What is the best FPL Gameweek 19 Free Hit team?

FPL Junior (five top 17k finishes in the last six seasons) shares his FPL tips by selecting a team each week to try and score as many points as possible. In essence, he will be playing his Free Hit Chip every single Gameweek.

Don’t forget to check out our Ultimate Guide to FPL Gameweek 19 which has everything you need to help you make the best decisions ahead of the deadline.

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Gameweek 19 has descended into yet another Blank Gameweek in the space of a few days and it provides a great, if not the best opportunity to use your Free Hit so far this season.

There’s massive gains to be had but you have to weigh up the risk and reward. We still don’t know what is going to happen with games right up until the deadline, but thankfully most of the games are bunched together. It’s crucial to spend funds on your bench this week and keep your eyes peeled right up until the deadline.

The Best Gameweek 19 Goalkeeper

David de Gea (£5.1m)

Newcastle have averaged 0.5 goals a game in their last four matches, registering just two big chances but compared to their xG, they have been underperforming, accumulating 3.1 xG.

I think one Man Utd defender is plenty this gameweek and I’ve opted for their keeper, as I’m not convinced with their centre-back options and the full-backs seem too much of a risk. Added to these reasons I feel other defensive options carry higher attacking threat, so Dave gets the number one shirt.

The Best Gameweek 19 Defenders

Joao Cancelo (£6.8m)

With Alexander-Arnold absent, Cancelo is easily the best defender in the game and this decision shouldn’t carry much thought.

I do think Leicester could nick a goal but they did have to play a strong team midweek for the Carabao cup.

best free hit team gameweek 19

Reece James (£6.3m)

Chelsea’s fullback had a barren spell but has bounced back and is due a haul with his underlying numbers. Chelsea have been badly hit with COVID but were able to rest a number of players midweek and should hopefully have Kante back in the eleven, which is a big boost for their defence.

Aston Villa sit middle of the table for goal threat, and have looked a much better unit under Gerrard. They’ve also had a week off (which is hard to tell if that is beneficial or not). But James’ creativity and goal threat is enough to outweigh most difficult fixtures.

Reece James Stats

Kieran Tierney (£4.8m)

Norwich are the team I think who are likely to carry the least amount of goal threat this gameweek, having netted just once in their last five games. Their statistics show they are underperforming and should have averaged just over a goal a game on xG but their lack of quality combined with Arsenal’s much more steady defence makes a defender look a safe bet this weekend.

I’ve opted for Tierney but his underlying numbers are quite underwhelming. He’s accumulated an xA of 0.15 despite returning two assists but his heat map shows he is bombing forward and receiving touches in the box.

gameweek 19 free hit team

The Best Gameweek 18 Midfielders

Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden (£10.6m and £8.1m)

Man City have been the most attacking side in recent weeks, so I think it makes sense to roll the dice on your free hit and plump for two of their attacking options. Sterling has returned to Pep’s good books and his starts look easier to work out. I’ve been really impressed by his positioning which looks like the Sterling of pre-last season.

Foden on the other hand doesn’t seem to be in his good books, so I think he either starts or doesn’t feature but if he does start, he’s arguably the best value option.

Leicester have been hit with another defensive injury, with Ricardo Pereira now out and have looked vulnerable at the back all season so I think there will be at least two goals for City in this game.

Bernardo Silva is a safer option if you want guaranteed minutes but I feel he’s got a lower ceiling.

gameweek 19 free hit team

Heung-min Son (£10.3m)

Spurs were a no go zone for a large period of this season, but finally Conte has started to make them look like their attacking players can finally return. Spurs have averaged four big chances a game on average over their last two matches (last four game weeks) and an average xG of 2.3.

Son has amassed an xA of 0.72 and accumulated three big chances in his last two, so clearly their players are on an upwards trajectory.

Opponents Crystal Palace haven’t kept a clean sheet in seven games, so they clearly have issues at the back, especially from set-pieces but they are conceding very few big chances. Over the last six Gameweeks, they have conceded 0.6 big chances on average, only bettered by Man City.

FPL Fixture Ticker

Gabriel Martinelli (£5.3m)

Martinelli is providing incredible value, having only blanked once in his last six games.

In his last five starts he’s had 11 shots inside the box with four big chances. Arguably only Saka has better underlying numbers, having a slightly larger volume of shots. The Brazilian has also had a 12 key passes compared to Saka’s nine and both have had an xA of around 1.5 over the last five games.

Opponents Norwich haven’t been as leaky as they were at the start of the season but Arsenal have been flat track bullies this season and I fully expect another convincing win this week.

Best free hit team gameweek 19

Jarrod Bowen (£6.5m)

Bowen faces Southampton at home and of the West Ham attacking options, he clearly looks the best option, especially with Antonio potentially out with COVID and his dogged form. His underlying numbers haven’t been bad, but they’re nothing special. He certainly passes the eye test though.

Southampton have been poor defensively, averaging three big chances conceded a game over their last three matches. They haven’t been helped with injury issues in goal, so I think West Ham will have joy on Boxing Day.

Jarrod Bowen Stats

The Best Gameweek 19 Forwards

Cristiano Ronaldo (£12.5m)

Newcastle is the best fixture on paper this week, so Ronaldo was the first attacker on the team sheet this week. The Magpies have conceded the most big chances (20) and shots inside the box (67) over the last six gameweeks.

I haven’t doubled up on the Man Utd attack as I simply don’t trust any of their attackers to return bar Ronaldo. Despite having a game off, their training time has been massively hampered due to a training ground closure and their new tactics will take time to be embedded.

That being said, I do expect more than one goal on Sunday, but it’s hard to say from where.

Fantasy Premier League Stats by OPTA

Harry Kane (£12.1m)

I’ve gone for a double-up on the Spurs attack over the Man City one due to Son and Kane being as nailed as it gets. If I could guarantee all my options played 90 minutes then I would have swayed towards the blues but I can’t.

Kane has looked dreadful for 95% of this season but his last two matches have been much more promising. Over their last two games, Kane ranks top for shots, shots inside the box and xG.

Best gameweek 19 free hit team

Best FPL Gameweek 19 Free Hit Team

All stats used in the article can be found using Fantasy Football Hub’s OPTA Stats tool.

Bench

Sanchez (£4.6m), Broja (£5.1m), Lamptey (£4.5m) and Reguillon (£5.2m) are on the bench.

IF Norwich vs Arsenal is postponed

IF Aston Villa vs Chelsea is postponed

Reece James to Ruben Dias

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