Watchlist

The FPL players on the Watchlist ahead of Gameweek 6

Back by popular demand, the Watchlist articles make a return to Fantasy Football Scout in 2021/22.

In this series, we pinpoint the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) players who are the stand-out medium-term targets based on fixtures, form and value.

Seven-time top 10k finisher and Scout regular Zophar will be taking the reins this season, producing a fortnightly piece and discussing the rankings by position.

ABOUT THE WATCHLIST

Our reguarly updated Watchlist, which is visible on the sidebar, ranks players in each position for the month ahead – or rather, the next four Gameweeks.

This allows site users to get a longer-term view on recommended players beyond the weekly Scout Picks.

Players are selected according to factors such as FPL’s form rating*, club injuries, club morale, forthcoming fixtures and whether or not the player in question is likely to be a bargain in FPL.

The table displays the player name and club, along with the abbreviation for the factors that played a part in their ranking. A key for these factors can be found below the player in the table and looks like this:

Arrows before the name indicate whether a player as climbed or fallen in our reckoning since the previous update or if they are a new entry into the tables.

Please note that while we may generally only recommend one player from each club within a position, alternative assets at the same club can always be considered.

*points divided by a club’s matches played over the last 30 days

FPL WATCHLIST: BEST GOALKEEPERS

Robert Sanchez (£4.6m) retains his spot at the top of the keeper rankings but there is a new entrant in second place: Aaron Ramsdale (£4.5m). Arsenal have conceded no big chances since Thomas Partey (£5.0m), Gabriel (£5.0m) and Ben White (£4.4m) returned to the starting line-up and the Gunners have a good upcoming run of fixtures. What I like about Ramsdale is that his baseline BPS are higher than those of his defence, so his potential for bonus points is excellent.

Jordan Pickford (£5.0m) and Daniel Bachmann (£4.5m) drop out of the Watchlist due to injury and a weekend benching respectively, which means that Ben Foster (£4.0m) and Alex McCarthy (£4.5m) come in as new entrants. I thought Southampton might struggle a bit defensively without Jannik Vestergaard (£4.9m) but they have kept out two of the division’s form attacks, West Ham and Manchester City, over the last two games. Foster is a great option if you’re looking for a back-up keeper.

Brentford’s defensive numbers have been excellent which means David Raya (£4.6m) is pretty high on the Watchlist despite difficult fixtures. Leeds are in a bit of a defensive crisis at the moment but as we saw last weekend, Illan Meslier (£5.0m) is always going to rack up save points. 

FPL WATCHLIST: BEST DEFENDERS

Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m ) retains top spot but I was a bit iffy on whether Luke Shaw (£5.5m) deserves the second berth. Manchester United’s fixtures stiffen a bit after the Aston Villa clash but the left-back has shown an improvement in creativity since Cristiano Ronaldo’s (£12.7m) arrival.

The Man City and Chelsea quartet of Ruben Dias (£6.1m), Marcos Alonso (£5.8m), Antonio Rudiger (£5.6m) and Joao Cancelo (£6.0m) take up the next four spots. Despite difficult opening fixtures, both teams have kept four clean sheets in five games and offer more secure options (Dias, Rudiger) as well as riskier, explosive picks (Cancelo, Alonso). Alonso has replaced Reece James (£5.6m) as the ‘explosive’ Chelsea defender on the back of his recent performances.

Aaron Cresswell (£5.5m) has dropped out as I think at his price point the Chelsea/City defenders offer better potential. I also reckon that Wolves might go to a back four soon which might reduce the attacking license that Nelson Semedo (£4.9m) has been afforded thus far, which sees him drop down a few spaces on the Watchlist. 

Lucas Digne (£5.4m) is another player I wasn’t sure merited inclusion. His creative numbers have dropped significantly from last season and it appears he is sharing set pieces now with Andros Townsend (£5.4m) and Demarai Gray (£5.8m). However, with home games against Norwich, Watford and West Ham over the next four Gameweeks, he makes the list.

Kieran Tierney (£4.9m) has been playing like a left winger in Arsenal’s lopsided attack, with the Gunners effectively operating with a three-man defence in possession and Takehiro Tomiyasu (£4.5m) tucking in. Tierney is great value at £4.9m for their upcoming run.

FPL WATCHLIST: BEST MIDFIELDERS

Mohamed Salah’s (£12.6m) place at the top of the midfield Watchlist is unquestionable but perhaps for the first time since his arrival on these shores, Bruno Fernandes’ (£11.9m) stock has dropped. The Portuguese is at fourth spot on the Watchlist, with Sadio Mane (£11.9m) and Jack Grealish (£8.0m) ranked higher. 

Ferran Torres (£7.1m) drops out of the Watchlist with the likes of Phil Foden (£7.9m) and Kevin De Bruyne (£11.9m) returning to full fitness. Diogo Jota (£7.7m) and Mason Greenwood (£7.7m) both look like short-term options presently and the threat of rotation looms large after Gameweek 6.

I couldn’t really decide on an order for the four budget midfielders, Demarai Gray (£5.8m), Said Benrahma (£6.5m), Ismaila Sarr (£6.1m) and Raphinha (£6.5m). They’re all providing excellent value at the moment and it’s hard to present a case against any of them. I would definitely put Adama Traore (£6.0m) a notch below the aforementioned four as his lack of end product continues to frustrate. Conor Gallagher’s (£5.6m) tough fixtures see him ranked 12th.

