This week we take in the dramatic scenes from Old Trafford and then consider the implications on the upcoming Fantasy Premier League calendar. It looks possible that Liverpool could end up with a double gameweek in GW35, which opens up a new world of possibilities with our FPL squad management. So, as we strategize for the coming weekend, we weigh the benefits of loading up on more Manchester United or Liverpool players or sticking with an earlier plan of targeting mid-tier assets at Everton. How does Lucas Digne actually stack up against Luke Shaw or Trent Alexander-Arnold for the run-in? We also debate the optimal captain picks as Salah, Bruno, and Leicester strikers all boast an enticing double. Hail Cheaters!

Always Cheating: A Fantasy Premier League Podcast (FPL)

Your GW35 Questions Asked and Answered

As news of the European Super League dries up, Josh and Brandon have to refocus on their FPL goals for the remainder of the season. First up, what have the hosts learned from their respective GW33 wildcards? There were some definite ups and downs this week with wildcard darlings like Alexander-Arnold and Romain Saïss, while Chris Wood ran away with all the glory. How can fantasy managers legislate for these kinds of seemingly random swings? Or are we simply too blindly devoted to marquee players like Bruno Fernandes? Now that we're preparing for the season's home stretch, let's consider a clean slate of FPL options. Hail Cheaters!

Preparing for the Run-In with a Clean Slate

This weekend's football offered a mix of Premier League and FA Cup action, but all of the sports oxygen was immediately consumed by the surprise announcement of the new European Super League, which will potently involve (or fully absorb) six English clubs. We devote this entire episode to a sprawling discussion and debate of the implications of the new league and what it means for both FPL and domestic football in England and around Europe. Hail Cheaters!

European Super League Discussion & Debate

In FPL, sometimes you get it right. Other weeks, well, you simply get it all wrong—from your transfers, to your captains, and then your bench spots. If getting your fantasy decisions wrong is an inevitability, what's the most productive way of shaking it off? Josh and Brandon discuss where their GW31 went wrong (and, in some places, went right) and what that means for their next moves. Is a wildcard decision any closer for either host? Plus, as we head into the Spurs double in GW32, there's some worry about team form and rotation ahead of their EFL Cup final against Manchester City. Is a Tottenham triple-up off the table? There's much to discuss this week, so please join us! Hail Cheaters!

On Being Wrong & GW32 Preview

Heading into GW31, many FPL managers are wondering whether it's too early to wildcard, too late to make a maverick move, or just too confusing to navigate around the maze of fixture blanks and doubles. So, what do the Cheaters think? Josh and Brandon touch upon their own plans for an end-of-season wildcard and which teams and players will be key in triggering that decision. Is Chelsea's defense worth the headache? Can Liverpool turn the corner with their form and make players like Alexander-Arnold relevant again? And what about teams like Leicester City and Leeds who present a complex combination of pros and cons? Amidst our wildcard ramblings, we also cover more immediate GW31 dilemmas and preview our transfer targets for the upcoming matches. Hail Cheaters!

Is It Wildcard Time?

Nine gameweeks remain, so in this episode we're tackling nine key questions on preparing for the FPL season's final stretch. Among those dilemmas are: Which teams have the easiest or most difficult fixture run-ins? What do we know about the remaining blank and double gameweeks? Which premium assets most demand our attention? Will Liverpool and Mo Salah reemerge as options? And which players have we overlooked until now? And, of course, how can we continue to make fantasy fun? Best of luck this weekend and Hail Cheaters!Submit your Blue Wire Hustle application here: http://bwhustle.com/join

Nine Questions for the Final Nine Weeks of the FPL Season

The final international break of this Premier League season is here to provide some much-needed distance from what has been a brutal and exhausting run of gameweeks. So, as we briefly step away from the nonstop strategizing and transfer planning, this episode is the perfect moment to reassess what we actually know to be true about the 2020–2021 fantasy season, and how we can use that knowledge to approach (or simply enjoy) the final stretch. We consider the diminished importance of premium FPL assets, the greater variety of mid-priced options, and the relentless pursuit of form players over merely chasing last week's points. Just how abnormal has this season been? Plus, we gauge how successful our "Make Fantasy Fun Again" approach has been during an otherwise chaotic year around the world.The Cheaters will return next week with a full GW30 preview, complete with injury news, transfer targets, and captaincy favorites. Poku Forever!

What We Now Know About This FPL Season

Some FPL gameweeks are defined by players who blank points, but GW29 is defined by teams that blank fixtures. The upcoming slate features just eight teams and four matches, which will make it incredibly difficult to put together both a competitive and a full squad. In this week's episode, Josh and Brandon prepare their own teams and debate strategies for managers who are in various other situations, whether on a Free Hit chip or simply struggling to decide how may transfer hits to take. Have the performances and results in GW28 changed previous assumptions? Injuries to key players like Son Heung-min and Patrick Bamford also present an unexpected challenge, so the Cheaters consider some overlooked options from Arsenal, West Ham, Brighton, and Fulham. Good luck and Hail Cheaters!

Five Key Questions for the Big Blank GW29

With all of the chaos surrounding recent double gameweeks, and a blank-riddled GW29 on the horizon, relatively little attention has been paid to next weekend's GW28. In this episode, we seek to correct that oversight and zero in on key transfer and captaincy strategies for the round of FPL fixtures that's right in front of us. We also discuss Gareth Bale's exploding form, the worrying decline of Mo Salah, and key takeaways from the Manchester Derby. Hail Cheaters!

The Forgotten GW28

We're checking in on the action—or lack there of, in many cases—from GW26 as the massive double gameweek rolls on. Then, we open up the Always Cheating listener mailbag and answer some of your questions regarding big-picture FPL strategy, preferred fantasy news sources, and how hosting an FPL podcast impacts the managing of our own squads. Plus, even though it may feel lightyears away, we look ahead to GW27, which is yet another double gameweek for in-form Manchester City, and debate captain picks and replacements for the injured Harvey Barnes. Hail Cheaters!Submit your Blue Wire Hustle application here: http://bwhustle.com/join

FPL Mailbag & GW27 Preview

If you thought the GW25 doubles were tricky, just wait until you get a look at the epic fixtures list for GW26. Fourteen Premier League teams will double next gameweek, presenting near limitless possibilities for transfers, points hits, chip (nay, favor) usage, and captaincy picks. To help managers sort through and simplify the numerous complications, Josh and Brandon are using their favorite "true or false" methodology and clarifying their own strategies for the upcoming week. Hail Cheaters!Submit your Blue Wire Hustle application here: http://bwhustle.com/join

True or False GW26 Preview

With a few GW24 matches still to play, Josh and Brandon check in on their scores and the state of their squads. Have the injuries, team rotation, and unexpected results been kind to us? Then we shift our focus to the Leeds and Southampton double in GW25 and debate giving the captaincy to either Bamford or Ings. Who looks better? Or could Raphinha be a curveball differential for the armband? We also discuss our plans for the lead-up to a pivotal blank GW29, with other major doubles popping up between now and then. Hail Cheaters!

GW25 Preview & Double Gameweek Talk

Dodgy VAR decisions and a widely-benched 12-pointer from Dominic Calvert-Lewin were the big stories from GW23. But that's nothing compared to the excitement in store for FPL managers in GW24 after double fixtures were announced for Manchester City (TOT, eve), Everton (FUL, MCI), Burnley (cpl, FUL), and Fulham (eve, bur). So, how are we setting up to best take advantage of the doubles? We look at the main transfer targets and then debate the captaincy favorites and whether a single-gameweeker like Bruno Fernandes could challenge for the armband. We also touch upon the doubles in GW25 for Leeds (wol, SOT) and Southampton (CHE, lee). Hail Cheaters!

Mini Double Gameweek Madness & GW24 Preview

Positives performances from the likes of Mo Salah, Patrick Bamford, and Emi Martinez gave GW21 a magical shine. The results have us reflecting on our favorite FPL moments and the role of luck in a particularly good fantasy run. Then, it's over to the midweek fixtures of GW22, and a discussion of our current dilemmas: How badly do we regret investing in mid-season Dominic Calvert-Lewin? What are the latest odds on Manchester City defensive roulette? And are Spurs really that bad without Harry Kane? Plus, we debate an unconventional captaincy pick and reveal our own transfer plans. Hail Cheaters!

GW22 Preview & Favorite FPL Moments

With the pivotal GW19 now behind us, let's take a moment to survey to pros and cons of the double gameweek that was. Did anything during the last few days change our thinking about this Premier League season or how we're approaching the FPL game? Then it's over to Tuesday's GW20 deadline as we preview the key fixtures, transfer targets, and captaincy options—it's Bruno time! Key injuries to Kevin de Bruyne and Jamie Vardy present a few dilemmas, but, with so many premium fantasy assets out of form, we discuss what's missing from our typical sword/shield approach. Plus, we chat about Mohammed Salah, Manchester City defense, and the optimal forward line. Hail Cheaters!

GW20 Preview & What We Learned from the Double Gameweek

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