Disclaimer:- This watchlist is not exhaustive, and is based on the players I am considering for my own FPL team only. It contains stats that I find useful from both FPL, and from the Sky Fantasy Football game, as I find achieving the bonus tier targets in Sky is indicitive of potential bonus point accumulation in FPL.
Goalkeepers
(New) Heaton – Already think I have the most valuable GK in Burnley’s Nick Pope (1st for underlying BPS, 2nd for saves), so this is more of a token pick due to a decent fixture list between GW4-9. Just picked up a clean sheet against Everton, and at 4.5m he’s an easy switch if Pope was to get injured.
Next 4 fixtures: cry, WHU, ars, BUR
(Removed) De Gea – Has the fixtures to pull in a few more all important clean sheets, but doesn’t look like he can keep picking up the saves and bonus points that looked such a certainty after GW1. Just not providing the value at 5.6m.
Next 4 fixtures: sou, LEI, whu, ARS
(Removed) Ryan – Will continue to monitor whether he’s in the running for bonus points whenever Brighton manage to pick up a clean sheet, but with 3 away fixtures in the next four, and Man City up next, he’s dropped from the watchlist for now
Next 4 fixtures: mci, BUR, new, che
Defenders
(New) Alexander-Arnold – Watching him create 6 chances against Arsenal was horrible after transfering him out last week, so am already beginning to think that was a mistake. The marauding right-back has 2 assists already, leads the league for attempted crosses, and only Kevin De Bruyne has created more big chances and made more key passes. Could quite as easily be Andrew Robertson on this list given that he looks the greater goal threat (6 shots on goal compared to TAA’s 5), but having control of set-peices swings it back towards Trent for me. No clean sheet in three is a slight worry, but look out for some big scores across the board from that Liverpool defence when they come.
Next 4 fixtures: bur, NEW, che, SHU
Emerson – No defender has more shots on goal (6), or SoT (4), than the Chelsea left-back. Another 5 successful tackles for a Tier 2 bonus in GW3, to go along with a Tier 1 bonus in GW2, so isn’t shirking on his defensive duties either. Thats makes some form of Sky bonus in every GW thus far, so can see this transferring to FPL soon given that he sits 2nd for underlying BPS for defenders, despite not registering a clean sheet.
Next 4 fixtures: SHU, wol, LIV, BHA
Lundstram – No change here other than his price which is now 4.2. John Lundstram is, and always has been a central midfielder, so his defender classification is an absolute gift to FPL managers (Sky managers weren’t so lucky). And not only that, he’s already amassed a goal, clean sheet, 4 bonus points, and Tier 1 tackle bonus. Could be this years ultimate value pick.
Next 4 fixtures: che, SOU, eve, LIV
(Removed) Wan-Bissaka – Only 1 clean sheet so far, but nobody in the league has more successful tackles across the first 3 GWs. If United keep a clean sheet, bonuses are almost a certainty for AWB. Was added to the team in GW3.
Next 4 fixtures: sou, LEI, whu, ARS
Midfielders
(New) Mount – As was suggested last week, he takes Pedro’s spot on the watchlist courtesy of his 2 goals and kinder 6.2m price tag. Quickly becoming a Lampard favourite, he sits 3rd overall in the league for SoT (7), and 2nd only Ashley Barnes for goal attempts. That has earned him either a Tier 1 or Tier 2 SoT bonus in each of his first three games, as well as 4 bonus points in FPL. With 7 key passes, has shown a creative side which currently stands him in equal stead to the likes of Pogba, Maddison and Lucas Digne. Picked up a minor injury against Norwich so that will need monitoring going into GW4.
Next 4 fixtures: SHU, wol, LIV, BHA
(New) Lanzini – Since playing City in GW1, his points have been ticking over nicely courtesy of 2 assists and 3 bonus points. Highlighting his importance to the Hammers in that no.10 role, he has created 10 chances for his team-mates across GW2-3; 2nd only to KdB (11) over that same period. With a decent run of fixtures from now until GW14, I expect the assists to keep coming now that target man Sebastian Haller is seemingly fit and firing.
Next 4 fixtures: NOR, avl, MUN, bou
Martial – United’s no.9 has been listed out of position as a midfielder, so gets an extra point for a clean sheet and each goal scored. So with 2 goals in 3 games this season, it’s no surprise to see that he’s already risen 0.2 in price to 7.7m. Over the first three GWs, Rashford slightly has the edge on him for goal attempts (10 to 8), but the Frenchman leads the way in terms of SiB (5 to 3). (Update: Pulled up injured in the latter stages v Palace and has now been ruled out of GW4. With the international break upcoming, he will remain on the watchlist until a more definitive timeline is known).
