FANTASY FORECAST 2017/18: FPL Gameweek 17
Ahead of each Gameweek in the Fantasy Premier League the Hype Train invites a special guest onto its Fantasy Forecast, where the three members of the Hype Team and its Guests will duel for FPL supremacy in predicting Premier League scores, as well as going head to head in picking a Scout Picks squad for the relevant Gameweek. In addition, we give our insight into who are the players to watch and those to drop, both for traditional FPL leagues and the Draft mode, as well as providing insight into captaincy picks, differentials for the week, and more. Welcome to the Forecast. All aboard.
Fantasy Premier League: Gameweek Deadline
For the 2016/17 Premier League season, the FPL deadline will be one hour before the commencement of the week's first game. The Premier League website lists each FPL deadline, you can always ask on social media, and you can also view a real time countdown on our Weekly Hype page.
How does our Forecasting work?
We have taken to our Hype Team, and the FPL Community, to compete in a weekly head to head dual of wits. We are asking the questions that dominate each week in the Fantasy Premier League: who to pick, who to avoid, who to captain, and who may surprise. The 3 members of the Hype Team, and a Guest, will provide weekly insight for the Gameweek ahead. For the sake of respecting the rules of the Forecast, we have provided an example of what we're sending out to interested parties.
Premier League Fixture Prediction: As pundits, we are testing our football acumen with PL predictions and will be providing regular updated tables and stats in each edition of the FPL Forecast. A perfect score is worth 3 points whilst a correct result is worth 1 point.
FPL Gameweek Forecasting: Answering the regular questions that come up every single week in the Fantasy Premier League community that helps with identifying captaincy picks, transfers, attacking options, clean sheet potential, teams to look our for and avoid, players to consider for the Draft game, the wildcard differential players, as well as general analysis and comments.
Scout Picks: Picking a squad of 15 for a single Gameweek, without any budget, using the rules of the FPL - formations, captains and vice captains, and the player limits of 3 per club (chips will not be feature of these weekly picks)
Each team must pick a Captain, labelled as (c) and a Vice Captain listed as (vc).
Fixture Prediction: 2017/18 Points Table
In our predictions a perfect score is 3 points, and predicting the right outcome is worth 1 point (aka if a team wins but, you predict it, but don't get the perfect score). Below is the Gameweek and overall rundown of our Premier League predictions series for the season.
Sam Austin (@HypeTrainSam): 6 (1), 4 (2), 8 (3), 3 (4), 9 (5), 6 (6), 7 (7), 7 (8), 4 (9), 12 (10), 5 (11), 7 (12), 4 (13), 6 (14), 8 (15), 4 (16) = 100pts
Phil Jones (@HypeTrainPhil): 10 (1), 5 (2), 6 (3), 4 (4), 9 (5), 5 (6), 5 (7), 3 (8), 3 (9), 8 (10), 4 (11), 7 (12), 5 (13), 4 (14), 5 (15), 6 (16) = 89pts
