FPL top picks for Gameweek 26
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 26. 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 26 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 25 started. Any changes in terms of injuries will be updated upon its republishing as we draw closer to the Gameweek 26 deadline. Stats will naturally change during the upcoming Gameweek but won’t take anything away from the selections.
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 26.
Aaron Ramsdale
Arsenal rank top of the fixture ticker this week. They face promoted team Bournemouth. Although shaky at the back recently, they have shown they can defend multiple times this season. In fact amongst all teams in the league they rank joint second best for goals conceded (23) and third best for clean sheets kept (nine).
Arsenal’s opponent is a huge factor as to why Aaron Ramsdale (£4.9m) makes his way into the top picks for Gameweek 26. Amongst all teams in the last six matches Bournemouth rank joint worst for goals scored (three), the worst for attempts on goal (58) and joint second worst for big chances total (six).
Keylor Navas
After a torrid start to the season that saw them rock bottom, Nottingham Forest have been improving massively recently. Something else that has been improving is their underlying defensive stats. They face Everton in Gameweek 26.
Everton have struggled to maintain consistency all season. One of their biggest issues has been scoring goals. In their last six matches the Toffees rank joint second worst for goals scored (four), the second worst for attempts on goal (58), joint second worst for shots in the box (40) and joint third worst for minutes per chance. Considering all of the factors above Keylor Navas (£4.5m) makes his way into the top picks for Gameweek 26.
Robert Sanchez
Brighton are becoming a popular team to invest in this season. Their fantastic season continues to attract FPL managers. Whilst many look to their attacking assets, some could be considering their defensive players.
In Brighton’s last six matches they rank the best for shots in the box conceded (38), the best for total shots conceded (48), the best for shots on target conceded (13) and the best for big chances conceded (6). Against a West Ham side who have had less shots on target than any other team in the league in the same period, Robert Sanchez (£4.6m) could have solid potential this week.
Defenders – Oleksandr Zinchenko
We have already covered the fact that Arsenal are putting up some of the best underlying defensive stats this season. In addition, we have already covered their opponent’s, Bournemouth, weak defensive stats. For that reason those looking for a defender could invest in Arsenal.
Finding attacking threat in defenders can be one of the most important factors in FPL. Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.1m) ranks above all of his defensive teammates in terms of expected goal involvement in the last six matches (1.14). His potential was reflected in his recent goal in Gameweek 24.
Ivan Perisic
Tottenham may seem like a team conceding lots of chances and that is because they are. However, in the last six matches they rank the joint best for clean sheets kept (four). Tottenham face Wolves in Gameweek 26, a team struggling for goals.
In the same period Wolves also rank the fourth worst for shots on target (18). What is even more interesting is that Wolves also rank the worst for crosses conceded down their right flank (14), the same side wing back Ivan Perisic (£5.5m) will be attacking. When considering the factors above and that fact that Perisic has fantastic distribution stats, he is an easy inclusion into the top picks for Gameweek 26.
Kieran Trippier
Newcastle face a difficult fixture against Manchester City. However, they rank the best team in the league for goal conceded (15) and clean sheets kept (12). For that reason, investing in a Newcastle defender becomes more justifiable.
The Newcastle defence itself in not overly appealing this week. What is appealing is that they have one of the best assets in the game this season in Kieran Trippier (£6m). The full-back ranks first amongst defenders this season for crosses, successful crosses, chances created and big chances created. What is even more interesting is that Manchester City concede more crosses down their left flank than their right, where Trippier will be attacking.
Pervis Estupiñán
Brighton have been sustaining some of the best underlying defensive stats in the league in the last six matches. In addition, we have already seen that West Ham can struggle in front of goal. Finding a nicely priced defender with attacking threat isn’t an easy task, however, we may have just found one.
Pervis Estupiñán (£4.7m) could be a great addition. It’s also worth remembering he has double Gameweeks ahead. The right back has shown huge threat as of late, creating an impressive five assists in his last seven matches in all competitions. At a great price and targeting West Ham’s weak left side, Pervis Estupiñán joins the top picks for Gameweek 26.
Midfielders – Bukayo Saka
Arsenal are becoming an essential to invest in, especially in terms of their attacking line. In the last six matches they rank joint third for goals (11), first for attempts on goal (124), first for attempts in the box (83) and second for minutes per chance (5.5).
