As we enter the Premier League's final international break of the season, the Cheaters review gameweeks 17–28 through the lens of each week's dream team. That's right—it's once again time for the Kings of the Gameweek. What lessons can we learn and what patterns can we discern from the teams, players, and positions that appear in the FPL site's often overlooked feature? We also discuss our GW28 scores, whether it was the right time for the Free Hit chip, and the impact of this weekend’s FA Cup results on the upcoming FPL fixture calendar. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've put our faith in double-gameweekers again, yet single-gameweekers continue to win out. As GW27 continues rolls on, the Cheaters discuss their fresh wildcard teams and where it's gone right and wrong. Were Brentford and Brighton picks justified? How well set up are we for the big doubles in GW29? But before we get to more doubles, we contend with blanks in GW28 and spend some time building an "ideal" squad that includes some tricky questions for Chelsea and Spurs assets. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This weekend the Premier League continued to double-down on entertaining and dismaying match results. Between the breathless Arsenal comeback and Manchester United's annihilation at the hands of Liverpool, it's really hard to know where to begin the FPL discussion. But with three massive gameweeks coming in quick succession, the Cheaters dutifully dig into complicated chip and transfer strategies that will hopefully maximize our fantasy returns. Of course we debate wildcard and free-hit timing, what to do with Liverpool players, and the more immediate GW27 doubles for Brighton and Brentford. Join us! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are some pivotal GW25 fixtures yet to play, with Arsenal and Liverpool able to turn the tide of a relatively lackluster weekend. While we await the fates of Saka and Salah, the Cheaters turn their attention to more upcoming chaos with new doubles in both GW27 and GW29. The midweek FA Cup Fifth Round will determine how the fixture calendar fully takes shape—which will in turn direct our FPL strategy—but what we do know for sure is that Brighton and Brentford bounce back from their blanks this weekend with a series of doubles, making players like Ivan Toney and Kaoru Mitoma especially good picks. Plus we take a closer look at GW26 and the data behind the key captaincy picks. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The FPL scores from GW24 didn't necessarily reflect the sublime chaos the Premier League weekend offered. So then what exactly did we learn as we now set our sights on the doubles in GW25? Those doubles include Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton, and Wolves. With Arsenal back on track after a dramatic win at Aston Villa, their place in our fantasy squads remains assured. It's Liverpool that provide less assurance, as the club this season is simultaneously good and bad—but with two plum fixtures, the Reds might have the highest ceiling. Join the Cheaters as we discuss our strategies for investing in Salah, Alexander-Arnold, Gakpo, Darwin, and more. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This weekend's top performers were a good reminder for FPL managers who suffer from fantasy "blind spots"—players and clubs who never click with your strategy despite their big potential. Leicester City gave us two great examples in James Maddison and Kelechi Iheanacho, but some of us have worn season-long blinders with players like Ivan Toney, Riyad Mahrez, and even Miguel Almirón. What can we do to overcome our biases? Plus, we check in on GW23 news and scores and look ahead to key transfer targets and captaincy options for next weekend's GW24. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Though both clubs are coming off losses this past weekend, all FPL eyes remain on Arsenal and Manchester City. Each have a double in the upcoming GW23 and on this episode the Cheaters look at all of their players—from goalkeepers to forwards—and determine which are the best fit for different fantasy scenarios. How big of a rotation risk might Martinelli be? Is De Bruyne really that out of favor under Guardiola? Should captainers be concerned about Haaland's goal-scoring form? And if you need to pick one of Ødegaard or Saka, who should it be? Plus, we recap the events of GW22 thus far and celebrate some glorious Rashford points. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Premier League made way this weekend for FA Cup fourth round fixtures and the results confirmed a double in GW22 for both Manchester United and Leeds—a massive opportunity for fantasy managers to gain an advantage. The Cheaters take a look at their own FPL squads and debate the best strategy for the coming weekend, as well as the pitfalls that await in the gameweeks to come. The biggest decision is shaping up to be playing the triple captain chip on in-form Marcus Rashford who has two bankable home games. But is it insanity to consider using your triple captain this season on anyone other than Erling Haaland? We also look at the close of the January transfer window and its impact on the second half of the season. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With essentially half the season now behind us, Always Cheating proudly presents our annual mid-season review of all twenty Premier League clubs. Yep, that's AFC Bournemouth to Wolverhampton Wanderers and everyone in between. We discuss both FPL and real-life player and team performances and how those assessments might influence our fantasy decisions down the home stretch. The podcast will return next week with a proper GW21 preview, transfer and captaincy strategies, and more information (based on upcoming EFL and FA Cup results) for prospective double and blank gameweeks. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Because the GW20 doubles stretched out the proceedings, fantasy managers now have just one day to tinker ahead of Saturday's GW21 deadline. We quickly review what was learned from recent matches like the North London Derby and Manchester City's continued up-and-down form and discuss how it all applies to the weekend. Plus, Manchester United might hold even more appeal in FPL with a potential double in GW22—what's Rashford's points floor if that happens? Then it's a listener mailbag in which we answer your questions on Mahrez, De Bruyne, Toney, Mitrovic, and more. