Raphinha to do the business against Newcastle? The best Fantasy Football picks
Who are the best transfers for FPL Gameweek 23? 4-time top 1k and 5-time top 5k finisher Abdul Rehman uses stats, fixtures and the eye test to find the best Fantasy Premier League players with the potential to pick up big points and help shoot you up the rankings.
Kieran Tierney (£5.0m) – Arsenal
Fixture: Burnley (H)
Despite only starting 14 games this season, Kieran Tierney is the second highest scoring Arsenal defender. He has one goal and three assists to his name from seven shots in the box and an xG of 0.93. He has also created 13 chances with an xA of 0.76.
The North London club have a great fixture in gmeweek 23 as they welcome Burnley to the Emirates. The Clarets sit rock bottom of the league having only scored 16 goals (19th) with an xG of 18.0 (20th).
Arsenal have now kept nine clean sheets (3rd) conceding 25 goals (7th) with an xGC of 28.9 (8th). They are very much improving defensively as the season goes on and have a top class goalkeeper in Aaron Ramsdale also.
The Gunners are the favourites to keep a clean sheet against Burnley (54%) this week and also fourth favourites to score 2.5+ goals (27%), which bodes well for Tierney at both ends of the pitch. They have a great chance of keeping a clean sheet this week especially as Chris Wood has made a move to Newcastle United and Maxwel Cornet is away competing at AFCON.
Kieran Tierney is the one most likely to pick up attacking returns in that backline and if he can manage to stay fit, he will get plenty more over the season.
Raphinha (£6.5m) – Leeds United
Fixture: Newcastle United (H)
Raphinha has eight goals and two assists this season in 18 appearances. He has managed 21 shots in the box with an xG of 5.68 and has also created 37 chances with an xA of 4.62. The Brazilian has been fantastic value this season.
Leeds United have one of their most favourable fixtures of the season in gameweek 23 as they take one Newcastle United at Elland Road. The Magpies have conceded 43 goals (19th) with an xGC of 39.4 (20th). They really are poor at the back and Leeds will be strong favourites against Eddie Howe’s team.
The Whites haven’t hit the heights of last season yet and have struggled due to injuries. They have scored 24 goals (14th) with an xG of 27.8 (9th). They do still play in their usual attacking manner and they also come up against a manager in Howe who likes to play the same way.
This of course bodes well for Raphinha’s chances of attacking returns this week. He has a goal involvement of 43% so far and is the clear talisman for Marcelo Bielsa. In the absence of Patrick Bamford, he has filled the void to an extent and is their top scorer. He has also created the most chances for them and has the highest xA.
Raphinha is on the majority of set-pieces also, which always increases the chances of attacking returns.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.9m) – Everton
Fixture: Aston Villa (H)
The Everton forward scored 16 goals from 33 appearances last season and has starts goals in five starts this campaign. He has managed 16 shots in the box with an xG of 3.94, so his underlying numbers have been great. He is undoubtedly nailed on to start when fit and is the best attacking option for the Toffees and his stats last season were up there with the best in the game.
Everton welcome Aston Villa to Goodison Park in gameweek 23. The Villans have conceded 32 goals (14th) with an xGC of 30.8 (11th). The Merseyside club have had a really poor season so far, but with Rafa Benitez now no longer manager, they could well pick up again and it’s only a matter of time before Calvert-Lewin starts scoring again.
The England international is a proven goalscorer. He scored 34% of their goals last season and is clearly their talisman. That is unlikely to change this season. He is also first-choice penalty taker for Everton and if fit, will surely end the campaign as their top goalscorer again.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin also has a great run of fixtures to come after this week facing Newcastle United (A), Leeds United (H) and Southampton (A) in the next three.