Next 4 fixtures: sou, LEI, whu, ARS
McGinn – Well & truly passed the eye-test with an all action display against Spurs GW1, picking a goal and Tier 2 tackle bonus with 5 successful tackles. Constantly breaking forward to join the attack, his shoot on sight policy meant he was 2nd only to Teemu Pukki for goal atempts (6) in GW2, picking up a Tier 2 SoT bonus in the process. No bonuses to speak of in GW3, but still managed a late assist for a second attacking return in three games. With a reasonable fixture run between GW4-9, he could be an interesting option at just 5.6m.
Next 4 fixtures: cry, WHU, ars, BUR
Mane – What a return to the starting lineup for Sadio Mane in GW2! A goal, an assist, and 3 bonus points, contributed to a total of 13 points in the GW for the Liverpool midfielder. His underlying stats weren’t bad either, posting 5 key passes and Tier 1 bonus for both SoT and tackles, earning him the Sky MoM. No attacking returns in the 3-1 win against Arsenal in GW3, but still managed 3 shots, 4 key passes, and a Sky Tier 2 tackle bonus with 4 succesful tackles (only Emerson made more in GW3).
Next 4 fixtures: bur, NEW, che, SHU
(Removed) Pedro – After 4 goal attempts and 5 chances created for the Spaniard In GW1, he was far less effective against Leicester in GW2, and picked up an injury in the warm up prior to GW3. At 7.0m, there’s better options out there in all positions.
Next 4 fixtures: SHU, wol, LIV, BHA
Forwards
(New) Barnes – Only Pukki, Salah and Sterling have scored more points than the Burnley man. He’s not the most creative of forwards, but as soon as he gets the goalposts in sight then you can be certain of him taking the shot on. Leads the league for goal attempts – netting 4 goals, 4 bonus, 7 Sky SoT bonus points, and 1 MoM in the process. Liverpool in GW4 looks to be a test, but GW5-14 looks an ideal time to have him in the team.
Next 4 fixtures: LIV, bha, NOR, avl
(New) Haller – Given that he played City in GW1, and then missed GW2 through injury, there’s not much premier league data to go on for West Ham’s record signing. However, as a target man being supplied by the creativity of Lanzini and Anderson, you can almost guarantee he’s going to get chances. Registered his first 2 goals for the club in GW3 as a result of 4 shots (all from inside the box) and 3 SoT, which also earned him the Sky MoM and Tier 2 bonus. Much like Lanzini, he has the perfect opportunity to build on his points tally with a decent run of fixtures from now until GW14.
Next 4 fixtures: NOW, avl, MUN, bou
Pukki – Already up to 7.0m, I’m struggling to justify why I don’t already have Teemu Pukki in my team. Despite having lined up against Liverpool and Chelsea, he’s already jumped straight to the top of the rankings after scoring 5 goals, 1 assist, and 6 bonus points. Nobody has more than his 12 SiB, 9 SoT, and his 4 key passes is 2nd for all forwards. My wait and see approach on players from promoted sides may have cost me with Pukki so far, but with 3 away games in the next four and Man City visiting Carrow Road in GW5, it might be better to continue holding off for now. If he keeps up this form though, he’ll still be great value at 7.0m (hopefully no more rises!!) from GW6 onwards.
Next 4 fixtures: whu, MCI, bur, cry
(Removed) Kane – Getting shut down away at City is one thing, but being restricted to zero SoT from just 2 attempts against Newcastle at home is another. Consistently dropping deep to try and influence the game, he might consider himself a little unlucky not to win a penalty late on. With 15 points from their last 15 league matches, the team as a whole seems to be in a rut. Much greater value to be found at lower price points, so need to see a drastic improvement in form before re-considering an 11.0m outlay.
Next 4 fixtures: ars, CRY, lei, SOU
(Removed) Jota – 3 goals in 4 appearances in the Europa league, but not a single shot on target in the Premier League. I’ve seen enough to back him to get goals this season, but while Wolves are still putting in the air miles in other competitions, the likes of Pukki and Barnes will be of much greater interest.
Next 4 fixtures: BUR, eve, CHE, cry
(Removed) Rashford – His penalty miss in GW3 was only millimetres away from being 3 goals and an assist in 3 games. Still ranked 4th for forwards, he may now get the chance to play in the no.9 position should Martial’s injury keep him out of the Southampton game at the weekend as I expect. Was added to the team in GW3.
Next 4 fixtures: sou, LEI, whu, ARS
