Insurance Times speaks to MX Underwriting’s lead liability underwriter about his top performance in this year’s Fantasy Football league
Gameweek five (GW5) was a mixed bag for Fantasy Premier League managers, with many players who chose to play their wildcard chip disappointed by some low scores. Other managers, including – ahem – this strapping young journalist, had much better weeks, with lots of movement in the league top 10, which you can view below.
However, GW6 looks promising, with winnable fixtures aplenty for some of the league’s biggest teams.
As we head into the latest round of fixtures, Insurance Times spoke to new league leader Niall Casey, lead liability underwriter for Specialist Risk Group-owned MGA MX Underwriting, about his performance in the this year’s Insurance Times Fantasy Football League so far.
1. Congratulations on being top of the league for GW5, how do you rate your chances of staying there for the season?
Fantasy football can be unpredictable, but I’m always hopeful! This is my 19th consecutive season of playing it and, in that time, I have had six – SIX! – top 100,000 finishes, culminating with my highest finish of 594th in the world last year.
As much as I would like to finish that high every season, my goal and strategy is geared around trying to finish in the top 100,000. If I can do that, I will be very happy.
2. What are the key decisions to make ahead of GW6?
This seems to be the most popular GW so far to play the first Wildcard chip, so that is many fellow managers’ quandary this GW.
The Arsenal, Brentford and Chelsea have a real change in fixture difficulty over the next three matches, with favourable fixtures on the horizon. This will be the basis for many Wildcard teams!
3. Who would you call out as an under-rated player for everyone’s Fantasy squad?
Gabriel! Gabriel dos Santos Magalhães! I am stunned that he still has less than 20% ownership and can therefore be regarded as a differential pick.
With Arsenal’s fixtures to come, combined with their resolute defence, he is an absolute must own.
As shown in the match against City, even if Arsenal concede, Gabriel is a points machine from any attacking set pieces. Since 2020, Gabriel is the highest scoring defender in the Premier League, with 16 goals.
4. Who or what would you like to call out in the insurance industry?
One of my colleagues is a trustee of the Vilomah Baby Loss Charity. The charity raises funds and awareness of baby loss and also has a football team called FC Vilomah.
The club is made up of bereaved fathers and were delighted when one of our broker partners, who are members of The Benefact Group, agreed to sponsor the club for the next three years.
This is a great example of the insurance industry and football joining forces for a very worthwhile cause.
- Have you spotted yourself in the top 10 of the Insurance Times Fantasy Football League? We’d love to hear from you. Please do get in contact with deputy editor Yiannis Kotoulas at Yiannis.Kotoulas@InsuranceTimes.co.uk
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