Their standout player is without a doubt Bukayo Saka (£8.4m). Taking penalties gives Saka an additional route to earn points but it’s his form that provides most of the appeal. In his last six matches the winger has picked up returns in five of them. In addition in that same period he also ranks joint second for attempts on goal (26) and joint third for shots in the box (19) amongst all players in the league.
Martin Ødegaard
Arsenal’s fight for the title and their free scoring qualities indicate moving on the double attack could be hugely beneficial. This is reinforced when considering their opponent. They face Bournemouth in Gameweek 26.
The Cherries have won just one of their last 10 matches in all competitions whilst also ranking in the worst five teams for shots in the box conceded (53), shots conceded outside the box (29) and shots on target conceded (25). For those reasons bringing in Martin Ødegaard (£7m) who has banked returns in half of his last six matches could be a wise move.
Marcus Rashford
Manchester United have been fantastic this season. They have fired themselves into the title race with their offensive qualities. To highlight their attacking capabilities in the last six matches they rank first for goals scored (17), second for attempts on goal (122), second for shots in the box (80) and first for shots on target (41).
The biggest contributor towards Manchester United’s form is Marcus Rashford (£7.3m). As well as racking up 52 points in his last six matches, in the same period no player in the league has scored more goals (eight) or had more attempts on goal (29). Marcus Rashford could be an essential at this point so if you have sold him, bring him back in.
Bruno Fernandes
Adding to the Manchester United attack could be hugely beneficial this week. Most managers already own Marcus Rashford so an additional attacker could be huge, especially when considering their opponent. In the last six matches Liverpool rank the second worst team in the league for big chances total (20).
Bruno Fernandes (£9.8m) has picked up a huge three double-digit hauls in his last six matches. The midfielder has shown vast improvements in terms of FPL recently. In the same period amongst all players in the league he also ranks third for non penalty expected goal involvement (6.64). Bruno Fernandes is an easy inclusion into the top picks for Gameweek 26.
Solly March
Brighton’s fantastic season continues to pour out great value assets. Focusing on their attacking data in the last six matches they rank joint third for goals scored (11), joint first for goals scored in the box (four), fourth for attempts on goal (106), second for big chances total (25) and joint second for shots on target.
They face a West Ham struggling to maintain consistency whilst also having double Gameweeks ahead. One player managers should be considering is Solly March (£5.1m). The budget midfielder has hit three double-digit hauls in his last six matches whilst also ranking fifth amongst all players in the league for non penalty expected goal involvement (4.19). March has huge explosive potential so eases his way into the top picks for Gameweek 26.
Forwards -Erling Haaland
Buying into the Manchester City attack is absolutely essential. In their last six matches the league chasers have scored scored three or more goals in four of their last six matches. In the same period they also rank first for goals (15), first for big chances total (28) and first for shots on target (37).
It could be a huge mistake going without Erling Haaland (£12.2m). The striker sits as the highest owned and highest scoring player in the game at the time of writing. Excluding Haaland from our teams could have a huge negative on rank and mini-league position.
Ollie Watkins
Although inconsistent in their results Aston Villa are fully capable of scoring goals. In fact, they have not failed to score a goal in any of their last 10 Premier League matches. In addition, in those same 10 games Aston Villa have notched up two or more goals in six of them.
Main man Ollie Watkins (£7.2m) is in fine form. In the same six match period the striker has picked up returns in four of them, with all coming in the last four matches. He faces a Crystal Palace side that rank joint worst for shots in the box (65), second worst for total shots conceded (89), the worst for shots on target conceded (33) and joint second worst for big chances conceded (16). Ollie Watkins has the form and fixture to do well and because of that makes the top picks for Gameweek 26.
Darwin Nunez
Things seem to be improving for Liverpool and that means that their assets are back in the fold in terms of interest. Their form flying opponent’s Manchester United are conceding some concern defensive data which means targeting them could be beneficial.
In the last six matches amongst all teams in the league they rank joint worst for shots in the box conceded (65), total attempts on goal conceded (93) and joint worst for headed attempts conceded (20). This could give Darwin Nunez (£8.8m) plenty of potential to scrutinise their backline and that’s why he makes it into the top picks for Gameweek 26.
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