Robert Austin (@HypeTrainRob): 4 (1), 5 (2), 8 (3), 2 (4), 7 (5), 9 (6), 8 (7), 10 (8), 8 (9), 6 (10), 5 (11), 6 (12), 13 (13), 5 (14), 8 (15), 9 (16) = 113pts
Special Guests: 4 (1), 4 (2), 7 (3), 2 (4), 2 (5), 8 (6), 13 (7), 9 (8), 3 (9), 10 (10), 4 (11), 8 (12), 7 (13), 4 (14), 13 (15), 8 (16) = 101pts
Special Guests
GW1 - @FPLConnect: 4 points (0 perfect, 4 correct, 6 wrong)
GW2 - @FPLsleuth: 4 points (0 perfect, 4 correct, 6 wrong)
GW3 - @FPLBraveheart: 6 points (1 perfect, 3 correct, 6 wrong)
GW4 - @FPLJournalBlog: 2 points (0 perfect, 2 correct, 8 wrong)
GW5 - @FPL_Ted: 2 points (0 perfect, 2 correct, 8 wrong)
GW6 - @CGA_FPL: 8 points (1 perfect, 5 correct, 4 wrong)
GW7 - @FPLMad: 11pts (3 perfect, 2 correct, 5 wrong)
GW8 - @OddsOnFPL: 9pts (2 perfect, 3 correct, 5 wrong)
GW9 - @FPL_vs: 3pts (0 perfect, 3 correct, 7 wrong)
GW10 - @TheTinkerMen: 10pts (2 perfect, 4 correct, 4 wrong)
GW11 - @FPLStag: 4 pts (0 perfect, 4 correct, 6 wrong)
GW12 - @FFootballHub: 8pts (1 perfect, 5 correct, 4 wrong)
GW13 - @FPL_Aussie: 7pts (1 perfect, 4 correct, 5 wrong)
GW14 - @ShirtsvSkinsFPL: 4pts (0 perfect, 4 correct, 6 wrong)
GW15 - @TheFPLPodcast: 13pts (3 perfect, 4 correct, 3 wrong)
GW16 - @FPLFanatix: 8pts (2 perfect, 2 correct, 6 wrong)
Individual Gameweek Predictions
GW1: Sam (6), Phil (10), Rob (4), @FPL_Connect (4)
GW2: Sam (4), Phil (5), Rob (5), @FPLsleuth (4)
GW3: Sam (8), Phil (6), Rob, (8), @FPLBraveheart (7)
GW4: Sam (3), Phil (4), Rob (2), @FPLJournalBlog (2)
GW5: Sam (9), Phil (9), Rob (7), @FPL_Ted (2)
GW6: Sam (6), Phil (5), Rob (9), @CGA_FPL (8)
GW7: Sam (5), Phil (7), Rob (8), @FPLMad (11)
GW8: Sam (7), Phil (3), Rob (10), @OddsOnFPL (9)
GW9: Sam (4), Phil (3), Rob (8), @FPL_vs (3)
GW10: Sam (12), Phil (8), Rob (6), @TheTinkerMen (10)
GW11: Sam (5), Phil (4), Rob (5), @FPLStag (4)
GW12: Sam (7), Phil (7), Rob (6), @FFootballHub (8)
GW13: Sam (4), Phil (5), Rob (13), @FPL_Aussie (7)
GW14: Sam (6), Phil (4), Rob (5), @ShirtsvSkinsFPL (4)
GW15: Sam (8), Phil (5), Rob (8), @TheFPLPodcast (13)
GW16: Sam (4), Phil (6), Rob (9), @FPLFanatix (8)
FPL Scout Picks: 2017/18 Points Table
Picking a squad of 15 for a single Gameweek, using the rules of the FPL - formations, captains and vice captains, and the player limits of 3 per club (chips will not be feature of these weekly picks). Below is the Gameweek and overall rundown of our Premier League predictions series for the season.
Sam Austin (@HypeTrainSam): 82 (1), 61 (2), 58 (3), 23 (4), 60 (5), 72 (6), 55 (7), 54 (8), 51 (9), 45 (1), 59 (11), 101 (12), 47 (13), 75 (14), 58 (15), 68 (16) = 969pts
Phil Jones (@HypeTrainPhil): 81 (1), 57 (2), 38 (3), 49 (4), 58 (5), 73 (6), 65 (7), 63 (8), 46 (9), 48 (10), 57 (11), 77 (12), 55 (13), 59 (14), 47 (15), 62 (16) = 935pts
Robert Austin (@HypeTrainRob): 67 (1), 43 (2), 48 (3), 36 (4), 74 (5), 78 (6), 68 (7), 39 (8), 47 (9), 55 (10), 55 (11), 80 (12), 54 (13), 51 (14), 68 (15), 65 (16) = 928pts
