Fantasy Football Files - 2025/26 - Gameweek 17 - 'Rogers That'

Gameweek 17 saw me up against my old friend Andrew. Andrew was the first man to win the ‘Justice League’ when I started it in the 2019/20 season. So he was never someone that you could take lightly, despite us both being at the wrong end of the table currently.

After using just four of my five free transfers last week, I had two free ones for this week. I sold Mo Salah who was obviously participating in AFCON and Zian Flemming for Morgan Rogers and Alexander Isak. My original plan was to bring in Cole Plamer and Hugo Ekitike, as selling Salah did so much for the budget, I then was to have a change of heart. Rogers was in superb form, and I was hoping I was not too late to the party. In terms of my team overall, I did not have many differentials so in an attempt to bolster my rank I got Isak instead of Ekitike as though more expensive his ownership was significantly lower. Also, if it was not to work then Ekitike would be easy to get to as he was much cheaper. Andrew also used two free transfers as he let go of Jack Grealish and Joao Pedro for Mikel Merino and Ekitike. I just knew because of this Ekitike would score. Andrew and I both captained Erling Haaland, so no risks were taken once again. It just did not make sense to go against him.

Newcastle and Chelsea kicked the gameweek off and things did not begin well for me. I did not have anyone in the game, however Andrew had Pedro Neto as well as Nick Woltemade, and the latter bagged a first half brace. First, he put in a rebound after Anthony Gordon had a shot saved, then he turned in a Gordon cross. Woltemade should have had a hat-trick as he put over another good ball from Gordon. The Blues were to be the better team in the second half and salvaged a point. Luckily, Neto was not involved in the goals, but Woltemade’s antics meant I was already 15-0 down.

The 3pm’s saw Bournemouth and Burnley draw 1-1. After a goalless first half, Antoine Semenyo, who Andrew and I both owned gave the Cherries the lead with a fine finish. We both thought we would be getting clean sheet points from Marcos Senesi when Armando Broja scored a 90th minute equaliser. Senesi earlier almost got an assist when his great ball was put over by David Brooks. I wanted to start Joe Rodon as Leeds were home to Crystal Palace in the evening, instead I went with Nordi Mukiele, and I was rewarded as Sunderland had a stalemate at Brighton. The Black Cats did ride their luck a little as Yasin Ayari went close a few times, sometimes it pays to have nine lives.

Manchester City continued to keep the pressure on Arsenal as they won 3-0 at home to West Ham. Haaland aided both of us with yet another brace, and he also assisted the second goal for Tijani Reijnders, who although he is the inspiration behind my team’s name, I still have not owned him this season.  The frustration here was that my opponent had Josko Gvardiol so I would not have had any issues with West Ham scoring and they went could have scored a couple of times in the second half. Haaland’s first goal was him putting in a rebound from a shot he had saved, the irony was his first shot was from a pass by Phil Foden so I would have got precious points. Many FPL managers triple captained Haaland and they were fully vindicated, I wish I had waited myself. Brentford won 2-0 away at Wolves as Keane Lewis-Potter (£4.8m) got the biggest haul of gameweek 17 with a crazy 21 points. He is naturally a midfielder but due to Rico Henry’s injury he played as a left back last campaign and in the summer, FPL changed his position to a defender. With Henry back now he played in a more natural position and his managers fully profited. Caoimhin Kelleher was owned by Andrew and I, and he saved Jorgen Strand Larsen’s second half penalty to add to his clean sheet. Igor Thiago blanked for me though when I had been expectant of differential points.

There was chaos in the 5.30pm kick off. Isak was only on the bench as Tottenham hosted Liverpool, and Xavi Simons was sent off in the first half. The away side finally took the lead in the second period when substitute Isak scored from a Florian Wirtz assist. People may flock back to Wirtz now as the Reds have Wolves up next. Spurs hit the woodwork and then Arne Slot’s men furthered their lead as Ekitike headed in a deflected Jeremie Frimpong cross. Therefore, I would have got points whoever I selected but the Isak injury meant Ekitike got 3 more points than him which could end up being extremely costly for me. Mohammed Kudus thankfully did not get the opposition more points.

In the 8pm game that effected the head-to-head, a Viktor Gyokeres first half penalty got Arsenal all three points at Everton. Andrew had Michael Keane so that got him 4 points as he qualified for defensive contributions. He also had Eberechi Eze who did not feature so he got 1 point for Mikel Merino off his bench instead. Saturday ended with me behind by 19 points 95-76. Usually, I would say it was over for me; however, I had three men left whereas Andrew did not have anyone, so I had faint hope.

Sunday’s only game was Aston Villa versus Manchester United. Ruben Amorim’s men were the better team for large parts of the half, only for it to be Villa who took the lead. I was overjoyed that Morgan Rogers scored the goal and it was a superb one in the 45th minute. I thought that was it for the first period only for Matty Cash who was my other player from the home side to make an error and Matheus Cunha scored. As there was no hope of clean sheet points unless Cash did something offensively, I needed more from Rogers. I was to be jubilant that Unai Emery’s side won it, and the winner was by Rogers as he finished well again. Rogers had 15 points, so with Cash’s 2 points meant I now only trailed by 2 points.

On Monday, all I needed was Harry Wilson to play over 60 minutes and not get booked and I would get a draw. Things all seemed well as past the hour mark the Cottagers led 1-0, so Wilson 3 points would carry me to a 1-point victory. In the 77^th minute Wilson made a bad challenge and got booked in the process as well as injuring himself. He came back on, so I was still mildly hopeful of an attacking contribution although it did not come and we drew 95-all.

Just my luck then, at least I did not lose I suppose. Wilson’s recent brilliance meant that he was the most transferred in player this week only for the FPL curse to rear its ugly head. The draw meant I dropped a place in the table closer to the quagmire. Going for the Isak differential ultimately cost me, anyway I wish Isak a speedy recovery, some things are more important.

@DubulDee