GW31 FPL Draft Preview: Gordon, Rodon & Haaland Trade Talk

Navigating GW31's Blank Gameweek Challenge

Gameweek 31 presents a significant challenge for Fantasy Premier League Draft managers, with Manchester City and Arsenal missing fixtures due to the Carabao Cup final. Crystal Palace and Wolves also blank, creating crucial gaps that need filling through smart waiver claims and tactical lineup decisions.

My top three waiver targets this week reflect the need for reliable points in a reduced fixture list. Anthony Gordon continues his excellent form with two returns in two games, and Eddie Howe's decision to deploy him as a striker makes him even more appealing at 87.3% ownership. Matt Ziffer returns as the 'defcon king,' averaging 12 defcons per game since his return from injury. Joe Rodon rounds out the trio as a straightforward defender pick who should provide solid returns against Brentford.

The blank gameweek strategy varies by league size. In smaller leagues, be bolder with drops – all Wolves players and most Crystal Palace assets (except Strand Larsen) are droppable, along with several Arsenal players like Zubimendi, Eze, Madueke, Trossard, and Martinelli. Head-to-head players need to assess opponents' teams tactically, while Arsenal assets may be worth holding as they've already played their extra game and City assets will likely have doubles coming up.

Leeds Defenders Lead the Defensive Options

Leeds defenders top my defensive recommendations for their home fixture against Brentford. Joe Rodon gets the nod over Struijk despite both being available on waivers. At 31.1% ownership and averaging 3.8 points over his last five games, Rodon offers better points per game and higher likelihood of attacking returns. He's averaging slightly better on a points per minute basis and was unlucky not to get an attacking return recently. The fixture data supports this pick, with Rodon projected for 4.5 expected points and 94% start probability against Brentford.

Calvin Bassey from Fulham presents another attractive option for their home fixture against Burnley, though Burnley are not a pushover team anymore. At just 12.6% ownership overall but 45% in top 100 leagues, Bassey is clearly valued by experienced managers. His 5.2 expected points against Burnley make him a solid differential.

For more adventurous picks, Diouf from West Ham offers potential cross assists in their away trip to Aston Villa, with West Ham in good form despite being underdogs. Harry Maguire deserves mention as a consistent defender who always has potential for attacking returns from corners, though his recent 2.6-point average over five games suggests he's not in peak form. A word of caution about Newcastle defenders due to rotation concerns following their recent heavy defeat.

Midfield Targets Across All Ownership Levels

Mateus Fernandes leads my midfield recommendations despite his omission from the provided data, with West Ham looking dangerous for their trip to Villa. Kobbie Mainoo provides a way into the in-form Manchester United team at just 14.5% ownership, with United looking strong for Champions League qualification. His 86% start probability against Bournemouth and 4.0 expected points make him an excellent differential play.

Oscar Bobb from Fulham stands out as an exciting option at just 10.0% ownership for their home game against Burnley. Despite lower expected points (3.3) and start probability (53%), his quality and versatility make him worth the risk for managers seeking upside. Anton Stach continues to deserve heavy promotion at 72% ownership – he won a penalty that Calvert-Lewin failed to convert, and I'll keep advocating for him until his ownership hits 100%. His 6.0 expected points against Brentford with 87% start probability justify the faith.

Marcus Tavernier deserves mention despite 80.6% ownership, with excellent underlying stats since returning from injury. His 4.4 expected points against Manchester United show he's maintaining solid projection despite the tough fixture.

Forward Options: Fleming Stays Hot, Beto Rising

Fleming remains a permanent fixture in my recommendations at 50.6% ownership, having put up 0.9 xG against Bournemouth and being unlucky not to score his eighth goal of the season. His 3.8-point average over five games demonstrates consistent returns, though his upcoming fixture against Fulham projects just 2.3 expected points – the matchup matters more than form here.

Beto from Everton emerges as a strong option at 57.5% ownership, now starting consistently over Barry and having accumulated 1.5 xG from his last three appearances with only one goal to show for it. This underlying performance suggests positive regression is coming, making him a solid third forward option. His 4.2 expected points against Chelsea with 63% start probability show he's becoming a reliable starter.

For basic needs, Brobbey from Sunderland provides a playing option in what could be an unpredictable derby match against Newcastle. At 54.5% ownership with 3.8 expected points and 86% start probability, he offers a safe floor in an uncertain gameweek.

Deep League Gems and Differential Picks

Several deep picks emerge for larger leagues seeking differentials. Ampadu from Leeds at just 5.1% ownership represents a 'defcon merchant' offering a safe high floor pickup. His 4.2-point average over five games and 4.6 expected points against Brentford make him one of the most reliable deep picks available. Justin from Leeds could benefit from more attacking freedom with Gudmundsson suspended, creating another opportunity at 4.5% ownership.

Yoro from Manchester United provides another route into their defence at 16.7% ownership, though surprisingly just 7% in top 100 leagues. His 3.5 expected points against Bournemouth with 82% start probability offer decent floor at minimal ownership. Chris Wood from Nottingham Forest deserves consideration as a stash option as he nears return from long-term injury – he could single-handedly keep Forest up if he returns for the final games.

Mavropanos from West Ham gets special mention for his solid performance against Manchester City, available at just 0.6% ownership. His recent 4.6-point average suggests he's settling into the team well. Matt Wieffer's return to form deserves highlighting for his phenomenal defcon tallies and ability to rack up 10+ defcons by halftime even when not completing full games.

Drop Candidates: Time to Move On from Mateta

Mateta heads the drop list despite 81.2% ownership, as he's no longer the first-choice striker at Crystal Palace with Strand Larsen now the main man. His 0.2-point average over five games tells the story – owners should expect mostly one-point returns from bench appearances going forward. The 4.0 expected points against Newcastle mean little if he's not starting regularly.

Watkins remains on the drop list for the same reasons as previous weeks, despite his 99.9% ownership making him nearly impossible to drop in many leagues. His 1.4-point average over five games continues to disappoint. Woltemade presents the most interesting case – suggested as a trade or potential drop, particularly in smaller leagues. He's playing as a deeper playmaker and struggling to hit 60 minutes consistently. Over the last 12 gameweeks, he's registered one-point returns on eight occasions, which is actively harmful to teams.

FPL Draft managers need to be ruthless with underperforming assets, especially when attractive waiver options exist. The blank gameweek provides perfect cover for these moves, as opponents may also be weakened by missing fixtures.

Blockbuster Trade Talk: Haaland vs Bruno Fernandes

The potential blockbuster trade of Haaland for Bruno Fernandes represents fascinating value consideration for FPL Draft leagues. While it wouldn't be crazy given their respective situations, Bruno Fernandes owners would likely demand significant additional value to make it work. The reasoning centres on Bruno Fernandes now being my number one overall player in updated draft rankings.

Haaland's 3.0-point average over five games raises questions about immediate returns. His upcoming fixtures include Chelsea away and Arsenal away – challenging matchups despite his 4.9 expected points in both. Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes offers more consistent floor with similar high ceiling potential.

This type of trade discussion highlights the importance of viewing players through current form and role rather than reputation alone. Arsenal assets deserve consideration for trades given their blank gameweek, while City assets may gain value due to potential doubles ahead. The key is identifying which elite assets are trending up versus down in their current situations.