Pras FPL provides his FPL gameweek 20 tips, including his buy, hold and sell/avoid picks for the upcoming round of fixtures.
I’m Pras and welcome to my weekly series for SportsCasting, where I will be providing my thoughts on my FPL gameweek 20 tips.
For context, over the last 12 seasons of FPL I have achieved four top 10k finishes, including two top 5k finishes.
My seasonal average over the last seven seasons is around 21k. I am currently ranked 11k.
Every week, I’ll be giving you advice on whether to buy, hold or sell/avoid the key defenders, midfielders and attackers in FPL.
As a fixtures guy, my advice will always have a lens of immediate fixtures but also long-term viability and implications.
FPL Gameweek 20 Tips: Who To Buy, Hold and Sell/Avoid
Defenders
Buy – Antonee Robinson comfortably leads the way for the most number of assists (7) so far this season. Playing almost as a left winger in the new three at the back set-up, Robinson had plenty of attacking freedom, with 55.6% of Fulham’s chances created on Sunday coming from his side of the pitch. The Cottagers play Ipswich, West Ham and Leicester in their next three, but even beyond that Robinson feels great value for a chance at returns at both ends of the pitch.
Hold – Gabriel and Arsenal defenders in general have been hot and cold this year – albeit that they are still comfortably the best defence in the league from an underlying data i.e. xGC point of view. They now have a run that includes Brighton, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Wolves and Man City in the next five. Perhaps an opportune window to get out of a double up but I still think Garbiel in particular is a long term hold and the priority should be to perhaps improve the bench strength i.e. 4th defender rather than selling.
Sell/Avoid – if you haven’t already then sell Pedro Porro as a priority. Tottenham have several center-backs out and now doubts over Destiny Udogie too. With lack of clean sheets, a £5.5m price tag just isn’t justifiable when there are other attacking defenders like Antonee Robinson, Daniel Munoz and Lewis Hall for so much cheaper.
Midfielders
Buy – Anthony Gordon has six attacking returns in the last seven weeks. At a time when Alexander Isak’s ownership is touching close to 50% overall (much higher amongst engaged managers), he does feel like another route into an ever strengthening Newcastle team. His next opponents – Tottenham – have shipped 12 goals in their last three home matches.
Hold – Morgan Rogers is banned for possibly his easiest home game of the season – against Leicester. Whilst this is frustrating for his owners, he is a decent long-term hold – possibly the best option in the under £6m bracket. He has started all 19 games for Aston Villa and only below Semenyo and Sarr for non penalty xGI for the season. For some teams (like my own) there are multiple issues/bans he could be upgraded to a mid-priced midfielder. But for most teams, he’s a hold in my view.
Sell/Avoid – Karou Mitoma has been a disappointment this season. Brighton have had a good run yet he is sitting on six blanks in the last six games. More worryingly the underlying data just isn’t there to justify the premium over the excellent sub £6m options. With fixtures turning as well, he is a sell for me.
Forwards
Buy – Gabriel Jesus started his third game in a row bagging three goals and two assists in that time. He has picked up the mantle in Bukayo Saka’s absence and represents good value for his price. I do worry about his longer term minutes though, especially as Ethan Nwaneri did a solid job in the Saka position on that right. That means Jesus, Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, Nwaneri and Gabriel Martinelli are all vying for 3 spots. Yes, Havertz can equally start as a #8, but then Declan Rice, Mikel Moreno and Martin Odegaard are all also fit to play in that role. On the plus side, Jesus on 4 yellow cards is now free of a threat of suspension having played the 19th game and the threshold for a ban goes from 5 to 10 yellow cards.
Hold – Joao Pedro rewarded his patient owners with a couple of assists in GW19. I generally think he is an easy hold for the foreseeable future. He has played 90 min in the last 4 gameweeks, great at penalties and Brighton are a decent attacking team. He shouldn’t be the biggest problem in your team, and as such as easy hold for me.
Sell/Avoid – Matheus Cunha finally got his ban for the altercation with the Ipswich coaching staff. While it is only a one game ban vs Nottingham Forest, he faces four of the top five between gameweeks 21 and 25. It just isn’t a run that is appealing enough to hold. With a heavy heart, I do think it is time to say goodbye to one of the best forwards this season from a value for money perspective.
For a detailed review, I co-host a podcast called @theFPLWire, and you can follow @Pras_FPL to find full analysis courtesy of one of the best FPL Twitter accounts.
