The Perfect XI format of Fantasy EPL on Fantrax is going to take the community by storm. Fact. Our good friends at @DPLCommLeague have brought the concept over to Fantrax, and it is sensational. We're here to provide Draft Premier League managers with our very own Perfect XI tips for each gameweek. Details of the concept and rules can be found here!
Check out @DPLCommLeague for further information on the format, regular updates on the latest standings, as well as information on how you can enter.
Fantasy EPL Gameweek 30 Perfect XI
So, what is Perfect XI? Similar to Official Fantasy Premier League game, all managers have full access to the entire player pool each week, meaning mutiple teams within the league could be completely identical. The main departures from OFPL are the Fantrax Default Scoring, unlimited transfers each week, no budget/salary cap, and live lineup changes available. This means that each week you can select a dream team of Fantrax assets who you think will score the most points on a given gameweek, and have the added bonus of being able to see the real life lineups before your players lock in your lineup. Magic.
After a long international break, it can be tricky to decide whether to leverage form or rest. This week's Perfect XI tries to leverage both, while keeping in mind fixture timing so that you have plenty of options to pivot should one of your stars get benched!
Check out our Gameweek 30 Perfect XI tips below. These are our recommendations for the best eleven players this weekend!
GK: Edouard Mendy
Team: Chelsea
Opponent: West Brom (Home)
Total Fantasy Points: 174.5
Points Last Gameweek: 16
Rostered: 79%
The Thought: With 6 saves and 3 clean sheets over the last three games, Mendy is 2nd overall for GK scoring in that period. West Brom, at 20 goals scored in 29 games, are 2nd lowest in the category. Combine that with the fact that Chelsea have allowed the fewest passes into the final third during Tuchel's reign, the quality of most WBA shots will be low. It only takes a clean sheet and few easy saves to cement Mendy into the top 5 GKs this week.
DEF: Marcos Alonso
Team: Chelsea
Opponent: West Brom (Home)
Total Fantasy Points: 88.5
Points Last Gameweek: 0 (22 last start March 8th)
Rostered: 79%
The Thought: Alonso has been given 5 starts under Tuchel resulting in ~17 PPM. Tuchel typically favors Alonso in easier fixtures and against teams leaning on set pieces to get their goals. Additionally, Chilwell played in all three IB games for England, so I expect Alonso to start. In possession, he is often operating as the left inner forward with his winger counterpart holding the width on the sideline. You can't ask for better potential for returns in both attack and defense this gameweek.
DEF: Luke Shaw
Team: Manchester United
Opponent: Brighton (Home)
Total Fantasy Points: 258
Points Last Gameweek: 13.5
Rostered: 97%
The Thought: Leading the defender position for key passes, Shaw is another DEF candidate that should come away with a CS plus attacking returns in a chalk matchup. Like many fullbacks in the elite tier, he has a steady flow of set pieces and can cross well from open play. I like him even more if Pogba and Cavani are fit enough to start the game given their abilities on set pieces.
DEF: Lucas Digne
Team: Everton
Opponent: Crystal Palace (Home)
Total Fantasy Points: 216
Points Last Gameweek: 15
Rostered: 99%
The Thought: In GW29, Digne produced 15 pts without a goal or assist in a game Everton lost 2-1. It's exactly this type of Fantrax production that locks him into the Perfect XI most weeks. Palace play narrow and low, meaning Digne should be whipping balls into DCL from the byline and corner flag most of the day. A whopping 30% of Everton's goals scored come from set pieces, and unsurprisingly they lead the league in headed goals at 13.
MID: Mason Mount
Team: Chelsea
Opponent: West Brom (Home)
Total Fantasy Points: 348.5
Points Last Gameweek: 8
Rostered: 100%
The Thought: Mount is selected here for form, not rest. In fact, he hasn't rested much at all, playing in 135+ minutes of international football. He earned himself a goal and assist over that period, and in one half vs San Marino created 8 chances - the last player to do this in a World Cup qualifying game was Xavi for Barcelona. Mount takes the majority of set pieces even if Ziyech/Chilwell are on the pitch. He may also be the first choice penalty taker. The Draft Society writers have Mase in the Top 10 ROS for good reason, and I expect a haul for the future Chelsea captain.
