Fresh from the international break, Fantasy Football tips expert Big Man Bakar returns for Gameweek 12 to answer some very important team questions.
Having had a few weeks to study squads, with there being no Premier League games, Fantasy Football players would have been pondering changes and also looking ahead to the next set of fixtures that will take us towards the busy festive period.
Fantasy Football Tips For GW12: Three Key Questions Answered
With that in mind, Big Man Bakar tackles three big questions that are sure to have been rattling around people’s heads over the last few weeks.
You can then use his Fantasy Football tips to help bolster your squads and give you that all-important edge in your respective leagues.
Q1.) Who Are The Best Budget Defenders To Buy This Week?
Lewis Hall and Lewis Dunk would be the two I’d look at.
If you need a defender in your playing 11, then Lewis Hall should be your man this week. Concerns about his starting role earlier in the season have eased after strong performances, leading to six consecutive Premier League starts.
At the moment, it’s his spot to lose, and Lloyd Kelly doesn’t seem likely to replace him as the team’s first-choice left-back. Surprisingly, despite starting 8 of 11 league games, Hall ranks fifth among defenders for chances created this season.
This sets him up nicely for the game against West Ham, a team that has conceded the most chances from their right flank in the league.
Furthermore, Hall’s ability to create chances also makes him excellent at racking up bonus points, with a faster accumulation rate than Nick Pope or any Newcastle defender this season.
If you need a defender over a period of time but don’t necessarily need to field him this week, then I really like the idea of a Brighton defender.
Brighton’s schedule becomes very appealing defensively after this Gameweek, making Dunk an affordable and valuable pick.
Q2.) Is Doubling Up On The Arsenal Defence A Good Idea With The Recent Lack of Clean Sheets?
It’s been a while since Arsenal kept a clean sheet —Gameweek 4, to be exact —but I still like the idea of loading up on their defence.
Red cards have skewed their stats this season, but in games without dismissals, their defensive data has been strong. Crucially, Arsenal are ranked in the top three teams for bookmakers’ clean sheet probability in seven of the next eight Gameweeks.
Doubling up on their defence should yield dividends.
Q3.) Rico Lewis – Sell or Keep?
I’m starting to doubt Rico Lewis’ game time moving forward.
The return of Akanji and Stones adds further competition, and City’s next fixtures aren’t suited to him tactically.
Walker, despite struggling, may get the nod for the big games against Spurs and Liverpool as a result of his pace which may be needed against the likes of Heung Min Son.
If you can bench Lewis for two weeks, keeping him could still yield good returns later as his gametime is likely to improve in the easier fixtures.
However, if you lack the defensive depth to cover for Lewis’ potential benching, this could be an optimal time to sell before his value declines due to tough fixtures and limited playing time.
