Fantasy Premier League: Double gameweek for Saints
Southampton's players are in demand this week, as one of only two clubs with a double gameweek in Fantasy Premier League.
After a full round of weekend fixtures, Saints travel to Leeds in a rearranged clash on Tuesday – the 11th match of the gameweek, meaning players from both clubs have an advantage over the rest of the league.
Here, we pick out a selection of Saints stars that could give you the upper hand over your FPL rivals…
Saints’ towering centre-back rose to as high as £5.0m over the Christmas period, so his current price is enticing, and likely to rise as he gets more games under his belt.
In a run of 12 consecutive starts before his injury, Vestergaard did not miss a single minute of Premier League action, racking up 62 points at more than five points per game. Such is his threat at set-pieces, his potential remains high even if the opposition scupper his clean sheet.
The great thing about the skipper is that he never misses a game. Cards aside, you’re more or less guaranteed at least four points from Ward-Prowse in any double gameweek.
The only Saint to hit a century of points this season, he has 10 attacking returns in 24 league games, suggesting a reasonable chance of adding to those numbers with two fixtures at his disposal. Vestergaard’s return boosts Ward-Prowse’s assist potential, too.
One of Saints’ best value picks, Armstrong is a snip at £5.5m. Whilst Nathan Redmond (£6.4m) may be a tempting alternative given his attacking starting position in recent games, the Scot has been the more consistent points scorer of the two.
Armstrong has two goals and one assist in his last five appearances in all competitions and is perhaps the team’s most creative player, also regularly taking on shots from the outside the box.
More than 200,000 FPL managers have already drafted in Ings this week. Whilst his numbers are down on last season, he’s still averaged one goal every two games despite battling injury and illness.
Scoring in each of his last two matches, both against Wolves, it seems Saints’ main man is back in the groove. If you only sign one player this week, make it our No 9.
Brighton’s defensive record has flown under the radar in recent weeks. Incredibly, the Seagulls have conceded only one goal in their last six Premier League matches, with Sanchez picking up 39 points in that time. They face Crystal Palace and West Brom next.
The former Saint is playing some of the best football of his career right now, contributing four assists in his last three outings. Whilst Manchester United have not found clean sheets easy to come by, the visit of Newcastle to Old Trafford offers a decent chance of a shutout.
Saints found out first-hand what Neto is capable of when he struck the winner at St Mary’s on Sunday. Wolves have struggled in attack, especially without Raúl Jiménez, but opponents Leeds are wide open, and Neto has five goals and six assists already this season.
It’s tough to see much hope for a West Brom revival at this stage of the campaign, but Diagne has been a shining light since his January arrival. The striker has one goal and two assists in four games since signing, and could add to that tally against Burnley.
