What a Premier League season it has been. We’ve had some awesome new stars arrive, and we’ve had some breakout performances.
From a fantasy football perspective, the final matchday is one of the toughest to pick for because it’s hard to tell who will play, and who will sit. This final day is especially difficult as we see just Newcastle United and Hull City battling for relegation, while in the upper half of the table, Southampton can still move into the Europa League places ahead of Liverpool or Tottenham with a victory.
As for Chelsea, they host Sunderland, and you have to think Jose Mourinho will want to collect three points on the day his Blues lift the trophy.
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These are the matches we will look at on this final Premier League weekend.
GOALKEEPER
Tim Krul (2.48M) – Newcastle United: I cringe when thinking of trusting the Magpies with my fantasy squad, but they need a win to ensure safety. They host West Ham, who has won just twice since January, and have been blanked five times in that time.
DEFENDERS
Gary Cahill (7.82M) – Chelsea: The Blues will get a Sunderland team that has just had the fight of their lives come to an end as they are safe from the drop. When they completed their great escape last year, they wound up losing 3-0 to Hull on the final day.
Paul Dummett (6.35M) – Newcastle United: There are other options that are more attractive from a Newcastle defense perspective, but they are considerably more expensive. Daryl Janmaat would be top choice.
Andrew Robertson (5.06M) – Hull City: The Tigers have a tough task to safety with Manchester United visiting the KC Stadium, but they are the only team in that match-up with something to play for.
MIDFIELDERS
Remy Cabella (9.58M) – Newcastle United: Cabella has been a disappointment from Day 1. This is his chance to make up for that.
James Ward-Prowse (6.05M) – Southampton: The Saints visit Manchester City, who are the most in-form squad in the league right now. The Citizens are now locked in as second place finishers.
Theo Walcott (4.77M) – Arsenal: Theo is playing for a new contract. He hasn’t started Arsenal’s last two games, but he has looked their most dynamic player in each of his two substitute appearances over the past week.
Erik Lamela (10.28M) – Tottenham: The Argentine international has shown why he was such a big money signing in the last couple of weeks. Spurs visit Everton as they look to clinch a European place.
Bargain bin: Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Juan Cuadrado (Chelsea)
FORWARDS
Emmanuel Riviere (3.55M) – Newcastle United: Another Toon disappointment. He did score last week, though, and carries that momentum into keeping Newcastle out of the drop zone.
Dame N’Doye (8.22M) – Hull City: If Hull are to secure safety they will need their January signing to score.
Graziano Pelle (8.81M) – Southampton: It would be a shame to see Southampton’s season go on without a European place. It’s deserved.
Diego Costa (10.19M) – Chelsea: He can seal a solid season with a goal on the final day.