Fantasy Football

The Scout and Fantasy experts provide everything you need to know ahead of Saturday's deadline.

Part 1: Best players to own for the run-in The best XI players are picked for the upcoming Gameweek. The Scout and the FPL experts recommend players you should be considering for your GW31 armband.

With Everton and Burnley playing twice in Gameweek 31 and Aston Villa not featuring in Gameweek 33, a lot of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers won't think ...

Most Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers will be playing for mini-league glory or a landmark rank as we enter the season run-in.

Scout: With no Bench Boost to play, will you be retaining a solid squad of 15 rather than pouring money into your starting XI, with one eye on rotation around the Champions League/Europa League/FA Cup and the rise in Covid cases?Håkon: I’m very happy that I got to play my Bench Boost in Double Gameweek 29 as I think it is the hardest chip to get right with all the planning that goes into it and all the compromises you might have to make in the weeks prior to and following the Gameweek you play it. Now that the Bench Boost is out of the way I am looking to put more money into my starting XI. For most of the season I’ve had a very solid squad, which has been useful with all the rotation and postponements, but it seems like things have settled down a bit now, so I think it’s okay to have at least one non-playing asset on the bench. If I go there, the players I’m considering are Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anthony Gordon and perhaps Richarlison. Calvert-Lewin would be my preferred choice but ideally, I’d like to see him start some games first.Scout: You currently don’t have any Manchester City players in your side – is that a situation that will change in the next few weeks or will they have to wait for their double later in the season?Håkon: Yes, I definitely want some Man City players back – they still have a lot to play for in the league and when they do I think it’s difficult to look past them (rotation risks or not). I had Joao Cancelo and Kevin De Bruyne before my Wildcard in Gameweek 28, when I got rid of both of them to be able to fit in Kane and to prepare for Double Gameweek 29 and Blank Gameweek 30. Do you still retain faith in forwards and prefer a more attacking set-up?Håkon: I’ve found it useful to have a solid team of 15 players for most of the season, and there’s always been a lack of forwards in the £4.5m-tier that actually get minutes consistently. Do any of their players appeal to you for their run of doubles, starting with GW31?Håkon: I thought their late win against Newcastle might ignite them a bit and they obviously have something to play for, which is important to keep in mind when entering the closing stages of the season. Hence, I’ve had to spend more on forwards, and when they cost more I find it a bit harder to put them on the bench – I guess that’s why I’ve ended up playing with three forwards for most of the season. I don’t really expect much from my current strikers apart from Harry Kane, and having played my Bench Boost I think I might turn one of them into a non-playing one for the run-in.Scout: You’ve had only one Everton player in your team all season, and that was Dominic Calvert-Lewin back in Gameweek 3-4. How long have you been a Member?Håkon: I’ve been a Member for three years I think, and I mainly use the stats that are accessible on the site. I still think the smart play is to just keep trying to bring in the players that do well. Are you usually this aggressive with transfers or is this season a bit of a one-off given the raft of postponements, blanks/doubles etc?Håkon: I tend to be quite aggressive with transfers – even more so in previous seasons. I don’t think I’ll pay much attention to that going forwards, though, and I don’t think my mindset has changed a lot. I still think it’s rather unrealistic to actually do it, though, as there are a lot of managers with similar teams/chips that are in a great position to win it as well, but I gather I’ve got as good a chance as anyone – so I’m going for it!

The Premier League is marching on furiously towards the tail end of the campaign and now is the time to make the smartest move that is sure to separate ...

Relying on Richarlison to find his scoring boots is your best bet as both teams have failed to showcase a standout player in form at the moment. Kane is sure to be on the hunt to score this week as he looks to improve the club's and his personal fortunes. Salah now returns to club duty where Liverpool is hot on the tail of Manchester City in a captivating title race that could be decided at the finish line. To be the best player in FPL you need to rely on the best players. To be the best player in FPL you need to rely on the best players. Who is the best pick for Captain?

Jameson Williams' star-crossed career is about to hit the pros. What's the speed merchant's outlook in Fantasy?

The same thing could end up happening to Williams, but he could also have a much better career statistically if he has a capable quarterback throwing to him. * caught 22 of 45 targets (49% catch rate) on passes of 15-plus Air Yards for 976 yards and 11 touchdowns. If he lands in a terrific offense with a great quarterback or on a team that may undergo a quarterback change in 2023, then he has a shot to be very special for Fantasy. He's a lock as a top-10 pick in rookie-only drafts and could sneak into the top-3 if the draft results in a best-case scenario. Also stepped out of bounds when running down the sideline on way to the end zone against New Mexico State. * Tore his ACL in January during the National Championship game. He rounded his cuts on deep posts and digs. The Chargers are one of the league's pass-heaviest teams, and while they haven't proven to be schematically efficient with their receivers, they do have one of the best quarterbacks around. * Ran every route in the book but was constantly open versus zone coverage because defenders feared his speed. In fact, he won multiple state titles in the 300-meter hurdles and broke a state record previously held by Ezekiel Elliott in the process. Plus, Patrick Mahomes has one of the best arms in the game. On the gridiron, Williams posted 1,062 yards and 15 touchdowns on just 36 receptions with three kickoff returns for scores as a junior, then followed that up with 68 catches for 1,626 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior. Rated a four-star prospect from 247Sports, Williams chose to attend Ohio State beginning in 2019.

Following an industrious Fantasy Premier League gameweek 30, we bring our attention to the weekend as FPL managers look to prepare for the final stride ...

Blank Gameweek 30 was concluded in North London as Spurs defeated West Ham 3-1. Harry Kane (£12.5m) accrued three assists and 13 FPL points, whilst Heung-Min ...

Liverpool have the benefit of playing on Saturday lunchtime in Double Gameweek 31, which means that they could go top of the Premier League table temporarily with victory at home to Watford. The Hornets are managed by former Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson and are currently sat inside the bottom three. In Mo Salah (£13.3), Liverpool boasts the highest-scoring FPL asset this season with 222 points to his name, whilst investment in the likes of Andy Robertson (£7.3m) and Virgil van Dijk (£6.8m) may prove smart plays when considering that the Reds have kept clean sheets in each of their last four Premier League matches. Winger Riyad Mahrez (£8.7m), has three goals across his last four Premier League appearances and if selected will no doubt be confident of further attacking returns here. We cast our eye over the teams most likely to attract attention from an FPL perspective in Double Gameweek 31, alongside those players who could prove lucrative assets. Harry Kane (£12.5m) accrued three assists and 13 FPL points, whilst Heung-Min Son (£10.9m) scored twice and racked up 15 FPL points of his own. Leeds took full advantage of the extra man and completed an excellent comeback, winning 2-3 with defender Luke Ayling (£4.3m) netting the winner.