Get ready for a flood of Premier League football in the coming six weeks, now that the bothersome international breaks have concluded for a while. Hopefully, you’ve utilized this break to recharge your Fantasy Premier League enthusiasm.
Starting from Saturday, November 25, until Saturday, December 30, there are eight game weeks to strategically plan for. For the mathematically inclined, this translates to an FPL deadline every 4.5 days, so it’s wise to set reminders on your calendars.
This period sees real-life managers implementing rotation policies akin to the frenzy of last-minute present buying. Hence, it’s crucial to ensure your squad is well-stocked, comparable to your parent’s Christmas fridge, to avoid unpleasant surprises in player selection.
Top XI picks for your FPL Team for Gameweek 13
Thus, we have selected the Top 11 players to pick in your FPL team for Gameweek 13.
Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace)
Crystal Palace’s goalkeeper Sam Johnstone is currently priced at £4.6 million in the Fantasy Premier League. He ranks 13th out of 85 goalkeepers and has a form rating of 3.7, with an average of 4.2 points per match, placing him at 4th out of 85 in this category.
In Gameweek 12, Johnstone earned 1 point, contributing to his total of 50 points for the season. He has accumulated 7 bonus points so far. His ICT (Influence, Creativity, Threat) Index stands at 21.6, positioning him at 16th out of 85. Sam Johnstone has a team selection percentage (TSB%) of 5.8%, ranking 13th out of 85 goalkeepers in terms of ownership among Fantasy Premier League managers.
James Ward-Prowse (West Ham)
Priced at £6.1 million, James Ward-Prowse of West Ham is set to face Burnley following an impressive performance in the previous game, where he delivered his best points haul of the season.
In West Ham’s 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest, Ward-Prowse contributed significantly with two assists, accumulating a total of 11 points. His adept creativity and responsibilities in set-piece situations make him a valuable asset, with the potential for more assists anticipated at Turf Moor.
Ward-Prowse’s recent Fantasy performance stands out, leading in key metrics over the last six Gameweeks. He tops his position with 20 key passes, 10 successful corners, and 11 free-kick crosses. Burnley, on the other hand, has struggled defensively at home since their promotion, conceding a total of 18 goals in six matches.
Morgan Gibbs-White (Nott’m Forest)
Priced at £5.7 million, Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest is emerging as a potentially valuable asset in Fantasy due to his team’s attacking prowess and favorable upcoming fixtures.
Under the management of Steve Cooper, Nottingham Forest has showcased attacking form by scoring twice in three out of their last four matches. In this run, Gibbs-White stands out with six key passes, indicating his involvement in creating scoring opportunities, although he has only managed to secure a single assist.
Looking at the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), four of Nottingham Forest’s next six matches are rated as low difficulty, scoring just two. This suggests a favorable run for Gibbs-White, starting with the upcoming fixture against Brighton. Notably, Brighton is one of only four teams yet to keep a clean sheet this season, presenting an opportunity for Gibbs-White to capitalize on their defensive vulnerabilities.
Also Read: Fantasy Premier League: Top Five Captains for FPL Gameweek 13
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace)
Priced at £6.1 million, Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace has quickly made an impact since recovering from injury.
In Gameweek 11, Eze provided an assist coming off the bench against Burnley, and in Gameweek 12, he returned to the starting XI, scoring a penalty against Everton. His impressive statistics include 29 shots and 21 key passes, positioning him among Crystal Palace’s top two players this season, and showcasing his versatile contributions.
Eze’s well-rounded skills make him an appealing choice for Crystal Palace’s upcoming fixture against Luton Town. Notably, Luton Town’s recent defensive performances have been questionable, conceding 56 shots in the box in the last four Gameweeks—17 more than any other side—a vulnerability that Eze could exploit.
Dominic Solanke (AFC Bournemouth)
Priced at £6.4 million, Dominic Solanke from AFC Bournemouth has emerged as a valuable differential for forward lines in recent weeks.
Solanke has impressively scored three goals in the last four Gameweeks, elevating him to the fourth position in his position. Notably, he is owned by only three percent of Fantasy Premier League squads.
His standout performance includes a total of 12 shots in the box during this period, more than double the count of any teammate. This statistic places him joint-top with Erling Haaland (£14.0m), highlighting his goal-scoring prowess.
Solanke looks set to maintain his momentum in an upcoming fixture against Sheffield United, a team that has conceded the highest number of goals in the league this season, with a total of 31 goals.
