Five Gameweeks into the season, we take a look at the most consistent Fantasy Premier League (FPL) performers so far.
Using the Fantasy Football Scout Members Area, we identify every player who has started all five matches and blanked no more than once.
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NO BLANKS IN FIVE STARTS
Above: sBln = Starting blanks. ARtn = Attacking returns. Rtn = Returns (ie clean sheets). DC = Defensive contributions. B = Bonus. DD = Double-digit hauls.
EVERTON CONSISTENCY: TARKOWSKI AND BRANTHWAITE
Everton centre-backs James Tarkowski (£6.1m) and Jarrad Branthwaite (£5.5m) are two of only four players to have started every match and avoided a blank in Gameweeks 1-5.
Their consistency has been built on Everton’s defence. The Toffees have kept three clean sheets and conceded just three goals, although their 6.9 expected goals conceded (xGC) suggests they have been somewhat fortunate to concede so few.
| Player | Starts | Pts | G | A | CS | DefCon | DC pts | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Tarkowski | 5 | 43 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 51 | 6 | 7 |
| Jarrad Branthwaite | 5 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 54 | 6 | 0 |
Despite sharing the same clean sheets, Tarkowski has established a sizeable 16-point advantage. A goal and assist have contributed, as have seven bonus points and two defensive contribution returns. In fact, Tarkowski has already produced double-digit scores on two occasions.
Branthwaite hasn’t offered the same routes to points but has been remarkably steady. His returns of 6, 4, 3, 6 and 8 points mean that even Everton’s two matches without a clean sheet haven’t resulted in blanks.
He actually edges Tarkowski for defensive contributions, recording 54 to his team-mate’s 51, with both earning six points through the DefCon system.
Looking ahead, Everton’s schedule is mixed, although two favourable fixtures stand out over the next five Gameweeks:
Above: The clean sheet odds for Everton’s next six fixtures
GVARDIOL: ATTACKING RETURNS DRIVING HIS CONSISTENCY
Joško Gvardiol (£5.7m) completes the opening five Gameweeks without a blank, despite Manchester City keeping just two clean sheets.
Attacking returns have instead driven much of his success. Gvardiol has produced one goal and three assists, alongside six bonus points, on his way to 37 points.
His three assists rank joint-second among all players, with only Pascal Gross (£5.8m) managing more.
His heatmap also highlights his attacking role. Gvardiol regularly pushes beyond the halfway line and spends plenty of time in advanced areas.
Defensive contributions haven’t played a part, however. Gvardiol has yet to reach the DefCon threshold in any match, recording just 31 defensive contributions across his five appearances.
There are also some concerns over City’s defensive numbers. They have conceded five goals and kept two clean sheets, while their 7.25 expected goals conceded (xGC) ranks below several other sides.
Still, the upcoming schedule offers opportunities. After a difficult trip to Liverpool, City host Ipswich Town before facing Aston Villa, Brighton and Nottingham Forest.
Their clean-sheet projections also remain encouraging. City rank among the top two teams for projected shut-outs, suggesting Gvardiol could soon combine his attacking threat with more defensive returns.
MUHAREMOVIĆ: DEFENSIVE CONTRIBUTIONS ADD ANOTHER ROUTE TO POINTS
Tarik Muharemović (£5.0m) completes the quartet of players who have started all five matches without blanking.
The Leeds United defender has collected 27 points, returning six, four, four, seven and six. Two clean sheets have helped, while he also picked up an assist against Newcastle United.
Muharemović has offered some attacking threat, too. He has registered 0.5 expected goals (xG), with 0.40 of that coming against Crystal Palace in Gameweek 5. However, defensive contributions have provided a more reliable source of points.
He has recorded 58 defensive contributions across five starts. Only John Egan (£4.1m) and Sven Botman (£5.0m) have managed more among the defenders shown below.
Muharemović has hit the DefCon threshold three times, earning six points from defensive contributions.
Leeds’ underlying defensive numbers also catch the eye. Their 6.46 expected goals conceded (xGC) ranks fifth-best in the league after five Gameweeks.
The upcoming schedule makes Muharemović harder to back despite that promising start.
Leeds rank among the bottom sides for projected clean sheets over the next six Gameweeks:
HONORARY MENTION FOR KHALAILI
Anan Khalaili (£5.0m) narrowly misses the main criteria, having started four of Crystal Palace’s five matches. However, he has produced a return – be it a clean sheet, a goal or DefCon points – in every start.
The defender scored against Ipswich Town in Gameweek 4 before keeping a clean sheet against Leeds United. Defensive contributions also helped him against Manchester City and Fulham.
His attacking numbers make him particularly interesting. Khalaili plays as a wing-back, something his heatmap highlights.
Among defenders, shown below, his 0.96 expected goals (xG) ranks fourth. He has also produced 0.32 expected assists (xA), taking his expected goal involvement (xGI) to 1.28.
There is a major drawback. Palace have struggled defensively, keeping just one clean sheet and conceding 11 goals. Their 9.46 expected goals conceded (xGC) ranks worst in the league.
That makes Khalaili’s consistency more impressive, as three of his four starting returns came without a clean sheet. His advanced role and defensive contributions have given him alternative routes to points.
The clean-sheet outlook remains a concern, though. Palace rank among the weaker sides for projected clean sheets over the upcoming Gameweeks, limiting Khalaili’s defensive appeal despite his promising attacking numbers.
Ethan Pinnock (£4.5m) and Ronald Araujo (£5.4m) warrant a mention, too. Three lots of DefCon points plus a clean sheet have helped Pinnock to a blank-less last three Gameweeks. Araujo, meanwhile, has kept three successive shut-outs since he was introduced to the Liverpool XI in Gameweek 3.
NO BLANKS IN FOUR STARTS
Beyond the four ever-present returners, another group of players have come close to matching their consistency. The following players have started all five Gameweeks and blanked just once:
Among those to feature is Maxim De Cuyper (£5.0m), whose impressive start has helped him rise a huge £0.5m in price. Playing out of position on the wing, the Brighton defender has racked up one goal, three assists and three clean sheets.
The importance of shut-outs (and/or attacking returns) is writ large in the cases of Sven Botman (£5.0m), Malick Thiaw (£5.0m) and Antonio Silva (£5.0m). DefCon machines, yes, but all of them are averaging just 3.0 points per match or less thanks to their respective clubs’ leakiness.
Unsurprisingly, Erling Haaland (£15.6m) makes the list. The Norwegian blanked against Bournemouth in Gameweek 1 but has since found the net five times.
Chelsea’s strong attacking form has also helped Morgan Rogers (£7.7m) tick along consistently. He has contributed three goals and one assist across the opening five Gameweeks.
Interestingly, 16 of the 18 players listed above – as well as all seven names mentioned in the ‘blank-less’ section – are defenders. Defensive contributions, introduced in 2025/26, have clearly played a major role in helping players avoid the ignominy of successive blanks.
