The Premier League returns this weekend for its final helping of action before Christmas, and with it comes [Fantasy Premier League](https://fantasy.premierleague.com/) Gameweek 17.
Following our 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers last Saturday night, it’s more Saturday evening action this weekend as we make our first-ever trip to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, taking on Everton.
BUKAYO BRINGS THE HAUL
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Last weekend’s win saw Bukayo Saka (£10.3m) weigh in with 11 Fantasy points. Bukayo claimed assists for both of our goals and also scooped the maximum three bonus points, rewarding his 22.5% of owners and seeing his price now rise £0.5m since its lowest fee of £9.8m back in Gameweek 7.
Elsewhere, Piero Hincapie (£5.5m) claimed four points, while just in behind Saka in our form table are Mikel Merino (£6.1m, 5.8-point average over past five Gameweeks), and Ebere Eze (£7.8m, 5-point average). Meanwhile, leading the Gunners’ points tally with 86 is Declan Rice, who, following a drastic surge in popularity, can now be picked up for £7.1m, having cost just £6.5m at the start of the season.
He is now owned by over 22% of FPL bosses, but our new most popular player is David Raya (£6.0m), with our league-high defensive record earning our No. 1 a total of 68 points. David has been snapped up by 36.3% of FPL competitors as their first-choice goalkeeper, shortly followed by the 33.1% who have selected Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) to lead their defence.
Saturday’s opponents Everton sit ninth in the Premier League table, having seen their run of successive wins ended by their trip to Chelsea last weekend. The leading FPL performer for the Toffees this season has been defender Michael Keane (£4.6m), owned by just 3% of managers despite a 77-point haul. Central defensive partner James Tarkowski (£5.5m) is not far behind with 74, and has racked up 165 DefCons to bump up his weekly hauls.
Iliman Ndiaye (£6.4m) has seen his ownership dwindle due to his upcoming involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), while fellow popular picks Jack Grealish (£6.5m) and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (£5.1m) are currently injury doubts.
PLAY YOUR CHIPS
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There are now just three Gameweeks until the halfway point of the season, which means your four chips have to be played before the transfer deadline of GW19 on December 30, or those left unused will be lost.
The Premier League have [released a guide](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4362085?_gl=1*127jkkk*_gcl_au*MTQxMzM1MTMyNi4xNzYzNTA5MTAw*_ga*ODk2NDk1MDgyLjE3NTMyMjk5MTk.*_ga_Z815NWVZJY*czE3NjU4MzY2MzAkbzUzJGcxJHQxNzY1ODM2OTUwJGo1MiRsMCRoMA..) on when best to play your remaining chips, and recommend GW19 for a Wildcard with a longer-term strategy in mind, with this week for a potential Bench Boost. This is often appealing when clubs with a cheaper roster are facing favourable fixtures - and Bournemouth, Brighton and Leeds United all host winnable matches this weekend.
Just make sure when you utilise your Bench Boost chip that you have an entire squad of players who receive regular gametime, to ensure maximum productivity and haul potential. While some stars have made terrific impacts from the bench, you’ll need to ask yourself whether it’s a risk worth taking.
As for Triple Captain, the league’s leading points-scorer Erling Haaland (£15.0m) and in-form teammate Phil Foden (£8.8m) host West Ham United in GW17, but a rogue alternative for the captaincy bonus chip could be Bournemouth striker Evanilson (£7.0m). While a huge gamble, the Cherries host Burnley this weekend having just scored four in their enthralling draw at Manchester United to round off GW16 when the Brazilian was back among the scorers, and his ownership currently stands at just 1.4%.
Brentford’s Igor Thiago (£7.2m) continues his hugely impressive campaign up top, and the Bees travel to Molineux this weekend to take on Wolves, potentially a good opportunity for a points haul.
The Free Hit chip could be an intriguing prospect if you still have it intact, with numerous appealing fixtures. Five clubs have a fixture rated ‘2’ on the difficulty algorithm, including Bournemouth, Brentford, Fulham and Manchester City. However, the Free Hit could also be pertinent next week ahead of GW18 - due to six clubs having ‘2’-rated fixtures, but these do include Burnley and Everton, who face each other, as do Fulham and West Ham.
If you’re willing to wait, a GW19 Free Hit may be your best bet, with six separate fixtures featuring a side heavily tipped to perform by the algorithm. Brighton, Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest all head into favourable FPL matches in the final Gameweek before all chips are reset.
‘ATTACKING’ DEFENDERS
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Many FPL defensive lines are dictated by how much each defender can offer in terms of an attacking threat. Before he was sidelined, an example of this was our very own Gabriel (£6.2m), whose 81 points in the opening 11 Gameweeks included a goal and two assists.
Another major injury issue for many FPL competitors is Crystal Palace wing-back Daniel Munoz (£5.9m), who contributed three goals, three assists, and 89 points before being struck down by a knee problem that has required surgery, while Newcastle’s Dan Burn (£5.2m), a huge aerial threat alongside his impressive clean sheet record over the years, now ruled out following a punctured lung suffered against Sunderland.
So, who to turn to? While many have opted for Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah (£5.5m) and Marc Cucurella (£6.2m), an underrated gem of late has been teammate Malo Gusto (£4.9m). A cheaper alternative selected by just 2.4% of managers, Gusto has claimed 25 points in just his last two Gameweeks.
Another great shout, especially regarding upcoming fixtures, is Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke (£4.5m). Available at an excellent price and with three goals this term - including a brace in their recent defeat to Aston Villa - Van Hecke is often encouraged high up the pitch with a passing range capable of adding future assist points. The Dutchman faces an AFCON-affected Sunderland, plus West Ham and Burnley in three of his next four fixtures - and if your Free Hit remains intact, it can be played in Gameweek 18 when Brighton visit Emirates Stadium.
Be sure not to miss the GW17 deadline at 11am UK time this Saturday, especially if you’re playing the last of your chips!
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