FPL’s in-form players
As we begin the final international break until late March, this is a good time to take a deep breath and assess which Fantasy Premier League (FPL) players have been in top form since the October break of four gameweeks ago.
These players are ranked in order of points-per-game during this quartet. What’s notable is that 30 players have over five points-per-game but only one is a striker – the same one who will be out for over a month with a hamstring injury.
To the surprise of nobody, Mohamed Salah is in the best form. His 47 points were composed of four goals, four assists and five bonus points, including a hat-trick at Old Trafford where Liverpool demolished Man United. This was the second of two consecutive 5-0 wins, with the other being at Watford. His ownership is now at 71.5% and has convinced many to ‘perma-captain’ the Egyptian from now until he leaves for the African Cup of Nations.
Reece James has 1.2 million new owners since the last international break. His bright start to the season was aided by an 18-point haul at Arsenal but was quickly de-railed with a Gameweek 3 red card, not playing over 30 minutes again until Gameweek 9. Here, he scored in the 7-0 rout over Norwich, then followed these 13 points with a phenomenal 21 in Newcastle. His Chelsea team mate Ben Chilwell completes the top three, having delivered returns of 15 and 12 points whilst scoring against Brentford and Norwich.
Four Chelsea and Liverpool players make the top 30 but the most contributions come from West Ham. Two clean sheets and nine goals from four matches doesn’t seem spectacular, yet seven of their players have over five points-per-game. The star – yet still significantly less-owned than Michail Antonio and Said Benrahma – is midfielder Jarrod Bowen. One goal, four assists and 29 points.
Shout-outs should also go to Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s two double-digit hauls, the 18 points of Phil Foden away to Brighton and Tino Livramento, the bargain defender who has brought either a goal, assist or clean sheet in seven of his last eight appearances.
Two midfielders who started the season priced at £5.5m are high up the list. Conor Gallagher blanked twice but followed with 13 points during Crystal Palace’s spectacular 2-0 win at Man City, then 11 more versus Wolves. Emile Smith Rowe has risen £0.5m in price since Gameweek 7, aided by a great run in the Arsenal line-up where he has scored in three successive games.
The team of the moment is definitely based around the productive attacking defenders, a bunch of budget midfielders and Mo Salah. Let’s see if the strikers fight back during this intense winter run.
