India’s FPL No. 1 Jayanth Reflects on his Stellar 24/25 FPL Season

Ever wondered how managers finish in those top spots? Or if their strategy is different from yours? Well, today, we had a chat with Jayanth Lenin, who is currently ranked FPL India Number 1 and world number 104 going into GW21. We will discuss how his season has gone so far, plans for the upcoming weeks with all chips intact in his arsenal, and whether he has done anything different this season from the previous campaigns. Hope you learn something and let’s get into it!

Link to all our FPL GW21 blogs including scout picks, players to target, buy, hold, sell analysis, differentials, captaincy metrics, best forwards, and more. Completely free to access as well!

Interview with FPL India Number 1 – 24/25 FPL Season

Hello Jayanth Lenin!

Congratulations on your FPL season so far! How does it feel to be ranked India Number 1?

It feels surreal and incredible to be ranked India’s Number one in Fantasy Premier League. The journey has been filled with hours of research, planning, and calculated risks, so seeing it all pay off is immensely rewarding although there are still 18 game weeks left.

If you had to credit your season to one thing, what would it be?

If I had to credit my season to a few key factors, it would be my aggressive approach, bold choices, and reliance on differentials. Taking risks with differential captain choices and trusting players who were out of form has been pivotal.

For instance, decisions like playing Morgan Rogers against Manchester City—moves that might seem unconventional—have paid off handsomely. These choices, combined with a willingness to back my instincts, have allowed me to gain ground and stand out.

How seriously do you take FPL and how many hours/week do you spend to make your transfers? Also, tell us more about your FPL banter group and your mini-leagues.

This season, I haven’t had as much time to dedicate to FPL as I have in previous seasons, where I would often sit for hours, writing down tactics and strategies. With a busier schedule this year, I’ve had to rely more on instinct and stay consistent with my decisions.

As for my FPL banter group, it’s been relatively quiet, which I think is a reflection of my form. We’re a close-knit group of five, and we have a lot of fun teasing each other—especially when someone misses points on the bench. One of my best friends has yet to bring Mo Salah into his team over the past seven game weeks, and he’s been getting the most stick for it, especially given Salah’s recent performances. It’s all in good fun, though!

What is the general thinking process you do before making a transfer?

Before making a transfer, my primary focus is always on how it can benefit my mini-league performance. I take into account fixture difficulty ratings, and individual matchups, and sometimes rely on my instincts about a particular player.

As a Sports Analyst graduate and a huge admirer of the stats-driven approach, I also delve into metrics like Expected Goals and Assists (xG/xA), chances created, and minutes played. These data points, combined with a balanced mix of logic and intuition, guide my decisions to bring in players who I believe will make a significant impact.

Where do you consume your FPL content? What are some of the Social Media Accounts/Websites/Podcasts/Tools you recommend for other FPL managers?

It’s mostly Instagram FPL pages for me. I would recommend a mixture of content from #ALLAboutFPL, #FPLtips, and #fplfamily Instagram pages for someone starting new. 

I would recommend checking out the Official FPL app for Team news, scout picks, and price increases in terms of player transfers.

Your GW20 Transfer moves for Mbeumo and Raul Jimenez(-4) for Cunha and Johnson. Mbeumo got a 19-pointer while Raul Jimenez got a 13-pointer. What made you make those moves?

First of all, Cunha had to go due to his suspension, and with Johnson’s minutes increasingly at risk and Spurs having no consistency, I needed to address both issues. Raul Jiménez stood out as an ideal replacement, given his impressive xG in recent weeks and a favorable run of fixtures over the next three game weeks.

As for Mbeumo, he was very much a calculated one-week punt. Brentford had an incredible record of scoring at least three goals every time they faced a promoted side this season, and with Mbeumo being their star man, he was an obvious pick. The (-4) bold approach gave a whopping 32 points.

Q. Share some of your wisdom with fellow FPL Managers! What are some of the Tips you would give to FPL Managers reading this article?

My advice to fellow FPL managers is to use a 70:30 approach—70% stats, 30% instinct. Stats guide solid decisions, while instinct adds that creative touch.

Stay updated on early team news, suspensions, and minutes risk from European and Domestic Cup games—these details can make a big difference in your transfers.

For those chasing overall or mini-league rank, a template team with two or three differentials is a great way to push your rank higher.

Q. You have got Sels and Pickford as two rotating GKs in your GW8 Wildcard which has worked massively so far. How do you see it?

I think I saw the potential in Nottingham Forest early on this season before many other FPL managers and their form hasn’t surprised me. As for Pickford, I’ve always believed that under Sean Dyche, Everton would be a solid defensive unit. Pickford’s 13 clean sheets last season are a testament to how well Everton defended, and with their defenders gradually returning to full fitness, I felt that Everton would soon begin keeping clean sheets again.

