Week 28 Fantasy Premier League Player Picks

We’ve got only four games on the schedule in Official BPL fantasy and five for Fantrax, so there’s nothing wrong with your eyes, you are seeing plenty of repetition here with respect to teams that boast favorable fixtures.

Goalkeepers

Willy Caballero (Manchester City v. Stoke City) [2.84 Fantrax]

Caballero seems to have won the starting job from Claudio Bravo when it comes to the Premier League, further solidified with the recent 2-0 victory at Sunderland. While the Citizens’ defense has not been as miserly as it has in recent seasons, they’re still only allowing a tick over a goal per game at the Etihad while the Potters have suffered clean sheets in three of their past four tilts, leaving Caballero as an attractive budget pick.

Lucasz Fabianski (Swansea City at Hull City) [4.8 Official, 1.00 Fantrax]

Fabianski is averaging 2.6 ppg in Official and 0.48 ppg in Fantrax, which flat out stinks. However, if you’re looking for a cheap speculative play to free up funds elsewhere, you could certainly do worse, particularly given the non-frightening opposition.

Elden Jakupovic (Hull City v. Swansea City) [4.1, 6.38]

The Tigers and Swans have a relegation battle on their hands, and while Swansea has perked up of late, it’s still averaging only a goal per game on the road. Jakupovic is averaging 4.5 ppg in Official and 10.0 ppg in Fantrax at home, so he’s a nice option in a week without an overabundance of good ones.

Simon Mignolet (Liverpool v. Burnley) [4.7, 4.93]

Any time a team is welcoming Burnley, you’ve got an automatic pick at keeper or defense, as the Clarets have managed only 8 goals scored in 13 tries away from Turf Moor. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s actually one of the better home defenses in the league, allowing only 12 goals at the Kop compared to 22 away from home, so Mignolet has a great chance at a clean sheet win.

Joel Robles (Everton v. West Bromwich Albion) [4.7, 8.05]

At Goodison Park, Joel is averaging 5.0 ppg in Official and 10.5 ppg in Fantrax. Combine that with the fact that Everton allows less than a goal per game at home and Albion scores less than a goal per game on the road and you’ve got yourself a winner!

Defenders

Andrea Ranocchia (Hull City v. Swansea City) [4.5, 2.01]

If you’re looking for a cheap defender, Ranocchia offers nice value. He’s averaging 6.4 ppg in Fantrax (though only 3.2 ppg in Official) and while you’re certainly not going to expect the clean sheet bonus against an offensively surging Swansea side, he should be plenty busy picking up phantoms.

Leighton Baines (Everton v. West Bromwich Albion) [5.7, 10.34]

Of the two high-priced Everton defenders, Baines is a better value compared to Seamus Coleman, but both are certainly good plays this weekend. The lefty has averaged 4.3 ppg in Official and 12 ppg in Fantrax over his past three games.

Alfie Mawson (Swansea City at Hull City) [4.6, 8.81]

Mawson can be pretty hit or miss based on his offensive contribution (18.3 ppg in Fantrax when he scores, 5.5 ppg when he doesn’t). With the Tigers visiting, he’s got a better than usual chance not only at scoring but also at capturing the clean sheet bonus.

Ragnar Klavan (Liverpool v. Burnley) [4.5, 3.05]

Jurgen Klopp seems to have figured out that playing one midfielder (James Milner) in defense should be the limit, whereas two (Lucas Leiva) goes too far. Coming off an inspired victory over Arsenal, Klavan should start again and offers a wonderful avenue for getting in on the Reds’ defense on the cheap with a strong chance at a clean sheet.

Ramiro Funes Mori (Everton v. West Bromwich Albion) [4.7, 8.39]

The sadly forgotten man in Everton’s defense, RFM is an even better bargain than Baines, Coleman, or Ashley Williams, so if you don’t have the cash to splash on Baines or Coleman, you know where to go.

Midfielders

Ross Barkley (Everton v. West Brom) [7.1, 11.79]

Barkley has in fine form lately with at least eight points in Fantrax in seven of his past eight games.

Robbie Brady (Burnley at Liverpool) [5.5, 2.57]

Brady is an essential budget option, particularly in Fantrax as goals (and therefore assists) have been hard to come by for Burnley on the road. Away from home, the midfield maestro is averaging 8.0 ppg in Fantrax, compared to only 3 ppg in Official.

Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool v. Burnley) [8.2, 13.60]

The Brazilian star finally seems to have shaken off the post-injury rust, averaging 20.5 ppg in Fantrax in his past two games.

Kamil Grosicki (Hull City v. Swansea City) [5.5, 1.32]

Another attractive budget option, the Hull City newcomer and Polish playmaker is averaging 6 ppg in Fantrax and has notched two assists in his four games in the Official scoring system. With the Swans flying into town, you won’t get a much better match-up.

Sadio Mane (Liverpool v. Burnley) [9.4, 14.43]

Averaging 10.3 ppg in Official and 15.3 ppg in Fantrax in his past three games, can you afford not to have the Senegalese star winger with Burnley coming to town?

Gylffi Sigurdsson (Swansea City at Hull City) [7.6, 23.38]

Much more attractively priced in Official than in Fantrax, the Swans’ maestro should still pay off either way. After all, in Fantrax he’s notched double digit points totals in nine of his past 10 games, with at least 15 points in five of those.

Strikers

Sergio Aguero (Manchester City v. Stoke City) [13.32 Fantrax]

The Potters are coming off a 4-0 shellacking at the hands of Tottenham in their last away game, so Kun surely must be licking his chops. Kun is a much better option up front than Raheem Sterling, who misses out on assists in Fantrax that he gets in Official due to the latter’s wacky scoring system. As with Caballero, it’s too late to add Aguero for this game in Official if you don’t already have him, but you can snap him up in Fantrax.

Roberto Firmino (Liverpool v. Burnley) [8.4, 16.02]

Averaging 6.9 ppg in Official and 13.2 ppg in Fantrax at Anfield, the Brazilian sniper is a must have given the locale and opposition . [Note: Firmino is listed as a striker in Official but as a midfielder in Fantrax.]

Joshua King (Bournemouth v. West Ham) [5.4, 11.59]

After starting the season sluggishly with only two goals (and one assist) in his first 17 games, King has heated up with six scores in his past nine fixtures. On top of that, he’s at home against a subpar defense. Of course, he is fairly penalty kick dependent, so if you don’t get a friendly call from the ref, you may be left wanting. [Note: King is listed as a striker in Fantrax but as a midfielder in Official.]

Fernando Llorente (Swansea at Hull City) [6.3, 7.98]

The La Liga import has nabbed five goals in his past half dozen games and 19th place Hull City is on the ledger, so you know what to do.

Romelu Lukaku (Everton v. West Bromwich Albion) [10.0, 18.38]

Albion has a fairly strong defense on the road, but it’s difficult to bet against the big Belgian who is averaging 7.0 ppg in Official and 13.3 ppg in Fantrax at Toffeeville.

Which of the above players are you adding into your fantasy teams and who else do you have your eyes on? Join in the comments section below!