The Offside Fantasy League: Double Vision

By: Daryl | March 14th, 2008

Lampard double vision This coming gameweek in The Offside Fantasy League is one one those special times where certain teams play twice and wily fantasy league managers benefit. Of course it all evens out in the end and every team plays 38 games (for now) but there’s nothing to stop you making transfers and benefiting from the teams doing double duty this week.

For the record, here are the teams that play twice, first at the weekend and then on Wednesday, but all in The Offside Fantasy League Gameweek 29:

Chelsea
vs Sunderland (away)
vs Spurs (home)

Man Utd
vs Derby (away)
vs Bolton (home)

Spurs
vs Man City (away)
vs Chelsea (away)

Bolton
vs Wigan (away)
vs Man Utd (home)

So how can you reap the benefits of midweek Premiership football? Well, two things you can do are 1) transfer in one or more of the players likely to be involved in two games this week, and 2) make sure your captain is one of the guys playing twice too. He gets 50% bonus points, so there’s a potential bonanza there.

So, who do you sign? We’ll rule out buying Bolton players because, you know. But Manchester United look a lot more appetizing. They’re more than likely going to tear a big hole through Derby. If there’s anything left to tear after the mauling they got form Chelsea. And then you’d expect them to beat Bolton at home. So all you need to do is make sure you have Cristiano Ronaldo is in your team and then watch the points roll in right?

Probably not. It wouldn’t be a huge surprise if Fergie rested some of his attackers for at least one of these games. So to make the of this potential windfall you need someone likely to play in both games. My money would go on a defender. Maybe Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidić or Patrice Evra. The chances of United keeping at least one clean sheet are good, plus the defenders could always weigh in with a goal or assist. Just don’t bank on Rio Ferdinand saving a penalty.

Further south, Chelsea and Spurs are worth a look too. Their fixtures are probably a little tougher than Man Utd’s, but Frank Lampard Jnr. is in form after his four goals against Derby this week. And whatever else you can say about Lampard, the man does not like being rested, so you can realistically expect him to play twice this gameweek.

Spurs fixtures are even tougher, but Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane are always good for a goal or two, even more so if they’re playing twice.

So get working on those transfers fantasy managers.