In this blog the Top Five Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Key Players for Gameweek 18 are discussed. Every FPL Gameweek, picks will be in the below format:

1x Defender or Goalkeeper

2x Attackers less than £8.5m

2x Attackers £8.5m or over

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Headliner - Ollie Watkins (SHU)

Watkins' goal against Brentford made it four in the last six Gameweeks for the England international, he is ranked third for shots (17) amongst forwards over that period with only Cunha (18) and Solanke (23) faring beter. Meanwhile, only Solanke (4.36) and Haaland (4.54) have notched a higher 'Expected Goals' (xG) tally than his 3.23. As the below image from our Fix Heatmaps feature shows, he has averaged 6.9 FPL points per game in home matches this season. Villa have scored 11 goals over the last six Gameweeks (seventh), they are ranked sixth for shots from open play (65) and eighth for xG (10.23). Their visitors Sheff. Utd. have conceded 13 goals over the same period with only Chelsea (14) and Forest (15) more porous. The Blades have allowed opponents 93 shots with only Luton (112) and Man. Utd. (113) more generous. Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a point score of 6.7 for Watkins.

Heung-Min Son (EVE)

Son has found the back of the net twice over the last six Gameweeks and has taken 13 shots. He is ranked seventh for shots on target (SoT) (seven) amongst midfielders with only Salah (five) being afforded more 'big chances' (BC) than his five. He has also racked up three assists and created 13 chances, as the Stats Sandbox image below shows only Kulusevski, B. Silva, and Saka (five each) have created more BC than his four. Spurs have scored 12 goals over the last six Gameweeks with only Bournemouth (13) and Fulham (17) faring better. The North London side are ranked sixth for shots (90) and fourth for shots on target (SoT) (39). THeir visitors Everton have conceded just five goals over the last six Gameweeks with only Bournemouth (four) more frugal. The Toffees are ranked 10th for shots conceded (78) and fifth for 'Expected Goals conceded' (xGC) (8.29). Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a point score of 6.1 for Son.

Dominic Solanke (nfo)

Solanke's five goals over the last six Gameweeks is top amongst forwards, the 26-year-old is also top for shots (23) and shots in the box (SiB) (21). Meanwhile only Haaland beats him for BC (eight vs nine) and xG (4.36 vs 4.54). As the below image from our Transfer Analytics feature shows, over 200,000 FPL managers have already brought him in this week. Bournemouth have scored 13 goals over the last six Gameweeks with only Fulham (17) more prolific. The Cherries are ranked third for SiB (68) and fifth for xG (11.33). Their visitors Forest have conceded 15 goals over the same period and have kept no clean sheets. The Nottingham side are ranked eighth for shots conceded (75) and 11th for xGC (8.95). Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a point score of 4.5 for Solanke.

Alex Iwobi (BUR)

Iwobi has been key to Fulham's recent revival, as the below image from our Match Stats feature shows over their last five league games he is top amongst their player for goals scored (three) and SoT (seven) while he is second for xG (2.1) and third for chances created (four). The Cottagers have scored 17 goals over the last six Gameweeks, the most in the league. They are ranked sixth for BC (16) and 12th for xG (9.75). Their visitors Burnley have conceded nine goals over the same period and have kept just one clean sheet. Meanwhile, only Sheff. Utd. (63), Man. Utd. (69) and Luton (72) have allowed opponents more SiB than the Clarets (62). Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a point score of 3.5 for Iwobi.

Pedro Porro (EVE)

Porro has taken on a more creative role for Spurs in Maddison's absence, over the last six Gameweeks no defender has notched more assists (four) than the Spanish international. He trails only Alexander-Arnold for chances created (24 vs 18) and BC created (seven vs five). He has yet to find the back of the net over the aforementioned period but is top for shots (14). Spurs have conceded 10 goals over the last six Gameweeks and have kept one clean sheet. Their opponents everton have scored 11 goals over the same period, they are ranked 10th for SiB (53) and ninth for xG (10.22). Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a 40% chance of a Spurs clean sheet and a point score of 4.2 for Porro.

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