Special Guests: 54 (1), 45 (2), 41 (3), 40 (4), 72 (5), 77 (6), 81 (7), 53 (8), 26 (9), 52 (10), 56 (11), 84 (12), 47 (13), 74 (14), 75 (15), 55 (16) = 932pts
Special Guests
GW1 - @FPL_Connect: 54 points (Captain Kane, 2pts)
GW2 - @FPLsleuth: 45 points (Captain Lukaku, 12pts)
GW3 - @FPLBraveheart: 41 points (Captain Kane, 4pts)
GW4 - @FPLJournalBlog: 40 points (Captain Mane, -4pts)
GW5 - @FPL_Ted: 72 points (Captain Kane, 4pts)
GW6 - @CGA_FPL: 77 points (Captain Aguero, 22pts)
GW7 - @FPLMad: 81pts (Captain Kane, 26pts)
GW8 - @OddsOnFPL: 53pts (Captain Kane, 4pts)
GW9 - @FPL_vs: 26pts (Captain Jesus, 2pts)
GW10 - @TheTinkerMen: 52pts (Captain Salah, 8pts)
GW11 - @FPLStag: 56pts (Captain Kane, 4pts)
GW12 - @FFootballHub: 84pts (Captain Lukaku, 12pts)
GW13 - @FPL_Aussie: 47pts (Captain Kane, 16pts)
GW14 - @ShirtsvSkinsFPL: 74pts (Captain Kane, 12pts)
GW15 - @TheFPLPodcast: 75pts (Captain Hazard, 30pts)
GW16 - @FPLFanatix: 55pts (Captain Kane, 24pts)
Individual Gameweek Scout Picks
GW1: Sam (82), Phil (81), Rob (67), @FPL_Connect (54)
GW2: Sam (61), Phil (57), Rob (43), @FPLsleuth (45)
GW3: Sam (58), Phil (38), Rob, (48), @FPLBraveheart (41)
GW4: Sam (23), Phil (49), Rob (36), @FPLJournalBlog (40)
GW5: Sam (60), Phil (58), Rob (74), @FPL_Ted (72)
GW6: Sam (72), Phil (73), Rob (78), @CGA_FPL (77)
GW7: Sam (55), Phil (65), Rob (68), @FPLMad (81)
GW8: Sam (54), Phil (63), Rob (39), @OddsOnFPL (53)
GW9: Sam (51), Phil (46), Rob (47), @FPL_vs (26)
GW10: Sam (45), Phil (48), Rob (55), @TheTinkerMen (52)
GW11: Sam (59), Phil (57), Rob (55), @FPLStag (56)
GW12: Sam (101), Phil (77), Rob (80), @FFootballHub (84)
GW13: Sam (47), Phil (55), Rob (54), @FPL_Aussie (47)
GW14: Sam (75), Phil (59), Rob (51), @ShirtsvSkinsFPL (74)
GW15: Sam (58), Phil (47), Rob (68), @TheFPLPodcast (75)
GW16: Sam (68), Phil (62), Rob (65), @FPLFanatix (55)
Fixture Prediction: Gameweek 17
Burnley 2-0 Stoke
Crystal Palace 1-1 Watford
Huddersfield 0-2 Chelsea
Newcastle 1-1 Everton
Southampton 1-2 Leicester
Swansea 0-4 Man City
Liverpool 2-0 West Brom
Man United 1-0 Bournemouth
Spurs 2-0 Brighton
West Ham 1-3 Arsenal
FPL Forecasting: Gameweek 17
Best GW Attacking Options:
Burnley (H) vs. Stoke City
Chelsea (A) vs. Huddersfield
Leicester (A) vs. Southampton
Man City (A) vs. Swansea
Liverpool (H) vs. West Brom
Spurs (H) vs. Brighton
Arsenal (A) vs. West Ham
Best GW Defensive / Clean Sheet Potential:
Burnley (H) vs. Stoke City
Chelsea (A) vs. Huddersfield
Man City (A) vs. Swansea
Liverpool (H) vs. West Brom
Spurs (H) vs. Brighton
Man United (H) vs. Bournemouth
Who would you Transfer In and Out for the Gameweek and beyond?:
IN: Nick Pope (GK), Nicolas Otamendi (DEF), Riyad Mahrez (MID), Harry Kane (FW)
OUT: Ben Foster (GK), Mamadou Sakho (DEF), Sadio Mane (MID), Romelu Lukaku (FW)
Who are the players that might make the difference this Gameweek in the Draft?:
Burnley players of all positions. Underrated pick is Chris Wood.
Liverpool players of all positions. Underrated pick is Andrew Robertson or James Milner.
Spurs players of all positions. Underrated pick is Serge Aurier.
