Getting your team selection correct in Draft Premier League is just as essential as your pre-season draft or your weekly waiver wire claims. And this is why we’re here to help with our Gameweek 36 Start and Sit article! We're here to talk you through some of the big Fantasy EPL decisions you may need to make for the upcoming fixtures.
This article dovetails particularly well with the Fantrax Weekly Rankings submitted on Fantrax HQ every week! Go check it out, we're the Official Content Providers for Fantrax HQ!
Gameweek 36 Start and Sit
Whether you’re an obsessed EPL fan like our Draft Society team, or a casual player new to the world of Fantasy EPL, you know to start your attacking players against relegation threatened sides. We’re not going to waste your time dealing with the obvious! The goal of this article is to delve into notable players across each Fantrax position and let you know if you should be starting or sitting those particular players.
For our Gameweek 36 Start and Sit candidates, we’re going to highlight one player in detail for each section, as well as suggesting another alternate. Let us get to it!
Defender Starts
Vladimir Coufal vs BHA
Coufal has slowly become a very consistent fantasy asset, and has the chance at a big score this gameweek. Coming up against a Brighton team missing both Maupay and Dunk will increase not only his clean sheet potential, but a chance for an attacking return too. With Antonio back for the Hammers, Coufal will be looking to swing in a lot more crosses and Coufal has the potential to be a top 5 defender this gameweek.
Alternates:
Michael Keane vs SHU
Antonee Robinson vs SOU
Liam Cooper vs BUR
Defender Sits
Matthew Lowton vs LEE
Are you surprised a Burnley player features here? Lowton has performed well the last three weeks, but I am backing Leeds to put at least one past Burnley, if not more. With Raphinha probably back in the XI, he will be hungry to get back amongst the returns. Cooper may return to the XI, increasing Leeds' attacking threat from set plays, and this may be one of those weeks Lowton sees a negative score despite his recent form.
Alternates:
Joel Ward vs AVL
Conor Townsend vs LIV
Adam Webster vs WHU
Midfielder Starts
Matt Ritchie vs MCI
Although Ritchie has a very tough matchup, I don’t think he is worth benching especially over a blank gameweek. Ritchie has scored 7 or higher in his last 4 gameweeks against Leicester, Arsenal, Liverpool, and West Ham. Ritchie takes his fair share of set plays, and racks up counting stats all over the pitch. He could have a lot of defensive work to do against the champions, only adding to his ghost point potential for this gameweek. He was also selected in the Gameweek 36 Sleepers XI.
Alternates:
Pablo Fornals vs BHA
Abdoulaye Doucoure vs SHU
Nathan Redmond vs FUL
Midfielder Sits
Stuart Dallas vs BUR
Despite his massive score against Spurs, I expect Dallas to struggle in this matchup against Burnley. Although I do think Leeds win I don’t expect Dallas to rack up a big score. It may be worth trying to trade him out on a high for a different midfielder such as Redmond if you can. Dallas is a hard one to predict, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him score under 6 this gameweek.
Alternates:
Miguel Almiron vs MCI
Luka Milivojevic vs AVL
Ruben Neves vs TOT
Forward Starts
Ivan Cavaleiro
Already featured in our GW36 Ghost Point article by @CNFC82, Cavaleiro is a must start this gameweek. He managed 21 ghost points last time out, and should start once again against an inconsistent Saints defence. He takes some set plays, but also contributes with dribbles, tackles, and crosses. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him finally get an attacking return, which would be his first since January.
Alternates:
Tyler Roberts vs BUR
Fabio Silva vs TOT
Forward Sits
Takumi Minamino vs FUL
Minamino may be a tempting start this blank gameweek, especially if he gets the start against Fulham. Although he has had a somewhat decent loan spell, his fantasy prospects are not promising. In his last 4 starts he has a COMBINED 9 points. Without a goal I would be shocked too see him crack 5 points. Here you are better off streaming an extra defender or midfielder.
Alternates:
Jordan Ayew vs AVL
David McGoldrick vs EVE
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