RSL Fantasy Gameweek 11: captain picks and best buys

RSL Fantasy Gameweek 11 preview: best buys, captain picks and differentials

RSL Fantasy Gameweek 11 kicks off on Thursday 22 October with Al Hazem against Al-Fayha, and the deadline is 13:35 UTC that day. All 18 Saudi Pro League clubs play once this Gameweek. The transfer you make now is about the next three weeks more than this one. Al Nassr have the best three-week run in the game. Al Hilal's run starts after a tricky trip to Al Qadasiya. Abha and Al-Faisaly both play twice in Gameweek 12. So the job this week is to set up for the run, not only to chase Gameweek 11 points.

Every projection below comes from our model and is live on the RSL Fantasy player picks page. If you missed last week, the RSL Fantasy Gameweek 10 preview is still up. Player names are spelled exactly as they appear in our database.

Gameweek 11 fixtures: whose next three Gameweeks are worth owning

Al Nassr have the best program in the game: [A]FSL → [H]KLD → [A]HAZ, worth 8.09 expected goals and 1.26 expected clean sheets over three Gameweeks. The Gameweek 11 trip to Al-Faisaly is the best single fixture of the week too: an 80% win probability, 2.96 expected goals and a 43% clean sheet chance. This is the one club whose players are worth buying now and holding.

Al Hilal are second on 7.16 expected goals, but the order matters. [A]QAD is their weakest fixture of the six we can see (44% win probability, 21% clean sheet). After that the run opens up: [H]FAT → [A]ETT, then [H]DIR in Gameweek 14, which has the best clean sheet chance of any fixture in the next six Gameweeks (59%, with 3.09 expected goals). Al Hilal players are not bought for Gameweek 11. They are bought this week because Gameweek 12 is when their run starts, and with one free transfer a week you cannot bring in three of them at once.

Al Ahli ([H]KLJ → [A]SHB → [H]TWN, 6.46 xG, 1.08 clean sheets) are third. Their best fixture comes first: Al Khaleej at home gives them a 72% win probability and a 40% clean sheet chance. Al Qadasiya are the mirror of Al Hilal. They host Al Hilal first, then [A]RIY → [H]FYH give them 4.67 expected goals across Gameweeks 12 and 13. Owners of Qadasiya players should keep them.

The doubles change Gameweek 12. Abha ([H]FSL and [H]ITT) and Al-Faisaly ([A]ABH and [A]FYH) both play twice. Al-Faisaly host Al Nassr this week (a 7% win probability and a 5% clean sheet chance), so their players are next week's transfer, not this week's. Abha play twice again in Gameweek 16. At the bottom, Al Diriyah ([A]ITT → [H]NEO → [A]FSL, 3.19 xG), Al-Fayha, Al Hazem and Al-Ettifaq have the four weakest attacking runs.

Clubs marked "4 fixtures" have a Gameweek 12 double, so their three-week totals cover four matches. Fixture dates and kick-off times are on the RSL Fantasy schedule, and the bookmaker numbers behind the win and clean sheet figures are on the RSL Fantasy market probabilities page.

Best goalkeepers for RSL Fantasy Gameweek 11

Bento Krepski (5.5m, NAS) is the top goalkeeper this week and nearly the top one over three. His program is [A]FSL → [H]KLD → [A]HAZ, and he projects 5.1 → 5.2 → 4.1, or 14.4 points over three Gameweeks. Al Nassr's 43% clean sheet chance at Al-Faisaly is the best in the round, and the Al Kholood home game in Gameweek 12 is nearly as good (45%). Only 7.6% of managers own him.

Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi (4.4m, AHL) is the value keeper and an easy hold. His program [H]KLJ → [A]SHB → [H]TWN gives him a steady 4.5 → 4.2 → 4.4, and 5.0 against Al-Faisaly in Gameweek 14. At 1.02 points per million this week he is one of the best-value keepers in the game, and he barely moves, so you can set him and forget him.

