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 38 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 38 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 38 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
Mohammed Salisu vs. WHU
In his last two starts Salisu has scored at least eight points despite not keeping a clean sheet. This may be a risky play given West Ham are in a must win game, but if Saints manage to keep a clean sheet you could be looking at close to 20 points from the Saints defender. Salisu is surely one to watch heading into next season, but for this gameweek he is a decent DEF3 streamer.
Alternate:
Rhys Williams vs. CRY
Kenny Tete vs. NEW
Fernandinho vs. EVE
Defender Sits
Rob Holding vs. BHA
Holding isn’t one to score well without a return or a clean sheet. Despite this being basically a dead rubber fixture, Brighton are coming off a high after scoring three against Manchester City. I really don’t see Arsenal keeping a clean sheet this week, and without one you are looking at under 5 points for Holding. Even if Arsenal somehow keep a clean sheet Holding will probably get you 11-13 points. Holding is not the way to go this week, especially if you need upside.
Alternate:
Sergio Reguilon vs. LEI
Timothy Castagne vs. TOT
Victor Lindelof vs. WOL
Midfielder Starts
Emile Smith Rowe vs. BHA
Smith Rowe returned a disappointing 1.5 points in the win vs. Palace, but his upside this week is too good to bench. In what should be quite an open game there is every chance Smith Rowe gets himself an attacking return or at least 8-10 ghost points. Smith Rowe is very much a boom or bust player, but shouldn’t be benched in a good final matchup. Smith Rowe will also be looking to finish off the season on a strong note to ensure he is in strong contention to start the next campaign in the first choice XI.
Alternates:
Miguel Almiron vs. FUL
Mateo Kovacic vs. AVL
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa vs. NEW
Midfielder Sits
James Rodriguez vs. MCI
James could be fit to start the game vs. Manchester City, but regardless he is one to drop to the FA pool to finish this season. Even if he gets the start I would not start the out of form midfielder. Everton look a much better team without James, and he could easily finish with a single digit score. James has also started to split set plays with Gylfi and Digne decreasing his value even more against the champions.
Alternate:
Wilfried Zaha vs. MCI
Bernardo Silva vs. EVE
Theo Walcott vs. WHU
Forward Starts
Ferran Torres vs. EVE
Torres was hooked quite early in the loss to Brighton after Cancelo was sent off. I would be surprised if he didn’t start this game with a chip on his shoulder after being the one sacrificed. Coming off a recent hat trick Torres must have felt hard done by, and will be eager to finish off the season strong. Torres is probably not in the XI for the UCL final but will do everything he can to give Pep a selection headache.
Alternates
Ivan Cavaleiro vs. NEW
Nicolas Pepe vs. BHA
Forward Sits
Sergio Aguero vs. EVE
In what will probably be Aguero’s final appearance for Manchester City, a lot of managers will be tempted to play him, potentially even from the bench. While it could be written in the stars for Aguero to leave after scoring a hat-trick, I think there’s a better chance he ends the game with under 10 points and being hooked around the hour mark. I could regret writing this come Sunday night, but I wouldn’t even be surprised to see Aguero finish with under 3 points. Everton have kept 3 clean sheets in their last 4 games and will be looking to push for a European place on the final day.
Alternate:
Fabio Silva vs. MUN
Raheem Sterling vs. EVE
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