Fantasy Premier League: Top Five Forwards Picks for FPL Gameweek 16

After a captivating midweek round of matches, the Premier League promises another exciting weekend with a full slate of games in Gameweek 16.

One of the standout fixtures of the gameweek unfolds in the Midlands as Aston Villa, in pursuit of a top-four spot, hosts title-contenders Arsenal. Unai Emery’s Villa side has become a force to be reckoned with at home, boasting a remarkable 14-game winning streak. If Arsenal can halt this streak, discussions about their chances of clinching their first league title since 2004 will undoubtedly gain momentum.

Amid their recent struggles, Manchester City suffered a 1-0 defeat at Villa Park on Wednesday, extending their winless streak in the league to four matches. Despite this form, FPL managers are likely to be intrigued by City’s upcoming visit to Kenilworth Road, even though Luton Town came close to securing a point against Arsenal on Tuesday.

City currently tops from the bottom in the Fixture Difficulty Chart in FPL for the next five matches. Following their clash with Luton, they are set to face Crystal Palace (home), Everton (away), and Sheffield United (home) around the Christmas period. With a six-point gap between them and Arsenal, City are eager to return to winning ways swiftly. The upcoming fixtures provide them with an opportunity to bridge that gap and regain momentum in the title race.

With a full-fledged Gameweek about to begin, let’s have a look at the top 5 attacking options available with the FPL managers for the upcoming Gameweek.

Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

Erling Haaland has been in exceptional form, scoring five goals in the last six Gameweeks, a feat that places him at the top among all players. The Norwegian international is second only to Darwin with 25 shots, while leading in crucial categories such as shots in the box (SiB) with 23, shots on target (SoT) with 11, ‘big chances’ (BC) with 13, and ‘Expected Goals’ (xG) with an impressive 6.88.

Manchester City, Haaland’s team, stands out as the top goal-scorer with 17 goals in the mentioned period and ranks third for shots taken at 92. Additionally, City leads in both ‘big chances’ (BC) with 22 and ‘Expected Goals’ (xG) with 14.44. Their upcoming opponents, Luton, have conceded 13 goals in the last six Gameweeks, making them one of the more vulnerable defenses, with only Forest, Chelsea (15 each), and Sheff. Utd. (17) conceding more.

Luton are at the bottom for both shots conceded (124) and ‘Expected Goals Conceded’ (xGC) with 15.21. Haaland is projected to score at least 1 goal in the upcoming fixture. This underlines his status as a standout Fantasy Premier League option given his prolific form and the favourable matchup against Luton.

Also Read: Fantasy Premier League: Top Five Captains for FPL Gameweek 16

Darwin Nunez (Liverpool)

Having Darwin Nunez in your Fantasy Premier League (FPL) team adds an element of unpredictability and excitement. In the recent midweek clash against Sheffield United, the Uruguayan striker began the game on the bench, later coming on as a substitute. His performance included being booked for a needless action of kicking the ball away, followed by a last-minute assist that emerged from a tackle that could have seen him receive a second yellow card for Dominik Szoboszlai. It was, in essence, a classic Nunez cameo.

Despite the unpredictability, there are compelling reasons to consider Darwin Nunez once again. Firstly, there is a notable shortage of in-form forwards in recent gameweeks, with only three forwards managing to find the back of the net in Gameweek 15. Additionally, Nunez is likely to secure a starting position after playing around half an hour in the previous match against Sheffield United. Lastly, Crystal Palace is currently struggling, having lost five of their last seven Premier League matches. Roy Hodgson’s post-match comments after a home loss to Bournemouth, stating that “the fans have been spoiled here in recent times,” didn’t sit well, indicating the team’s current disarray. Liverpool could capitalize on this situation when they face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in Gameweek 16.

With a price tag of £7.7m and accumulating 60 points so far, Nunez presents an intriguing FPL option for the upcoming fixture against Crystal Palace.

Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth)

Dominic Solanke, priced at £6.5m for Bournemouth, has emerged as a pivotal figure for the team in the current season. He has been directly involved in 8 out of Bournemouth’s 18 goals, contributing with 8 attacking returns despite having an Expected Goal Involvement (xGI) of 8.2. This highlights his efficiency and impact in the attacking third, making him a key player for Bournemouth as they look to make strides in their campaigns. Solanke’s ability to consistently contribute to goal-scoring opportunities positions him as a notable asset, especially at his affordable price point in Fantasy Premier League considerations.

With a form rating of 5.8, he has been consistently performing well recently. On average, he earns 4.4 points per match, placing him 7th out of 98 in this category.

In Gameweek 15, Solanke secured 2 points, contributing to his total of 66 points for the season. He has also earned 6 bonus points so far. His ICT (Influence, Creativity, Threat) Index is impressive at 106.7, ranking him 4th out of 98 players.

With a Total Selection Percentage (TSB%) of 6.4%, Solanke is chosen by a modest portion of FPL managers, placing him 12th out of 98 players in this regard. These statistics make him an interesting and potentially valuable option for FPL managers considering forwards in his price range.

Julian Alvarez (Manchester City)

Forward Julian Alvarez of Manchester City is currently valued at £7.0m in the Fantasy Premier League, ranking 12th out of 98 players in terms of price. With a form rating of 3.5, Álvarez has been consistently performing well recently, earning an average of 5.0 points per match, which places him 4th out of 98 in this category.

In Gameweek 15, Álvarez secured 2 points, contributing to his total of 75 points for the season. Impressively, he has accumulated 11 bonus points. His ICT (Influence, Creativity, Threat) Index stands at 115.9, ranking him 3rd out of 98 players.

Álvarez enjoys significant popularity among Fantasy Premier League managers, with a Total Selection Percentage (TSB%) of 29.0%, making him the 3rd most-selected player out of 98 in this regard. These statistics highlight Álvarez’s strong performances and popularity among FPL managers, making him a noteworthy forward option for those considering players in his price range.

Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

Aston Villa’s forward, Ollie Watkins, is priced at £8.4m in Fantasy Premier League, ranking 3rd out of 98 players in terms of price. With a formidable form rating of 5.8, Watkins has been consistently performing well, earning an impressive average of 6.5 points per match, which places him 2nd out of 98 in this category.

In Gameweek 15, Watkins secured 1 point, contributing to his impressive total of 97 points for the season. He has accumulated 11 bonus points, showcasing his impact on the pitch. Watkins boasts a high ICT (Influence, Creativity, Threat) Index of 135.7, making him the 2nd ranked player in this metric out of 98.

Watkins is a highly favoured pick among Fantasy Premier League managers, with a Total Selection Percentage (TSB%) of 37.9%, making him the 2nd most-selected player out of 98. These statistics underline Watkins’ consistent and impactful performances, solidifying his status as a top forward option for FPL managers, particularly considering his popularity in the community.