The three-week rankings disagree with this week's. Fernando Pacheco (4.5m, FSL) has the most goalkeeper points over three Gameweeks (14.5), but 7.9 of those come from the Gameweek 12 double and he gets 1.8 against Al Nassr this week. If you want him, buy him for Gameweek 12, not now. Yassine Bounou (5.5m, HIL) is the keeper to keep. He scores only 4.0 at Al Qadasiya, then 5.3 → 5.0 → 5.7 across [H]FAT → [A]ETT → [H]DIR. That makes him the highest-scoring goalkeeper over the next six Gameweeks.

Best defenders for RSL Fantasy Gameweek 11

Malang Sarr (5.3m, NEO) and Nathan Zeze (5.1m, NEO) top the round at 6.3 and 6.4. Neom's program is [H]ABH → [A]DIR → [A]ITT. The first two fixtures are strong (40% and 37% clean sheet chance) and the Al Ittihad away game is weak (15%), so their totals are 17.3 and 17.0 over three. That beats every defender outside the Al-Faisaly double. Zeze carries more goal threat (0.10 expected goals this week against 0.02 for Sarr). Pick one of them, not both. With two Neom defenders you would have two players dropping together in Gameweek 13.

Kalidou Koulibaly (5.0m, HIL) is the defender whose case rests most on the program. He projects 4.4 at Al Qadasiya, then 5.9 → 6.1 → 7.0 across [H]FAT → [A]ETT → [H]DIR. His decay-weighted six-week score (20.2) is level with Zeze's, and he has no weak week like Neom's Gameweek 13. Why now: the run starts in Gameweek 12, so a transfer made next week is already a week late.

Nawaf Al-Boushail (5.1m, NAS) is the Al Nassr defender. He projects a flat 5.5 → 5.5 → 5.4 over [A]FSL → [H]KLD → [A]HAZ (16.4 in total) and adds 0.13 expected assists this week. Inigo Martinez (5.5m, NAS) is almost the same pick over the same [A]FSL → [H]KLD → [A]HAZ (5.5 → 5.3 → 5.4) for slightly more money. The catch is that you can own only three Al Nassr players, and Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Félix probably take two of those spots. That leaves room for one Al Nassr defender or keeper, and Al-Boushail is the cheaper one.

Hidden gem: Marin Petkov (5.0m, TWN), owned by 6.3%. His program is [A]RIY → [H]ETT → [A]AHL. He projects 5.8 → 6.1 before the hard Al Ahli away game (4.0), and he is back up to 7.2 against Abha in Gameweek 14. He has 0.20 expected goals and 0.15 expected assists this week, which is unusual for a defender. Hold him through the Al Ahli game, because the fixture after it is the reason to own him.

Budget picks:

• Andrei Girotto (4.6m, FSL) has the most points of any defender over three Gameweeks (21.8), but in the order 3.5 → 11.2 → 7.1. His program [H]NAS → [A]ABH + [A]FYH → [H]DIR makes him a buy for Gameweek 12 (0.51 expected clean sheets across the double), not for this week. Plan the transfer now and make it next week.
• Seydouba Cisse (4.5m, KLD) is the cheap Gameweek 11 pick at 1.22 points per million (5.5 against Al-Ettifaq). His program [H]ETT → [A]NAS → [H]KLJ goes 5.5 → 3.2 → 5.6. He is a hold more than a rotation pick, because Al Kholood play twice in Gameweek 16 and he projects 9.9 there.
• Mokher Alrashidi (4.0m, FYH) is the best 4.0m option (4.7 → 4.5 → 3.1 over [A]HAZ → [H]FSL → [A]QAD). He fills a fifth defender spot and does not need to start.

Mohammed Abu Al Shamat (6.9m, QAD) is the most-owned defender at 46.3%. Keep him: 4.5 this week, then 5.7 → 6.7 as Al Qadasiya's program opens.

