After looking over our favoured goalkeepers, defenders and midfielders in the newly-updated Watchlist rankings, our series of articles concludes with the strikers.
For those unfamiliar, the Watchlist offers mid-term player recommendations for the next four-to-six Gameweeks and beyond. They can be found in your sidebar on desktop, or via your slide-in menu on mobile or tablet.
These highlight our current thinking on player selection for each position, listing the factors that are contributing to the given rank.
With the top two scoring forwards in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero, currently sidelined, Romelu Lukaku climbs to the summit of our rankings ahead of Manchester United’s anticipated pair of Double Gameweeks.
The most bought player over the recent domestic break, the Belgian has bagged three goals and a pair of assists in his last five league outings, supplementing this with five strikes in as many recent cup matches.
Although Jose Mourinho’s men face a trip to Man City and blank Gameweek 35 in the next four rounds of fixtures, they still offer three strong matches in that period – this weekend’s visit from Swansea and a Double Gameweek 34 (WBA bou).
Another double-header is expected in Gameweek 37, formed of trips to Brighton and Watford, which would precede a home clash with Watford. That means that Lukaku has the schedule to build on his improved output.
Arguably, though, it remains to be seen if he will stay a top target for our squads should Kane return ahead of Gameweek 34, with the Spurs striker surely set to return as the key premium target over the run-in.
Jamie Vardy also offers a pair of expected Double Gameweeks.
Having scored in seven of his last 11 league outings, the Leicester striker is now braced for three very favourable Gameweeks (bha NEW bur & SOT) before a blank in 35.
Vardy also goes head-to-head with Crystal Palace in Gameweek 36 and should have back-to-back home encounters with West Ham and Arsenal in Double Gameweek 37.
Indeed, such a schedule may persuade many to consider doubling up on Claude Puel’s attack, with Riyad Mahrez identically priced at 8.8 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL). As a result, Vardy is the third most bought forward ahead of Gameweek 32, with Mahrez second top for transfer in among midfielders.
Interest in Arsenal’s Pierre Emerick Aubameyang is also on the rise.
Ineligible for Europa League duties, the winter signing has played from start to finish in all five league matches since arriving at the Emirates Stadium, averaging 5.2 points per match thanks to three goals and an assist.
Over those fixtures (Gameweek 26-30), Aubameyang’s total of 11 efforts in the box is eight more than any team-mate, while he has been afforded five of their 11 big chances.
Encouragingly for Arsene Wenger’s side, they face just one of their top six rivals (STK SOT new WHU mun BUR hud) between now and the end of the season.
Should, as expected, a visit to Leicester drop into Double Gameweek 37 alongside their home match against Burnley, Arsenal will be one of only five teams – along with Man City, Swansea, West Ham and Newcastle – who play in Gameweek 35 to also offer a pair of matches in the penultimate round.
Glenn Murray is our favoured budget pick for Brighton’s anticipated pair of Double Gameweeks.
Five goals in six underline the veteran’s form as the Seagulls prepare for three home matches (LEI HUD cry & TOT) in the next trio of Gameweeks.
The one potential downside is that with expected matches against both Manchester sides in Double Gameweek 37, it remains to be seen whether Murray’s minutes will be managed – particularly if Chris Hughton’s side are safe by that point.
Identically priced at 6.0, playmaker Pascal Gross could be the safest route for those looking at just one Brighton attacker for the run-in.
Despite the lack of a Double Gameweek, Liverpool’s remaining schedule (cry eve BOU wba STK che BHA) looks conducive to further returns from Roberto Firmino.
Five goals and three assists in the last nine Gameweeks highlight the form that has made the Brazilian the most popular forward in FPL, with a 48.4% ownership well clear of second-placed Kane (29.4%).
Certainly, those without Wildcards or Free Hit chips will be reluctant to part company with Firmino, though as Double Gameweek 34 approaches, it may be that Mohamed Salah will be the only Liverpool player to avoid a mass exodus as we look to profit from those players with a pair of fixtures.
Having scored in each of his last three Gameweek appearances, Burnley’s Ashley Barnes merits a spot in our current update.
Priced at just 5.3 and owned by 2%, the frontman has started each of the Clarets’ previous 12 league matches. Crucially, he has played all but four minutes of their last nine, dispelling the idea that he could be rotated if Chris Wood (three goals in two) claims a role up top.
Sean Dyche’s side make a strong case for our Wildcards (wba wat LEI & CHE stk BHA ars BOU), though Johan Berg Gudmundsson (5.1) offers an alternative route in midfield.
Dwight Gayle and Callum Wilson also jostle for attention in the budget bracket.
Costing 6.1, Gayle is certainly the form player of the pair, bagging two goals and a pair of assists in Newcastle’s last four league fixtures.
However, with midfielder Kenedy setting us back a mere 4.7, interest in Gayle is minimal at best for a schedule that sees Rafa Benitez’s men square up to five of the top nine in their remaining eight matches.
Nonetheless, home matches with Huddersfield (Gameweek 32) and West Brom (Gameweek 36) and a trip to Watford in Gameweek 37 – which, on the downside, is likely to also involve a trip to Spurs – Gayle could still be in line to profit.
One goal in eight underlines Wilson’s (6.0) recent slump, yet the fixtures remain in his favour, to an extent. Back-to-back clashes against Watford and Crystal Palace precede Bournemouth’s Double Gameweek 34 (liv MUN), while Eddie Howe’s man also face Southampton and Swansea over Gameweek 36-37.
Back in training for Southampton, Charlie Austin’s fitness may well determine their top-flight fate.
Among forwards with more than one goal this season, Austin’s average of 99.8 minutes per strike is second fastest – sandwiched in between Aguero (93.1) and Kane (101.8).
Having netted six times in just five starts, he remains the Saints’ top scorer – despite being sidelined since Gameweek 19.
New manager Mark Hughes played with two up front in his first matches in charge, a 2-0 FA Cup win over Wigan, which bodes well for Austin’s potential as he steps up his recovery.
Given that the St Mary’s outfit are one of just six sides expected to be handed Doubles in Gameweek 34 and 37, their frontman’s eye for goal could offer value for money for those willing to gamble that he can steer clear of the treatment room from this point on.
