The roundtable results - GW11

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Last week we went around the table to get expert analysis on the topical fantasy football issues of the week, but how did the experts’ advice fair?

READ MORE: Here’s Gameweek 11’s roundtable picks in full

Here’s a quick reminder of who was on the panel for Gameweek 11.

Yahoo Daily Fantasy UK: Yahoo offers tips and tricks for all fantasy formats and even offer the chance to win money playing football every week.

The Chief is one of the largest accounts and authorities on fantasy football. Nearly 37,000 people think that as shown by his following on Twitter.

FPL_Heisenburg is currently in the top 4,000 on the Fantasy Premier League game and provides daily insight on the world of fantasy.

The Topics

With the addition of Demarai Gray, can Leicester rediscover their title-winning counter-attacking form?

Claude may Puel Leicester out of their current slump, but he’s given Pep Guardiola far too much of a head-start if the Foxes are to win the league. Their defence looks better and the attack is fast and free-flowing again. Despite their troubles, they’re still only four points behind Liverpool in sixth so a return to Europe for Leicester isn’t completely impossible.

Despite picking up a much needed win over the weekend, I still think that the Foxes are in a state of flux. It’s too early to say what Puel’s favoured formation is or if he will pick Gray on a weekly basis. I doubt Leicester will go back to their title-winning ways anytime soon. With that said Gray could be key for them in building from their current predicament.

Yes, I believe we will see an upturn for Leicester with Gray’s pace and ability. I still believe Vardy and Mahrez are the best Leicester assets from a fantasy perspective, but there’s no doubt Gray will improve Leicester.

Leicester stalled on their way to catching Manchester City with a 2-2 draw with Stoke. Riyad Mahrez got on the scoresheet to make it two goals and three assists in the last four games.

Leicester’s defence let them down but Harry Maguire produced attacking returns with his assist for Vicente Iborra’s opener, courtesy of a Demarai Gray cross.

Next up for the Foxes is Manchester City, the first of five home games in the next eight.

Winner: Everyone, Leicester looked good in attack again.

READ MORE: Is Mahrez a viable fantasy football option again?

Sterling scored one and could have had a couple in just 30 mins worth of play; is he worth the price even if he only plays for 30 mins?

Yes. Sterling has found himself subject to Pep’s rotation as of late but Sane’s run of starts in the league won’t continue all season. He will get chances to score each game and Pep has found the perfect role for him as a poacher, where he doesn’t have to rely on his inconsistent finishing.

The fact is he is Man City’s leading goal scorer in all competitions this season. The recent rotation has been somewhat surprising, especially considering his spectacular form. I think Man City’s rotation should be a cause for concern and we should monitor if Sterling can rack up fantasy returns with limited game time.

Yes, he even could’ve grabbed an assist as he slipped De Bruyne through 1 on 1 with Foster. Sterling is still a great pick despite the rotation rollercoaster Pep likes to take us on. With a mix of starts and 30 minute substitute appearances he will still score plenty of points.

Raheem Sterling started against Arsenal and got an assist for winning a penalty which Sergio Aguero converted. Assists from David Silva and Fernandinho, in addition to a goal from Kevin de Bruyne meant that Leroy Sane was the midfielder to miss out on the points in the Manchester midfield, his first blank in four Gameweeks. Sterling now has five returns in six starts, with a blank against Burnley from when he remained on the bench all game.

Winner: Everyone, Sterling produced again!

READ MORE: How to win money playing Yahoo Daily Fantasy

Are Lukaku’s assists good enough returns to keep him in your fantasy team during his goal-drought?

Lukaku is the only premium striker that has played every minute for his club in the Premier League so far. Kane, Morata, Aguero, Jesus and Lacazette have all seen their minutes reduced through injury and rotation. He has been involved in 100% of United’s goals in the last two games and with Newcastle, Brighton and Watford to follow Chelsea, managers should be patient with the Belgian.

He tends to be a ‘purple patch’ player whereby when he scores he does so for fun. Conversely his goal droughts are frustrating in equal measure. It’s a cause for concern that he’s not scoring as much as he did at the start of the season. The assists are just about keeping him in my team, but with a player of his calibre leading the line assists aren’t enough.

Hmm, tough one but I’d say yes. He’s provided a steady stream of points and if/when he’s back amongst the goals (which could be very soon with three good fixtures after Chelsea away) he will be heavily sought after again.

Romelu Lukaku did very little against Chelsea at the Bridge, producing one shot but he did not have a single touch in the Chelsea box. Manchester United’s attacking play may open up against non top-6 sides but it’s the classic case of form v fixtures currently.

Winner: No-one

Should fantasy managers be looking at Bournemouth players with their upcoming fixtures?

Prices on both FPL and Yahoo are deflated when teams are not in-form which means bargains can be found if you get in there early. Bournemouth’s defence has not been awful and with Newcastle, Huddersfield and Swansea to come, they could see some returns. Charlie Daniels has been pushed into a LWB role recently and could reward those brave enough to take the early plunge.

It can be easy to look at fixtures over form, especially when looking at budget players from the non-elite clubs. But the fact is that the Cherries haven’t been that great this season. I have zero interest in any of their players at present. It’s best to avoid them unless one of their players can put in consistent performances such as Josh King last season.

Slim pickings with Bournemouth, I’m personally waiting for an uplift in form before trusting their assets despite a very kind run looming.