Best midfielders for RSL Fantasy Gameweek 11

Joao Félix (10.5m, NAS) is the premium midfielder to own. He projects 7.8 → 7.1 → 7.4 over [A]FSL → [H]KLD → [A]HAZ, 22.3 points over three Gameweeks and the best six-week weighted score of any midfielder (25.6). He has 0.60 expected goals and 0.26 expected assists this week, and he shares Al Nassr penalties (about one in five). There is no week in his program you would want to bench him.

Sadio Mané (9.0m, NAS) is the differential version at 9.2% owned. He projects 6.8 → 6.2 → 6.5 over [A]FSL → [H]KLD → [A]HAZ (19.5 in total) and is the most nailed of Al Nassr's attackers by our minutes model (77 projected minutes this week, 80 in Gameweek 13). If you already own Félix and Ronaldo, Mané would be a fourth Al Nassr player, so he only fits if you drop the Al Nassr defender.

Trincao (8.0m, AHL) is second among midfielders this week with 7.0 against Al Khaleej. His program ([H]KLJ → [A]SHB → [H]TWN) gives 7.0 → 5.5 → 5.8, which drops him to sixth over three Gameweeks, behind Félix, Mané, Ruben Neves, Julian Quinones and Crysencio Summerville. Buy him only if you want the strongest Gameweek 11 score. If you are buying a midfielder to hold, the Al Hilal pair below project more points.

The Al Hilal midfielders are the ones to hold through this week's dip. Ruben Neves (9.2m, HIL) takes Al Hilal's penalties (0.87 penalty share) and projects 6.0 → 7.1 → 6.1 over [A]QAD → [H]FAT → [A]ETT, with 7.5 against Abha in Gameweek 16. Crysencio Summerville (8.7m, HIL) rises 5.0 → 6.5 → 7.1 over the same [A]QAD → [H]FAT → [A]ETT and then 8.2 against Al Diriyah in Gameweek 14, the biggest Gameweek 14 score of any midfielder. Both are 36-41% owned. Their Gameweek 11 scores look modest, but that is not a reason to sell before the run.

Value and differential midfielders:

• Tijjani Reijnders (7.2m, QAD) covers the Al Qadasiya run without the 12.0m price of Julian Quinones. He projects 5.1 → 6.5 → 6.3 over [H]HIL → [A]RIY → [H]FYH and is projected for 88 minutes, the most of any Qadasiya midfielder or forward.
• Aschraf El Mahdioui (5.4m, TWN) is the joint-best-value midfielder under 6.0m (0.94 points per million). His program [A]RIY → [H]ETT → [A]AHL gives a flat 5.1 → 5.0 → 4.4, and he has a 0.21 penalty share.
• Teddy Okou (5.5m, RIY) is a cheap penalty taker (full penalty share this week) at 1.5% owned. He projects 4.6 → 4.5 → 4.5 over [H]TWN → [H]QAD → [A]FAT, which is steady enough to hold as your fifth midfielder.
• Yannick Carrasco (9.0m, SHB) is Al Shabab's penalty taker (0.88 share). His program is [A]FAT → [H]AHL → [A]ABH, and he projects 6.4 → 4.8 → 6.1. He is a good one-week pick but a weaker hold than Mané at the same price.

Best forwards for RSL Fantasy Gameweek 11

Cristiano Ronaldo (12.5m, NAS) has the highest projection in the game this week and over the next three. He projects 9.0 → 8.3 → 7.4 over [A]FSL → [H]KLD → [A]HAZ, 24.7 points over three Gameweeks and a six-week weighted score of 28.8, also the best in the game. He has 0.88 expected goals this week and takes most of Al Nassr's penalties (0.81 share). At 21.7% owned he is still not a template pick, which is rare for a player this far ahead of the rest.

Ollie Watkins (10.2m, HIL) is the forward whose best weeks are still ahead. His program is [A]QAD → [H]FAT → [A]ETT, and he projects 6.1 → 8.3 → 7.4, then 8.5 against Al Diriyah ([H]DIR) in Gameweek 14. Why now: this Gameweek is his weakest, so this is the week to buy him if you want him for the run. Holding him from Gameweek 12 to 14 gets you 24.2 projected points.

