Always Cheating: A Fantasy Premier League Podcast

This weekend's matches proved to be the first big stress test on the FPL template of highly-owned, highly-agreed-upon assets. So what's next? Are we looking to offload some of the defenders or midfielders who disappointed in favor of some riskier, however in-form options? The Cheaters play another round of buy/sell/hold debating the "big at the back strategy," early wildcards, and other Premier Le...

This weekend's matches served up a lot of goals and a lot of banter—from Gabriel Jesus's fantasy explosion to Manchester United's continuing implosion, Erling Haaland's rare goalless appearance to Conte and Tuchel's budding bro-mance. With standout or unexpected performances from teams like Chelsea and Brentford, The Cheaters take this moment and reconsider some FPL assets that may have been wrong...

This season's opening weekend presented a wide range of FPL outcomes, but some teams and players proved easier to predict than others. On this week's episode, the Cheaters discuss what stood out in GW1 and how it changes the fantasy calculus as we look ahead to GW2 and beyond. Most important of all could be the choice of gameweek captain between Mo Salah and Erling Haaland. And what should manager...

The 2022/23 Premier League season kicks off this Friday and we got our first taste of what's to come with Saturday's Community Shield clash between Liverpool and Manchester City. The Cheaters react to the result and give their impressions of performances from notable players like Mo Salah and Erling Haaland, Did anything from the match alter our thinking for GW1 and our early FPL drafts? Also in t...

Recorded live from Blue Wire Studios at Wynn Las Vegas, we present the second of our two-part preview of the 2022/23 preview. The Cheaters predict the ultimate table placement of all twenty Premier League clubs and then dig into their FPL potential—two things that do not always go hand-in-hand. Which clubs have we predicted to make the top four? And where is the best fantasy value? Hail Cheaters!...

We're previewing all twenty Premier League teams by predicting their ultimate table placement and then digging into their FPL potential—two things that do not always go hand-in-hand. Which clubs have we predicted to go down? And which ones might surprise us with fantasy value? This is the first of our two-part preview series looking at who we believe will comprise the bottom half of the table, spo...

This week we're joined by special guest Jamie Pigott , the current Fantasy Premier League champion and the first American to finish in the top spot. We chat with Jamie about how he managed what many feel is impossible and what he learned during the chaotic 2021/22 season. We also look ahead with Jamie and apply his tactics to the new FPL season, discussing our thoughts on Haaland, Salah, Kane vs S...

The Always Cheating podcast is thrilled to announce tickets are now available for Fest NYC, the inaugural Fantasy Football Fest event in the United States. Join Josh and Brandon in Brooklyn, NY, on September 10th for an exclusive Premier League watch party with superstar FPL guests including Fantasy Football Scout founder Mark Sutherns and Premier League pundit Gianni Buttice . Enjoy a raucous liv...

This week the Cheaters attempt to solve some of this pre-season's biggest unanswered fantasy questions: After nightmares last year with Ronaldo and Lukaku, is Erling Haaland about to spring another "big up front" trap? How worried should we be about highly-owned players going into GW1? What mid-table teams are set up for the best start? How many premium players can FPL managers afford to set up wi...

At long last, the new site for the 2022/23 FPL season has officially launched! Josh and Brandon check in with their initial thoughts on the the games updated graphics, player prices, and accommodations for the Qatar World Cup. Do we like the look of things? Are there bargains immediately that immediately jump out? Or are some player simply too expensive. We talk Haaland, Salah, Jesus, Son, and so...

As we patiently wait for the new FPL game to launch, Josh and Brandon couldn't resist an early summertime episode to check in on Premier League transfer dealings and other news that might impact the upcoming 2022/23 fantasy season. Of course, the winter World Cup in Qatar will be an outsized factor in our approaches, but just how early in the season will we weigh that? And what is our initial asse...

In this mid-summer episode, Brandon is joined by veteran FPL manager Pat Reilly to discuss his remarkable 2021/22 season in which he finished with an overall rank of 230. Pat explains his strategic methodology—that is to some degree rooted in his academic research practices—as well as his deep desire to take A LOT of transfer hits. We examine what worked best for Pat last season, what he could've...

