Metrics

Sterling scores as popularity falls among top 10k managers

Raheem Sterling‘s (£12.1m) popularity among the top 10,000 managers continues to shrink, although he punished his sellers in Gameweek 7.

Those that kept faith in the Manchester City midfielder were rewarded for their patience, not just in the form of points for their teams, but for the differential over those around them who moved him on.

After the Gameweek 6 deadline, Sterling sat in 48% of teams inside the top 10k, and was the third most popular midfield asset, behind only Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) and Kevin de Bruyne (£9.9m).

However, Saturday morning’s deadline has seen him drop to just 30% ownership in the upper echelons.

That makes him the fifth-most popular midfielder, behind Mason Mount (£6.6m) on 44.4% and Todd Cantwell (£5.0m) on 43.9%.

We knew that Sterling had been ditched by a large number of managers worldwide, but it is perhaps surprising to see his stock fall even among those in the top 10,000.

That said, it is probable that Sterling’s no-show in Gameweek 6 was responsible for shaking up the standings at that level initially as those without the midfielder were among that round’s highest-scorers.

Meanwhile, his performance at Goodison Park, in which he wasted a one-on-one chance with Jordan Pickford (£5.6m), may leave his owners in something of a quandary.

Despite that dreadful miss and a largely poor display, he still managed to get one effort over the line, spotted by goalline technology.

Not surprisingly, de Bruyne is now the most-fashionable asset in any position among the top 10k. The Belgian is currently in 85.8% of teams at this level – and celebrated his newfound popularity with two assists in the win over Everton.

Lundstram continues to be an incredibly popular FPL asset

As he continues to prove his value this season, John Lundstram (£4.4m) has risen to become the most popular defender among the top 10,000.

The Sheffield United man now sits in 64.6% of teams at this level having gone into Gameweek 7 as the top-scoring player in his classification.

This season’s most successful managers so far are generally looking for value in defence as the number of premium options being considered continues to fall.

Martin Kelly (£4.1m) and Diego Rico (£4.1m) are both in the top-five most-owned defenders among the top 10k, bringing the total of sub-£4.5m options to three.

Alexander-Arnold is now more popular than van Dijk in the top 10k but was outscored by him in Gameweek 7

Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.2m) has also been on the rise, perhaps at the expense of his colleague Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m).

The right-back was in 32.7% of top 10k teams in Gameweek 6, his centre-back colleague in 36.7% of them.

However, they have swapped over now, Alexander-Arnold now the more popular at the top level. He is in 43.1% of teams in the top 10k, while van Dijk is in just 27%.

Such a switch will have stemmed from Alexander-Arnold’s propensity for attacking returns although, in Gameweek 7, he was outscored by van Dijk, who collected bonus points at Sheffield United.

Up-front, the picture remains fairly similar to before, although it may change for Gameweek 8 given the host of blanks for the popular strikers this weekend.

Teemu Pukki (£7.2m) remains the most fashionable in this position, while Tammy Abraham (£7.5m) and Sergio Aguero (£12.2m) complete the top three – all goalless in Gameweek 7.

Captaincy largely went poorly for most managers in the top 10k

Speaking of goalless, that’s exactly what most of the captains were in the top 10k, as most FPL managers experienced a rotten start to Gameweek 7.

Salah was the most skippered option in the upper echelons with the backing of 26.5% of managers in the top 10k.

He came close to attacking returns at Bramall Lane but forced a strong save from Dean Henderson (£4.5m) when he was played through.

Aguero was just behind the Egyptian on 23% backing among the top 10k, not even start Manchester City’s trip to Everton, featuring only as a 65th-minute substitute – although claiming a late assist.

Ahead of Chelsea’s hosting of Brighton, Abraham was backed as the differential option by 16.2% of the top 10k.

That selection of managers will have been most frustrated to see the forward not take Chelsea’s second-half penalty, dispatched by Jorginho (£5.0m).

Finally, we can see once again that each week brings more weight to the findings among the top 10,000 managers.

In the early stages of the campaign, there was a high proportion of those who had used chips extensively in the first few Gameweeks.

However, we are now seeing that nearly 40% of the managers at this level are yet to use a single chip yet this season.

Meanwhile, 39.9% of them have already used one chip and we can see from the detailed breakdown that the Wildcard is now up to 44.7% usage in the top 10,000 managers.

Lessons Learned from Gameweek 7

2,228 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FF Dirtbag
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Pope
    VVD otamendi lundstram
    Sterling Salah kdb mount Cantwell
    Wilson Pukki

    Button ; Digne, Greenwood, Soyuncu... 1FT and 0.7 mill ITB

    What should I do?
    Save my FT?
    Take out Digne?

    1. Paulie Walnuts
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Digne to Tomori or Holding after Monday

    2. BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Digne gots assist coming for him. Maybe even cs some day.

  2. Burger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    For 5th defender, which do you prefer?

    A. Kelly

    Or

    B. Rico

    ?