FPL WATCHLIST: BEST FORWARDS

There is no change at the top with Michail Antonio (£7.9m) and Cristiano Ronaldo (£12.7m) retaining the top two berths. There are some injury doubts regarding Patrick Bamford’s (£8.0m) availability at the time of writing but the initial news is promising, so he stays third.

Romelu Lukaku (£11.6m) will likely move up after the fixture with Man City is out of the way. Gabriel Jesus (£8.6m) drops out of the Watchlist and so does Harry Kane (£12.2m). Neither looks worthy of their price tag at the moment, with Jesus continuing to play wide-right and Spurs struggling for chances.

Jamie Vardy (£10.4m) is a great differential ahead of Leicester’s good fixture run. He looks like he is being used sparingly in Europe so he should see consistent game-time in the Foxes’ league matches.

Raul Jimenez (£7.5m) has failed to register any returns yet but is posting good underlying numbers and is a fixture play at the moment. Teemu Pukki’s (£5.9m) spot above Ivan Toney (£6.3m) is debatable but given the short-term schedule, I’m narrowly leaning towards the Finn.


We discuss these players and more in this week’s episode of The FPL Wire. You can check it out below:

345 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    James owners biting their fingernails already

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      They chewed them all already over the weekend.

  2. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    James to Rudiger for free?

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      What if James starts the weekend?

      1. Stupendous
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        I will be happy of course.

        Doubt he does now though eh?

    2. Pukkipartyy
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Thinking same...still think he is worth it. But same time i want sure starter...

    3. DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      I wouldn't just because they are playing City (though every chance they will keep a clean sheet). I'm just going to pray James will start that game and if not then I'll swap him for Rudi.

    4. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      What other transfers are pressing?
      If none, you have my blessing 😉

      1. Pep bites Kun
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Joking - have a good 1st starter & decent bench. Keep James in your starting 11 for the fixtures beyond City

  3. Pukkipartyy
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    James keep or sell? Still think he is worth to keep...

  4. Gunneryank
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Live Blackbox lads

  5. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Chelsea bench confirms Silva as Tuchel’s favourite defender

  6. Arctic_Orangutans
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    What to do with bloody Reece James, just got him because he looked great before the red card at anfield. Reckon he’ll play the easier games PL games?

    1. syke63
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      That's the straw us owners will cling to.

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      He is the Foden of Fullbacks!

    3. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      double benching (if it happens) is tough to swallow.
      pending news on bamford and raph, if we get news ahead of early kickoff I may ditch
      or stick it out and swap the following week....which of course then he starts, that's how fpl works 🙂

  7. syke63
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Partay starting for Arsenal tonight, not happy. Think he's the link for the whole team, defence and attack, so he needs to be minded.

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Xhaka’s back baby

  8. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Chesea midfielders like ordering from the Wish app.

    Chelsea defence like hitting potholes and messing up your suspension.

  9. The Knights Template
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    My favourite song? James - Born of Frustration!

    1. Skonto Rigga
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      An upvote just for the song, never mind the FPL relevance

      1. The Knights Template
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        I think I should have another one for the FPL relevance. I understand mods can do this. Thank you in advance.

    2. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      I'll sing myself to sleep,
      A song from the darkest hour

      1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Oh siddown oh siddown oh siddown…siddown next to Saul

        1. Skonto Rigga
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          After 37 years I've become my fears,
          I've become the kind of man I've always hated (RMT poster)

  10. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Chelsea Villa
    or
    Manutd Westham

  11. goooner
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    « Conor Gallagher’s (£5.6m) tough fixtures see him ranked 12th.»

    Actially Up to GW 16 Gallgher has BETTER fixtures than Sarr.
    Sarr has Next 2 good but I do not fancy his fixtures after that.
    And Gallagher also plays for a better team overtall, Are on set pieces and has so far better xG and xA compated to Sarr.

    1. PatrickDawson1976
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      "And Gallagher also plays for a better team overtall, Are on set pieces and has so far better xG and xA compated to Sarr."

      Hardly think Crystal Palace are the 'better' team !!!

      I do like Gallagher but Sarr is far the better player and Sarr is also on penalties if you are gonna quote 'set-pieces' !!!

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

    Take it back, Wolves don't look like winning 😆

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Donky goal...

  13. BlzE_94
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    James -> Rudiger? Looks like he won't play against City

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Why not Alonso?

      1. BlzE_94
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        no money itb

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          Fair 😀

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      May as well

  14. FFSbet.com
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Hmm...sold Greenwood for hit now looks like he will start,something wrong with Sancho.

  15. Lightning Bolt
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Pls somebody, why antonio not even in the bench vs MU in EFL cup?

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

      Because they did not need a full strength squad to beat that bunch of Muppets in the Mosse Cup.
      It's probably why Ron was given the time off to shop for mirrors.

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

        And why are we here?

    2. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      keeping him in cotton wool for weekend + europa league

    3. Lightning Bolt
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Ah i see, thx lad..

  16. The Hairy One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    I have Jota in my midfield alongside Salah, Benrahma and Torres. Jota is being transferred next week (GW7), for a 6.1m or less midfielder, to allow me to get Lukaku in.

    Question is:
    A: keep Jota one more week (v Bre A)
    B: replace Jota with Sarr (v New H)
    C: replace Jota with Gray (v Nor A)

    Tough one!