A significant drop in clean sheets has impacted how managers are assessing goalkeepers and defenders in 2023/24 Fantasy Premier League.
Just 14 clean sheets have been recorded in 2023/24, down 33 per cent from a total of 21 in the first four Gameweeks of last season.
See: All you need as FPL returns
Only two sides, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, have managed more than a single shutout, claiming two apiece.
By contrast, five sides had produced at least two clean sheets in the same period of 2022/23.
Meanwhile, goalkeepers have been kept busier between the posts due to the increasing attacking threat.
Goalkeepers in first four GWs
| Season | 15+ Saves | 5+ Save points | 2+ Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 9 | 7 | 2 |
| 2022/23 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
Nine stoppers have made at least 15 saves in the first four Gameweeks, compared with only three at this point in 2022/23.
This is also reflected in their Fantasy output, as goalkeepers earn a save point for every three saves they make in a match.
Seven ‘keepers have collected a minimum of five save points, whereas only two had achieved this by Gameweek 4 in the previous campaign.
A breakdown of Bernd Leno (£4.5m) and Ederson’s (£5.6m) displays in the opening Gameweeks highlights why goalkeepers who make lots of saves can prove more beneficial in Fantasy.
Breakdown of Leno and Ederson's Fantasy seasons
| Player | Pts | Goals conceded | Clean sheets | Saves | Save points | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leno | 19 | 10 | 1 | 22 | 6 | 5 |
| Ederson | 17 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Manchester City’s Ederson has conceded a mere two goals, fewer than any regular stopper. His two clean sheets are also joint-top with Spurs’ Guglielmo Vicario (£5.1m).
Fulham’s Leno, on the other hand, has conceded a league-high 10 goals, the most of any No 1.
Yet he has still outscored the Brazilian by 19 points to 17 in Fantasy.
Leno has made a league-high 22 saves and has earned a combined 11 points from saves and bonuses, almost the equivalent of three clean sheets.
By contrast, Ederson has made only five stops, collecting a single point from saves and bonuses.
Best Goalkeepers to target
Bernd Leno (Fulham) £4.5m
A favourable short-term schedule can help Fulham’s No 1 establish himself as the go-to goalkeeper in Fantasy.
According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), three of the Cottagers’ next four matches, against Luton Town, Crystal Palace and Sheffield United, score only two.
Robert Sanchez (Chelsea) £4.5m
A summer move from Brighton & Hove Albion means the Spaniard offers a cut-price route into the Chelsea defence.
Sanchez faces AFC Bournemouth, Fulham and Burnley in the next four Gameweeks, lifting his prospects of adding to his single clean sheet so far.
Matt Turner (Nott'm Forest) £4.0m
The Nottingham Forest is the cheapest starting ‘keeper in Fantasy after joining from Arsenal.
Turner has three save points from his four outings, also collecting his first clean sheet of the campaign in a 1-0 win at Chelsea in Gameweek 4.
Home meetings with promoted pair Burnley and Luton in the next five Gameweeks underline his potential for value as a rotation pick between the posts.
Alphonse Areola (West Ham) £4.1m
West Ham United’s new No 1 is the second top-scoring ‘keeper after the first four Gameweeks on 20 points.
Areola has yet to keep a clean sheet, though, with a penalty save against Chelsea in Gameweek 2 helping him to a 10-point haul.
Areola saves v Brighton in GW3
A series of super saves from Alphonse 🧤 pic.twitter.com/NYVwJ1i6Eh
— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 30, 2023
The Hammers’ schedule suggests he could be a budget gem as a rotation pick until the second Wildcard is available.
According to the FDR, five of their next seven home matches score only two.