Who are the teams to look out for?:
Man City: Champions elect City should be favourites for any match. After coming through every challenge unscathed I can’t see Swansea being any sort of challenge.
Liverpool: Jürgen Klopp should have learnt his lesson after rotating Firmino, Wijnaldum, Firmino, and Can from his starting eleven, and it should be a full-strength Reds against an out-of-firm Albion who travel to Anfield where the home club have been undefeated since April. The Baggies will be in for a rough afternoon.
Burnley: Nick Pope has been a fantastic option in goal, and still is a differential. Burnley are on next level form and after a drumming by Spurs, the visiting Stoke City will find it tough to break down the Clarets. Burnley are going places.
Who are the teams to avoid?:
Watford: Having slightly come off the rails in recent weeks the Hornets might find another stern test at Crystal Palace who have started picking up results against Crystal Palace.
West Ham: Maybe on the bounce after beating Chelsea, but Arsenal usually go to West Ham and come away with a result. Alexis Sanchez is back on form and could be the difference maker. I still fancy the Hammers to go down, and this isn’t a game they will win. The trap is you think that West Ham hold their own, but will be blown away by Arsenal.
GW Differential Picks:
I write the weekly differentials article for The Hype Train, and here is a preview of two players you expect to see in the ten chosen wildcards:
Riyad Mahrez: Scoring goals and making consistent fantasy returns is great news for players who see the potential in the former PFA Player of the Year.
Philippe Coutinho: After being rested against Everton, the Brazilian should come straight back into the starting eleven and be the difference maker against West Brom.
FPL Captaincy Picks:
(C): Mohamad Salah – After playing just over sixty minutes against Everton, it will be clear motive that the Egyptian is being saved for playing every game this season. Having made fantasy returns in consecutive eight games, I can’t see it ending against out-of-form West Brom that no longer have Tony Pulis at the helm.
(VC): Harry Kane – Back on form at Wembley, the England international should make easy work of the Seagulls defence. The only reason Salah is the main captain is that you never know what you’re going to get out of Spurs at Wembley.
Other Gameweek Comments:
After only two days since the end of the last gameweek there will be lots of rotation, so having a bench that will be able to come off for some points in case players are benched or dropped during the busy period is imperative.
FPL Hype Picks: Gameweek 17
Formation: 3-4-3
Starting 11
GK: Nick Pope
DEF: Cesar Azpilicueta
DEF: Nicolas Otamendi
DEF: Antonio Valencia
MID: Eden Hazard
MID: Riyad Mahrez
MID: Philippe Coutinho
MID: Mohamad Salah (C)
FOR: Roberto Firmino
FOR: Harry Kane (VC)
FOR: Sergio Aguero
Substitutes
GK: David De Gea
MID: Kevin De Bruyne
DEF: James Tarkowski
DEF: Andreas Christensen
Fixture Prediction: Gameweek 17
Burnley 1-0 Stoke Crystal Palace 1-2 Watford Huddersfield 0-3 Chelsea Newcastle 1-2 Everton Southampton 0-2 Leicester Swansea 1-3 Man City Liverpool 4-1 West Brom Man United 2-0 Bournemouth Spurs 4-1 Brighton West Ham 0-3 Arsenal
FPL Forecasting: Gameweek 17
Best GW Attacking Options: Man City (a) vs Swansea Arsenal (a) vs West Ham Spurs (H) vs Brighton Chelsea (a) vs Huddersfield
Best GW Defensive / Clean Sheet Potential: Chelsea (a) vs Huddersfield Arsenal (a) vs West Ham Leicester (a) vs Southampton Burnley (H) vs Stoke
Who would you Transfer In and Out for the Gameweek and beyond?: IN: Sanchez, Coutinho, Mahrez, Vardy, Eriksen, Calvert-Lewin, Aguero. OUT: Ritchie, Daniels, Gross, Sane, Jesus.
GW Differential Picks:
Calvert-Lewin, Martial, Sanchez, Pedro.
FPL Captaincy Picks: (C) Harry Kane: So tempted by Liverpool options and Sanchez this week...but...Harry has the highest ceiling.
(VC) Alexis Sanchez: an incredible performance against West Ham last season and in good form. Ownership is well under 5% so could be a big differential.