MID: Bruno Fernandes
Team: Manchester United
Opponent: Brighton (Home)
Total Fantasy Points: 518
Points Last Gameweek: 17
Rostered: 100%
The Thought: Maybe I should re-title this article to Perfect X because Bruno is an every week, every day, every hour play when starting. He's the best player in Fantrax this season. His ability to score mountains of points in short bursts of ManU possession means that he can save your team even in the dying minutes of the game. In fact, he converted an extra time penalty in this reverse fixture. At home, Bruno is averaging 3.4 shots and 3.5 key passes per game. Don't fade him.
MID: Jack Grealish
Team: Aston Villa
Opponent: Fulham (Home)
Total Fantasy Points: 393
Points Last Gameweek: 0
Rostered: 100%
The Thought: Am I crazy? Yes! But... he's been on grass since the early days of the IB so he'll have had several days of team practice. This might be the only gameweek you could start Jack as a "differential". I know Villa have been woeful but that's mostly due to Jack being out. He should be motivated to convince Southgate to pick him in the Euro squad. Against the current relegation teams, Jack is averaging 20.67 points per game.
MID: Kevin De Bruyne
Team: Manchester City
Opponent: Leicester City (Away)
Total Fantasy Points: 373.5
Points Last Gameweek: 26.5
Rostered: 100%
The Thought: Man City is the only team where I don't look at the opposing team when it comes to their attack. Nearly fixture proof, KDB has been the best Fantrax midfielder of the last decade - only recently being supplanted by Bruno. During his incredible campaign last season, KDB delivered an average of 2.3 shots and 3.9 key passes per game in the EPL. This season due to prevalence of the False 9 set up Pep has favored, he is delivering 3.3 shots and 3 key passes per game meaning higher goal potential for the Belgium.
FWD: Harry Kane
Team: Tottenham
Opponent: Newcastle United (Away)
Total Fantasy Points: 454
Points Last Gameweek:12.5
Rostered: 100%
The Thought: Newcastle are spiraling out of control. I'm loath to support a Spurs player in any capacity. However, you'd be foolish to avoid Kane in the type of game where no one would bat an eye at a 4-0 Spurs scoreline. Say what you will about Jose Mourinho's management of his team; he's turned Kane into the beginning, the middle, and the end of the Spurs attack. It's run through Kane regardless of who Jose chooses to start alongside him up top.
FWD: Raphinha
Team: Leeds United
Opponent: Sheffield United (Home)
Total Fantasy Points: 308.5
Points Last Gameweek: 21.5
Rostered: 89%
The Thought: Due to COVID Brazil did not have any games, meaning Raphinha is well rested and ready to continue his reign as one of the best EPL players of 2021. Since New Year's Day, Raphinha is the highest scoring forward, 20 points ahead of Harry Kane. A community darling, you know him, you love him. Start him.
FWD: Patrick Bamford
Team: Leeds United
Opponent: Sheffield United (Home)
Total Fantasy Points: 332.5
Points Last Gameweek: 18
Rostered: 99%
The Thought: Bamford is an enigma. He is an xG analyst's nightmare, fluffing his lines one minute and scoring worldies the next. Even if you're not a fan of Bamford, you should be a fan of forwards starting against Sheffield United. If you stacked Bamford with Raphinha last time out, you were happy. I don't see a reason to go away from that stack unless you're buried in the DPL Perfect XI league standings. If so, see my honorable mentions below for differentials.
Honorable Mentions (in no particular order):
GK: Pope, Martinez, Lloris
DEF: James, Azpi, Cancelo, Aurier, Vestergaard, Wan-Bissaka
MID: Havertz, Rodriguez, Harrison, Bale, Moura, Antonio, Lingard
FWD: Son, Salah, Rashford, Sterling, DCL, Neto
For all the latest from Adam, follow @Chelseablues24x on Twitter!
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