FPL top picks for Gameweek 23

Utilising the fixture ticker and underlying stats from the Fantasy Football Scout members area, we pick out some of the FPL top picks for Gameweek 23. Considering team and player form, fixture difficulty and stats will help us shortlist some of the best assets for the round ahead.

Looking at the FPL top picks for Gameweek 23 can be extremely useful to managers in their quest for success. Knowing which players to target for the round ahead can help with important decisions like transfers and captaincy.

Note: This article was written before Gameweek 22 started. Any changes in terms of injuries will be updated upon its republishing as we draw closer to the Gameweek 23 deadline.

Fixtures

Below we can see the teams at the top with the easiest fixtures all of the way down to the bottom to teams with the toughest fixtures. This will help us pick out some of the best options for Gameweek 23.

Goalkeepers – Ederson

Manchester City sit top of the fixture ticker. They play a double Gameweek against Arsenal and Aston Villa. With two attempts at returning points it makes sense to invest in their players. Rotation has hit FPL managers hard over the last few weeks but one player in the Manchester City backline is nailed.

Ederson (£5.4m) may be more expensive than the average goalkeeper but his minutes look assured. Manchester City rank as one of the best defensive units in the league and for that reason combined with the double, Ederson makes the top picks for Gameweek 23.

Aaron Ramsdale

Arsenal rank second on the fixture who also have a double Gameweek. They have matches against Brentford and Manchester City. Although tough on paper defensively, Arsenal have shown they can keep clean sheets against bigger teams in their recent matches against Tottenham and Newcastle.

Whilst most managers flock to the Arsenal attack, it could be worth considering their defensive options. One of those is goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale (£4.9m). The Englishman picked up six returns in his last 10 matches, including two double-digit hauls. With two fixtures and sitting at a decent price, Ramsdale has to be considered amonst the best goalkeeper options for Gameweek 23.

Nick Pope

At this point, the majority of the most experienced FPL managers have Kieran Trippier in their teams. For that reason doubling up on the best defence in the league could be the only way to make gains in rank and mini-leagues.

One way managers can double up on the Newcastle backline is by selecting goalkeeper Nick Pope (£5.5m). Pope’s impressive return rate has seen him sit as the highest scoring goalkeeper in the game and the only one to hit more than 100 points in FPL. He faces one of the worst attacks in the league in Bournemouth and all things considered, eases his way into the top picks for Gameweek 23.

Defenders – Kieran Trippier

It comes as no surprise that full back Kieran Trippier makes the top picks yet again. The defender has been absolutely relentless all season, racking up more points than any other player in his position and sitting as the second highest points earner in the game.

To reinforce the fact that every FPL manager should own Trippier, lets look at his offensive stats. This season no defender has created more crosses, successful crosses, chances, or big chances. That is exactly same in the last six matches, showing he is sustaining some fantastic stats. Going without Kieran Trippier could cause serious issues in terms of mini-league position and rank, so if you don’t own him, bring him in.

Manuel Akanji

Amongst all teams in the league this season Manchester City rank the best for shots in the box conceded, shots conceded and shots on target conceded. Their stats are impressive and indicate that their on the right path to keeping plenty of clean sheets.

We already know about the mass rotation at Manchester City but there is another player who has been a mainstay at the back. At the time of writing Manuel Akanji (£5m) has started five of their last six matches and the game he didn’t start, he came on at half time. Investing in the Manchester City defence could be key long term and Akanji looks like one of the cheapest and most reliable options. For the reasons above, Akanji gets his inclusion into the top picks for Gameweek 23.

Gabriel Magalhães

Arsenal have two shots at a clean sheet in Gameweek 23 because of their double Gameweek. This makes their defence a lot more appealing. They have been strong defensively this season. Amongst all teams in the league they rank second for clean sheets, goals conceded, shots in the box conceded, shots on target conceded and joint first for big chances conceded.

Arsenal are showing some of the best defensive stats in the league which could mean the clean sheets will come. Bringing in Gabriel Magalhães (£5.2m) could be a great idea. The Brazilian ranks the higher than any of his defensive teammates for expected goal involvement this season. Amongst all defenders in the league he also ranks joint fourth for attempts on goal, third for attempts in the box and joint second for big chances total. Gabriel Magalhães is one of the most dangerous centre backs in the league and due to all of the factors above, makes the top picks for Gameweek 23.

Andrew Robertson

Liverpool have been a disaster defensively this season but Gameweek 23 could have the potential to see them claim a clean sheet. They face Everton in the round ahead who in the last six matches rank as the joint second worst for goals, joint second worst for attempts on goal, the second worst for shots in the box conceded and joint second worst for shots on target.

One of the most obvious options in the Liverpool backline is Andrew Robertson (£6.8m). The Scotsman has claimed three returns in his last three matches. Amongst all defenders in the last six matches Robertson also ranks third for crosses, joint second for successful crosses, second for chances created and third for big chances created. Robertson has both clean sheet and assist potential in Gameweek 23, so should be considered.

Reece James

Chelsea have been gaining in both confidence and personnel as they try find consistent form. In their last six matches at the back they have been improving. The Blues rank the joint third best for goals conceded, joint second for clean sheets kept and fourth best for big chances conceded. Against a West Ham who failed to score in three of their last six matches, their could be good potential for the clean sheet.

