Fantasy Premier League: Gameweek 26 Preview – Dump Edinson Cavani and captain Harry Kane for double gameweek

With no domestic cup or European games scheduled for next week, the Premier League have crammed as many postponed games as possible into gameweek 26, making it the largest gameweek of the season and therefore the perfect time to use a wildcard, triple captain, bench boost or free hit chip.

Transfer deadline: Saturday 27th February at 11am.

Follow the in-house Yorkshire Post Fantasy Football expert John Mount (@Gameweek38) on Twitter for more FPL hints and tips.

Captain Picks

Captain's pick - Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Captain's pick - Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Captain's pick - Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Harry Kane (£11.1m) vs Burnley (H) & Fulham (A)

Based on the league table, Tottenham have the most straight forward gameweek with games against Burnley and Fulham.

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Over his last six matches, no player in the league has taken more shots than Kane who continues to be Spurs’ most threating player.

That said, Spurs have lost five of their last six league games and their only win in this period was against West Brom so it’s the fixtures rather than Kane’s form that you’d be captaining him for.

Time to drop - Manchester United's Edinson Cavani (Picture: Naomi Baker/PA Wire)Time to drop - Manchester United's Edinson Cavani (Picture: Naomi Baker/PA Wire)
Time to drop - Manchester United's Edinson Cavani (Picture: Naomi Baker/PA Wire)

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.7m) vs Southampton (H) & West Brom (A)

Behind Tottenham, Everton arguably have the easiest double gameweek as their opponents have picked up only two league wins between them in 2021.

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In his last three games, the Calvert-Lewin has scored twice and assisted twice and Everton as a team should be high on confidence after winning at Anfield for the first time in over 20 years. Having recently returned from a hamstring injury, there is a chance that Calvert-Lewin may not be fully fit though.

Bruno Fernandes (£11.6m) vs Chelsea (A) & Crystal Palace (A)

Leicester's Harvey Barnes. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)Leicester's Harvey Barnes. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Leicester's Harvey Barnes. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

As per usual, Bruno makes his way into the captain debate as his form never seems to drop.

Over the last four gameweeks, he sits in the top ten for shots, shots on target, chances created, big chances created and expected goals.

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On penalties too, he is an all-round goal threat and an FPL dream. This gameweek may be tough though - Cheslea and Crystal Palace away are never easy games and part of me thinks United will have half an eye on next week’s Manchester derby which could be a distraction.

The Form Guide - Who’s Hot?

One to watch - Aston Villa's Ahmed Elmohamady (Picture: PA)One to watch - Aston Villa's Ahmed Elmohamady (Picture: PA)
One to watch - Aston Villa's Ahmed Elmohamady (Picture: PA)

Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, £5.3m)

As the game’s highest scoring goalkeeper, Martinez still shows great value given his price.

He’s scored over 50 more points than De Gea and Alisson this season and isn’t due to play against a team above him in the league until gameweek 31. This week, Villa take on Leeds and Sheffield United.

Harvey Barnes (Leicester, £6.9m)

He’s scored twice, assisted twice and brought home 25 points over his last two games and is the league’s most in form player over this short stretch.

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This week’s double gameweek against Arsenal and Burnley could bring more joy for the English youngster who has scored and assisted against Burnley already this season.

The Form Guide - Who’s Not?

James Maddison (Leicester, £7.3m)

Flagged as having a 50% chance of playing, Maddison could miss out on Leicester’s double gameweek due to a hip injury.

The Foxes certainly missed him on Thursday as they lost to Slavia Prague in the Europa League and it wouldn’t be surprising for his absence to affect their league form.

In Harvey Barnes however, you have a readymade clear and obvious fantasy replacement.

Danny Ings (Southampton, £8.5m)

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Over 320,000 managers have already binned Ings after his stale display in last week’s double.

He only managed two shots across his two games and none of them were on target which is worrying ahead of this week’s trip to Everton. Since beating Liverpool in their first game of the year, Southampton haven’t won a league game and have only scored five goals.

Edinson Cavani (Man United, £7.9m)

With six goals for the season, including two in his last four games, Cavani was playing well before a muscle injury ruled him out of last week’s Newcastle win.

The same injury is likely to keep him out again this week so it makes sense to switch him to Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison or Watkins who are more nailed on to play.

Ones to Watch (Less than 5% ownership)

Ahmed Elmohamady (Aston Villa, £4.3m, 0.3%)

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With Matty Cash out injured, Elmohamady looks set to play right-back in a system that’s kept 12 clean sheets already this season.

After playing Leeds and Sheffield United this time out, Villa host Wolves before travelling to Newcastle which on paper seems like an encouraging fixture run.

Although he hasn’t scored yet this season, Elmo has scored or assisted in six of his last seven Premier League campaigns, including a season at Hull where he bagged two goals and five assists!

Ozan Kabak (Liverpool, £5.0m, 0.3%)

For a cheap way into the Liverpool defence, Kabak is your man. Liverpool appear likely to keep at least one clean sheet over the next two gameweeks as they face Sheffield United and Fulham. With injuries to Van Dijk, Gomez, Matip, Fabinho and Henderson, the Turkey international’s spot at centre-back looks safe for the time being.

Ricardo Pereira (Leicester, £5.9m, 0.9%)

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After missing the majority of the season through injury, Pereira has started Leicester’s last five games and looks set to keep his place in the side for the double gameweek against Arsenal and Burnley. Although he hasn’t helped directly towards a goal yet this season, if his previous numbers are anything to go by, he’s definitely due - over the last two seasons he’s assisted ten and scored five.

The Explainer

Transfers

After picking your initial squad, you receive 1 free transfer each Gameweek. Each additional transfer you make in the same Gameweek will deduct 4 points from your score.

If you do not use your free transfer, you are able to make an additional free transfer the following Gameweek. If you do not use this saved free transfer in the following Gameweek, it will be carried over until you do. You can never have more than 1 saved transfer.

For example, since you get 1 free transfer per gameweek, if you make no transfers between gameweeks, you will have 2 free transfers in preparation for the next gameweek. You will incur a 4 point hit per transfer over your free transfer allowance.

Point Scoring

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During the season, your fantasy football players will be allocated points based on their performance in the Premier League. Remember, every week your captain scores double points, so pick them wisely!

Points Action

1 For playing up to 60 minutes

2 For playing 60 minutes or more (excluding stoppage time)

6 For each goal scored by a goalkeeper or defender

5 For each goal scored by a midfielder

4 For each goal scored by a forward

3 For each goal assist

4 For a clean sheet by a goalkeeper or defender

1 For a clean sheet by a midfielder

1 For every 3 shot saves by a goalkeeper

5 For each penalty save

-2 For each penalty miss

1 to 3 Bonus points for the best players in a match

-1 For every 2 goals conceded by a goalkeeper or defender

-1 For each yellow card

-3 For each red card

-2 For each own goal

For more information on the rules of the game, visit https://fantasy.premierleague.com/help/rules

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