Premier League fantasy tips and FPL captain picks for Gameweek 30

Fantasy Premier League (FPL) is back as we head into the season’s home straight with all 20 teams returning to action this weekend.

Whether you’re weighing up using your Wildcard, Free Hit, or simply want to take a punt on one or two of our suggestions, we’ve pulled together an 11-man team of players you should be considering for Gameweek 30. Our captaincy suggestion this week is Harry Kane.

Opta’s stats power the FPL game and help steer the Sky Bet market so what better way to figure out how to build your squad this week? Be warned, Saturday’s deadline is at 11:00 ahead of West Brom’s trip to Chelsea (12:30 kick-off).

Edouard Mendy: The Chelea star has kept 14 clean sheets and ranks second among goalkeepers behind Emiliano Martinez in terms of FPL points per 90 minutes this season (4.7). The Blues have a favourable pair of fixtures after the international break, with West Brom at home before Crystal Palace away. Chelsea have kept eight clean sheets in 10 Premier League fixtures since Thomas Tuchel’s appointment.

Conor Coady: Unlike half of the teams in the league, Wolves will not have a blank GW between now and the end of the season. Coady is their top-scoring defender on FPL this season and averages 6.5 points per GW since the middle of February. He scored in the recent win over Manchester City and was unlucky not to double his goal tally for the season in the subsequent fixture at Aston Villa.

Kieran Tierney: Arsenal visit relegation-threatened Sheffield United and Fulham in two of their next three fixtures. No Gunners player has created more chances than Tierney (29), while only Emile Smith Rowe and Willian have registered more assists than the Scot.

Ruben Dias: Manchester City defenders will always be a gamble due to Pep Guardiola’s rotation policy, and their continued bid for silverware on four fronts only increases the risk of key men being benched. However, it’s hard to ignore the best defence in the Premier League and Ruben Dias is your safest bet. He has played more Premier League minutes (2395) than any of Guardiola’s back line this term and of City’s defenders only Joao Cancelo has had more shots on goal. Dias to score any time is 12/1.

Antonio Rudiger: For the same reasons as Mendy, you can bank on Rudiger to provide fair few clean sheets in the coming weeks as Tuchel’s Chelsea continue to show their steel at the back. Rudiger has played nine of the 10 Premier League games since Tuchel took charge, averaging over five FPL points per 90 across that period. A trusty presence at the back and, with five shots on target so far this season, it’s surely only a matter of time before we see attacking returns. Rudiger to score any time is 11/2. 

Bruno Fernandes: If you haven’t got Bruno Fernandes in your fantasy team, may I politely ask what you’ve been doing? The Portuguese has three goals and three assists in his last four home games ahead of Brighton’s visit to Old Trafford. He also scored 12 points against the Seagulls in the meeting on the south coast earlier this year and is the out-and-out leading point-scorer on FPL this year. Only Kane has more than his 28 attacking returns so far this term. Fernandes to score from outside the box is a Sky Boost 13/2. 

Mason Mount: Chelsea face West Brom, Palace, Brighton and Fulham in four of their next five fixtures and Mount will be licking his lips over the prospect of more attacking returns. Only Tammy Abraham and Jorginho have scored more Premier League goals for the Blues this term, while only Timo Werner has taken more than Mount’s 56 shots on goal. Mount is also a provider and has played a club-high 69 key passes this season. Mount to score and Chelsea to win is a Sky Boost 3/1.

Mohamed Salah: Liverpool may be going through a difficult spell but Salah is still capable of some mega hauls. He is the Premier League’s top scorer (17) and heads into fixtures against Arsenal, Aston Villa and Leeds. Salah is particularly prolific against the Gunners, scoring six and setting up four in his last seven matches against them. He is the fourth-top scorer on FPL this term and has taken more shots on target (38) than any of his Liverpool peers. Salah to score from outside the box is a Sky Boost 16/1. 

Pedro Neto: A kind run of games for Wolves after the international break pits them against Fulham, Sheffield United, Burnley, West Brom and Brighton across their next six. Neto is Wolves’ leading scorer on FPL this season and represents a snip at just £5.7m. He has five goals and seven assists this term (both most at club), and also tops the charts in terms of chances created by Wolves players (57). If you expect Wolves to kick on at the business end, Neto is your man. Neto to score first is a Sky Boost 8/1.

Michail Antonio: Excluding penalties, Antonio has the highest xG per 90 in the Premier League over the last six games (0.82). Add to that the fact he ranks second at West Ham for both goals and assists despite missing almost a third of the campaign and his selection becomes a no-brainer. Antonio to score first and either West Ham to win 2-1 or Draw 2-2 is 33/1. 

Harry Kane: His price is rising all the time as FPL managers decide they just can’t do without the Tottenham frontman. Only Patrick Bamford’s value has shot up by more than Kane’s £1.1m increase since the start of the season. Kane tops the scoring charts with 17 goals and has 13 assists to boot, and his recent form is impressive as well. With four goals and two assists since GW24, only Riyad Mahrez has provided more attacking returns across the same period. Kane to score a header is a Sky Boost 15/2. 

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 Who’s it time to get rid of/avoid?

Lewis Dunk: After a string of tasty fixtures, Brighton now head into back-to-back games against Manchester United, Everton then Chelsea.

Isaac Hayden: It was confirmed during the international break that Isaac Hayden will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury.

Illan Meslier: They were one of the only sides to play during GW29, but with all 20 teams back in action over the coming weeks your Leeds back line might need to take a back seat. Daunting match-ups with both Manchester clubs and Liverpool in the next four mean Leeds are likely to concede big after the international break.

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