Reece James (£5.7m) appears to be fully fit after his injury. The fullback/wingback hit five goals and nine assists, totalling to 14 attacking returns last season. He also bagged a goal and an assist in one of his most recent Champions League matches against AC Milan. If Reece James starts, he could be one of the best defensive options in the game so eases into the top picks for Gameweek 23.

Midfielders – Kevin De Bruyne

It could be very difficult to avoid in investing in the Manchester City attack for the round ahead, especially when they have a double Gameweek. No team have surpassed them this season in terms of passes in the opponents half, passes in the final third, crosses or chances created.

The above could be largely down to one man. Kevin De Bruyne (£12.4m) has had a fantastic season. Amongst all players this season he ranks first for chances created and big chances created. With the most clinical striker in the league ahead of him, it could be very tough to leave him out and for that reason enters the top picks for Gameweek 23.

Riyad Mahrez

Amongst all teams in the league this season Manchester City rank first for goals scored, attempts on goal, big chances total and shots on target. Because of this it could be worth investing one of their goal threats that is not Erling Haaland.

At the time of writing Riyad Mahrez (£7.7m) has started five of Manchester City’s last six matches, getting as close as he can to assured minutes. In that same period he also edges every other midfielder in the game for non penalty expected goal involvement. Reinforced by the fact the Algerian has bagged five returns in his last six matches and Mahrez simply has to be considered amongst the top picks for Gameweek 23.

Bukayo Saka

Arsenal sit top of the table in the Premier League and face a double Gameweek in the round ahead. After firing their way through teams this season they now have plenty of attacking options to consider. However the most convincing could be Bukayo Saka (£8.2m).

The English winger impressed in the World Cup and he’s transferred that top form into his Premier League campaign. In fact in his last five matches, Saka has returned in four of them. Those returns include three goals and an assist. Taking penalties, in fine form and having two fixtures means he could be one of the best picks for the Gameweek ahead.

Martin Ødegaard

There can be no doubt on how lethal the Arsenal attack is. Amongst all teams this season they rank second for goals scored, goals scored in the box, third for attempts on goal and third for attempts in the box.

Because of this and the two fixtures ahead, doubling up on Arsenal’s frontline could be hugely beneficial to FPL managers. Martin Ødegaard (£6.9m) has secured three double-digit hauls in his last six matches whilst claiming returns in two of the remaining three. Amongst midfielders in the same period no player has had more attempts on goal that Martin Ødegaard and because of the above, makes the top picks for Gameweek 23.

Marcus Rashford

At the time of writing Mnanchester United’s great run of form continues to capture the imagination of their fans. A large contributing factor to that is their frontline. In fact in the last six matches the Reds rank third for goals scored, first for shots on target and joint second for big chances total.

Marcus Rashford (£7.2m) has been in amazing form with eight goals and three assists in his last 10 matches it could be difficult to exclude him. This is only reinforced when taking into account that amongst all teams in the last six, their opponents Leeds rank the second worst for shots in the box and joint worst for big chances total.

Kaoru Mitoma

Brighton have been seriously impressive lately, especially offensively. In the last six matches, Brighton rank first for goals and second for shots on target amongst all teams. They have a match against a Crystal Palace who in the same period have conceded more shots in the box and attempts on goal than any other team in the league, making the Brighton attack even more attractive for the round ahead.

One player who should be considered is Kaoru Mitoma (£5.1m). The Japanese midfielder has not failed to return in any of his last four Premier League matches. Amongst midfielders he also ranks joint second for big chances total. Mitoma has the form and fixture to do really well and for that reason is an easy addition to the top picks for Gameweek 23.

Forwards – Erling Haaland

Manchester City’s double Gameweek and relentless superior offensive stats make them a must have for the Gameweek ahead. The exact same thing could be said for striker Erling Haaland (£12.2m). The highest scoring player in the game continues to run riot in his first season.

There is no doubt that Haaland has become an absolute essential in the game. That can only be emphasised this week when considering the fact he will most likely be the most popular captain as well. In fact, many managers within the community will even be considering using the triple captaincy chip on him.

Eddie Nketiah

The Arsenal attacking options continue to pour in. For managers who lack the flexibility in midfield to select one, they could consider their main man up front. That player is the in-form striker Eddie Nkeitah (£6.7m).

Nketiah managed a huge 13-point haul in his recent game against Manchester United with his two goals and three bonus. Amongst all forwards in the last six he also ranks third for attempts on goal, second for attempts in the box and joint second for big chances total. Nketiah has been maintaining some great recent stats and with a double Gameweek ahead makes his way into the top picks for Gameweek 23.

Callum Wilson

Newcastle continue to impress this season. Offensively things have been a bit dry scoring just one goal in their last four Premier League matches. However they face a Bournemouth side next who rank the worst team in the league for goals scored, attempts on goal conceded and second worst for shots in the box conceded. This is a clear sign that there could be plenty of potential for a Newcastle attacker.

Some could consider Callum Wilson (£7.1m). The Englishman takes his teams penalties and is the focal point of the Newcastle attack. In form, Wilson can be one of the most dangerous strikers in the league and with a game against Bournemouth next has to be considered.