Here’s our FPL midfielder tips GW30 article in our player rankings series to help you make a transfer decision for your fantasy premier league team
FPL MIDFIELDER TIPS GW30 – PLAYER RANKINGS
First it’s important to remember that each player is ranked as a transfer target for this week. So while we generally look at fixtures form and underlying stats a player who’s away to Man City is going to be ranked lower than someone home to Huddersfield for example. If possible a transfer should have a good fixture first up.
This is the 2nd player rankings article. There’s a defenders player rankings article. You can also see who the bandwagons are for GW29
STATS DEFINITIONS
Fixt Ease: The ease of the mentioned fixture range from an attacking perspective. See our GW 30 fixture ease article.
Pts Per 90: This is the anount of FPL points earned per 90 minutes played
ATGS – the bookies anytime goalscoring odds for GW30.
Underlying stats rank. I’ve ranked midfielders on their expected goals and assists per 90 minutes played from the better than excellent site understat.com. I’ve converted those into attacking FPL points to rank all the midfielders. That’s in our expected goals article and Joseph Crilleys gameweek 29 review article is a reference to underlying stats in the last gameweek.
GW31 fixtures – this refers to the potential upcoming blank week of GW31. There’s a Y if they have a fixture in place. There is no inherent ranking improvement due to this fixture as it will depend how you intend to deal with it eg Free Hit. See the latest blank and double gameweeks article
IMPORTANT NOTE
There are 2 things I’d like to remind you of :
As I said above it’s a ranking of transfer targets for this week. So while Shaqiri maybe an important blank GW31 target playing Man City is the worst possible entry point and his ranking reflects that
It’s important to remember how vital the chips are at this time of year. Many of you including myself, most likely, are planning on wildcarding in GW32. That will mean you have a different, more short term view, and GW31 focus on a player than someone without a wildcard. The rankings don’t inherently favour GW31 players they try and strike a balance. Again using Shaqiri as an example he has terrible fixtures and underlying stats despite recent form but is am important player for GW31. However he is a questionable transfer if you can’t get him out afterwards. However apart from all that, there’s also a decent amount of info to use to make your own assessment
THE SCHEDULE
Here’s the link to the google spreadsheet
Salah
Nothing needed to be said really. A fantastic season backed up by the best underlying stats of any midfielder. Bound to ne a huge captain favourite in the blank GW31. Only played limited minutes in the midweek UCL match
Man Utd (A)
Watford (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Everton (A)
Sterling
This is on the basis that he’s fit for the weekend. Has been in training but completely rested for the UCL midweek match v Basel. Been in fantastic form and although rotation may bite it could equally be deferred in an effort to get the league won as soon as possible for later UCL matches.
Stoke (A)
Blank GW31
Everton (A)
Man Utd (H)
Hazard
Chelsea and Hazard I’m sure will be looking to come out firing after the debacle of the City match. The Chelsea midfielder is likely to go back to either a support striker or an LAM role with Morata or Giroud as the CF. That seems to suit him more. Has been inconsistent but has the ability to score big anytime and loved by the bonus system. Also has the midfield rare benefit of pens
Crystal Palace (H)
Blank GW31
Spurs (H)
West Ham (H)
Mane
Has come into form with 2 goals in his last 2 matches but the truth is he’s always had good underlying stats to make it possible.
Man Utd (A)
Watford (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Everton (A)
De Bruyne
De Bruyne was on the bench for the UCL match v Basel so has finally had a breather. Only 1 returning game in his last 4 albeit a triple assist match v Leicester. Probably the most important cog in the Man City wheel which will hopefully keep him playing until the title is wrapped up. Doesn’t have the greatest underlying stats but has managed to score from outside the box and with Jesus and Aguero to finish off the chances created over performance looks more feasible for him than some others.
Stoke (A)
Blank GW31
Everton (A)
Man Utd (H)
Son HM
After blanking in 5 consecutive games Son returned to for with 2 goals v Huddersfield. However was still producing the good underlying stats that he has all season if in a little more patchy manner. Started the UCL match v Juventus and faces competition for his place from Lamela and Moura so could either be rotated or lose minutes in the latter part of games.
