28 Dec, 2024

FPL Spotlight: Game Week 19

Ingenuity & Brad Mayor have recently launched their weekly FPL Rankings Series, Check it out here

The FPL Spotlight shines brightly on different players at different times throughout the season. This is a new series tackling the most hyped FPL assets at the moment. We’re here to help you judge whether they are worthy of their price tag and the hype.

Green Light = Player I strongly recommend owning

Amber Light = Solid option with potential downsides

Red Light = Not a player I would recommend owning

Ismaila Sarr (MID):

Price: £5.8m

Ownership: 3.4%

Sarr has been in exceptional form recently, contributing 6 G/A in his last 7 starts. He has become one of the hot cheap midfielders in FPL at £5.8m with a lot of debate surrounding his value compared to other enablers like Amad, Enzo and Iwobi. Since Oliver Glasner brought Sarr into the starting lineup in Gameweek 9, he has become one of Palace’s most important players. Despite starting only 11 games, Sarr has produced impressive underlying metrics, indicating that he can maintain this level of performance in his current role.

He has 3.5xG despite the limited minutes and has a staggering post-shot xG of 5.72xG, which displays how much value Sarr is adding to his chances. This demonstrates remarkable accuracy in front of goal and suggests that he has been unlucky to score only 4 goals. Over a larger sample size, Sarr’s goal output may increase further. He has also been a key chance creator for Palace since he became a starter. He has produced 3 assists from 2.5xA and has a higher xA total than players like Semenyo, Isak and Robinson, again despite not starting until Gameweek 9.

Sarr’s upcoming fixtures are hard to overlook for an attacking player, with 5 consecutive games against teams in the bottom half of the league for xG conceded – Southampton (H), Chelsea (H), Leicester (A), West Ham (A) and Brentford (H).

Sarr’s performance and output, in conjunction with such a favourable run of fixtures makes him a very attractive differential option for FPL managers to own, and certainly one of the elite cheap Midfielder options over this next stretch of Gameweeks.

Judgement: Green Light

Spurs Attacking Options:

Given the number of options and amount of the rotation we have been seeing in Spurs attacking positions, let’s look at who the best Spurs attacking players to own truly are.

Spurs face Newcastle (H), Arsenal (A) and Everton (A) – 3 of the top 8 in xG conceded. It will be a difficult stretch of matchups for their attacking players, but Spurs are a top attacking side themselves – sitting 4^th in xG and 3^rd in big chances created this season and have players that can provide returns for FPL managers regardless of matchups. Their fixtures become more appealing from Gameweek 23 onwards, when they play 5 consecutive games against bottom 12 teams in xG conceded – Leicester (H), Brentford (A), Man United (H), Ipswich (A) and Man City (H).

1. Dominic Solanke (FWD):

Price: £7.5m

Ownership: 9.7%

xMin: Solanke is the most nailed on starter of all the Spurs attacking options, playing a full 90 minutes nearly every week. He has started every game but one since Gameweek 4.

Form and output: Solanke has produced 3 returns in his last 4 games including scoring against Chelsea and notching a goal and assist against Liverpool – he is matchup proof. He is 3^rd on the team in xGI, but only narrowly behind Johnson and Maddison in that regard and he is more likely to start, making the slight difference negligible. He is tied 8th^th in the Premier League with 7.6xG, showing how consistent of a goal threat he is. Solanke is the best Spurs player to own.

Judgement: Green Light

2. Dejan Kulusevski (MID):

Price: £6.4m

Ownership: 6.6%

xMin: Kulusevski is essentially as nailed on a starter as Solanke, having only not started in 2 games this season. Whether as an advanced midfielder or playing right-wing, Ange always finds room for Kulusevski in the starting XI.

Form and output: Kulusevski is having the kind of season that might have Europe’s top clubs looking to sign him. He has been Spurs best player this season. The Swiss international has provided returns for his FPL owners in 3 of his last 4 games including scoring against Chelsea and Liverpool.

While his underlying metrics are still good, what really diving into the numbers show is just how well he’s performing. His 5 goals from 2.5xG display just how brilliant and ruthless his finishing has been this season, case in point the incredible volley he scored against Liverpool last Sunday. He is 2^nd on the team with 6 big chances created and 3^rd on the team with 2.7xA, displaying the complete nature of his game – being a high-level chance creator as well as being a top goal threat.

Judgement: Green Light

3. James Maddison (MID):

Price: £7.7m

Ownership: 12%

xMin: Maddison’s role has been uncertain with him only starting in 5 of Spurs last 9 games. Even when he does start, he is often an early second half substitute. However given Spurs’ defensive injuries and the likelihood Bissouma will play centre-back, Maddison’s chances of starting over the coming weeks have improved.

