FPL Challenge Gameweek 17 Tips and Team Reveal

In this article, we present to you our FPL Challenge Gameweek 17 tips and team reveal. 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 17 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 17 is ‘Home for the Holidays’.

Players at home earn double points this week.

Challengers have to select nine players with an unlimited budget.

Top Picks – Goalkeepers

Picking an away goalkeeper this week seems close to pointless. If away goalkeepers manage to keep a clean sheet then six points may be the average score, a total that could be easily met with a home goalkeeper, even if they fail to keep a clean sheet.

With the above in mind, selecting an away goalkeeper this week seems like a must. Amongst the goalkeepers playing at home this week, the standout is arguably Bernd Leno. Fulham clash with Southampton this week, who have scored less goals than any other side in the league this season. With that in mind, Leno appears to be the easiest route to a clean sheet at home.

Another great pick could well be Jordan Pickford. Everton may face a tough match against Chelsea next, but they go into the game having collected a clean sheet in four of their last five matches. Even if Everton fail to keep a clean sheet Pickford could well rack up save points.

Ranking joint second best overall for clean sheets this season, Manchester United are better than people believe they are defensively. A home meeting with Bournemouth could be a good opportunity for Andre Onana to keep a clean sheet and register saves. Onana ranks second best for expected goals prevented this season, proving to be one of the best shot stoppers in the league.

Defenders

Fulham’ home fixture against a managerless Southampton is the standout fixture this week based on the Saints woeful attacking data. With that in mind, and based on his current form, Antonee Robinson could be a shoo-in this week. As well as clean sheet potential, the American has registered an impressive six assists already this campaign.

It could be a case of scraping the barrel for other viable defenders playing at home, especially for those that don’t want to double or triple up on the Fulham defence with someone like centre-back Calvin Bassey. However, for those bullish on the home advantage then Brentford’ Nathan Collins against Nottingham Forest, Ipswich Leif Davis versus Newcastle, and Tottenham’ Pedro Porro against Liverpool could be considerations. All three players offer considerable attacking threat even when collecting a clean sheet doesn’t seem likely.

It could be difficult to resist several defenders who play away from home this week, even when considering the Challenge. Two of those picks include Arsenal’ Gabriel and William Saliba. Both centre-backs have significant attacking threat and good clean sheet potential heading into their clash against Crystal Palace.

Midfielders

Southampton aren’t just extremely poor offensively, in fact the Saints have also shipped three goals on a huge eight occasions this season, which highlights them as a team to target. Whilst Emile Smith Rowe is a great option, teammate Alex Iwobi is in much better form – having secured five attacking returns in his last six league matches.

Nottingham Forest have sustained excellent defensive data this season. However, taking into home advantage and form, it could be a huge mistake to avoid Bryan Mbeumo. The Brentford penalty taker sits as the fourth highest scorer in the game this season due to his relentless consistency.

Another penalty taker and talisman playing at home this week is Bruno Fernandes. Since the former manager departed Manchester United, Fernandes has scored or assisted a huge eight times. He takes that form into a clash against a ropey Bournemouth defence this week.

Those looking to back home midfielders could even opt for West Ham’ Jarrod Bowen for his match against Brighton, and Tottenham’ Son Heung-Min, who faces a tough Liverpool defence.

Options including Arsenal’ Bukayo Saka, Chelsea’ Cole Palmer and Liverpool’ Mohamed Salah all play away from home, but could still have huge potential.

Forwards

The fact that Southampton sit amongst several of the worst teams in the league for several key defensive metrics this season makes them a prime target for attacking players. Spearheading the Fulham frontline is Mexican Raul Jimenez, who scored recently in Gameweek 15 against Arsenal. Challenging Jimenez for the number one striker spot is Rodrigo Muniz. Muniz netted in his latest feature, so monitoring the Fulham team sheet prior to the game could be key.

Another side we should seriously consider for investment this week is Leicester. Although hit and miss this campaign, the Foxes face Wolves, who have shipped more goals than any other side this season. To take advantage of their defensive woes, penalty taker Jamie Vardy stands out. The 37-year-old has notched up four returns in his last four matches, proving age isn’t slowing him down.

Manchester United have also been inconsistent, but scoring two goals in their last two matches, shows they are still very capable of finding the net. At the tip of the attack should be Rasmus Hojlund. The Dane has a great opportunity to punish the Bournemouth defence this week.

@FPLReaction Team Reveal

This week I feel quite comfortable going without the likes of Saka and Palmer. The only away player I really want this week is Salah. I think the Egyptian could really go off against Tottenham and their poor defence.
This is my current set-up. I have gone all out on the Fulham defence. Not only is their a shortage of convincing defensive players at home, but I also think the away players aren’t that sure of a clean sheet either. I’m really banking on a Fulham clean sheet here.
Diogo Dalot makes the backline, because I think he may keep a clean sheet or bag an attacking return against Bournemouth. But, I’m unsure about him more than any other pick.
I like the midfield options this week, I think Iwobi, Mbeumo, Bowen and Fernandes could do well. I’m keen on Fernandes this week as captain, mainly due to the fact he has multiple routes to points.
Raul Jimenez is the only home striker I’m keen on this week. He will change to Muniz, depending on who starts for Fulham.

Gameweek 16 Challenge Review

Last week was a bit of a struggle. Double Arsenal defence worked wonders, but Robertson getting sent off was a disaster.
The under £6m were generally very poor, and the same can be said for both Palmer and Salah.
Saving me this week was of course captain Enzo Fernandez who picked up 20 points due to his assist.
Overall I hit 70 points, meaning a round rank of 119k. This means I dropped from 1.3k globally to 1.4k, so it wasn’t a major drop.
My aim is to break the top 1k this week, so let’s hope Fulham keep the clean sheet and Fernandes does well.
Good luck everyone!