Watchlist

The FPL Watchlist: Who are the best medium-term player picks?

In our Watchlist series, we pick out the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) players who are the best medium-term targets in each position based on fixtures, form and value.

So unlike the Scout Picks, we’re not just focusing on the upcoming Gameweek with these articles.

The week-to-week changes are typically minimal but after Gameweek 7 passed by without a ball being kicked, and with more postponements to follow in Gameweek 8, there’s been more tinkering than usual during our latest refresh.

Fixture swings for a number of clubs have also intensified the adjustments.


ABOUT THE WATCHLIST

Scout Picks Gameweek 1 early selection: Liverpool and Spurs double-ups, no Haaland

Our regularly updated Watchlist, which is visible on the sidebar, ranks players in each position for the medium term.

The main focus is on the next four Gameweeks but we factor anything up to six weeks ahead where necessary. For example, we can’t completely ignore the Gameweek 12 blank for Manchester City and Arsenal despite it being outside of the initial four-Gameweek window.

Players are selected according to factors such as form*, 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 has significantly climbed or fallen in our reckoning since the previous update or if they are a new entry into the tables.

*Points divided by a club’s matches played over the last 30 days, with allowance given for non-appearances

THE WATCHLIST: BEST FPL GOALKEEPERS

Underscoring what we wrote in the introduction, the goalkeeper rankings have been shaken up after a period of stability in the opening month.

Gone are the likes of Alisson (£5.5m), Aaron Ramsdale (£4.9m), Robert Sanchez (£4.7m) and Edouard Mendy (£4.9m), who have various combinations of blanks, tricky fixtures and underwhelming form as black marks against their names. There’s also an injury of undetermined severity in Mendy’s case, which gives Kepa Arrizabalaga (£4.4m) the chance to impress new boss Graham Potter initially.

Top of the pile now is Nick Pope (£5.1m), the in-demand Newcastle United shot-stopper who has been bought by more FPL managers than all other goalkeepers combined ahead of Gameweek 8. Heading the FPL points table among players in his position, he has a great chance to consolidate that lead when the team with the lowest expected goals (xG) total in the division, Bournemouth, head north this weekend. Fulham, Brentford and a revitalised Manchester United may present stiffer tests beyond that but only Liverpool and Manchester City have kept more clean sheets than the Magpies (10) over the last 23 Gameweeks – a period that started with Eddie Howe’s savvy recruitment in the January transfer window.

With Tottenham Hotspur allowing the fewest number of big chances this season, Hugo Lloris (£5.5m) takes Alisson’s place as the main premium threat to Ederson (£5.5m). Spurs have bottom-of-the-table Leicester City, managerless Brighton and Hove Albion and goal-shy Everton to come in the next four Gameweeks.

There’s a bit of an underwhelming feeling to this crop of goalkeepers, in truth, as budget picks like Dean Henderson (£4.7m), Bernd Leno (£4.5m) and Danny Ward (£4.0m) make appearances by virtue of their fixtures and affordable price tags rather than any great conviction in the defences in front of them. FPL royalty Henderson is third in the goalkeepers’ points table but two penalty saves have massively helped on that front and Gameweek 6’s loss to Bournemouth was a real confidence-shaker.

Lukasz Fabianski (£5.0m) isn’t a name being talked about much by Wildcarders or anyone else, for that matter, but West Ham United’s schedule is looking more appealing now after a tricky start: Everton, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Southampton and Bournemouth, four of the league’s nine lowest scorers, are to come in Gameweeks 8-13. The Hammers are among the top five sides for fewest shots in the box, big chances and efforts on target conceded in their last four matches, despite facing Chelsea, Spurs and an in-form Brighton in that time.

