Wildcard targets: Fixtures point to Bamford

The Scout is pinpointing the best players for Fantasy Premier League managers to target with their second Wildcards.

Budget forwards

Patrick Bamford (LEE) £6.6m

His total of 101 points ranks third among FPL forwards.

Bamford has scored 10 goals and supplied five assists in 17 matches since Leeds United’s promotion.

The statistics show why he has been so successful.

His 65 shots, 57 shots in the box and 28 shots on target are all more than any other player in 2020/21.

Bamford scores in GW15

The upcoming matches only add to his appeal. 

According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), only one of Leeds’ next 10 matches scores more than three.

That kind run includes home encounters with Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton in Double Gameweek 19.

Callum Wilson (NEW) £6.5m

He has averaged 6.1 points per match in his debut season for Newcastle United.

When selected, Wilson has been involved in 71 per cent of his side's goals, scoring eight and assisting four.

All of Newcastle's next six matches score three or less in the FDR, including home fixtures against Leeds, Crystal Palace and Southampton.

Up next is a trip to bottom-club Sheffield United in the reduced Gameweek 18, making Wilson a major target for managers.

He is the most-bought forward in the Gameweek, earning more than 167,000 new owners.

Ollie Watkins (AVL) £6.1m

The striker has six goals and four assists in his 15 outings for Aston Villa.

Watkins’ totals of 43 shots and 41 shots in the box are both team-leading totals for Villa.

And his 15 big chances are more than twice the tally of any team-mate.

That highlights his major goal threat ahead of a busy period for Dean Smith’s men.

Villa are among only four sides who not only feature in Gameweek 18, but also play twice in Double Gameweek 19.

Michail Antonio (WHU) £6.2m

The West Ham United forward started the campaign strongly, scoring against Arsenal, Leicester City and Manchester City in the first six Gameweeks. 

Antonio was then sidelined due to injury but his recent return to fitness could prove very handy for managers in need of a differential.

He is owned by only 1.9 per cent of managers ahead of West Ham's Double Gameweek 19 home matches against Burnley and West Bromwich Albion.

Also in this series

Part 1: Martinez the go-to goalkeeper
Part 2: Dallas an all-round performer
Part 3: Cancelo worth premium price
Part 4: Get Soucek for Double Gameweek
Part 5: Fernandes a must-have
Part 7: Time to back Vardy