Alexandre Lacazette (7.4m, NEO) is the value forward. His program is [H]ABH → [A]DIR → [A]ITT, and he projects 7.9 → 6.5 → 5.9 for 20.3 over three. This week's 7.9 is 1.07 points per million, the best of any forward. He shares Neom's penalties (0.49) and is 27.2% owned. He drops off after this week but is still above most forwards in both later Gameweeks. Keep him.

Gameweek 12 double picks, to plan now and buy next week:

• Alexandre Mendy (5.4m, FSL) takes Al-Faisaly's penalties (0.89) and projects 3.3 → 9.1 → 5.6 over [H]NAS → [A]ABH + [A]FYH → [H]DIR. The 9.1 is the highest Gameweek 12 projection of any forward. If you have one transfer to spend next week, this is the strongest place to spend it.
• Michy Batshuayi (6.5m, ABH) takes every Abha penalty in our model and projects 3.4 → 8.0 → 4.7 over [A]NEO → [H]FSL + [H]ITT → [H]SHB. Abha double again in Gameweek 16 (6.1), so he is more than a one-week pick, and only 0.3% of managers own him.

Best captain picks for RSL Fantasy Gameweek 11

Cristiano Ronaldo (12.5m, NAS) is the captain. His 9.0 at Al-Faisaly ([A]FSL) doubles to 18.0. He has the round's highest expected goals and its best fixture, and he takes Al Nassr's penalties.

• 2. Alexandre Lacazette (7.4m, NEO), 7.9 against Abha: Neom's 64% win probability and Lacazette's 0.65 expected goals make him the best alternative.
• 3. Joao Félix (10.5m, NAS), 7.8 at Al-Faisaly: the same fixture as Ronaldo. Captain him only if you do not own Ronaldo.
• Below that, Trincao (7.0) and Sadio Mané (6.8) are the only other players above 6.5 this week.

The next two weeks are part of the reason to captain Ronaldo and own him now. In Gameweek 12 he and Ollie Watkins are level at 8.3, with the doubles of Alexandre Mendy (9.1) and Andrei Girotto (11.2) as the cheap alternatives. In Gameweek 13 Ronaldo, Watkins and Félix are all on 7.4. Owning Ronaldo plus one of Watkins or Félix gives you a captain of at least 7.4 in each of the next three Gameweeks.

Who to sell before RSL Fantasy Gameweek 11

Ivan Toney (12.2m, AHL) is the sell, and it is urgent. He is flagged unavailable, our model has him at 0.0 for Gameweek 11 and 0.0 for Gameweek 12, and he only returns gradually after that (0.7 → 3.1 → 4.0). He is owned by 48.7% of managers, the most in the game. Al Ahli's [H]KLJ is a good fixture, but Toney will not play in it. Why now: he will not score for two weeks, and his 12.2m covers Ronaldo almost on its own, or Watkins with change.

George Ilenikhena (5.0m, ITT) is owned by 31.5% and projects 2.7 → 2.6 → 2.0. Al Ittihad's [H]DIR is a decent fixture, so the problem is his minutes, not the opponent. His starter probability is about 0.53 now and falls to 0.25 by Gameweek 13. If he is only your bench forward, this can wait. Next week's transfer to Alexandre Mendy replaces him at nearly the same price.

Moussa Dembélé (7.0m, ETT) is owned by 23.2% and projects 2.3 → 2.3 → 1.7. That reflects a starter probability under 0.5 and one of the four weakest programs in the league ([A]KLD → [A]TWN → [H]HIL). Why now: Gameweek 13 is worse than this week, so there is no point in waiting. Álvaro Medrán (6.3m, ETT, 18.1% owned) is in the same position at 0.7 → 1.4 → 1.3.

