In this blog the Top Five Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Key Players for Gameweek 21 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

Headliner – Bukayo Saka (CPL)

Saka has found the back of the net only once over the last six Gameweeks but his underlying numbers are on the up. Over the aforementioned period, only Salah has taken more shots (24 vs 20) or shots in the box (SiB) (21 vs 20) than the England international while he is behind only Richarlison for ‘big chances’ (seven vs five). Meanwhile, he is seventh for chances created (14) and eighth for BC created (three). As the below image from our Fix Heatmaps feature shows, he has averaged 6.6 FPL points per game at the Emirates this season. Arsenal have scored eight goals in the last six Gameweeks (11th), but are ranked second for shots (117) and top for BC (19). Their visitors Palace have conceded 10 goals over the same period (16th) and have kept no clean sheets. The Eagles are ranked 11th for SiB conceded (55) and 10th for ‘Expected Goals Conceded’ (9.87). Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a point score of 5.1 for Saka.

Ollie Watkins (eve)

Watkins has scored just once over Villa’s last six league matches but has notched two assists and only Cunha (three) has fared better amongst forwards. As the below image from our Match Stats feature shows, over the last five league matches he is second amongst Villa players for goals (one) and SoT (four) while he is top for assists (two) and chances created (six). The Midlands side have scored 10 goals over the last six Gameweeks (sixth) and are ranked seventh for both shots (87) and xG (10.93). Their hosts Everton have conceded eight goals (eighth) over the same period and have kept three clean sheets. They are ranked 16th for shots conceded (91) and eighth for xGC (9.37). Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a point score of 4.0 for Watkins.

Cole Palmer (FUL)

Palmer’s four goals over the last six Gameweeks trails only Richarlison (five) amongst midfielders. The 21-year-old is ranked fourth for shots (18) and as the Stats Sandbox image below shows, he is second only to Salah (15) for SoT (eight). He has also notched two assists and created 11 chances. Chelsea have scored nine goals over the last six Gameweeks (eighth), with only Newcastle, Liverpool and Arsenal (all 19) creating more BC than their 18. The Blues are currently ranked fifth for xG (12.20). Their visitors Fulham have conceded nine goals over the same period and have kept two clean sheets. The Cottagers are eighth for SiB conceded (51) and 11th for xGC (9.93). Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a point score of 5.1 for Palmer.

Phil Foden (new)

Foden scored a brace against Huddersfield in the FA Cup but has found the back of the net just once over Man. City’s last five league matches. He has taken 13 shots over that period and trails only Andreas (four) for FPL assists (three). He is ranked eighth for chances created (13), with only McNeil (five) creating more BC than his four. Meanwhile, only Salah (2.40), Elanga (2.46) and McNeil (2.92) have notched a higher ‘Expected Assists’ (xA) (2.38) tally. As the below image from our Transfer Analytics feature shows, he is the second-most 'transferred in' player this week. Their visitors Newcastle have the worst defensive record in the league over the last six Gameweeks. No side has shipped in more goals (15), allowed opponents more shots (115) or registered a worse xGC (19.01) than the Magpies. Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a point score of 4.3 for Foden.

Pervis Estupiñán (WOL)

Despite playing just 630 minutes this season, Estupiñán has racked up two goals and three assists and returned to the Brighton team after injury with consecutive FPL six-pointers and surprisingly is still Brighton’s top scoring defender with 37 FPL points. He registered one goal and seven assists in the 2022/23 season so there is more to come from Estupiñán, as he works back to full fitness. Brighton have conceded seven goals over the last six Gameweeks and kept their first clean sheet of the season against West Ham. They are ranked eighth for shots conceded (76) and 13th for xGC (10.20). Their visitors Wolves have scored 11 goals over the same period with only Bournemouth, Fulham (12 each) and Spurs (14) more prolific. The Midlands side are ranked 15th for SiB (43) and 10th for xG (9.03). Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a point score of 4.5 for the left-back.