This latest Fantasy Challenge, titled “Economise”, sees the budget shrunk to just £45million. What’s more, FPL managers must also pick an extra two players – amounting to a seven-a-side team – within those budget constraints.
It means there will almost certainly be tough choices between the game’s premium assets, with greater emphasis placed on selecting the right budget gems capable of racking up points for your line-up.
To account for the increased team size, the formations to be chosen from this week are: 2-1-3, 2-2-2, 2-3-1, 3-1-2 and 3-2-1.
Once a player’s team have started their first match of the Gameweek they will be locked from any changes. However, you can otherwise tweak any remaining slots in your team – and even enter a full squad – right up until 16:30 GMT on Sunday.
Here, Alex Dakers identifies some of the best Fantasy Challenge picks for the matches that are left in Gameweek 12.
Sunday
16:30 GMT final Fantasy Challenge deadline
Ipswich v Man Utd
Ruben Amorim has been handed a relatively kind fixture for his first match as Manchester United head coach – though Ipswich have just secured their first win of the season, beating Spurs away last time out, and will undoubtedly be buoyed by that as they prepare to host the Red Devils.
Liam Delap (£5.6m) was the main beneficiary of that 2-1 win at Spurs, with a goal (his sixth of the campaign), assist and three bonus points giving him an 11-point haul. Attacking left-back Leif Davis (£4.5m) blanked in that game but had a goal and assist across his two matches prior to that, and is also currently leading all defenders for chances and big chances created. If there are any teething problems for United in their new system, expect those two to be key in Ipswich’s attempts to exploit them.
But it’s just as possible that Man Utd could continue their uptick in form under interim head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy and experience a “new manager bounce” under the positive vibes exuded by Amorim.
Bruno Fernandes (£8.4m) delivered back-to-back double-digit hauls, amounting to 27 total FPL points, just before the international break, while Amad (£4.9m) will hope his recent performances have earned him a continued starting spot under the new boss.
Alejandro Garnacho (£6.4m) will be hoping the same, having scored off the bench in United’s 3-0 win over Leicester City in Gameweek 11, while Ipswich’s poor defensive record – 22 goals conceded, one clean sheet – could also help Rasmus Hojlund (£6.9m) add to his goal tally, which stands at just one heading into Gameweek 12.
It’s as yet unclear exactly who Amorim will select in his defence, but expect Andrew Onan (£5.1m) to be a mainstay in goal. Only Liverpool have kept more clean sheets than United’s five this season.
Onana, currently the game’s highest-scoring goalkeeper, could therefore pair save points with a clean sheet against Ipswich, who have scored fewer goals (12 – coincidentally, the same number as United have managed themselves) than all but three top-flight sides.
Newcastle v West Ham
Gameweek 12 draws to a close with some Monday night action at St James’ Park.
From the hosts, Lewis Hall (£4.4m) is an increasingly popular FPL pick. He’s fifth among all defenders for chances created this season and offers the bonus of some set-piece duties.
Newcastle United also boast the third-best defensive record in the league, while West Ham United have struggled in their last two matches, failing to score a single goal without Mohammed Jerusalem (£6.2m) – who remains suspended until next month – in that time. Nick Pope (£5.0m) therefore could be worth a look as another goalkeeping option.
The Hammers have conceded 19 goals this season, seven of which have come in their last two away matches. If you have enough spare change floating around to complete your Fantasy Challenge squad, that could spell good news for Alexander Isak (£8.5m), who has scored three goals and provided an assist in a three-match run before the break against Chelsea, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.
