FPL Challenge Gameweek 8 Tips and Team Reveal

In this article we take a look at FPL Challenge Gameweek 8 As well as picking out some of the best players for the round ahead specific to the Challenge structure we also bring in @FPLReaction to share his team and thoughts ahead of the new round.

FPL Challenge Gameweek 8 is here. With exciting new badges to earn and prizes to win FPL Challenge have made some massive changes. With that in mind our tips and team reveal could be exactly what you need to have success.

What is the Challenge this week?

The Challenge for Gameweek 8 is ‘Ball Winners’.

Challengers will receive one point for Interceptions and tackles, and a point for every three ball recoveries.

Challengers can do the above with an unlimited budget.

Top Picks – Goalkeepers

The interceptions and tackles part of the Challenge is unlikely to add much to a goalkeepers return. Ball recoveries are more common amongst goalkeepers but, not enough to massively sway your selection.

For those that want to chance ball recoveries rather than clean sheet potential then Chelsea’ Robert Sanchez (£4.6m) leads the way for ball recoveries. He faces Liverpool this week however. Producing just six recoveries less than the Chelsea man is Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario (£5m) who has a meeting with West Ham at home.

It could be more beneficial to chase down clean sheets rather than ball recovery points. With that in mind, and the fact we have an unlimited budget, we could opt for Arsenal’s David Raya (£5.6m). He faces a Bournemouth side who failed to score in three of their last four games.

As well as Raya, Challengers could also select Manchester City’ Ederson (£5.5m) who has a good opportunity against a poor Wolves side. Everton’s Jordan Pickford (£4.8m) and Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels (£4.6m) are two other viable picks.

Defenders

Finding a balance between defenders who produce a high level or tackles, interceptions and ball recoveries with clean sheet and attacking potential is extremely important this week. Going all out on players who offer tackles, interceptions and ball recoveries alone could be limit your overall success.

One player who fits nearly all of the criteria above is Antonee Robinson (£4.7m). The American ranks top amongst defenders for tackles and in the top eight for interceptions, so could benefit in that regard. As well as this, and although facing Aston Villa, he also plays at home this week. Attacking potential is another contributing factor as he has already registered two assists.

Another player who ranks in the top 10 amongst defenders for both tackles and interceptions is Pedro Porro (£5.5m). Tottenham have a home match against an inconsistent West Ham side this week which could suggest clean sheet potential. However, the Portuguese full-back also has huge attacking potential, as he sits above every other defender for total attempts on goal.

Picking a Leicester defender may also has its benefits this week. The Foxes go into their meeting with a poor Southampton next off the back of a win and clean sheet against Bournemouth in Gameweek 7. Benefitting from that was full-back James Justin (£4.6m) who has incredibly managed two goals and one assist in his last two matches. James also ranks amongst the top six defenders for interceptions. With less attacking threat but featuring in the top 10 for both tackles and interceptions is fellow full-back Victor Kristiansen (£4.5m).

Featuring amongst the top 10 defenders when it comes to both interceptions and ball recoveries is Nottingham Forest full-back Ola Aina (£4.5m). Although short of attacking threat Aina faces off against a poor Crystal Palace at home next. And, taking into account his sides elite defensive data, he could have clean sheet potential.

Midfielders

For managers looking to target midfielders who rank high for tackles, interceptions and ball recoveries then Moises Caicedo (£4.9m) offers that. The Chelsea midfielder sits amongst the top 10 midfielders for all defensive actions mentioned above but offers little to no attacking threat.

Some of the above can also be said for Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook (£5m). Incredibly Cook resides in the top five for blocks, interceptions and ball recoveries. Cook has an opportunity to showcase his potential against an Arsenal side who will demand it.

Other defensive minded players include Leicester’s Wilfried Ndidi (£5m) who faces Southampton and Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes (£6.3m) who meets with Brighton.

Offering considerably more attacking threat the assets above is the Tottenham frontline. Spurs have been excellent recently offensively and their data shows that. West Ham lay ahead and considering both players have been in exceptional form recently we should look to Brennan Johnson (£6.6m) and James Maddison (£7.5m).

Scoring six goals in his last seven matches also makes Bryan Mbeumo (£7.5m) a good option. Joining him amongst the top midfielder picks this week is Arsenal penalty taker Bukayo Saka (£10.1m) providing he starts, Everton’s Dwight McNeil (£5.9m) and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (£12.7m).

Forwards

Not many within the community have expected Ilman Ndiaye (£5.4m) to be top of the list. Bizarrely, the Everton forward ranks higher than any other forward in the league for tackles, interceptions and ball recoveries so far this season. He faces an Ipswich side up next who rank the worst for big chances conceded.

Another forward Challengers should consider is Arsenal’s Kai Havertz (£8.3m). The German ranks amongst the top three forwards for all defensive actions mentioned above. He also goes into a match against Bournemouth having banked a return in his last two matches.

Other fantastic options but who have shown a lack of defensive duty include Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (£15.4m) who faces Wolves, Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke (£7.6m) who meets with West Ham and Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6m).

@FPLReaction Team Reveal

I have decided to take full advantage of the Challenge this week as you can see.
Picking a goalkeeper this week is tough but based on his ball recovery rate, clean sheet and save potential this week I’m backing Vicario.
In defence, as well as offering massive attacking potential recently and having clean sheet potential against Southampton James also does well for defensive actions.
My captain will likely be Pedro Porro. Porro has multiple avenues to points this week. I think he is also due in terms of an attacking return.
Mbeumo is in great form and his position also gives him defensive action potential. Manchester United will provide him a good opportunity to both defend and bank a goal contribution.
Up front and as highlighted above Ndiaye has been exceptional for underlying defensive actions. I think he also has a very good chance at bagging an attacking return.
Check out my Gameweek 7 review below!

Gameweek 7 Challenge Review

My Gameweek 7 Challenge rank was 261k. Fortunately I kept a season rank of around 29k.
I should have kept Wood who scored, and probably should have kept the captaincy on Mitoma.
In fact, my last minute moves really cost me. I came from my game plan of taking full advantage of the Challenge and that set me back.
The above is why you will notice I have gone with a different tactic this week.