THE WATCHLIST: BEST FPL DEFENDERS

Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m) and Reece James (£6.0m) take a temporary tumble down the defender standings because of their Gameweek 8 blank and, in Alexander-Arnold’s case, some tough-looking fixtures beyond the September international break. These two premium picks are too good to forget about completely, however: despite their so-so starts to 2022/23, they are still first and second respectively for expected goal involvement (xGI) among players in their position.

Joao Cancelo (£7.1m) becomes the go-to premium defender for the time being, then, with City’s defence in slightly better shape than those of Liverpool and Chelsea. City have the lowest expected goals conceded (xGC) total in the league, although an injury to Kyle Walker (£5.1m) and an abundance of choice at centre-half – Aymeric Laporte (£5.8m) is nearing full fitness, while the capture of Manuel Akanji (£5.0m) has increased Pep Guardiola’s centre-back quota to five – means Cancelo stands alone on our defenders’ Watchlist.

A month is a long time in FPL: where ‘big at the back’ was once en vogue, now there is only one defender – Diogo Dalot (£4.5m), who you can expect to see appear on these pages in the future – to be found in the top 20 of FPL’s admittedly limited form table.

Ivan Perisic (£5.6m) stays rooted to fourth in the above list with ongoing concerns about rotation risk so the biggest riser is Kieran Trippier (£5.3m), who has returned in every home match this season and who has meetings against Bournemouth, Brentford and Everton to come on Tyneside in the next five Gameweeks. Newcastle, indeed, have kept clean sheets six of their last 10 home fixtures.

Our top four, in fact, happen to be Rate My Team‘s four projected highest scorers among defenders from Gameweeks 8-11.

Three £4.5m-and-under buys prop up the rear, with Neco Williams (£4.1m) definitely more selected for his low cost and attacking threat than clean sheet potential: he’s still top among defenders for goal attempts in 2022/23.

Vladimir Coufal (£4.4m) follows Fabianski into consideration from the slowly improving West Ham backline, with the unknown extent of an injury to Aaron Cresswell (£4.8m) not just costing the left-back a potential place here but also that of bargain positional rival Emerson Palmieri (£4.0m). Coufal hasn’t particularly wowed so far this season with just four chances created but is seventh among defenders for crosses, and has some Fantasy pedigree with 13 assists across the last two campaigns.

THE WATCHLIST: BEST FPL MIDFIELDERS

 

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1,120 Comments Post a Comment
  1. billnats
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    A) James, Salah, Sterling, Isak
    B) Perisic, KDB, Rashford, Kane
    C) Fofana, Salah, Son, Isak

  2. banskt
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    Haaland basically can score from any cross, however impossible.

    1. jammie26
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      Ridiculous finish. The bloke is a complete freak.

      1. BeaversWithAttitude
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 1 month ago

        Let your freak flag fly!

  3. JBG
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    Haaland is inevitable.

  4. Danstoke82
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    Which striker to go with Haaland and Mitro on WC;

    A) Kane
    B) Isak
    C) Toney

    Thanks in advance!

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      C

    2. Ser Davos
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      I'm on Kane as it stands, but could go either way

      Isak is arguably competing with ASM (not yet fit) and a cheap NEW defender

      1. Danstoke82
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks both. I’m currently on Kane and have managed to fit in KDB as well. However to downgrade Kane would allow upgrade of Bailey to a Zaha etc so it’s a tough one

        1. Ser Davos
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 1 month ago

          I've done exactly the same as you

          1. Ser Davos
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 1 month ago

            Pope | Iversen (think Ward will be dropped)

            Cancelo | Trippier | Botman | Collins | Jonny (double Wolves a very recent change in defence, but decent track record of clean sheets)

            KDB | Martinelli | Zaha | Gordon | Andreas

            Haaland | Kane | Mitrovic

        2. Gandalf
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 1 month ago

          Could potentially hold Kane for a few weeks and 2FT to get Zaha in

    3. Cruyff's Eleven
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      I've used the cash saved on Kane to put Kulu in my midfield.

      1. Danstoke82
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 1 month ago

        Do we think Kulu plays?