Bournemouth picked up a clean sheet away to Newcastle in Gameweek 11. Newcastle may be lacking in goals at the moment, but so are Huddersfield, Swansea, Burnley, Southampton and Crystal Palace. That also happens to be the next five fixtures for the Cherries. Will they get clean sheets in all those games? No, but if they can get 3, they will have been worth the investment.

Winner: Yahoo

With some hard to call fixtures for some of the big teams who is your Gameweek captain choice?

West Ham’s defence is injury ravaged and Sadio Mane should get a run out in East London. This makes Mohamed Salah a very enticing option. Harry Kane is back but he’s playing at Wembley against a smaller side. Is the ‘curse’ still there? I feel Kane is the more explosive option however and will probably play it safe.

Gameweek 11’s captain pick seems fairly difficult. Had Harry Kane not been injured and 100% match fit I would have suggested him against Crystal Palace. This could be the weekend for a differential captain. If I had Tammy Abraham or Jamie Vardy, I would certainly consider either as reasonable captain picks from a non-top 5 club.

Harry Kane at home to Palace all day long (assuming he comes through the Real Madrid game unscathed.) Salah will be my vice captain (or will be my captain if Kane isn’t fit) as he’s a massive goal threat and he’s playing West Ham.

Harry Kane blanked at home to Crystal Palace. That makes it five blanks in six at home for Kane, with his brace and assist against Liverpool the only points he has produced in front of the Spurs faithful. Meanwhile, Salah scored a brace away to West Ham, to the dismay of many who had him as vice captain.

Winner: No-one

Who is the must-own fantasy player this Gameweek?

Mohamed Salah against West Ham. Liverpool will score goals and he’s had returns in eight of his 10 league games. The Egyptian shoots for fun so on the Yahoo format he scores highly even when he doesn’t necessarily score.

You will have to read my article later this week to find out!

I am a strong believer in nobody being a must-own player. However, I would say you must-have at least one Man City midfielder or forward. I thoroughly expect them to beat Arsenal convincingly this Gameweek.

READ MORE: The Chief’s must-own player for Gameweek 11!

Salah was definitely a must-have player with his brace. But Chief’s pick blanked for the first time in four games!

Winner: Yahoo.

Which teams are nailed on for clean sheets this week?

Newcastle, Spurs and Manchester United.

I know Newcastle conceded an unfortunate goal against Burnley on Monday Night, but I still think they could be a viable shout for a clean sheet this weekend.

My 5 top choices for clean sheers are; Huddersfield, Newcastle, Burnley, Spurs and Brighton.

Clean sheets were produced by Huddersfield, Bournemouth, Burnley, Brighton, Spurs and Chelsea in Gameweek 11.

Winner: Two points to Heisenburg for getting 5 out of 5!

Which team will generate the most fantasy points this Gameweek?

Manchester City are playing Arsenal and Manchester United are playing Chelsea. So I think Spurs are the best pick this week for fantasy points. On Yahoo fantasy, Eriksen consistently scores high because of his all-round game, where he is rewarded for crosses, interceptions and even every successful pass. I can see them shutting out Palace and scoring a few against the Eagles.

Man City seem to be scoring for fun. What’s stopping them scoring 4 or 5 at the Etihad against Arsenal and another one of their false dawns?

Man City. They are in blistering form and their attacking assets would dominate my captain thoughts but I fear Pep’s rotation.

Despite Manchester City scoring three, and Liverpool four, it was Spurs who scored the most points overall with 61. Clean sheets for all the defence as well as two bonus points for both Son and Gazzaniga, in addition to Vertonghen’s three tipped the battle in the north London club’s side.

Winner: Yahoo

Based on fixtures and current form, which player risks eating the poison pre-match lasagne (deliver a flop performance) this week?

Lukaku will fail to score again against a top-side and disappoint his many owners.

Richarlison’s overall season form to date has been superb. On paper he should cause trouble to a manager-less Everton team. However, he could very easily follow last week’s blank performance with another failure to score or assist.

Although he’s my captain this gameweek, Kane could flop like he did in other easy home fixtures against Burnley, Swansea and Bournemouth…. but let’s hope he doesn’t!

Richarlison produced again in an away fixture with a goal in Watford’s 3-2 loss to Everton. He has blanked once in six away games in the league, whereas he has only scored or assisted twice at home in five. Kane failed at Wembley again while Mourinho showed no attacking intent at the Bridge.

Winner: Yahoo and Heisenburg

READ MORE: Is Lukaku worth keeping past Chelsea for his upcoming fixtures?

Which fixture are you most looking forward to watching this game week and which alcoholic drink will be by your side?

It’s got to be Manchester City v Arsenal. City are unplayable at the moment and Wenger will try and fight fire with fire, unsuccessfully. Pep and Wenger seem like the wine type so I may join them with a glass while watching some exquisite footy.

Due to past history, Mourinho v Chelsea seems like the most tantalising match to watch this weekend with a Virgin Cuba Libre at hand!

Man City vs Arsenal 100%. There should be plenty of goals and I can’t see past a convincing win for City. When it comes to drink, it’ll probably be a nice cup of tea!

Winner: Heisenburg. Who doesn’t love a good cuppa with the footy.

Gameweek 11 Winner

Yahoo Daily Fantasy UK: 6

The Chief: 2

FPL_Heisenburg: 6

Better look next time Chief! Heisenburg nabbed himself two points for predicting five of the Gameweek’s six clean sheets. Enough to claw his way back level with Yahoo who took an early lead with a Bournemouth and Salah shouts.