After a turbulent return from the international break in GW8, we found that premium FPL forwards are still blanking, premium defenders are still being rotated, and points from mid-price midfielders are harder than ever to predict. In this week's episode, we seek to answer these key questions with a fun game of "Fill in the Blank." We talk Ronaldo and Lukaku, Chelsea fullbacks, and Mbeumo's prolific woodwork record. Plus, there's consideration given to under-the-radar premium assets like Mané, Kane, and De Bruyne. Stick around for our GW9 transfer targets and captaincy favorites. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Always Cheating: A Fantasy Premier League Podcast (FPL)

FPL Fill-in-the-Blank Ahead of GW9

This international break has given us some time to think ahead and in this episode we're planning not just for the upcoming GW8, but for the next four week through GW11. Whether you're on a wildcard or not, we help listeners identify both teams and players who look primed to benefit from the upcoming month's fixtures—and some who you might want to avoid. We also discuss news from around the Premier League, including injury news, Claudio Ranieri's appointment at Watford, and the new ownership at Newcastle United. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thinking Ahead: Planning for GW8–GW11 in FPL

After seven weeks of Fantasy Premier League madness, we try to construct a cohesive narrative that accounts for what we've seen so far. We take a closer look at this season's top fantasy scores in all positions, from goalkeeper to defender, midfielder to forward. What are the trends that appear? Are certain patterns real, imagined, or simply the product of kind fixtures? As we head into another international break, many managers still with their wildcard in hand, it's a good time to look for the story that FPL is telling us. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What’s the Story of the FPL Season So Far? (GW1–7 Review)

Players like Jamie Vardy and Abdoulaye Doucouré have started this Premier League season in great form, yet they still haven't emerged as popular fantasy picks. Should they emerge, though? In this week's episode, we debate the merits of these rogue selections and predict whether their form might continue. We also consider the likes of Ederson, Neal Maupay, Emile Smith Rowe, and . . . Gabriel Jesus. Seriously. Stick around for our GW7 preview of key fixtures, transfer targets, and captain favorites. We consider what impact the Liverpool-Manchester City match will have on the weekend—and on wildcarders—and also attempt to pick the better armband option between Ronaldo, Lukaku, Antonio, and more. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The FPL Assets We Aren’t Talking About

A wild GW5 taught many FPL managers about the importance of bench depth. But, hey, didn't we all know Tino Livramento would save the day? This weekend was also a useful mile-marker in assessing popular fantasy assets—players who we can now say with confidence that we should either buy, sell, or hold. We debate the pros and cons of playing hokey cokey with Ronaldo and Lukaku, assess the urgency of getting Michail Antonio back into our lineups, and give a stress test to under-performers like Diogo Jota and Mason Greenwood. We also evaluate defensive options at Chelsea, Manchester United, and Manchester City before looking ahead to our transfers and captain picks for GW6. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who Are We Buying, Selling, and Holding in FPL?

Ronaldo's explosive GW4 debut was matched by a brace from Lukaku, making the choice of premium forwards that much more challenging for FPL managers. Josh enters this week's episode with an active wildcard and this question of Ronaldo vs Lukaku is key to his strategy as he and Brandon debate the merits of fitting both into one fantasy squad. Will it work? Or does it strain the budget too much? We also discuss standout mid-price forwards and look at the current crop of budget forwards that might help free up some cash before we preview the fixtures and captaincy options for GW5. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh's Wildcard Is Active & GW5 FPL Preview

This international break has offered drama and intrigue of all sorts, but we at Always Cheating won't allow ourselves to be too distracted from the GW4 deadline that's quickly approaching. So, has any of the news from World Cup qualifying changed our views on what to do with our FPL teams? We dig into the listener mailbag to answer major concerns over Ronaldo hype, Bruno doubt, Lukaku thigh scans, and the relevance of the still-delivering mid-price forwards like Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Michail Antonio, and Patrick Bamford. And what do we make of the impending Champions League schedule and its impact on Premier League squad rotation? Plus, we rank the current midfield options and take a long look at obvious and not-so-obvious captaincy choices for the weekend. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mailbag Time: Your FPL Questions Answered & GW4 Preview

With GW3 behind us, and an international break ahead, is now the right time to play a wildcard and reset your FPL fortunes? Josh and Brandon look at the pros and cons of triggering the powerful wildcard button, debating whether it's too early in the season or conversely the perfect opportunity to get out ahead of the competition by bringing in exciting new options in Lukaku and Ronaldo. Manchester United looms large with Bruno coming off of two drab performances, while Mason Greenwood shows he could be a season-keeper. Will their fortunes—along with ours—change with the arrival of the Portuguese superstar? Thanks for tuning in, enjoy the break, and we'll return next week with a proper GW4 preview. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wildcard Time?

So early into a new FPL season, it's very difficult to say what any of us know for sure. What we can identify, though, are things that we think—or at least think we think—about certain clubs, players, and fantasy strategies. This week, we're debating the options among cheap defenders and Tsimikas replacements. We also wax lyrical about Chelsea's deep squad and the awe-inducing reintroduction of Romelu Lukaku to the Premier League. How quickly will we be ripping up our teams to squeeze the Belgian striker in? Plus, we break down Manchester City's predictable hammering of Norwich City, the renewed influence of home supporters on numerous recent results, and the curious choice of an FPL captain ahead of GW3. Hail Cheaters! Receive a 25% discount on your Fantasy Football Hub membership: fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/always Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

10 Things We Think We Think Ahead of GW3

Always Cheating is the award-winning weekly Fantasy Premier League podcast hosted by Josh Landon and Brandon Kelley. We aim to provide equal parts of strategy and community for every type of FPL player. Join our listener mini league: dtz277