Do not sell the Al Hilal and Al Qadasiya players because of this week's scores. Bounou, Neves, Summerville, Abu Al Shamat and Quinones all have a quiet Gameweek 11 and all rise from Gameweek 12. Selling them now means selling right before their good run.

Best Loan Rangers team for RSL Fantasy Gameweek 11

If you play Loan Rangers this week, this is the starting XI with the highest projected Gameweek 11 score that fits the solver's ceiling and the three-per-club limit. It projects 83.1 points with Ronaldo's captaincy counted:

• GK: Mailson (5.2m, TWN), 4.8
• DEF: Nathan Zeze (5.1m, NEO) 6.4, Malang Sarr (5.3m, NEO) 6.3, Marin Petkov (5.0m, TWN) 5.8
• MID: Joao Félix (10.5m, NAS) 7.8, Trincao (8.0m, AHL) 7.0, Sadio Mané (9.0m, NAS) 6.8, Yannick Carrasco (9.0m, SHB) 6.4, Eduard Spertsyan (7.1m, AHL) 5.9
• FWD: Cristiano Ronaldo (12.5m, NAS, captain) 9.0, Alexandre Lacazette (7.4m, NEO) 7.9

The bench is the cheapest fodder you can find. Gameweek 11 is a fair week for the chip, but Gameweek 12's Abha and Al-Faisaly doubles are the bigger one-week opportunity, so check both on the RSL Fantasy optimal teams page before you play it. The solver there finds the exact optimum live.

RSL Fantasy Gameweek 11 transfer plan

• This week: sell Ivan Toney and buy Cristiano Ronaldo (or Ollie Watkins if you already own Ronaldo). If you have no premium to sell, the best moves for the three-week run are Koulibaly or a Neom defender in, and Ilenikhena or Dembélé out.
• Next week: bring in a Gameweek 12 double player: Alexandre Mendy, Andrei Girotto or Michy Batshuayi.
• Keep: Bounou, Neves, Summerville, Abu Al Shamat and Lacazette.

Check the RSL Fantasy predicted lineups before the deadline, because minutes decide most of the picks above. For every RSL article, see the RSL Fantasy preview hub or the RSL Fantasy tools overview.

FAQ

Who should I captain in RSL Fantasy Gameweek 11?

Cristiano Ronaldo. He projects 9.0 points at Al-Faisaly, which doubles to 18.0, and he has the round's best fixture (an 80% Al Nassr win probability) and Al Nassr's penalties. Alexandre Lacazette (7.9 against Abha) and Joao Félix (7.8) are the alternatives.

Should I sell Ivan Toney before Gameweek 11?

Yes. Toney is flagged unavailable and projects 0.0 in both Gameweek 11 and Gameweek 12. His 12.2m covers Cristiano Ronaldo almost on its own, or Ollie Watkins with money left over, and both have strong programs.

Who are the best RSL Fantasy differentials for Gameweek 11?

Sadio Mané (9.2% owned, 19.5 points over the next three Gameweeks), Bento Krepski (7.6%, the top goalkeeper this week) and Marin Petkov (6.3%, 5.8 this week and 7.2 against Abha in Gameweek 14). For Gameweek 12, Michy Batshuayi is owned by 0.3% and has a double.

Which teams have a double Gameweek in RSL Fantasy Gameweek 12?

Abha and Al-Faisaly play twice in Gameweek 12. Alexandre Mendy (9.1 projected) and Andrei Girotto (11.2) are the standout picks, but Al-Faisaly host Al Nassr in Gameweek 11, so buy them next week.

Which budget defenders are best for RSL Fantasy Gameweek 11?

Seydouba Cisse (4.5m, 5.5 against Al-Ettifaq and a Gameweek 16 double) and Mokher Alrashidi (4.0m, 4.7 at Al Hazem). Andrei Girotto (4.6m) is the best budget defender over three Gameweeks, but buy him for Gameweek 12.

This preview was written by TheFantasyTool AI.