The Gameweek 7 deadline of the Fantasy Premier League is almost upon us (2nd October Saturday). In this article, I try and pick the best 11 of the Gameweek that might help to assist you in your transfer dilemmas.
This week there are many great fixtures to target FPL wise; Chelsea vs Southampton is a perfect target while other fixtures are too difficult to call – such as the top-of-table clash between heavyweights – Liverpool vs Manchester City.
In this article I will pick my team in a 3-4-3 formation: the side will be captained by Romelu Lukaku of Chelsea and Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United is my selected vice-captain.
Not sure who to add to your team ahead of GW7? 🤔
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) September 29, 2021
Here’s #FPLDaily with the 3️⃣ most popular players in the transfer market ✨#FPL pic.twitter.com/9GoKvm8q0q
Goalkeeper
Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal) £4.5m
Aaron Ramsdale looks set to be Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper after starting the North London derby ahead of previous number 1 Bernd Leno.
The Gunners are below average statistically and in terms of defensive rankings, rank 17th in the league. However, this was due to them facing Chelsea, Manchester City, and Spurs in their opening run.
At a minimal price of 4.5m and a high potential of saves to make, Ramsdale should be your first-choice stopper for this weekend with Arteta’s men taking on 2021/22’s surprise package, Brighton.
Defender
Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea) £5.7m
Antonio Rudiger is one of the most nailed-to-start players in a solid but rotational-driven Chelsea defense. He has started and finished every 90 minutes since Thomas Tuchel arrived, except where Chelsea prioritized the Champions League, which led to the manager resting him for league clashes.
Southampton have an xG of 5.20 from open play – placing them13th in the league – which shows their attack is below average or even average at best. Chelsea, since Thomas Tuchel joined them, have been watertight and have only conceded more than once in a single fixture – that was against West Brom – a defensive player worth targetting.
Nelson Semedo (Wolverhampton Wanderers) £4.9m
Wolves have been one of the best defensive teams in the Premier League, conceding the 5th-least chances this term, and Semedo has been very unfortunate to not garner an attacking return alongside a clean sheet.
He amassed an incredible xG of 0.85 and an xA of 0.41, including 23 goal attempts, 9 of which have been in the box. So far he has 0 attacking returns to show for but it still displays Semedo has huge potential.
Against Newcastle United and with their attack missing Callum Wilson, I think Semedo has the potential to get returns at both ends of the pitch.
Fernando Marçal (Wolverhampton Wanderers) £4.6m
Fernando Marçal accompanies Nelson Semedo in the Best 11 this week to complete a double Wolves defense. Newcastle statistically, have been the worst team in the league – both offensively and defensively – hence why I would target this fixture the most for this gameweek.
Marcal has so far not impressed but has looked good on the eye recording 2 assists and has been seen further forward up the pitch compared to his fullback partner, Nelson Semedo.
Midfielders
Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) £5.5m
Bryan Mbeumo has been one of Brentford’s stars in their return to England’s top-flight. His partnership with fellow Bee, Ivan Toney, has been sensational to watch.
Mbuemo is playing as a striker whilst being listed as a midfielder in the game to provide an OOP (out of position) option. This campaign Mbuemo has a 0.57 xGi per 90 and is priced at 5.5m, which is absolutely insane and I would back him for a good return against West ham United.
Ismaila Sarr (Watford) £6.3m
Ismaila Sarr, the Watford talisman has impressed since being re-introduced to the EPL, scoring 3 important goals for the promoted side. He stepped up when his team appeared to be lacking goals in the opening few weeks.
Watford’s next opponents Leeds United are currently struggling with injuries at the back with no fit senior CB available and a very leaky defense. They have the second-worst in the league so far conceding 14 goals in their first 6 games, a stat only better than Norwich City’s 16 goals conceded.
Sarr is a player to target this week with him up against a leaky Leeds defense. Also standing in your favor, there is a chance he is on penalties too.
Raphinha (Leeds United)£6.5m
Raphinha faces the previous asset Ismaila Sarr’s team, Watford, despite Leeds being in the bottom half for goals conceded and chances conceded, they compensate for this by being an above-average attacking team.
Despite missing many attacking players at the moment, Raphinha has stepped up to deliver and has saved Leeds, scoring 2 important goals in the last 2 games.
His expected data stats are also great as usual, collecting an xGi of 2.60 out of which he has created an xA of 1.43, he has just been very unlucky not to pick up an assist with his efforts.
Son Heung-min (Spurs) £10.0m
Son Heung-min is Fantasy Premier League’s unsung hero and remains consistent every season – even though Spurs haven’t looked great – he still appears to be in good shape.
The Spurs attack have only scored 4 goals over the six played from an xG of 5.43. Of those 4 goals, 3 have been scored by Son. The only goal not scored by him was a penalty converted by Dele Alli. This showcases that whenever Spurs score he is usually involved – great in terms of FPL potential.
Son has accumulated 32 FPL points; this is the joint 10th best score for a midfielder, with 3 goals in the 5 games he has played. With Kane struggling since rejoining the starting XI – the talismanic role at Spurs has now landed on Son’s shoulders – on which he is delivering.
Forwards
Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea) £11.7m
Chelsea begin their kind run of fixtures by facing off against Southampton, who have been a mid-table defensive side, ranking 11th defensively. Despite Lukaku blanking in his last two games, his stats since joining Chelsea in Gameweek 2 are really good.
Lukaku has an xGi of 3.28 in the league and has had 3 attacking returns – this displays he has underperformed a bit and more returns can be expected from him when the fixtures turn around from this gameweek on.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) £12.7m
Cristiano Ronaldo was last GW’s most captained player and was very unfortunate not to get anything from their loss against Aston Villa. Many assumed he would be on penalty duties but Bruno Fernandes took the one they got late in the Villa defeat and missed it.
Ronaldo has taken 17 shots at goal which have accumulated an xG of 3.39 in his first three league games for Manchester United and has a goal conversion rate of 17.6%.
Ronaldo, this week faces an Everton team who have conceded 19 chances through the middle of the park and 20 down the right flank ranked, 12th in the league for chances created down that side, the side where Ronaldo operates in – sounds promising!
Michail Antonio (West Ham) £8.0m
Michail Antonio has been the best value for money asset since day one, scoring 5 and assisting 4 others to make him the top-scoring forward in the game to date.
Antonio has had the highest xGi with 5.21 accumulated over the first 5 games he has played. His next opponent Brentford conceded 3 in their last game to league leaders Liverpool.
While I don’t think West Ham will score 3 – I can definitely see Antonio getting a goal or two – given he completes 90 minutes without injury.