Who to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James with? How to navigate Blank Gameweek 12? The best differentials for GW11 and beyond! Follow Sky Sports for dedicated Fantasy coverage throughout the season, including tips, expert advice and the latest team news
Friday 14 October 2022 20:03, UK
Sky Sports continues its weekly column bringing you essential tips from the best Fantasy Premier League managers in the world.
In our latest column, Holly Shand and Wes Prickett (FPL Heisenberg) discuss how to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, what to do with Aleksandar Mitrovic and much more!
The Gameweek 11 deadline is earlier than usual at 6.30pm on Friday and it's not too late to join the official Sky Sports Fantasy League with code e7ft7m.
Holly Shand: I think the injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.3m) has been a huge favour to his owners, who can finally let go of him after a disappointing start to the season. Reece James (£6.1m) owners should be cautious: his injury isn't thought to be a huge issue and if there's a chance he's available for Gameweek 12, he will be important for our squads.
Joao Cancelo (£7.3m) and Kieran Trippier (£5.6m) are the must-own players among the premium options, given their chances of picking up attacking returns and bonus points.
FPL Heisenberg: I haven't had Trent for a while now and I have no interest in going back there any time soon - even before his injury. So, if you have him he's an easy sell for the likes of Trippier, Eric Dier (£5.2m) or Lewis Dunk (£4.6m). With James it's a tougher decision, my current thoughts are I'll probably hold him as there are reports that he may only miss one Gameweek - however this decision depends on any news that may break in the next day or so.
FPL Heisenberg: My plan at the time of writing is to hold Aleksandar Mitrovic (£6.8m), assuming he'll be back for this Gameweek. If he isn't, I have Andreas Pereira (£4.6m) as my first sub which is decent enough. I really need Mitrovic to be back for Gameweek 12 as I'm already stretched thin for that Gameweek with Man City and Arsenal blanking.
Holly Shand: Marco Silva was positive about Mitrovic's availability for Bournemouth, so keep an eye out on an update in his press conference on Friday. If it transpires that he is unavailable, with the quick turnaround to Blank Gameweek 12, we may need to sell him for Dominic Solanke (£5.7m).
Holly Shand: Midweek Gameweeks tend to be low scoring with plenty of rotation and that's compounded by the blank in the schedule, plus injuries to some highly-owned players. Arsenal and Manchester City are the best teams in the Premier League so far this season, so it's reasonable to hold 3-4 of their players during the blank, especially those who you've owned for a while and may have valued tied up in them - Erling Haaland (£12.2m) and Gabriel Martinelli (£6.6m) are among the highest price risers in particular this campaign.
FPL Heisenberg: It'll be really tempting to use your Free Hit chip in Blank Gameweek 12. I'd advise against this if possible, as later on in the season there will be bigger blank and double Gameweeks so your Free Hit will be really useful then. Therefore, my plan is to ride out Gameweek 12 the best I can, use my bench players and maybe a minus 4 to muddle my way through it.
FPL Heisenberg: I like lots of options in the same price bracket as Luis Diaz (£8m). James Maddison (£8.3m), Wilfried Zaha (£7.4m), Jarrod Bowen (£8.2m) and Mason Mount (£7.6m) are all great replacements. Phil Foden (£8.2m) too after Man City get their blank out the way.
If you need to free up cash, consider Leandro Trossard (£6.8m) who has two great fixtures and great form this season. Diogo Jota (£8.9m) isn't right now, Darwin Nunez (£8.8m) I'm a little more interested in, however there are still other forwards who I prefer. With Man City up next for Liverpool, I'm not going to be bringing in any of their players this week regardless.
Holly Shand: Foden is the best replacement, despite the blank in Gameweek 12, if you aren't tripled up on Manchester City players already. Bowen and Maddison are also very credible options. Jota and Nunez aren't on my radar, since Liverpool haven't shown consistent form and the injury issues are mounting up across their best XI.
FPL Heisenberg: Kepa Arrizabalaga (£4.4m) is a good shout as he's a bargain but I won't be using any of my upcoming transfers on changing my goalkeeper. If you are wildcarding, you can go for Kepa. If not, stick with who you've got until the World Cup break after Gameweek 16.
Holly Shand: Most Fantasy managers will have bigger issues in their squad and so shouldn't be spending a precious transfer on a goalkeeper. If he's still first choice after Blank Gameweek 12, then buy him to get ahead of the curve. He could well be a very popular acquisition for Fantasy managers with unlimited transfers in play during the World Cup break.
Holly Shand: In defence, Marc Guehi (£4.3m) has great fixtures, carries some goal threat from set pieces and is among the cheapest starting defenders in the game.
In midfield, Bowen is still low-owned and has both recent form and good upcoming fixtures. He's on penalties and capable of racking up significant attacking returns.
Up front, Solanke should continue to tick over with promising fixtures and he's the main man in the team. Expect 90 minutes every single game and spot-kicks too.
FPL Heisenberg: Dunk, Mount and Gianluca Scamacca (£6.7m).
Dunk has two really strong fixtures and is nailed on to play every Gameweek whereas some of the more exciting picks, like Ben Chilwell (£5.8m) for example, may suffer from rotation as the games are coming thick and fast now.
Mount has hit form nicely and got a partial rest in the Champions League, coming off at half-time and still getting player of the match. Scamacca looks to be West Ham's main man up front now and he's getting lots of good chances, scoring goals too.
Holly Shand: Yes, I would look to switch to a 3-5-2 soon: most of the midfielders priced around £8m look to be promising options right now. We can't afford to have a non-playing third forward for our benches right now, but hopefully, Solanke can fill that gap. We only need one premium right now when it comes to captaincy in Haaland, so that should leave the budget more flexible than normal.
FPL Heisenberg: No, not necessarily. FPL changes quickly, it was only a couple of Gameweeks ago we all wanted to squeeze in three forwards. There's nothing wrong with going for five in midfield with a cheap forward, however, I personally prefer a 3-3-3 formation, with Andreas as cover should any of my forwards or midfielders miss out.
