastern, with a battle between the promoted sides of Leeds and Leicester. Therefore, our lineups will lock at 6 am Eastern, and then we strap ourselves in for 14 games of FPL magic across five days. In Gameweek 28, some of the games to watch are the Manchester Derby, Liverpool looking for revenge versus West Ham, and Chelsea trying to get their league campaign back on track against Burnley and Norwich.
Also, be sure to 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 28
The Staff Roundtable is an attempt to get you inside the mind of our FPL staff. Our top soccer writers - Euan Leith, Jamie Steed, Brandon Wampler, and Phil Goyette - 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 28!
How was Gameweek 27? Did you use any chips?
- Euan Leith: The Free Hit was suboptimal as Burnley burned me with Ben Mee, Nick Pope, and Wout Weghorst all returning blanks (or worse) in a double Gameweek. I came away with a small green arrow, however.
- Jamie Steed: No, as I used my wildcard for week 26. That did leave me with a bare XI for last week before three of them didn't feature for various reasons. That ended up yielding a paltry 29 points.
- Brandon Wampler: Gameweek 27 did not go according to plan and almost fell to the average and did not use any chips.
We've got back-to-back double Gameweeks on our hands. So who are the top three teams to target?
- Euan Leith: Arsenal, Tottenham, and Aston Villa seem to be the apple of my eye for the next three weeks as they all double in Gameweeks 28 or 29, and they have a fixture in Gameweek 30 for the big blank gameweek.
- Jamie Steed: I like Aston Villa players, especially this week and their attacking players. Wolves should be able to keep two clean sheets in their three games, so defensively, I'd be looking to stack them. Without a doubt, the best option for a team playing three games in the next fortnight is Chelsea, but good luck trying to work out who (if any) from their squad plays twice, let alone thrice.
- Brandon Wampler: Chelsea, Leicester, and Liverpool are the top three teams I am targeting.
Who will be this week's Watford/Burnley? AKA, the Double Gameweek trap team.
- Euan Leith: People will be buying the "new manager bounce" narrative for Leeds United, but I'm not trying to get on their assets right now. This week, Leicester and Aston Villa could easily pummel them in their two matches. So Raphinha is the only member from Elland Road I will be considering until further notice.
- Jamie Steed: Leeds United and Watford are my "avoids." But I think Newcastle United could wind up being the trap team as I foresee their unbeaten streak ending soon, and they aren't nearly as prolific without Kieran Trippier and Allan Saint-Maximin (doubtful). They may end up with a narrow win against Brighton before Southampton ends their run.
- Brandon Wampler: Aston Villa is a major trap.
Are you brave enough to transfer out Joao Cancelo with the threat of Pep Roullete and not a lot of games in the coming weeks?
- Euan Leith: I can't believe I'm saying this, but yes. I want to attack these next couple of weeks as hard as possible, and having a City asset doesn't let me do that. So I'm rolling out Andy Robertson, Antonio Rudiger, and Trent Alexander-Arnold at the back for now. I'm trying to push for the top 100k in Overall Ranking and differentiate where possible.
- Jamie Steed: I already have, as we've seen Pep rest key players prior to Champions League games. Their second-leg game is a mere formality, but there's a good chance he features less in the league moving forward.
- Brandon Wampler: I will be considering transferring him out.
Who's keeping a clean sheet this week?
- Euan Leith: Edouard Mendy has two chances to keep a clean sheet. I will be surprised if he doesn't go 2-for-2 against Burnley and Norwich.
- Jamie Steed: I've already mentioned them, but Wolves and Jose Sa will keep at least one clean sheet this week. Chelsea's Edouard Mendy is probably the only player of their I'd be confident rostering, and I'm confident he'll keep at least one clean sheet this week too.
- Brandon Wampler: I will be tagging Mendy to hold a clean sheet.
Which defensive player is providing an attacking return?
- Euan Leith: I know I just said I'm transferring him out, but it's about time for Joao Cancelo to come through for his managers. He's looked like a man on a mission in the last three games, and he already punished United earlier this year with two assists and all three bonus points in Gameweek 11.
- Jamie Steed: I'm going with Lucas Digne as I'm expecting quite an entertaining game between Aston Villa and Southampton on Saturday. He then faces a Leeds United team (although under new management) who haven't been able to stop anything attacking them from the left side, nor have they defended set-pieces well (or anything else for that matter).
- Brandon Wampler: Digne and Alonso are at the top of my shopping list.
- Euan Leith: A lot of people in the community want to ride with Philippe Coutinho because of the double gameweek, but he may not qualify for this at £7.4 million. Therefore, I'm backing Mo Salah to pop off versus the Hammers at Anfield.
- Jamie Steed: The Manchester Derby puts me off both sides. So I'm going chalk and say Mo Salah against West Ham United, a team he has nine goals and three assists in nine EPL games against. If you want to be contrarian, Heung-Min Son is a solid play, facing an Everton team he has three goals and three assists against in his nine previous EPL encounters.
- Brandon Wampler: I will be riding the Lukaku train in hoping he finds his scoring touch again.
What are your transfer plans heading into this Gameweek?
- Euan Leith: I'm on a Wildcard, and it is absolute chaos in my drafts. It's a tinker transfer every minute right now at Leithal Weapons HQ.
- Jamie Steed: I have brought in James Ward-Prowse for Anthony Gordon. I'm likely his chances of securing the midfield trifecta of a goal, assist, and clean sheet across his two games.
- Brandon Wampler: I will probably be moving City players out to make room.
Who's getting the Captain's armband?
- Euan Leith: With the Wildcard active, it's anyone's guess. However, it'll be a double gameweek player like Coutinho, JWP, or Rudiger for sure.
- Jamie Steed: The aforementioned James Ward-Prowse for precisely those reasons. Phillipe Coutinho and Mo Salah are my other two strong candidates for the armband.
- Brandon Wampler: Lukaku.
Finally, what's your bold prediction for this week?
- Euan Leith: Kai Havertz plays both games for Chelsea's double gameweeks, and we are all left rueing a missed opportunity to get him after he provides three attacking returns.
- Jamie Steed: Norwich City gets off the foot of the table with a win against Brentford, and Manchester United holds Manchester City to a draw, throwing the title race wide open.
- Brandon Wampler: The Manchester Derby will end in a 1-1 draw.
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!
