Usually we’d never encourage managers to do anything rash, but not this week…
J-League
The top five in the J-League is almost identical to the way it was in our last update prior to Gameweek 32, with Gerard Dowling’s The El Special One the only new addition to the league’s elite in fourth place.
Ogie Nolan’s Tullig Panthers** continue to lead the way having become the first team in the league to break the 2,000 point barrier, a feat which evaded Alan Duggan’s Klippity Klopp by a single point back in second place.
Barring an unmitigated disaster, all of the top five will fly past 2,000 points after this weekend and with only 12 points separating Brian Haugh’s Hauzinho Harriers in third from Michael Walsh’s clipityKlopp in fifth, it’s all to play for as the pressure begins to build in the dying stages of the season.
J-League Top 5
- Tullig Panthers** – Ogie Nolan: 2024 points
- Klippity Klopp – Alan Duggan: 1,999 points
- Hauzinho’s Harriers – Brian Haugh: 1,992 points
- The El Special One – Gerard Dowling: 1,984 points
- clipityKlopp – Michael Walsh: 1,980 points
This week’s leaders: Tullig Panthers** – Ogie Nolan
Gameweek 34
Gameweek 34 is the first of three double gameweeks between now and the end of the season, but, word to the wise, if you’re waiting for the right moment to unleash your ‘bench boost’ or ‘all out attack’ chips, then it might be best wait until Gameweek 37, when there are 15 games in total.
Manchester United and Crystal Palace are the teams in action twice in the coming days and with regard to the former, injuries to key players have made the selection process tricky for Fantasy Football managers.
Although none have set the Fantasy Football points charts alight, David de Gea (£5.4 million), Antonio Valencia (£6.0 million) and Paul Pogba (£8.2 million) are probably the closest things to regulars in Jose Mourinho’s side.
All eyes, however, will turn to the in-form Marcus Rashford (£6.5 million), who has scored in his last two league games and will likely feature up top in the absence of the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
As far as Palace are concerned, meanwhile, Christian Benteke is on a run of three goals in four games and is decent value at just over £7 million and wingers Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend have both looked very sharp in what has been a decent spell for Big Sam’s men of late.
This week’s picks
Safe bet: Roberto Firmino (£8.6 million). Since the win over Arsenal at Anfield in March, the Brazilian has contributed either a goal or an assist in every league game he’s played.
Three goals, four assists and five bonus points in that time have led to 42 points in six games and in that form, he’s very hard to ignore.
Dark horse: Andros Townsend (£5.8 million). He might not catch the eye as much as Wilfried Zaha, but the former Spurs winger has bagged 27 points in his last three games thanks to a goal, three assists and six bonus points.
Captain’s choice: Marcus Rashford (£6.5 million). Granted, it’s a big gamble to hand the armband to someone who, for all his obvious talent, really should be doing better in front of goals.
That said, he’s clearly in form, his confidence is sky-high, he’s cheap and he has two opportunities to pile on the points. It’s worth a shot.
