FPL Saturday review: Newcastle pair in demand

Nick Pope (£5.1m) and Kieran Trippier (£5.2m) have emerged as key targets in Fantasy Premier League after Newcastle United’s goalless draw with Crystal Palace.

Pope made nine saves and also collected the maximum three bonus points, claiming a 12-point haul at home against the Eagles.

His total of 36 points is more than any other goalkeeper or defender, with his many routes to returns being a major factor in his success.

Pope has combined three clean sheets with eight save points and six bonus points in six outings.

Trippier, meanwhile, has blanked only twice this term, with his returns including a free-kick goal against Manchester City in Gameweek 3.

That all-round output has earned the right-back 147,000+ transfers in for Gameweek 7, more than any other player. Pope is the fifth-top target with 81,000+ new owners.

Newcastle’s schedule points to more success for their key players. According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), four of their next six matches score only two.

Hat-trick hero

Elsewhere, Ivan Toney (£7.1m) is the No 1 outfield player for value in Fantasy on the back of his hat-trick and 17-point haul in the 5-2 win over Leeds United.

The Brentford forward has returned 6.3 points per million spent, his total of 45 points being second only to the 67 of Erling Haaland (£11.9m). 

Toney has a favourable long-term schedule to help him continue his form, with six of the Bees’ next nine matches scoring only two in the FDR.

AFC Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke (£5.7m) also has the schedule to offer value.

The forward produced his first returns of the campaign, scoring and supplying an assist in a 3-2 win at Nottingham Forest.

Four of the Cherries’ next six matches score two in the FDR. 

Time to snap up Chilwell?

Finally, Ben Chilwell (£5.8m) reminded managers of his potential with a 10-point return off the bench in Chelsea’s 2-1 win over West Ham United.

The wing-back has failed to start since Gameweek 1 due to fitness issues and has dropped to under three per cent ownership.

But Chilwell’s goal and assist against the Hammers means he has been involved in three of Chelsea’s goals in just 119 minutes this season.

By contrast, his fellow wing-back Reece James (£6.0m), who is found in 37 per cent of squads, has a goal and an assist in 450 minutes.

Also in this series

Part 1: GW6 FPL stats: Haaland delivers after breaking captaincy record
Part 2: GW6 Bonus points: Mac Allister takes maximum
Part 4: GW6 Lessons: Salah and Liverpool a growing concern
Part 5: Time to sell Salah? What the FPL experts say
Part 6: Sell Liverpool defenders? What the FPL experts say