        1. Cruyff's Eleven
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 1 month ago

          Good question. He got less minutes yesterday, but it's an IB coming, so resting players makes little sense.

          Keep an eye on Twitter.

    4. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      C

  5. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    Pep needs to rest Cancelo the weekend

    1. Cruyff's Eleven
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      Rest for what?

      1. Paqueta Rice
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 1 month ago

        Rest because I don’t own him 😆

  6. Hits from the Bong
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    Sterling rested

    1. Cruyff's Eleven
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      Rested for what?!

  7. Muscout
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    Is this WC team missing anything?

    Henderson
    Cancelo Trip Neco
    KDB Mart Andreas Gordon
    Haaland Kane Mitro

    Ward Rash James Patterson

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      Looking good

    2. Ser Davos
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      Same/similar, but Pope is only the major omission

  8. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    How is KDB looking?

    1. Third Eye Vision
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      Excellent. Got the assist for the first goal.

      1. Hits from the Bong
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 1 month ago

        Not been playing like a DM has he?

      2. Gentle_Turks
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 1 month ago

        I think excellent is overcooking it. Assist was a FPL assist.

  9. Free Hat
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    As much as I like James,
    Really annoying he always seem to target a YC.

  10. Make United Great Again
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    Haaland is such a cheat code. 13 goals in total and it’s mid September.

    Unbelievable

  11. Bishopool
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    That Cancelo outside foot pass + Haaland finish. Well thats not real, its FIFA23.

  12. FPL Emu
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    Players we will want to get in a couple of weeks from now, but who I won't have the balls to get on WC:

    - Mount
    - Jesus
    - Castagne
    - Maddison

  13. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    Yes or No?

    Can only field 10 this week!

    James & Sterling > Cancelo & Bowen,Maddison, Kulu -4 or hold & save FT?

  14. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    Asensio screamer

  15. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    Mbappe assist to be added?

    1. nerd_is_the_werd
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      Unfortunately not, looks like the pass took a touch off the defender.

      1. Paqueta Rice
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 1 month ago

        It did but that would count in fpl

  16. Ser Davos
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    The WC is actually proving to be a massive headache tbh, very little inspiring picks

  17. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    Haaland rested!

  18. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    Haaland's goal with angles https://twitter.com/SaraFCBi/status/1570151605877747714

  19. Old Bull
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    Who’s keeping Salah in their Wildcard?

    1. gart888
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      Not me. Swapping him for KDB for now, with an eye to get him back in sometime before the City blank.

  20. Origi-nal
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    Need to take a -4 to have 11 players this gw. Would you:

    A) Salah > KDB
    B) Luis Diaz > Bernardo

  21. ClassiX
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    City are going to offload Grealish and buy Bellingham next Summer, aren't they...

    1. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      Sterling

    2. F4L
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      Grealish transfer must've been money laundering

      1. Ser Davos
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 1 month ago

        yeah, pretty un-City like in recent times (Mendy another dud I know)

        1. F4L
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 1 month ago

          true, this summer's transfer window has made up for it

    3. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      I'd take Grealish at Arsenal

    4. Arteta
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      Imagine if he doesn't end up at Liverpool like everybody expects. Their fans will lose their minds.

      1. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 1 month ago

        Not at all

    5. banskt
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      Many think Bellingham will go to Liverpool.

  22. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    Potter's going to be under pressure...

    need to qualify out of the Champions League group.

    welcomed to Chelsea!

    1. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      Only been there a few days. At least he avoided defeat

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 1 month ago

        I'm kind of joking.

        But not completely.

    2. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      It's fine, he's won promotions in the past. Champions League will be a doddle 😉

    3. Feanor
      • 15 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      Harry's got his work cut out, and can't just wave a magic wand.

