Last updated: 21 August 2026

Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 37 of the 2015/16 season was about much more than fantasy points. Sunderland completed another remarkable escape from relegation, Norwich City went down, Leicester City celebrated their extraordinary Premier League title and West Ham played their final match at the Boleyn Ground.

Several clubs also played twice during the Gameweek, creating opportunities for some enormous fantasy returns.

Originally published in May 2016, this Fantasy Spotlight preserves our team of the week from one of the most memorable closing stages to a Premier League season.

Vito Mannone – Sunderland

It was another great escape for Sunderland, and virtually their entire defence could have been considered for our Fantasy Spotlight team.

Vito Mannone got the goalkeeper position after making six saves in a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Chelsea before keeping a clean sheet in Sunderland’s 3-0 win against Everton.

Those two victories secured Premier League survival for Sam Allardyce’s side and confirmed the relegation of Newcastle United and Norwich City.

Lamine Koné – Sunderland

Lamine Koné proved to be one of Allardyce’s most important January additions, but it was his contribution at the other end of the pitch that made him one of Gameweek 37’s outstanding fantasy performers.

The centre-back scored twice from close range in the 3-0 victory over Everton at the Stadium of Light.

Combined with Sunderland’s clean sheet, those goals produced an exceptional return from a defender and made Koné one of the standout players of the Double Gameweek.

Alberto Moreno – Liverpool

Alberto Moreno continued to provide attacking threat from left-back under Jürgen Klopp, collecting an assist as Liverpool defeated Watford 2-0 at Anfield.

Attacking full-backs were already highly attractive fantasy assets because of their ability to combine clean-sheet points with goals and assists — a principle that has only become more important as the tactical role of full-backs and wing-backs has evolved.

Liverpool still had the Europa League final against Sevilla to come, making this an important period in Klopp’s first season at the club.

Patrick van Aanholt – Sunderland

Patrick van Aanholt was another Sunderland defender who combined defensive and attacking returns.

His free-kick opened the scoring against Everton, while he had also supplied an assist in Sunderland’s 3-2 victory over Chelsea.

Six goals and four assists across the season represented an excellent attacking contribution from a defender and demonstrated why Van Aanholt could be such an appealing fantasy selection.

Nathan Redmond – Norwich City

Norwich’s relegation was confirmed during Gameweek 37 despite a 4-2 victory against Watford at Carrow Road.

Nathan Redmond was outstanding in that match, scoring once and creating two more goals.

At the time we suggested his performances might earn him a move back to the Premier League following Norwich’s relegation.

That proved correct. Redmond joined Southampton during the summer of 2016 and went on to spend six seasons with the club.

Juan Mata – Manchester United

Juan Mata produced attacking returns in both of Manchester United’s Gameweek 37 fixtures.

He scored the winner against Norwich at Carrow Road before providing an assist in United’s 3-2 defeat against West Ham.

The latter match was particularly significant because it was West Ham’s final competitive fixture at the Boleyn Ground before moving to the London Stadium.

There was also considerable speculation that José Mourinho would replace Louis van Gaal at Manchester United. That raised questions about Mata’s future because Mourinho had previously sold him while managing Chelsea.

Mourinho did subsequently take charge at Old Trafford, although Mata remained at Manchester United for another six years.

André Ayew – Swansea City

André Ayew ended the season strongly and retained his place in our Fantasy Spotlight after another productive performance.

Swansea defeated West Ham 4-1, with Ayew scoring one goal and creating another as Francesco Guidolin’s team continued their strong finish to the campaign.

Andy King – Leicester City

Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and N’Golo Kanté understandably dominated the headlines during Leicester City’s extraordinary title-winning season, but Andy King had a remarkable story of his own.

King scored as Leicester defeated Everton 3-1 before lifting the Premier League trophy at the King Power Stadium.

The midfielder had now won League One, the Championship and the Premier League with the same club, having been part of Leicester’s journey through the divisions.

He would also travel to Euro 2016 with Wales, who went on to reach the semi-finals.

Steven Davis – Southampton

Southampton were finishing the season in excellent form and recorded an impressive 2-1 victory away to Tottenham.

Northern Ireland international Steven Davis scored both Southampton goals and was the outstanding performer in midfield.

The brace took his Premier League total for the season to five goals and produced an unexpected but valuable fantasy return.

Dwight Gayle – Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace’s players were competing for places ahead of their FA Cup final against Manchester United, and Dwight Gayle made a strong case for inclusion.

Gayle scored twice as Palace defeated Stoke City 2-1.

His finishing ability was never really in doubt, and he would underline that goalscoring talent after leaving Palace for Newcastle United later in 2016.

Dieumerci Mbokani – Norwich City

Dieumerci Mbokani’s two goals against Watford were not enough to prevent Norwich from being relegated from the Premier League.

The striker had been in and out of Alex Neil’s team during the campaign but finished the league season with seven goals.

His Gameweek 37 performance was nevertheless an excellent reminder that productive fantasy assets can sometimes be found in struggling or even relegated teams.

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Why Double Gameweeks Create Fantasy Opportunities

Gameweek 37 also illustrates why Double Gameweeks have always attracted so much attention from fantasy managers.

Two fixtures potentially mean twice the minutes and twice the opportunity for goals, assists, clean sheets and bonus points. But selecting players simply because they have two matches is not enough.

Minutes remain crucial. A player expected to start twice can be considerably more attractive than a higher-profile player likely to be rotated, particularly late in the season when clubs may also be managing cup competitions, injuries and fatigue.

Sunderland provided the perfect example in this Gameweek. Their fight against relegation meant there was little incentive to rotate, while two victories produced significant fantasy returns at both ends of the pitch.

A Snapshot of an Extraordinary Premier League Season

Looking back from 2026, this Fantasy Spotlight reads like a snapshot of a Premier League era that was about to change dramatically.

Leicester had just completed one of the greatest title triumphs in English football history. Pep Guardiola was about to arrive at Manchester City, José Mourinho would soon take charge of Manchester United and Jürgen Klopp was beginning to reshape Liverpool.

Sunderland’s survival also proved bittersweet. The club had repeatedly escaped relegation, but the following season there would be no repeat: Sunderland finished bottom of the Premier League in 2016/17.

For fantasy football, however, the underlying lessons remain familiar. Fixture volume matters, attacking defenders can produce explosive returns, motivation can influence team selection, and valuable players can emerge from clubs at either end of the table.

The players change. The same fantasy football decisions keep coming back.