    1. Paulie Walnuts
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      A

    2. YEAH PITCH!
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      B. No real competition. Plus some set pieces.

  3. The Ejiptian King
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Considering set and forget frontline of Vardy and Wilson +1 on WC after IB.

    1. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Tammy/Auba has to be the other.

      1. The Ejiptian King
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Probably Tammy yeah.

    2. FF Dirtbag
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      And Tammy

  4. carlosice
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    So what to we think about Mahrez. Obvious rotation of course but at 8.5 with a decent bench player....??

    1. FF Dirtbag
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      He played great today. Unfortunately doesn't Nail him down.

      1. Bennerman
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Nail

        N
        N
        N

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Too much rotation for 8.5.

    3. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      He has been on fire every game he’s played. Didn’t think anyone would be picked ahead of Bilva but it seems he starting to be the one ahead of him. Let’s see, but he has impact even as a cameo.

      1. Blanka
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Tempted for Sterling to Mahrez. Haller to Kane.

  5. The Poor One
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Aurier to Cresswell?

    1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Would not be entirely convinced Masuaku has been snubbed.
      Keep your eye on it.

      1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        tldr. nah!

  6. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Salah > KdB ?

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Look below I am thinking this move, not owning KDB is destroying my rank.

  7. Blanka
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Sterling to Mahrez?! Lol.

    Then Haller could become Auba.

  8. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Bottomed.

    Wickham + Mane + Zinchenko ➡ Aubameyang + Yarmolenko + Tomori

    Have exact cash for this. Do it tonight or wait and settle for a 4.4m defender or less instead of Tomori?

    Got no leeway 🙁

    1. Paulie Walnuts
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Get that in tonight

      1. pundit of punts
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        So risky though. Auba plays 2 games before GW 8.

    2. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      It's just the Mané thing innit?
      Tough call.

    3. Gríma Wormtongue
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I wouldn't get Tomori but the rest, yes

      1. pundit of punts
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Have to downgrade Zinchenko for the rest to happen.

  9. Christina.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    OR 278

    Auba and Soy to bring home the bacon.

    1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Go Girl! 🙂
      Fantastic!

    2. pundit of punts
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      WTF 😯

      You go girl!

      1. Bennerman
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Embarrassing

    3. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Very nice.

    4. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Starting to think of a top 4k finish?

      1. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        xxx

    5. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Good going, I am slipping down the ranks.

    6. shirtless
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Wow!

    7. Woy_is_back
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Link?

      1. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        id 345

        1. Vinyl78LP
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Wow, six top 10k finishes - what went wrong last year ? 🙂

          1. Christina.
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            cancer

    8. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Amazing!

      Need to start paying more attention to your advice 😉

    9. KGFC
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Wohooo! Way to go 🙂

  10. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    -4, Salah & Greenwood > KDB & C Wilson?

    Kev is killing my rank.......

    Pope
    Virgil, Otamendi, Trent
    KDB, Sterling, Son, Mount,
    Pukki, Tammy, Wilson

    Button, Cantwell, Lundstram, Montoya,

    .4 bank

  11. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Selling Sterling this gw is full of risk.

    He will be up against a knackered Wolves just back from a Thursday night trip to Turkey.

    1. MTPockets
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Not selling. Even when he's sh!t he scores

        1. Flynny
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Might sterling be rested next weekend??

          1. MTPockets
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Might be. But Salah getting 90 mins and doing nothing with worse fixtures is bothering me more

            • Patio Kev
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              ????? Rested for what exactly ?

              Rested for International duty ?

              Rested for Gareth Southgate’s benefit ?

              It’s International week after that game.

      • GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Gunn poor for Ndombele goal.

        1. MTPockets
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Statuesque. Just bizarre

        2. shirtless
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Crazy couple of weeks. 499k to 30k to 20k overnight. Hope I can keep this going!

          1. Vinyl78LP
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Good going, i've gone 3.1m > 280k in 3 weeks after nearly giving up.

          2. Warby84
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Amazing, who are planning on playing next week, I have Lund 1st sub with Cantwell playing.. Trmpted to get Robertson back in to my defense

            1. shirtless
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              I will play Cantwell, benching Grealish. Prob captain KdB.

        3. dontyouknowimloko
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Missed the game earlier. BBC text said De Bruyne may have come off with a slight injury - anyone see it?

            1. dontyouknowimloko
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Nice one, cheers. Gonna get before price rise, better late than never...

        4. Flynny
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Hi. Would you be looking to wildcard this in the next international break?

          Stuck at 1.1m and going nowhere fast.....

          Pope
          Vvd ota soy guilbert Rico
          Salah sterling kdb james cantwell
          Abraham haller pukki

          Thanks

          1. Zladan
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            I think you need to focus on the immediate Chelsea, Arsenal and Leicester fixtures.

            If you can’t use FTs to get their key players in, then maybe a WC is best served sooner.

            IB gives you time to mull over your decisions, but the fixture swings kick in before then.

            1. Flynny
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Mount and auba would be in the wildcard I guess....maybe maddison

              No cash in the bank so not much I can do this week.....