That being said, it has also been a bit of a headache at times, choosing between Sels and Pickford, as I’ve occasionally lost points on the bench due to rotation or unforeseen circumstances. However, the overall balance has worked well in terms of fixtures, and I’ve tried to minimize the risk while making sure both goalkeepers complement each other effectively.

Q. What are some of the best decisions you made this season and some of the Best Differential Hauls you had so far?

• GW6 – Palmer © – 50 Pts
• GW8 Wildcard – Sels & Pickford (GKs)
• GW13 – Saka © – 36 Pts
• GW17 – Rogers – 14 Pts
• GW20 – Mbeumo 19 pts & Raul 13 Pts (-4) 

Apart from these, I think bringing Kerkez in early and sticking with Rogers, Wood, and Nouri have all been very good approaches that have got me long-term returns.

Q. What was your Captaincy Plan during this Season? How did you make your decisions like Captaining Saka vs West Ham (36 points) in GW13 and Bruno Fernandes vs Leicester (34 points) in GW11? 

I firmly believe in targeting promoted sides and their fixtures against top-table contenders. This season, with West Ham’s form in mind, Saka, and Bruno—especially with with a new manager against Leicester at home—were excellent differential captain choices, and they worked out well.

And yes it’s true, you have to watch out for changes of managers too in FPL, which can alter a team’s performance.

Q. You already have a Top 2k finish from the 2021/22 season. How and when did you start playing FPL?

I started playing FPL during the 2020/21 season, which was the COVID-19 season when I had more free time on my hands. It all began as a fun challenge with my close group of four friends, just to see who could come out on top during the pandemic. Little did I know, it would become such a passionate part of my football experience!

Q. If you are ranked 104 in the World right now, there will surely be lots of memorable moments in the season. From your point of view, what do you think was the Best moment of your FPL season? 

Palmer scoring those 4 goals against Brighton was the moment that changed my FPL rank this season and being ranked India No. 1 at the end of Game Week 20 has been the best moment of my season. 

Q. What is your bus team for GW21 and planned transfers?

GW20 Team:

FPL GW21 Bus Team:

Foden to Bruno/Amad vs SOU is something I would consider since I think United will go on a good winning streak for some time. Or else I would stick with this team and save my transfer.

Pedro to Mateta could be a great choice too considering Palace have a great run of fixtures and they seem to have settled down with a starting lineup. Hence Foden to Bruno/Amad and Pedro to Mateta would be my transfer choice for this week if I make one.

Q. You still have all your chips left. What is the Chip strategy that you have in your mind?

I believe it’s still too early to decide when to use my chips for a specific game week. However, based on the game’s dynamics—such as suspensions and domestic cup fixtures—I would target premium players like Salah, Palmer, and Haaland for my Triple Captain (TC) chip in the event of a double game week.

If I’m in a favorable position in the rankings during the run-in, I might also consider using my TC chip on a differential captain such as Isak/Mbeumo depending on favourable fixtures. I’ll wait for more information before deciding when to use my Wildcard and Free Hit chips.

And yes, I’m intrigued by the Assistant Manager chip and am excited to see how it could impact my rank.

Q. Being India No.1 and World No.104 is already a massive achievement mid-way through the season. What’s your target for the end of the season?

My goal is to finish in the Top 20 overall, which would be a huge achievement for me. That said, I’m focused on giving my best effort for the rest of the season and seeing where I can end up.

Further reads from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL GW21:

FPL Gameweek 21 Transfer Tips: Two Players to Buy, Hold & Sell
FPL GW21 Scout Picks Based on Stats, Analysis, and Matchups
Top FPL GW21 Differential Picks(<10% TSB)
Ultimate FPL Assistant Manager Chip Guide: Rules, Tips & More
FPL GW21 Tips & Ultimate Guide: Differentials, Captaincy & More
India’s FPL No. 1 Jayanth Reflects on his Stellar 24/25 FPL Season
Upcoming FPL Double/Blank Gameweeks | 24/25 FPL Season
FPL GW21 Tips- Transfer Planning, Mbeumo and Munoz Thoughts
Matchday 21 Predictions and Prizes- Sleeper Pick’em League

Link to all our FPL GW21 blogs including scout picks, players to target, buy, hold, sell analysis, differentials, captaincy metrics, transfer targets, and more. Completely free to access as well!

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What’s next from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL Gameweek 21 of the 2024/25 FPL Season?

We’ll be covering differential picks, transfer targets, Buy, Hold, Sell analysis, Scout picks, Gameweek preview, Captaincy metrics, FPL GW21 tips, and more. Keep checking allaboutfpl.com for all our blogs. We’ll also be posting regularly about the same on our social media accounts so follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook and keep our notification ON.