In this blog the Top Five Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Key Players for Gameweek 22 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 – Kevin De Bruyne (BUR)

De Bruyne reminded FPL managers of his pedigree with a goal and assist off the bench against Newcastle, this is a player that notched 183 FPL points last season in just 28 appearances with seven goals and a whopping 18 assists. The season prior that he bagged 196 FPL points with 15 goals and eight assists. As the below image from our Transfer Analytics feature shows, he is by far the most popular acquisition this week with nearly 900,000 FPL managers bringing him in. Man. City have scored 12 goals over the last six Gameweeks with only Liverpool (13) and Spurs (15) more prolific. Only Liverpool (45) have landed more shots on target (SoT) than their 39 while only Brighton, Newcastle (19 each) and Arsenal (22) have fashioned more ‘big chances’ (BC) than their 17. Their visitors Burnley have conceded nine goals over the same period and have kept just one clean sheet. Meanwhile, only Newcastle (80) have allowed opponents more shots in the box (SiB) than the Clarets (78) who are ranked 19th for ‘Expected Goals Conceded’ (xGC) (12.33). Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a point score of 3.8 for De Bruyne.

Ollie Watkins (NEW)

Watkins has found the back of the net just once over the last six Gameweeks and is sixth for shots (16) amongst forwards. However, he has registered two assists and created seven chances with only Jesus (three) creating more BC. As the below image from our Fix Heatmaps feature shows, he has averaged 6.5 FPL points per game in home matches this season. Villa have scored nine goals over the last six Gameweeks and are ranked eighth for both shots (81) and BC (13). Their visitors Newcastle have struggled defensively of late and have conceded more goals than any team (15) over the last six Gameweeks. The Magpies are bottom for both shots conceded (121) and xGC (19.05). Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a point score of 4.7 for Watkins.

Richarlison (BRE)

Richarlison has been thriving in a centre-forward role for Spurs, no midfielder has scored more goals (six) over the last six Gameweeks and the the Brazilian international trails only Saka (17) and Salah (18) for SiB (15). He is top for BC (six) while only Salah (3.19) has registered a higher xG than his 3.07. As the below image from our Predicted Lineups feature shows, he is rated at 99% to start as Spurs' lone striker. Spurs have been the league’s top scorers (15) over the last six Gamweeks, the Lilywhites are fourth for BC (17) and fifth for xG (12.14). Their visitors Brentford have conceded 12 goals over the same period with only Palace (13) and Newcastle (15) more prolific. The Bees are ranked seventh for xGC (7.93). Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a point score of 4.6 for Richarlison.

Darwin Núñez (CHE)

Darwin’s brace against Bournemouth made it three goals in the last six Gameweeks for the Uruguayan international with only Wood and Solanke (five each) more prolific amongst forwards over that period. Solanke (22) is the only forward to have attempted more SiB than his 15 while only Isak (eight) has been afforded more BC than his six. As the Stats Sandbox image below shows, no forward has created more chances (12) over the aforementioned period. Liverpool have scored 13 goals over the last six Gameweeks with only Spurs (15) faring beter. The Merseyside outfit are top for both shots (128) and xG (14.04). Their visitors Chelsea have conceded seven goals over the same period, the London side are ranked seventh for shots conceded (71) and sixth for xGC (7.45). Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a point score of 4.0 for Darwin.

Pedro Porro (BRE)

Porro has bagged three assists over the last six Gameweeks, more than any other defender with only Alexander-Arnold (21) creating more chances than his 16. The Spaniard is top for ‘Expected Assists’ (xA) (2.21) and shots (11) over that period. Spurs have conceded nine goals over the last six Gameweeks and have kept one clean sheet. The North London side are ranked 14th for both shots conceded (90) and xGC (11.14). Their visitors Brentford have scored just six goals in as many Gameweeks (14th) and are bottom for shots (48). Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a 30% chance of a Spurs clean sheet and a point score of 4.2 for Porro.