FPL Hype Picks: Gameweek 17 Formation: 3-4-3
Starting 11
GK: David De Gea
DEF: Marcos Alonso DEF: Antonio Valencia DEF: Sead Kolasinac
MID: Alexis Sanchez (VC) MID: Philippe Coutinho MID: Mo Salah MID: Eden Hazard
FOR: Harry Kane (C) FOR: Sergio Aguero FOR: Romelu Lukaku
Substitutes
GK: Nick Pope MID: Kevin De Bruyne DEF: Ben Davies DEF: Harry Maguire
Fixture Prediction: Gameweek 17
Burnley 1-0 Stoke
Crystal Palace 1-2 Watford
Huddersfield 1-2 Chelsea
Newcastle 2-0 Everton
Southampton 1-2 Leicester
Swansea 0-4 Man City
Liverpool 3-0 West Brom
Man United 2-0 Bournemouth
Spurs 3-0 Brighton
West Ham 1-3 Arsenal
FPL Forecasting: Gameweek 17
Best GW Attacking Options:
Burnley (H) vs. Stoke City
Chelsea (A) vs. Huddersfield
Leicester (A) vs. Southampton
Man City (A) vs. Swansea
Liverpool (H) vs. West Brom
Spurs (H) vs. Brighton
Arsenal (A) vs. West Ham
Best GW Defensive / Clean Sheet Potential:
Burnley (H) vs. Stoke City
Chelsea (A) vs. Huddersfield
Man City (A) vs. Swansea
Liverpool (H) vs. West Brom
Spurs (H) vs. Brighton
Man United (H) vs. Bournemouth
Who would you Transfer In and Out for the Gameweek and beyond?:
IN: Nick Pope (GK), Nicolas Otamendi (DEF), Riyad Mahrez (MID)
OUT: Ben Foster (GK), Mamadou Sakho (DEF), Romelu Lukaku (FW)
Who are the players that might make the difference this Gameweek in the Draft?:
James Milner - overlooked
James Tarkowski - Overlooked
Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Man United to bench Lukaku?
Jonas Lossl - Beast mode GK
Adrian - Hart's demise looks set to continue
Wilfried Bony - All aboard
Charlie Austin - Why wouldn't you?
Who are the teams to look out for?:
Huddersfield: Good win against Brighton puts the Terriers's in a good way asChelsea come to town, and will set up with rigid defensive shape.
Liverpool: Alan Pardew, welcome to hell.
Everton: My beloved Newcastle are down in the dumps. It is a good game for Big Sam to get a win.
Who are the teams to avoid?:
Chelsea: Rotation will be a factor for Chelsea this week. Pedro and Willian have been starting matches on the bench
West Ham: Wenger loves beating little teams.
GW Differential Picks:
Riyad Mahrez: Too few FPL players own Mahrez. It's almost criminal.
Jonjoe Kenny: Newcastle are a shambled right now, and Kenny's a cheap option at the back.
James Tarkowski: He'll play, and he'll most likely keep a clean sheet in a 1-0 win. It's what Burnley do.
FPL Captaincy Picks:
(C): Harry Kane – Popular consensus is overwhelming, and with it being the start of the Cup season for FPL players, there is no better time than a safe captaincy pick... Then again it is weeks like this in which the Hurrikane will let you down.
(VC): Mohamed Salah – The King of Egypt is of course the back up option to Kane. Salah's just a beast and could rival Kane for the golden boot this season.
Other Gameweek Comments:
This isn't the week to mess around with 'difficult' or 'alternative' choices. Midweek games are about banking on what you know, or at least that is my experience of the FPL.
