Game Week 37 Fantrax Player Picks

It’s another week of “double trouble.” Step inside and let me guide you through the options.

By David Brian May 3, 2018, 6:00am PDT

Dusan Tadic - Southampton - Premier League — Dusan Tadic’s form has reignited recently. Can he maintain his hot streak and lead Southampton to safety? Are you counting on him to lead your fantasy team to glory?

As we get down to the wire on the 2017/2018 English Premier League season, GW 37 is shaping up to be a crazy game week. Teams are still fighting for position at both ends of the table, and twelve teams have a double. For managers both real and fantasy, this week is sure to be full of drama, surprises, heartbreak, and glory.

[Editor’s note: The Fantrax DGW exists in the NMA League but not in the +Bench League. The latter is treating the six mid-week matches as a separate, extra game-week with its own deadline on Tuesday.]

Let’s have a look (teams playing twice are italicized in the weekend matches).

Friday 4 May

Yes, Friday, which gives us an early deadline. Don’t miss it!

Brighton vs Manchester United

Saturday 5 May

Sunday 6 May

Tuesday 8 May

[+Bench League has a separate deadline 15 minutes prior to this match.]

Swansea vs Southampton

Wednesday 9 May

Chelsea vs Huddersfield
Leicester vs Arsenal
Man City vs Brighton
Tottenham vs Newcastle

Thursday 10 May

West Ham vs Man Utd

Single-Gamers:

There is only one single-gamer I’d consider this week, and that is Seamus Coleman. At $4.82, his ability to produce returns at both ends of the pitch makes him a reasonable option over a double-gamer.

Double-Gamers:

Like always, there will be single-gamers who outscore double-gamers this week. But the odds are always best for someone playing twice, so I stack my teams with DGW-teams’ players who are unlikely to be rotated. Below are the players I’m looking at this week.

Man City (HUD, BRI)

Ederson ($12.02): Double clean sheets are a very real possibility.

~~Danilo ($6.53):~~ ~~Kyle Walker~~ ~~is struggling with a groin problem, which could open the door for Danilo. Even if he only gets one game, he’ll be at home playing weak opposition.~~

Apparently Walker trained with the team on Thursday. That casts too much doubt on Danilo’s status to risk investing in him. I’ll be looking at teams other than City for my defenders this game week now.

Kevin De Bruyne ($20.72): Pricey, but if there was ever a game week worth paying up for him, surely this is it.

Leroy Sane ($12.75): Excellent value this week at that price.

David Silva ($12.32): Another excellent value, but may not get both games. Follow team news.

Gabriel Jesus ($9.90): Given his return potential and likelihood of starting, his price is a bargain.

Raheem Sterling ($17.52): Expensive but in fine form.

Tottenham (whu, NEW)

Hugo Lloris ($9.99): Double clean sheets are a very real possibility.

Jan Vertonghen ($10.16): Almost sure to get both games. I don’t see how he won’t at least return his price.

Ben Davies ($10.17): An excellent Fantrax performer, but there is a slight risk that he won’t start both games.

Son Heung-Min ($11.46): He’s in great form, but among Spurs attackers he is the most likely to share pitch time.

Dele Alli ($13.66): He seldom works out for me, so I’m making alternative choices this week. That probably means you should pick him.

Christian Eriksen ($17.12): I don’t see any way he doesn’t return his price this game week.

Harry Kane ($22.94): Given his recent performances, he’s too expensive for me. However, he’s intent on the golden boot, so I can’t blame you if you think this is the week he runs riot.

Man United (bri, whu)

David De Gea ($13.05): Double clean sheets are a very real possibility.

Chris Smalling ($9.25): He seems like the defender with the safest place in the S11.

Paul Pogba ($9.59): A decent value for two games at that price.

Alexis Sanchez ($15.50): Kind of expensive, but with Lukaku struggling with an injury he may line up in the striker position. And regardless of where he plays, he’ll get both starts.

Anthony Martial or Marcus Rashford: Follow team news to see if Lukaku’s injury will make space for one of these men.

Swansea (bou, SOU)

Jordan Ayew ($10.39): In good form, and the opposition is favorable.

Leicester (WHU, ARS)

Ben Chilwell ($7.15): He’s been a solid producer in Fantrax, but make sure he’s going to get both games.

Jamie Vardy ($11.69): Leicester seemed to have checked out at this point. But with Vardy priced at less than $12 for two home games, a fantasy manager could take worse gambles.

Chelsea (LIV, HUD)

Marcos Alonso ($9.39): He should be money this game week.

Eden Hazard ($13.16): Should start both, and is priced right.

Olivier Giroud ($5.18): If he holds the starting striker role, Giroud is a tremendous value for two games at his price.

Arsenal (BRN, lei)

Shkodran Mustafi ($8.98): Seems nailed on for two possible clean sheets.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ($5.60): His ineligibility for the Europa League will continue to work in his favor for EPL starts. And he’s priced to sell!

Southampton (swa, eve)

Alex McCarthy ($1.00): It looks like Southampton have decided that they want to stay up, and for a buck McCarthy looks like an excellent value play this game week.

Dusan Tadic ($9.76): He’s rediscovering his form just in time to lead Soton’s survival fight. He’ll start both games, the match-ups are good, and he’s moderately priced.

Newcastle (tot, wat)

Jonjo Shelvey ($4.98): I must be crazier than Jonjo Shelvey to recommend Jonjo Shelvey. But the hot-headed bald guy is actually worth his low price in a double game week. Save here and spend elsewhere.

West Ham (lei, MUN)

Aaron Cresswell ($9.25): An excellent Fantrax performer who should be worth his price over two games.

Brighton (MUN, mci)

Shane Duffy ($8.14): He produces points against good opposition and bad, and with or without clean sheets. The opposition this game week couldn’t be harder, and clean sheets are unlikely. But he’s still a fantasy play that is likely to pay off.

Huddersfield (che, mci)

Terence Kongolo ($3.78): Same story as Duffy.

Are you loading up on double-gamers? What single-gamers do you like? Are you including a Liverpool attacker in your squad? Are you rolling with an expensive goalkeeper, or placing your trust in a dollar-store option like McCarthy? Come on in and talk it over.