      1. Paqueta Rice
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 1 month ago

        He needs to hit a good spell to begin with

        1. Paqueta Rice
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 1 month ago

          Or else he will be Slytherin back to Brighton

  23. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    Not a good start to the Champions League for us blues.

    1. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      Easy group should still get through

      1. Andy_Social
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 1 month ago

        There's always Thursday nights Europa

      2. Digital-Real
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 1 month ago

        Yet to play AC Milan and that's no gimme

  24. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    Reece James with a classic 1 pointer then

    1. Ser Davos
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      sums him up this season

      More reasonable bandwagon than Fofana, but Chelsea don't look like any clean sheets any time soon

  25. F4L
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    Broja had like 1 good month at Southampton but ever since then has been awful

    1. Cruyff's Eleven
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      He's getting minutes at Chelsea. The guy's pinching himself like.

    2. FPL Emu
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      He was great for the final ten of that game imo

      1. Hits from the Bong
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 1 month ago

        Should have scored

  26. gart888
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    On WC, feel like Haaland and Mitrovic are no brainers for first two forward spots. Who for the 3rd?

    A: Kane
    B: Isak
    C: Toney
    D: Jesus
    E: Fodder
    F: Other

    1. Feanor
      • 15 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      Kane. Leicester are useless

      1. gart888
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah, I rate him to score the most of that lot this week, the issue of course is that he gives you ~4m less to spread to your mids and defenders.

    2. jammie26
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      Toney

    3. F4L
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      Toney if you factor in price, form, fixtures

      1. gart888
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 1 month ago

        You love his fixtures? arsenal, bournemouth, newcastle, brighton, chelsea is no cakewalk other than bournemouth.

        1. F4L
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 1 month ago

          yeah, tough fixtures at home still means chances, only City away looks like a guaranteed 2 pointer/potentially Newcastle as well but they've been giving up chances recently.

        2. banskt
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 1 month ago

          It is bad, but not "that" bad.

          Arsenal and Newcastle are the only difficult fixtures in that list. Newcastle concedes lots of chances but Pope saves them. Arsenal concedes very few chances but Ramsdale can't save them.

          Brentford will score against Bournemouth, Brighton and Chelsea.

      2. Cruyff's Eleven
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 1 month ago

        Those 3 point to Isak, tbf

    4. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      Toney coz Bournemouth follows and Arsenal likely to slip a goal

    5. Old Bull
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      I’m currently on Toney. I’m sure he wants to be in the England squad

      1. Cruyff's Eleven
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah, so does Wilson, but I'm not putting him in either 🙂

    6. Snake Juice
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      still Jesus

      1. gart888
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah, I think he's still great value at 8.0, but his fixtures up to that blank are kinda meh, so I think i get rid now, and get him back after the WC.

    7. Jimjam
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      Kane for me, then Toney or Isak, with a slightly lean towards Toney.

  27. Jimjam
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    Which 1 out of Maddison/Bowen if only 1?

    1. gart888
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      Maddison. Bowen feels like trying to catch a falling knife. I'd let his form turn a bit before jumping in.

  28. sentz05
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    I'm really struggling who I should sell to field 11 ...

    A TAA
    B Salah
    C Zaha
    D James

  29. Boomerang V
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    Is Kdb most likely rested against Wolves?

    1. Cruyff's Eleven
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      Rested for what?!

      1. Boomerang V
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 1 month ago

        Well, he played the whole match…. But yeah good point. Maybe there is no reason to rest! that is good.

        1. Cruyff's Eleven
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 1 month ago

          There's an IB coming up.

          I see no reason why any player would be rested this week.

  30. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    83 points in UCL

    11 players returned on Limitless

    Captained the highest scoring one as well.

    Probably inside the top 1k.

    Dream fantasy football stuff. 😀

    1. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 1 month ago

      Nice. Only 79 here. Didn’t get captain right and caught Hakimi 1 pointer. Sterling first on my bench.

      1. Paqueta Rice
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 1 month ago

        *70