Getting your team selection correct in Draft Premier League is just as essential as your pre-season draft or your weekly waiver wire claims. And that’s exactly why we’re here to help with our Gameweek 9 Start and Sit article! We’re here to talk you through some of the big Fantasy EPL decisions you may need to make for the upcoming fixtures.
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Gameweek 9 Start and Sit
Whether you’re an obsessed EPL fan like our Fantrax HQ team, or a casual player new to the world of Fantasy EPL, you know to start your attacking players against relegation-threatened sides. We’re not going to waste your time dealing with the obvious! The goal of this article is to delve into notable players across each Fantrax position and let you know if you should be starting or sitting those players.
For our Start and Sit candidates, we’re going to highlight one player in detail for each position, as well as suggest a few alternatives. Let’s get to it!
Defender Starts
Mohammed Salisu vs BUR
In his first relatively easy matchup in weeks, Salisu broke onto the scene in GW8 vs Leeds putting up 18.5 points including a clean sheet. Salisu has an even better matchup this week vs Burnley, who concede the second-most fantasy points to defenders (after Norwich). Good for a couple of aerials, clearances, and interceptions a game, Salisu should thrive vs the low-scoring Burnley. On top of his likely healthy supply of ghost points, Southampton has a 37% chance of keeping a clean sheet, one of their highest of the season.
Alternate Starts:
Nathan Collins vs SOU
Oleksandr Zinchenko vs BHA
Valentino Livramento vs BUR
Defender Sits
Emerson Royal vs WHU
So far this season, Royal has not been the attacking full-back that Spurs were promised when they signed him from Barcelona. In 5 games played this year, he only scored over 4.5 points once. And yet he’s still rostered in 44% of leagues, likely due to playing for a “Big 6” side. There’s no reason to start him this week against an attacking West Ham side, favored to beat Spurs at home. Royal has a 23% chance of getting a clean sheet this week, and without one he’s better off left on the bench. In fact, we’d recommend dropping him altogether.
Alternate Sits:
Marc Cucurella vs MCI
Raphael Varane vs LIV
Grant Hanley vs CHE
Also, check out the Draft Premier League Gameweek 9 Waiver Wire!
Midfielder Starts
Michael Olise vs NEW
Picking Redmond once again would have been the easy way out after a dominant performance as our start of the week in GW8. He’s a must-start this week, but let’s go with a more interesting pick, and that’s Michael Olise, the Palace youngster signed from the Championship in the summer. Olise has come off the bench for Jordan Ayew in Palace’s last 2 matches and assisted in both. Not only has he been involved in goals, but he’s also looked like a creative spark that Ayew just doesn’t provide. If Vieira’s previous concern was around Olise’s defensive work rate in relation to Ayew’s, surely a winnable matchup vs Newcastle would be the time to start him. Newcastle has one of the worst goals conceded records in the league and just fired their longtime manager Steve Bruce, but are yet to hire a new one. Crystal Palace should create plenty of offense against their reeling opponents and if he starts, Olise will surely be at the center of lots of it.
Alternate Starts:
Nathan Redmond vs BUR
Callum Hudson-Odoi vs NOR
Stuart Armstrong vs BUR
Midfielder Sits
Leandro Trossard vs MCI
Trossard has started the year off hot, averaging over 9 points per 90 minutes. But don’t make the mistake of trusting him this week vs the ever-dominant Manchester City. City has a 55% chance of keeping Brighton from scoring, and Trossard himself only has a 17% chance of scoring. Without a goal, Trossard is left to rely on generating other statistics. And without set pieces, who Pascal Gross now has full control over after his return to the lineup, Trossard won’t be left with many chances to generate them against a possession dominant Pep side.
Alternate Sits:
Yves Bissouma vs MCI
Douglas Luiz vs ARS
Rodri vs BHA
Forward Starts
Odsonne Edouard vs NEW
After 3 poor performances (2 starts) Edouard exploded again vs. Arsenal last gameweek to score 21.5 points. Late in the game, due to some fluid work from Connor Gallagher and the previously mentioned Olise, Edouard got his chance and took it smashing his shot past the sprawling Aaron Ramsdale. Against Newcastle, Edouard will be looking to score again and is given a 35% chance of doing so. Even without scoring, he’ll take plenty of shots vs Newcastle.
Alternate Starts:
Armando Broja vs BUR
Hwang Hee-Chan vs LEE
Chris Wood vs SOU
Forward Sits
Mason Greenwood vs LIV
Greenwood has been one of the most pleasant surprises so far this fantasy season, getting plenty of minutes and scoring nearly 14 points per 90. Playing against Liverpool this week though we have serious concerns. Liverpool have conceded less than a goal per game and United’s attack has been unconvincing in recent weeks. With Greenwood, your likely banking on a goal or an assist, and up against Robertson or Alexander-Arnold his chances are slim. In addition, Greenwood remains an early sub risk with Sancho, Rashford, Pogba, and even Lingard all now fit and in contention for minutes on the wings. If Liverpool go down early to Klopp’s side I wouldn’t be surprised if Greenwood is the first one hooked, cause it surely won’t be Bruno or Ronaldo.
Alternate Sits:
Neal Maupay vs MCI
Teemu Pukki vs CHE
Check out Draft Society’s Fantrax Weekly Player Projections page for more player evaluations for the upcoming week!
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