FPL Hype Picks: Gameweek 17
Formation: 3-5-2
Starting 11
GK: David de Gea
DEF: Cesar Azpilicueta
DEF: Nicolas Otamendi
DEF: Stephen Ward
MID: Eden Hazard
MID: Christian Eriksen
MID: Philippe Coutinho
MID: Mohamad Salah (VC)
MID: Kevin De Bruyne
FOR: Harry Kane (C)
FOR: Alvaro Morata
Substitutes
GK: Nick Pope
FOR: Dwight Gayle
DEF: Ben Davies
DEF: James Tarkowski
Fixture Prediction: Gameweek 17
Burnley 1-0 Stoke
Crystal Palace 1-1 Watford
Huddersfield 0-2 Chelsea
Newcastle 1-1 Everton
Southampton 1-0 Leicester
Swansea 0-2 Man City
Liverpool 2-0 West Brom
Man United 2-0 Bournemouth
Spurs 3-0 Brighton
West Ham 1-1 Arsenal
FPL Forecasting: Gameweek 17
Best GW Attacking Options:
Tottenham (H) v Brighton
Liverpool (H) v West Brom
Man City (A) v Swansea
Best GW Defensive / Clean Sheet Potential:
Man Utd (H) v Bournemouth
Burnley (H) v Stoke
Liverpool (H) v WBA
Chelsea (A) v Huddersfield
Who would you Transfer In and Out for the Gameweek and beyond?:
IN: Pope/Ward, Son, Coutinho (it’s clear he has to play), Robertson
OUT: Sakho (injured), WBA defence, Abraham, Wilson
Who are the players that might make the difference this Gameweek in the Draft?:
Burnley & Liverpool defensive options could be key.
Who are the teams to look out for?:
Burnley - Dyche usually finds a way to win at home especially against the bottom half of the table another Burnley clean sheet incoming.
Spurs - Finally, Tottenham got their first win in the Premier League since the 5th November, I fancy Spurs to kick on and replicate what Liverpool did to Brighton, big win.
Liverpool - With Coutinho in the side they look a much better side he has been rested in 2 of the last 3 game weeks so surely will get a run in the side now.
Who are the teams to avoid?:
Stoke - Currently on a poor run of form, against a well organised Burnley side, I see no chance.
Arsenal - I just fancy West Ham to do a similar job on Arsenal as to what they did on Chelsea
GW Differential Picks:
Son – I really fancy Spurs to do the business against Brighton with Sanchez & Alderweireld out you would imagine Spurs will have to stick to a back 4, this will give Son freedom to attack down the left and I am sure he will be full of confidence after a very impressive performance against Stoke on Saturday.
Robertson – Defensively at home this season Liverpool have done very well, 5 clean sheets in their last 7 home games in all comps. Robertson is also a very good attacking full back with a great delivery, don’t be surprised if he picks up an assist.
FPL Captaincy Picks:
(C): Kane – Sorry, but yes it’s impossible to not captain him this GW. When the games come thick and fast, this is when teams with the smaller budgets start to suffer, they are unable to bring in fresh legs and if they do the standard of replacements is usually way below the first 11. Brighton have shipped 7 goals in the last 2 games I feel another Kane brace incoming.
(VC): Son – Same game, why not?
Other Gameweek Comments:
If you haven’t already you need to move away from 3 non playing subs rotation will happen whether we like it or not make sure you have some options of the bench.
FPL Hype Picks: Gameweek 17
Formation: 3-4-3
Starting 11
GK: Hugo Lloris
DEF: Antonio Valencia
DEF: Cesar Azpilicueta
DEF: Andrew Robertson
DEF: Stephen Ward
MID: Hueng-Min Son (VC)
MID: Eden Hazard
MID: Philippe Coutinho
MID: Kevin De Bruyne
FOR: Harry Kane (C)
FOR: Roberto Firmino
Substitutes
GK: Nick Pope
DEF: Jan Vertonghen
MID: David Silva
FOW: Alvaro Morata
Want to know more about The Hype Train?
The Hype Train is an entertainment website founded in 2015, specialising in the Fantasy Premier League (#FPL), providing beautiful graphics and weekly insight for hopeful players attempting to climb ranking tables. We are also occasional media reviewers, with a keen interest to review movies, live sport, and professional wrestling.
As well as providing FPL articles on our website, we are a founding Contributor to the new Fantasy Football Hub, where you can find more unique articles, including weekly Power Rankings, from The Hype Team. You can support us and read exclusive members only content for just £2 per-month by clicking here.
The Hype Train were nominated and shortlisted for the 'Best Football Blog 2016' by the Football Bloggers Association at their annual Football Blogging Awards (The FBA's), with the final presentation held at Old Trafford in Manchester.
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All aboard.