Heung-min Son (Spurs)
Priced at £9.7 million, Heung-min Son from Spurs has been in excellent form, boasting eight goals and one assist with an Expected Goal (xG) of 4.6 and an Expected Assists (xA) of 2.1. Currently, he stands as the second-highest-scoring midfielder in the Fantasy Premier League.
In Gameweek 13, Spurs face Aston Villa at home, a team that has conceded 17 goals (thirteenth) with an xGC of 15.7 (sixth), indicating a relatively decent defensive performance.
Despite Villa’s defensive record, being at home and Spurs’ attacking style of play suggests the likelihood of goals in this fixture.
Spurs are the second favorites to score 2.5+ goals (29%) in Gameweek 13, making Son the prime candidate to find the back of the net.
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Priced at £8.6 million, Bukayo Saka from Arsenal has had a solid season with four goals and six assists, backed by an Expected Goals (xG) of 4.15 and an Expected Assists (xA) of 3.33, ranking him fourth overall.
While he has seen a slight dip in recent performances, contributing just one assist in the matches against Burnley and Sheffield United, Saka remains Arsenal’s most consistent attacker, making him a reliable option for Fantasy managers.
In Gameweek 13, Mikel Arteta’s team faces Brentford away, a team that has conceded 17 goals (thirteenth) with an xGC of 16.5 (eighth). Despite Brentford’s decent defensive record, Arsenal’s strong attacking capabilities position them as strong favorites to secure a victory.
Erling Haaland (Man City)
Priced at £14.0 million, Erling Haaland from Manchester City continues to impress, accumulating 13 goals and three assists, leading the league as the top goalscorer with an xG of 12.2 (first) and an xA of 0.94. His goal-scoring prowess positions him as a likely contender for the league’s top scorer by the end of the season.
Manchester City faces a formidable opponent in Liverpool at home in Gameweek 13, marking one of their toughest fixtures of the season. However, the history of high-scoring encounters between the two teams suggests that goals can be expected.
Reece James (Chelsea)
Consider the potential benefits of choosing Reece James for your Fantasy Premier League team, despite concerns about his injury history and Chelsea’s challenging Gameweek 13 fixture away to Newcastle.
While acknowledging the risk associated with James’ injury-prone past, it could be a worthwhile gamble considering the limited options among in-form defenders. James has a track record as a valuable FPL asset, delivering 14 attacking returns (five goals, nine assists) in just 26 games during the 2021-22 season.
Additionally, Newcastle is currently grappling with a significant injury crisis, which may work to Chelsea’s advantage in the upcoming fixture.
Mauricio Pochettino is carefully managing James’ playing time, but the defender has played over an hour in his last two league games. Although Chelsea’s fixtures are set to become more favorable from Gameweek 16 onward, making an early move for James could potentially yield rewards for your FPL team.
Tomas Soucek (West Ham)
Consider the following regarding Tomas Soucek of West Ham before dismissing him as a Fantasy Premier League option. Soucek is currently operating as a No 10 for West Ham and may move even higher up the field, especially with potential injuries to Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen upon their return from international duty.
The budget-friendly Czech midfielder has demonstrated his goal-scoring ability, netting three times in his last six appearances, including a decisive goal against Nottingham Forest in Gameweek 12. Over this period, he has registered six shots on target, trailing only one behind Bowen, and boasts a slightly superior Expected Goals (xG) compared to his pricier teammate.
Soucek has a noteworthy FPL track record when playing in an advanced position, having scored 10 goals in the 2020-21 season. However, it’s crucial to stay updated with David Moyes’ pre-match press conference, particularly regarding Soucek’s health, as he suffered a head injury while representing Czechia last week.
Currently priced at £4.9 million, Soucek could be a valuable addition to your FPL squad, pending further information from Moyes.
Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
Consider this surprising statistic: Since Cole Palmer’s inaugural Premier League start for Chelsea in Gameweek 7 against Fulham, he has accumulated the fourth-highest number of Fantasy Premier League points. This achievement places him behind only the likes of Mo Salah, Ollie Watkins, and Erling Haaland—a remarkable feat for a midfielder priced at under £5.5 million.
Palmer has been in impressive form, scoring four goals and providing three assists in his last six games, resulting in an average of 7.1 points per game during this period. It’s worth noting that all four of Palmer’s goals have come from the penalty spot, yet given his perfect conversion rate, he retains his status as Chelsea’s primary penalty-taker.
While the 21-year-old’s recent success has been penalty-centric, his underlying statistics suggest a potential continuation of this purple patch. In the last six game weeks, he leads Chelsea’s squad in shots with 16 and ranks second for chances created with 10.
With a current price of £5.2 million, Palmer emerges as an intriguing and cost-effective option for Fantasy Premier League managers.