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FPL managers will hope for the best from Blank Gameeek 18 as many FPL managers will be forced to use their chips for this Gameweek, which has only six fixtures. Gameweek 17 was a pretty high-scoring one with an average of 56 FPL points.
Spurs' duo of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min both returned double-digit hauls, and so did Bruno Fernandes and Kevin De Bruyne. Mohamed Salah and the other Liverpool assets all blanked, though, leaving those who captained him in a bad position.
My poor FPL run continued as I suffered my fifth successive captaincy blank and slipped down to the 600k mark in the overall rankings. I'm hoping to get back up the rungs in the next couple of Gameweeks with my chip usage.
I will use my Free Hit to navigate Blank FPL Gameweek 18, and I am considering using the wildcard ahead of Double Gameweek 19.
In any case, whatever changes FPL managers need to make, they should do so ahead of the Gameweek 18 deadline on Tuesday evening.
Gameweek 18 Deadline: Tuesday, 13th January at 04:30 PM (GMT) and 10:00 PM (Indian Standard Time)
FPL Gameweek 18 Fixtures
FPL Gameweek 18 will consist of just six fixtures. Newcastle United travel to Bramall Lane on Tuesday evening in a crucial bottom-six meeting. Manchester United travel to Turf Moor looking for a point that will take them to the top of the table. Manchester City take on Brighton at home, while Spurs travel to Villa Park on Wednesday.
The Gameweek concludes with a Thursday night meeting between Crystal Palace and Arsenal.
Click here to view the full fixtures for FPL Gameweek 18.
FPL Team suggested for the previous Gameweek
Here is the suggested team for Gameweek 17 and the points scored.
Goalkeepers: Nick Pope (BUR) and Jed Steer (AVL)
Defenders: Matt Targett (AVL), Vladimir Coufal (WHU), Kyle Walker-Peters (SOU), Ben Chilwell (CHE), and Barry Douglas (LEE)
Midfielders: Mohamed Salah (LIV), Sadio Mane (LIV), Tomas Soucek (WHU), Ademola Lookman (FUL), and Bruno Fernandes (MUN)
Forwards: Harry Kane (TOT), Patrick Bamford (LEE), and Che Adams (SOU)
Captain/Vice-Captain: Mohamed Salah/ Bruno Fernandes
GW 16 Average score: 56
Points Scored (in GW): 55 (-0): 55
Overall Rank: 653,179.
Free Transfers available: 1
Money Remaining: £0.0 m
Transfers
I will be playing my Free Hit in Gameweek 18. It's a great opportunity for me to move up the ranks, but I should ensure that I don't fill my team up only with differentials to achieve that. I'm trying not to triple up on any team, considering how some fixtures have been postponed this season.
Note: I might make some last-minute changes to my FPL team due to the Free Hit chip.
Best FPL XI for Gameweek 18
Chips activated: None
Point Hits taken (if any): None
Captain/ vice-captain: Kevin De Bruyne (or) Bruno Fernandes (or) Son Heung-min (or) Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Literally any of my attacking players could make for decent FPL captaincy choices this week. That's a decision I'll be making close to the deadline. However, Kevin De Bruyne and Bruno Fernandes should be the safer options given their good form and relatively simpler fixtures.
Goalkeeper:
Jordan Pickford (EVE) (£4.8 m) | Opponent: WOL (A): While this might be a weird choice in goal, Everton have been among the top FPL teams when it comes to xGA stats in the last few Gameweeks. They will look to keep a clean sheet in this crucial game and get some FPL points for his owners.
Defenders:
Kieran Tierney (ARS) - £5.4 m | Opponent: CRY (H): Kieran Tierney is among the most transferred-in players ahead of FPL Gameweek 18 and with good reason. The Arsenal full-back is in line for a huge FPL haul this Gameweek.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (MUN) - £5.3 m | Opponent: BUR (A): Manchester United are likely to keep a clean sheet against a goal-shy Burnley team. Wan-Bissaka could get further FPL returns on an attacking front.
John Stones (MCI)- £5.0 m | Opponent: BHA (H): John Stones has been solid at the back for Manchester City. He has also improved his goal-threat and could get some attacking FPL returns in addition to some clean sheet points.
Midfielders:
Kevin De Bruyne (MCI) - £11.6 m | Opponent: BHA (H): In-form Kevin De Bruyne is an FPL must-have over the next six-seven Gameweeks, and I'm integrating him into my team right from this Gameweek. His advanced position makes it likely for him to get a huge FPL haul against Brighton.
Anwar El Ghazi (AVL) - £5.8 m | Opponent: TOT (H): Anwar El Ghazi has scored the joint-most goals since December and also has the highest xG stat during this period. While Spurs should be solid defensively, Villa's attack has proved too good for many quality teams, and El Ghazi could get another good FPL haul.
There is, however, the risk of this game getting postponed, so if that happens, I might have to look elsewhere.
Bruno Fernandes (MUN) - £10.9 m | Opponent: BUR (A): The second-highest FPL point-scorer so far, Fernandes should thrive as United enter a promising and important run of fixtures. He'll once again be the main man for United and is in line for a huge FPL haul.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ARS) - £11.3 m | Opponent: CRY (H): This might come as a surprising FPL pick, considering that it could've been used to fund moves for Raheem Sterling or Marcus Rashford. However, Aubameyang is the kind of player who tends to explode, especially against the smaller oppositions.
He has had pretty good underlying numbers over the last few FPL Gameweeks, and this could very well be the Gameweek where he regains his mojo.
Son Heung-min (TOT) - (£9.7 m) | Opponent: AVL(A): There isn't much to separate Son and Kane, but I've opted to go for the former due to his cheaper price and explosive FPL points potential. He should be in among the goals for Spurs against Villa. As with El Ghazi, there is a chance of this match getting postponed.
Forwards:
Richarlison (EVE)- £7.8 m | Opponent: WOL (A): Richarlison is a good FPL differential to consider for Gameweek 18. He's on penalties for the Toffees and could thrive in a potential goal-fest of a game given Wolves' recent defensive frailties.
Callum Wilson (NEW)- £6.5 m | Opponent: SHU (A): Newcastle's Callum Wilson is something of a must-have this Gameweek. Facing a Sheffield United side that is yet to keep a clean sheet this season, Wilson is in line for a huge FPL haul.
Bench:
GK: Robin Olsen (EVE) (£4.5 m) | Opponent: WOL(A)
1st Sub: DeAndre Yedlin (NEW) (DEF)- £4.3 m | Opponent: SHU (A):
2nd Sub: Rhian Brewster (SHU) (FWD) - £4.5 m | Opponent: NEW (H):
3rd Sub: Max Kilman (WOL) (DEF)- £4.1 m | Opponent: EVE (H)