        5. Gríma Wormtongue
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Worth it for a -4?

          Salah + Greenwood

          to

          McGinn/Yarmolenko + Aubameyang

          1. Christina.
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            yes

          2. MTPockets
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Maybe. Doing similar for free

            • Rinseboy
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              gonna for free until Salah starts smashing it again.

          3. pundit of punts
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Will Wickham fall tonight?

            1. ALegendJ
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              He has been predicted to fall for a week now

          4. Bennerman
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            down the stairs, yes

          5. Wild Rover
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Watch 'The boys' on Amazon. Best thing I've seen since Band of Brothers. Amazing, funny, gross and shocking. Loving it 🙂

            1. GreennRed
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Some live PL in December too.

            2. Artemis Titans
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              On episode 4 at mo. Its different, i'll give it that!

          6. KGFC
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Would you do Son to Yarmolenko for free? Before you take out your knives, this is why I’m thinking:

            1. Yarma has 3 home “easy” matches in next 4 games vs Son’s 1 in 4. Son also plays away to Pool and Everton.
            2. Think Spurs are going through a turmoil internally and they don’t seem assured.
            3. Son getting hooked off before 90 mins
            4. Can cash in 0.1 profit on Son

            1. MTPockets
                4 years, 6 months ago

                5. Son playing friendlies in Korea I think

                But no think I'd keep him this week

            2. Sᴄʜᴜ̈RRʟᴇ ⓝ
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              2FTs
              Sterling&Bilva > Son&KDB?

              1. ALegendJ
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                Not for me, wait and see what the CL Man City line up looks like

                1. Sᴄʜᴜ̈RRʟᴇ ⓝ
                  • 12 Years
                  4 years, 6 months ago

                  Cheers AJ

            3. Rinseboy
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              The lack of 6 - 9 mill midfielders is mental!

              Best Mid up to 9m? Got Mount
              Thanks

              1. Camzy
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                Maddison when fit. Wait and see on Mahrez, Dilva, Bilva. But that's basically it. Yarmolenko making a big case for himself lately as well.

                1. Christina.
                  • 14 Years
                  4 years, 6 months ago

                  mcginn
                  yarmo

                  1. Rinseboy
                    • 12 Years
                    4 years, 6 months ago

                    thanks. Who would you lose first Salah or Sterling? (to fund Barnes to Auba upgrade)

                    1. Christina.
                      • 14 Years
                      4 years, 6 months ago

                      salah, i sold in wk 2

                      1. Rinseboy
                        • 12 Years
                        4 years, 6 months ago

                        yeah to be fair I think you advised me to sell Salah this week when I was contemplating it! thanks

                2. Rinseboy
                  • 12 Years
                  4 years, 6 months ago

                  yeah Yarm looks the only one really as already have KDB and Sterling. Then maybe switch to Maddison in a few weeks

              2. The Ejiptian King
                • 5 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                Martial, lol.

            4. YEAH PITCH!
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              -4 before price rises??

              Barnes and Aurier > Abraham and Rico

              Thanks.

              1. ALegendJ
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                I'd do it

                1. YEAH PITCH!
                  • 5 Years
                  4 years, 6 months ago

                  Thanks

              2. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                Bats and Giroud are senior citizens that need to temper enthusiasm.

            5. Arse Craic
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Digne ➡ Tierney/Bellerin?

              1. ALegendJ
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                Non until they cement their position and do not relapse back to injury

              2. GreennRed
                • 12 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                No.

            6. QUEN
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              KDB has carried my rank this season. What a lad, always a good captaincy option

            7. ALegendJ
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Is there a website that gives each rank points threshold. Like how many points to be ranked 10k, 50k, 100k, 500k etc

                1. ALegendJ
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 10 Years
                  4 years, 6 months ago

                  Thanks

            8. Collie01
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Just realised I haven't gotten a captain pick right yet this season. Anybody else in the same boat?

              1. Amey
                • 5 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                \o/

                1. Rinseboy
                  • 12 Years
                  4 years, 6 months ago

                  early transfer thoughts bro?
                  Barnes to Auba looks decent? but how to fund it?
                  Salah has looked poor last 2 weeks!?

            9. Shardlow
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              AWB > Ota tonight for exact cash?
              AWB on -90%
              1 FT

              1. Shardlow
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                Everyone but Dendo has played for me

                1. Shardlow
                  • 6 Years
                  4 years, 6 months ago

                  And AWB of course!

            10. The Mighty Whites
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Would you do McGinn & C Wilson in for James & Barnes tonight for a -4 or I’ll be priced out

              1. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
                • 12 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                Wouldn't bother mate. Very sideways transfers

            11. BoomXhakaLaca1
              • 11 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Sheffield boss was very harsh to Henderson in the post game interview.

              (apologies mods) 🙂

              1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                Managers are usually up their own rectum.
                Up the Workers!

              2. Poseidon.
                • 5 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                Thought it was refreshing.