The Premier League drama was in full force for GW38 and it felt like a fitting way to bid farewell to another fantasy season. With the tumultuous campaign now behind us, it's time to reflect on what we did well and what we need to improve upon as FPL managers. We discuss the data revolution's complexity, the value (or lack thereof) of knowing effective ownership, and learning how to play your own...

Looking ahead to the final gameweek of the 2021/22 season, the Cheaters are analyzing all ten fixtures and sizing up the stakes for each team and key players—anything from league placement and golden boot to absolutely nothing at all. Who are the top fantasy targets? And who are the full-on punts who might help you catch your rivals? Best of luck to all for a strong finish to what has been a chaot...

Now in the midst of the blockbuster double GW36, planning for doubles this FPL season has become commonplace. Next weekend brings us another step closer to the end with one final double. These teams with two fixtures aren't the sexiest in terms of fantasy options: Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Leicester City, Everton, and Burnley. But are any of them worth it? And do they make GW37 a compelling mom...

Twelve teams will double in GW36 and many of those doublers are—for a change—actually quite good. The opportunity for massive fantasy points is there, so how best to prepare for what might be this season's most important deadline? The Cheaters take stock of their own squads and review transfer targets, chip strategies, and a spectrum of captaincy options ranging from "sensible" and "bold" to "comp...

As GW34 winds down and we prepare for the next deadline, Josh and Brandon set themselves for the FPL season's final four gameweeks by reviewing what they like and dislike about all twenty Premier League clubs. We remind ourselves of which clubs have remaining doubles (good or bad) and which players still have potential to swing our fantasy fortunes. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices....

The twists in the FPL season keep coming and Josh and Brandon jump into GW34 preparations with the newly announced doubles for Chelsea and Manchester United. Mason Mount stands out as the form attacking player in blue, but has Timo Werner done enough of late to win a spot in our fantasy teams? It's even more challenge to convince us the Manchester United form will carry them into the top four, so...

With Josh out sick, Brandon is joined this week by Dave Weigner-Lodahl to review the Premier League action of GW32. We of course discuss the dramatic draw at the Etihad—and the continuing saga of Mo Salah's fantasy form—as well as Spurs' purring attack, Arsenal's implosion, and Chelsea's potential bounce-back. Transfer plans for GW33 also need sorting, especially with certain doublers like Wout We...

Next Sunday Manchester City will host Liverpool in what will no doubt be the Premier League's biggest, most consequential fixture of the season. What will be the trick to navigating this match from an FPL perspective? On this episode we look at the recent history of this rivalry and key metrics that will inform what we expect from defense and attack: Is it time to bench our premium defenders? Is i...

As we come out of this season's final international break, plans must be put in place for the FPL home stretch. Firstly, the Cheaters offer up a refresher on what's new and upcoming with the fantasy schedule—which teams have doubles, blanks, and fixtures yet to be rescheduled—and how the fixtures should impact our strategy. Then we run through priority player and team targets, whether you're playi...

Making fantasy fun has become a mantra on the Always Cheating podcast. But are Josh and Brandon actually having fun this season? GW30 was a test of patience for many FPL managers, which makes this the perfect time to check in on our mental approach to keeping the fantasy game in perspective. Plus, we discuss the newly confirmed doubles for GW33, giving us much to consider during this international...

With only four fixtures and eight teams in play for GW30, it's going to be one of the season's more stressful deadlines. Whether you're on a Free Hit chip or weighing up the benefits of various transfer hits, the Cheaters are here to navigate this gameweek's many difficulties. We look at the best forwards to own, identify some under-the-radar midfield picks, and consider the likelihood of any clea...

We briefly check in on GW28—with the doubles still to be played—before moving on to still more doubles in GW29. What's the optimal game plan as we look ahead, especially with the numerous blank fixtures in GW30? Lots of different chip strategies are on the table as we debate bench boosts, triple captains, and wildcards, but there's also a viable path for fantasy managers with no more chips left as...

The doubles in GW28 present another opportunity—in a cluster of big gameweeks—to build up your FPL points tally and boost your rank. So what's the optimal way to approach it? Who are the obvious or under-the-radar transfer targets? In this episode, Josh and Brandon reveal and debate their own strategies for the upcoming fixtures, which have a ripple effect on GW29–30. Plus we talk Bench Boost chip...