17 Oct, 2024

Game Week 8: Dark Horses

Gameweek 8 Dark Horses

Defenders:

Leif Davis (£4.5m):

Leif Davis has quietly had a standout season for Ipswich, particularly from an attacking perspective. He ranks 19th in expected assists (xA) and is tied for the 4th most big chances created in the Premier League, alongside stars like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Bernardo Silva, and Youri Tielemans. These are astonishing statistics for any defender, let alone one from a newly promoted side. Up next, Ipswich face an Everton team ranked 17th in expected goals (xG) and 5th for most xG conceded. This is a prime opportunity for a defender with Davis’s skill set to secure either a clean sheet or an assist. At just £4.5m, Davis represents the ideal dark horse for Gameweek 8.

Rico Lewis (£4.7m):

Rico Lewis has started Manchester City’s last two matches—against Fulham in Gameweek 7 and Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League. He’s been impressive, particularly in attack, providing more on the ball than Kyle Walker. Despite his somewhat limited and inconsistent minutes, Lewis already has 2 assists and boasts a 0.72 xG, placing him in the top 15% of Premier League fullbacks. City’s matchup against Wolves, who rank 18th in xG and 3rd in xG conceded, suits Lewis’s forward-thinking style. With great fixtures ahead—Wolves, Southampton, Bournemouth, and Brighton—his £4.7m price tag is a potential steal. Fantasy managers shouldn’t hesitate to start him.

Midfielders:

Facundo Buonanotte (£5.0m):

Facundo Buonanotte has been a rare bright spot in Leicester City’s otherwise struggling attack this season. With 2 goals and 2 assists to his name, including the match-winner against Bournemouth, Buonanotte has been productive despite Leicester ranking 19th in xG. Facing fellow relegation contenders Southampton, who have conceded the 5th most xG and been error-prone at the back, this is a prime opportunity for Buonanotte to shine. With Ipswich on the horizon in Gameweek 10, Buonanotte could be a handy differential asset for fantasy managers in the coming weeks.

Yankuba Minteh (£5.4m):

Yankuba Minteh scored his first goal of the season in Brighton’s dramatic comeback against Spurs last game week, and he’s likely to retain his place in the starting XI. A dynamic dribbler and constant threat in the final third, Minteh has 1.2 xA, tied for 22nd in the league with players like Morgan Rogers and Dejan Kulusevski, despite only playing around four full matches’ worth of minutes. With Newcastle missing key defenders like Sven Botman, Jamaal Lascelles, and now Kieran Trippier, this is a favourable Game week 8 matchup for the talented Minteh, who is a favourite dark horse of ours this week.

Forwards:

Raul Jimenez (£5.6m):

Raul Jimenez is one of the form strikers in the league, having either scored or assisted in his last four appearances, including a contender for assist of the season against Man City in Gameweek 7. His underlying numbers back this up, with 2.15 xG and a stunning 0.88 xA, the highest among all traditional number nines in the Premier League and second only to Matheus Cunha for FPL forwards. His xA is more than double that of strikers like Haaland, Watkins, Havertz, or Jackson, and his finishing has been just as impressive as his playmaking. Facing an Aston Villa defence that has managed only one clean sheet this season, Jimenez’s great form seems poised to continue. Right now, it’s hard to argue that Jimenez isn’t the top dark horse in FPL.

For other great differential options, check out our Hot Picks section!

By Ahsan Ejaz

Last Updated: 17/10