The two most expensive players in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), Salah (101) and Haaland (96) top the scoring charts but which other assets are keeping pace with them? In this blog their numbers are compared to other popular premium assets Son, Watkins and Saka.

Erling Haaland

As the above image from our Fix Comparison Matrix shows, over the last six Gameweeks Haaland has averaged 7.5 FPL points per game but only comes out on top for 'big chances' (BC) per match (1.3). The Norwegian international is second for goals (0.8) and shots on target (SoT) (1.7) while he is bottom for attempted assists (1.2). It is worth mentioning that Man. City have had some difficult fixtures over the aforementioned period and the absence of Rodri has affected service to Haaland as well.

Mohamed Salah

Salah has averaged a whopping 9.7 FPL points per game over the last six Gameeweeks and is top for goals (1.2) and attempted assists (2.0). It is interesting to note that he is fourth for SoT (1.2) which indicates he has been clinical with his finishing. His creative attributes make him an even better asset this season, the Egyptian international is top for attempted assists (2.0) and BC created (0.5), which sees him top the comparison for BC involvements (1.7). He looks like the top premium asset to own right now.

Son Heung-Min

Son has failed to find the back of the net in Spurs' last two matches but over the last six Gameweeks he averages a healthy 0.5 goals and 6.3 FPL points per game. The underlying numbers are decent, the South Korean international is third for shots (2.5) and SoT (1.5) but the fact that he is being afforded just 0.5 BC per game is worrying. His creativity numbers are not great, he is fourth for attempted assists (1.3) and joint-bottom for BC created. The injury to Maddison will also affect the supply to Son and Spurs fixtures over the next five are difficult with the London side playing Villa, Man. City and Newcastle over that period.

Bukayo Saka

Saka has averaged just 5.4 FPL points per game over the last six Gameweeks, the Gunners have faced a couple of difficult away trips to Chelsea and Newcastle over that period but did have plum home fixtures against Burnley and Sheff. Utd. so that number is a bit disappointing. The underlying numbers have been poor as well, he has averaged just 1.4 shots per game and 0.6 SoT which are both bottom of the comparison. He has still been creative though with 1.6 attempted assists (third) and 0.4 BC created (second). The Gunners have a mixed run of fixtures with the Wolves and Luton game sandwiched by away trips to Brentford and Villa.

Ollie Watkins

Watkins is second for FPL points (8.2) over the last six Gameweeks and the underlying numbers show why. The England international is top of the comparison for assists (0.7), shots (3.3), SoT (1.8) and BC (1.3). He is also second for goals (0.8) and attempted assists (1.7). However, it is worth mentioning that he racked up nearly half of his FPL points (23) in a single fixture against Brighton and has blanked twice over the last three Gameweeks. As the below image from our Fixture Planner shows, Villa are bottom for Attack Difficulty over the next five Gameweeks with games against Spurs, Man. City and Arsenal to come so it might be a good time to hop off Watkins to other forwards.

What do the Projections say?

As the above image from our Fix Algorithm shows, the five aforementioned players are the top projected scorers over the next six Gameweeks with Salah (37.9) on top. It is perhaps surprising to see Son (34.9) marginally ahead of Haaland (33.6), but the fact that Man. City blank in Gameweek 18 plays a big part in that. Watkins (29.9) is ahead of Saka (27.5) with the latter's underlying numbers the poorest they have been all season. However, the fixtures indicate that Saka over Watkins is the play for the short-term.

Based on the above analysis, Haaland and Salah are in a class of their own as premium assets while Son could still be a good hold despite the injuries/suspensions at Spurs. The decision between Watkins vs Saka is a form vs fixtures one, the former has better numbers but Arsenal's fixtures offer far more potential for Saka to go big.