Form and output: Maddison is having a very good season and has produced 3 returns in his last 3 starts. He is performing so well that he has even produced attacking returns in 2 of the last 3 games that he came on as a substitute in. His 8.8xGi is 2^nd on the team. Given his great form and the increased likelihood of starting, Maddison is a good option but owning him comes with some risk, especially given Spurs’ upcoming fixtures.

Judgement: Amber Light

4. Heung-Min Son (MID):

Price: £9.8m

Ownership: 6.7%

xMin: Since returning from injury in Gameweek 10, Son has started every game but one. He is occasionally substituted early in second halves so his xMin is not at the level of Solanke’s or Kulusevski’s.

Form and output: Son has been an inconsistent FPL asset, with only 3 returns in his last 8 games. While he is not performing poorly, he has lost some pace and is no longer an elite goal threat he once was. He now looks to create for others more from deep, partially due to him losing his ability to beat a defender in 1-on-1 situations and create shots for himself. He is 4^th on the team with 7.3xGI behind Johnson, Solanke and Maddison. Given his expensive price tag, inconsistent production and with Spurs difficult upcoming fixture list, FPL managers have superior Midfielder options available to them.

Judgement: Red Light

5. Brennan Johnson (MID):

Price: £6.5m

Ownership: 5.7%

xMin: Johnson has the worst xMin’s of Spurs’ attacking options given he has only started 4 of the last 7 games. He is also the most likely to be sacrificed given Spurs’ injuries, which I believe will lead to Kulusevski playing right-wing, Maddison as a 10 with a more defensive minded partner for Sarr in midfield.

Form and output: Despite leading the team with 9.1xGi, his returns have slowed down significantly since his hot start to the season. He has not scored in his last 5 games. Johnson is not a player fantasy managers want to own right now.

Judgement: Red Light

Chelsea Attacking Options (Non-Cole Palmer / Nicolas Jackson):

Despite the fact they have hit a slight dip in form, Chelsea do have great upcoming fixtures for their attacking players with 6 of their next 7 games against bottom 12 teams for xG conceded.

1. Enzo Fernandez (MID):

Price: £5.1m

Ownership: 10.5%

xMin: Enzo is a crucial part of Maresca’s starting XI and played the full 90 minutes in all of Chelsea’s last 7 Premier League games.

Form and output: Enzo had provided his owners returns in 6 consecutive games prior to blanking in his last 2 games. However, given his cheap price-tag and the more advanced role he now plays for one of the best attacking teams in the league, with Chelsea 2^nd in both xG and big chances created, he is an elite enabler. Enzo has created 2.9 xA which is 22^nd in the Premier League. I prefer his consistent minutes, along with the goal scoring ability he has shown, and his high-level chance creation to the uncertainty of Chelsea’s other non-Palmer / Jackson attacking options.

Judgement: Green Light

2. Jadon Sancho (MID):

Price: £6.2m

Ownership: 1.4%

xMin: Sancho has played a full 90 minutes in Chelsea’s last 4 games, starting in 5 of their last 6.

Form and output: While Sancho was brilliant against Spurs in Gameweek 15, the performance levels have dipped since. He has blanked in 3 straight games, and with less than 3xGI on the season, is just is not worth his price tag.

Judgement: Red Light

3. Noni Madueke (MID):

Price: £6.3m

Ownership: 6.1%

xMin: Madueke has lost his place as the right winger in Maresca’s preferred starting XI and has only started in 2 of Chelsea’s last 5 Premier League games.

Form and output: It is tough to suggest owning Madueke given the minutes concerns. He does has the best underlying numbers of the non-Palmer / Jackson options, with 6.3xGI on the season. Madueke is direct, taking a high volume of shots and gets into good goal scoring positions – that is a good profile for fantasy. However, until he regains his role as the preferred starting right-winger, he is not a viable option given the alternatives. Alternatively, if Maresca does shift back to favouring Madueke on the right, then he’s potentially a great differential option. Maresca will be looking to get the team back on track, therefore the starting XI will prove vital for Madueke’s prospects and is something for fantasy managers to monitor.

Judgement: Amber Light

4. Pedro Neto (MID):

Price: £6.2m

Ownership: 0.7%

xMin: Neto has started 4 of Chelsea’s last 7 games. His minutes are not consistent enough to argue for owning him in FPL.

Form and output: Neto has blanked in his last 4 appearances. Little more needs to be said.

Judgement: Red Light

To compare any of these players with other options, check out our Transfer Wizard here

To check out our complete guide to the Assistant Manager chip, available from Gameweek 24, click here

By Ahsan Ejaz

Last updated: 28/12/24