Kieran Trippier (£5.9m) and Miguel Almiron (£5.8m) both broke the 100-point barrier to extend their outstanding campaigns in 2022/23 Fantasy Premier League.
Trippier delivered a 12-point haul in Newcastle United’s 3-0 win over Leicester City, combining an assist with a clean sheet and the maximum three bonus points.
The right-back ranks third in the overall player standings, with his 108 points being 32 points more than any other defender in Fantasy.
Highest-scoring FPL defenders
| Player | Points | GW18 fixture |
|---|---|---|
| Kieran Trippier (£5.9m) | 108 | LEE (H) |
| William Saliba (£5.3m) | 76 | BHA (A) |
| Gabriel (£5.2m) | 74 | BHA (A) |
| Fabian Schar (£4.9m) | 73 | LEE (H) |
| Joao Cancelo (£7.4m) | 70 | EVE (H) |
Almiron, meanwhile, struck his ninth goal of the campaign to move on to 101 points.
The Paraguayan was the second most-bought midfielder during the unlimited free transfers period, just behind Marcus Rashford (£6.7m), collecting over a million new owners.
Gameweek 17 returns:
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) December 26, 2022
✅ Mitrovic
✅ Kane
✅ Almiron
✅ Trippier
✅ Pope
✅ Salah
✅ Saka
✅ Martinelli#FPL is back 😍 pic.twitter.com/DLFQk2pK9C
Newcastle’s upcoming schedule suggests doubling up on the duo can be a very profitable tactic.
According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), four of their next six matches score only two.
Differentials go big
Newcastle midfielder Joelinton (£5.9m) was among a number of differentials to deliver double-figure hauls on Boxing Day.
Fulham’s Tim Ream (£4.5m), Everton’s Yerry Mina (£4.3m), Brighton & Hove Albion’s Solly March (£5.0m) and Tottenham Hotspur’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (£5.5m) all produced bumper returns and are all in under three per cent of squads.
Odegaard and Salah justify popularity
Martin Odegaard (£6.4m) and Mohamed Salah (£12.8m) both showed why they were popular picks over the free transfers period.
The pass from @TrentAA 😍@andrewrobertso5's record-breaking assist 🅰
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 26, 2022
A calm @MoSalah finish 👌
Wonderfully worked to open the scoring in #AVLLIV ⚽ pic.twitter.com/VieMmBbSUa
They were the fourth and fifth most-bought midfielders for Gameweek 17, collecting 676,000 and 633,000 new owners respectively.
Odegaard’s two assists in Arsenal’s 3-1 win over West Ham United earned him 11 points, his third double-figure haul in his last four outings.
Salah produced a goal and an assist in Liverpool’s 3-1 victory at Aston Villa to claim 12 points, moving to second in the midfield standings, on 94 points.
Warning for Mitrovic buyers
Managers who sold Aleksandar Mitrovic (£6.8m) were severely punished by the Fulham forward after he delivered his season-high return in a 3-0 win at Crystal Palace.
Mitrovic was the second-most transferred out player in Gameweek 17, moved on by 957,000 after he was rated a doubt to face the Eagles.
His goal, two assists and 15 points at Selhurst Park have made a major impact on managers’ plans ahead of Fulham’s Double Gameweek 19.
Indeed, he is the most-bought player in Gameweek 18, earning 128,000+ transfers in.
Those managers should be aware, however, that Mitrovic remains one booking away from suspension.
If he collects a yellow card in any of Fulham's next three fixtures he will serve a one-match ban.
See: Who is suspended or close to a ban?
Also in this series
Part 1: GW17 stats: Mitrovic sellers rue missed haul
Part 2: GW17 Bonus points