Fantasy Premier League

The Scout’s FPL Gameweek 18 Ones to watch

By The Scout 18 Dec 2023

See the five players backed for big returns, including Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson

The Scout is tipping five players for big success in Gameweek 18 of Fantasy Premier League ahead of Thursday's 18:30 GMT deadline.

Andreas Pereira (Fulham) £5.3m

A visit from Burnley gives the Fulham playmaker the chance to extend his remarkable recent record in home matches.

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Pereira has amassed 21 points in his last two outings at Craven Cottage, supplying four of his six assists this season in back-to-back 5-0 wins over Nottingham Forest and West Ham United.

The Brazilian has made 35 key passes this season, at least 15 more than any team-mate. Combined with his set-piece duties, Pereira looks likely to boast significant assist potential for Marco Silva’s side once again this weekend.

Interestingly, Burnley have conceded 14 headed shots in the last four Gameweeks, more than any other side.

Pereira's assist v West Ham

A towering header from @TosinAdarabioyo! 🗼 pic.twitter.com/qhLT8jSXtk
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) December 11, 2023

Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea) £6.9m

The Chelsea forward travels to Wolverhampton Wanderers on the back of his seventh goal of the season against Sheffield United.

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Jackson’s strike took his tally to five goals, an assist and 36 points in his last six starts, compared with only two goals in the opening 10 Gameweeks.

Chelsea’s schedule suggests the forward could prove a handy short-term option before he departs for the Africa Cup of Nations to represent Senegal in Gameweek 21.

According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), each of their next three matches score just two, with contests against Crystal Palace and Luton Town following the Wolves encounter.

Jackson's goal v Sheff Utd

Doubling our lead! 👏#CFC | #CheShu pic.twitter.com/oC62bEU1CD
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 17, 2023

Kieran Trippier (Newcastle) £6.9m

Newcastle United’s right-back suffered huge sales in the previous Gameweek due to his one-match suspension.

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Trippier was moved on by over 947,000 managers, resulting in a drop in ownership from 50 per cent to 42 per cent.

The Magpies’ favourable back-to-back matches against Luton and Nott'm Forest suggests those sellers could now live to regret that decision.

Luton rank among the top three sides for allowing the most headers and shots from set-pieces this season, which looks tailor-made for Trippier to profit from his delivery at free-kicks and corners.

Newcastle's record at St James’ Park boosts the defender’s prospects of a bumper haul against Forest; they have conceded only one goal in their last seven home outings.

Diego Carlos (Aston Villa) £4.4m

The centre-back has been a major influence on Aston Villa’s defence since his recent return from injury.

Carlos has started the last five matches as part of a six-match unbeaten run Unai Emery’s side, which includes 1-0 home wins over both Manchester City and Arsenal in their last three encounters.

Villa’s festive schedule points to more defensive success, with home contests against Sheff Utd and Burnley combined with a visit to Everton in the next four Gameweeks.

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Although his fellow defender Pau Torres (£4.7m) has caught the attention of managers by scoring twice, Carlos has boasted the greater goal threat of the two, averaging a shot in the box every 187 minutes, compared with the Spaniard’s 214.

At a cost of just £4.4m, Carlos offers outstanding value as a route into one of the top defences in the Premier League.

Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) £6.0m

A home encounter with Brighton & Hove Albion hands the fit-again Palace star the perfect opportunity to get back to his best.

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Eze returned to action with a brief substitute appearance in the Eagles’ 2-2 draw with Man City last weekend.

Despite his recent spell on the sidelines, the midfielder’s 31 shots, 12 shots on target and 22 chances created all place among his side’s top two players.

That highlights Eze’s big all-round potential against a Brighton side who have yet to keep a clean sheet in 2023/24.