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The results of this weekend’s FA Cup matches have brought about a newly-announced double gameweek for both Manchester United and Crystal Palace. That’s on top of the double now confirmed for Manchester City and Tottenham, suddenly making GW20 a potential FPL blockbuster. So, what’s the strategy? In this episode, Josh and Brandon debate the necessity of big player picks like Harry Kane and Kevin De Bruyne and if they can justifiably displace key fantasy assets like Salah, Mitrovic, and Almirón. Plus, we look at strategies for an under-the-radar Bruno Fernandes and other Manchester United guys—yes, including Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial. Then there’s the not-so-small matter of Haaland and the Triple Captain chip and we weigh the pros and cons of holding vs playing it. There’s a lot to discuss, so join us and get stuck in. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With mere hours until the GW19 fantasy deadline, Josh and Brandon prepare their own squads, weighing the pros/cons of Chelsea and Fulham assets. Is Mitrovic a captaincy option? Can Sterling or Havertz be trusted? How important is Chelsea defensive cover? And are transfer hits warranted to attack this double gameweek? We also debate the form—or lack thereof—of players like Darwin Núñez and Bruno Fernandes. Then we look beyond the upcoming FA Cup break and consider what's yet to come for FPL in January and February. Happy New Year and Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 2022 World Cup offered a thrilling break from club football, but it's now time to dust the cobwebs off our neglected fantasy squads. As we return to non-stop Fantasy Premier League coverage, Josh and Brandon run through news you may have missed, consider the physical and emotional impact on players in Qatar, and look ahead to the key decision points for the GW17 deadline. And it's not just Boxing Day as we discuss the fixture pile-up through GW23, including a handful of double game-weeks for Manchester City, Spurs, Chelsea, Fulham, and Arsenal. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was a final for the ages—filled with brilliance, chaos, and pure emotion. Ultimately, Messi cements his place next to Maradona in football history and Argentina have won their third Wold Cup title. France required a dramatic comeback, and Mbappé nearly got them there, but the young French attacker will have to settle for the Golden Boot. Josh and Brandon record their last Qatar World Cup Minute and reflect on both Sunday's incredible match and the tournament as a whole. Thank you to all who have joined us during this adventure and we invite you to continue with Always Cheating as we jump back to the English Premier League and the FPL game. New episodes coming weekly starting tomorrow. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Morocco finally reached their breaking point upon meeting France in Qatar's World Cup semifinals. Though soundly beaten, the North African team put up a mighty fight worthy of their Cinderella tournament run. But now it is France with an opportunity to repeat as consecutive World Cup champions as the young superstar Kylian Mbappé faces off against the legendary Lionel Messi. Who will lift the trophy? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For our twentieth World Cup Minute, we recap the first semifinal in Qatar with Argentina dominating Croatia. Ultimately, Messi's brilliance was too great and Julian Álvarez's finishing too focused for this tough Croatian team to handle. Josh and Brandon then look ahead to Wednesday's Morocco vs France match and how either team might stack up against the Argentines. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rounding out a truly thrilling World Cup quarterfinals, Day 19 in Qatar delivered victory for both Morocco and France. Portugal and England kept it close and will each feel disappointed at how close they came. In the end, Ronaldo couldn't muster any last-minute heroics in what will surely be his final international tournament, while England played an exceptional match, delivering on almost everything but the final result. Now it's Argentina vs Croatia on Tuesday and France vs Morocco on Wednesday in a competition where the results are harder and harder to predict. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The World Cup Minute returns for Day 18 in Qatar and the first of the tournament’s quarterfinals. And, well… WHAT A DAY IT WAS! Drama, goals, handbags, penalties, tricky free kicks, upsets—fans were in dreamland throughout, unless you happen to be Dutch or Brazilian. Despite Neymar’s brilliant goal in extra time, Brazil couldn’t fend off the eternally tough Croatia who will now go on to face Argentina, who themselves had to grit their teeth through a nervy extra-time match. Ultimately, Messi & Co found enough magic to make it past the Netherlands and Emi Martinez again showed his bravado and excellence in a shootout scenario. Josh and Brandon then look ahead to Saturday’s double-header of Morocco vs Portugal and England vs France. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Day 17 in Qatar brought fans more drama as Morocco took Spain to penalties . . . and won! The early kickoff's tight, defensive affair then stood in stark contrast to the goal-fest of Portugal vs Switzerland as the Seleção das Quinas put six past the Swiss, even with Ronaldo on the bench for the majority. A hat trick for Goncalo Ramos was the major headline, but the Cheaters also spotlight Achraf Hakimi's cheeky Panenka/Penguin penalty. And then it's time to preview the World Cup Quarterfinals that commence on Friday with Croatia vs Brazil and Netherlands vs Argentina. We'll talk to you all then! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Day 16 of the FIFA World Cup saw Brazil and Crotia advance to the Quarterfinals, each in different fashion. Croatia proved "too tough" for Japan to break down, and ultimately the Samurai Blue fell to a series of poor penalties, while Brazil topped South Korea in more dazzling, frenetic fashion. Looking ahead to Tuesday's final slate of Round-of-Sixteen matches, Josh and Brandon preview what should be some competitive face-offs for Portugal vs Switzerland and Morocco vs Spain. Hail Cheaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices