Fantasy Premier League

FPL Draft: Jump at chance for Burnley's Wood

By The Scout 15 Mar 2018

Draft expert on why managers should look beyond Gameweek 31 targets and sign free agents for the season run-in

There is little movement at the top of our Clash Across the Pond league in Fantasy Premier League Draft.

Paul McKinnon leads the pack, with Neal Thurman giving chase for the US pundits.

We caught up with Neal to review his outlook for Gameweek 31 and his strategy for closing the gap over the run-in.

Gameweek 30 results

Team	Score		Team
Sutherns Comfort (UK)	55	36	Andy's Allstars (UK)
Jonty's XI (UK)	49	65	10 Huddersfield Lane (US)
Rotoworld_PL (US)	48	24	Get on the Snake (US)
Woody Allen (UK)	42	33	Sean's Super Subs (US)

Team Name: Rotoworld_PL

Current squad: Fabianski, Ryan; Azpilicueta, Smalling, Bellerin, Kolasinac, Rudiger; Hazard, Mane, Mahrez, Doucoure, Milivojevic; Lukaku, Wood, J. Ayew

With a four-point gap to make up, I have been fortunate to draw a manager who is not well prepared for Gameweek 31.

Jonty's XI currently has only four players in action, giving me a fighting chance in our head-to-head for the reduced Gameweek.

Goalkeepers for GW31

I will be getting rid of Jordan Ayew after his red card and will likely move for a goalkeeper to boost my points potential.

Ben Foster and Wayne Hennessey are still free agents in our league and, if you are also short of a Gameweek 31 shotstopper, you would be wise to shop for similar targets.

More importantly, though, I'm now looking beyond Gameweek 31 in the hope that I can finish strongly and pip Paul to the title.

The turbulent final Gameweeks should offer me plenty of opportunities.

Look ahead

Harry Kane's injury is an example of the plot twists that may yet come. Fernando Llorente could even be a short-term target for Draft managers now.

Chris Wood is another striker back on the radar.

Up to full fitness and with three goals in his last two Gameweeks, he has some favourable fixtures to come for Burnley.

Draft managers are likely to be distracted by Gameweek 31 free agents, so a swoop for Wood could be an astute move.

With Double Gameweeks to come, this closing period will give managers ample opportunity to make up ground.

Clever squad management is required and monitoring injuries and rotation, while moving quickly for targets like Wood, will be crucial to a strong finish.