Bournemouth (A)
Blank GW31
Chelsea (A)
Stoke (A)
Sane
The LW started the UCL match v Basel and is possibly more rotation prone than some of his colleagues. However has played 90 minutes in both games since coming back from injury. Good returns backed up by underlying stats when on the pitch.
Stoke (A)
Blank GW31
Everton (A)
Man Utd (H)
Silva D
Missed long periods through family issues but has started the last 2 PL games and rested for the Basel UCL match. A goal and assist in his last 2 to match effective performances in the previous UCL tie and the EFL Cup. Looks back to something like his best and his underlying stats are particularly good as he has considerably improved his goal threat.
Stoke (A)
Blank GW31
Everton (A)
Man Utd (H)
Arnautovic
Has now returned for 3 games since his injury scoring in one and unlucky v Swansea. 2 of those games were as a forward which gives hope that it will continue. Good underlying stats for his price too.
Burnley (H)
None
Southampton (H)
Chelsea (A)
Mahrez
A goal in the 2 games since returning after the Man City transfer saga has put him back on track. Does have poor underlying stats but has shown an ability to score from distance and a liking for the bonus system which has over ridden them for good returns
West Brom (A)
Blank GW31
Brighton (A)
Newcastle (H)
Walcott
Walcott has blanked for 4 consecutive games after starting with a goal and 2 assists in his first 3 matches for Everton. He has had good underlying stats in 4 of the 6 starts he’s made though and was unlucky not to score v Burnley. Has a fixture in GW31.
Brighton (H)
Stoke (A)
Man City (H)
Liverpool (H)
Sanchez
1 goal and 1 assist in his first 5 games for Man Utd and he’s been pretty disappointing with only a couple of positive matches. Hopelessly over priced as well. He does have the ability but it’s just not happening at the moment
Liverpool (H)
Blank GW31
Swansea (H)
Man City (A)
Eriksen
The Spurs creative force has struggled recently somewhat with 1 assist in his last 4 but the underlying stats continue to be good. Started in the UCL match v Juventus midweek
Bournemouth (A)
Blank GW31
Chelsea (A)
Stoke (A)
Alli
The Spurs goal scoring midfielder just hasn’t produced his normal goal treat with only 5 goals but 11 assists have helped to at least keep his points ticking over. However a complete inability to earn bonus points with only 7 to date has hampered him. It’s also 1 assist in his last 4.
Bournemouth (A)
Blank GW31
Chelsea (A)
Stoke (A)
Ozil
Some great fixtures and the hope that the real Ozil is some where in the disaster zone known as Arsenal are the hopes here. Blanked in the last 4. The worry is also Europa League focused rotation.
Watford (H)
None
Stoke (H)
Southampton (H)
Mkhitaryan
Like Ozil you have to hope that he can somehow find the early Man Utd and late Dortmund form for 3 great fixtures next. Mkhitaryan has blanked in the last 3
Watford (H)
None
Stoke (H)
Southampton (H)
Stanislas
Started the last 5 including 90 minutes in the last 2. Has scored 2 goals and an assist in those 5 starts. Great fixtures
Spurs (H)
West Brom (H)
Watford (A)
Crystal Palace (H)
Shaqiri
Given the fixtures now only really of use now if he can be parachuted in for the blank GW31 and then out afterwards.
Did score in 3 consecutive games up to GW28 but it was 1 assist in 9 games before that and the underlying stats have been pretty ordinary through out. That’s unless you believe he can continue matching De Bruyne and the now transferred Coutinho for scoring outside the box. .
Man City (H)
Everton (H)
Arsenal (A)
Spurs (H)
Gross
A support striker role, set pieces and good fixtures are the attraction here. Good form too with a goal and 3 assists in his last 4.
Everton (A)
Blank GW31
Leicester (H)
Huddersfield (H)
Izquierdo
2 goals and an assist in his last 4 for the left sided midfielder plus some good fixtures are the attraction.
Everton (A)
Blank GW31
Leicester (H)
Huddersfield (H)
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