In this blog the Top Five Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Key Players for Gameweek 26 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 – Erling Haaland (bou)

Haaland has scored three goals since his return from injury, despite just 375 minutes over the last six Gameweeks he is second amongst forwards for shots in the box (SiB) (21) and fourth for ‘big chances’ (BC) (six). He still leads the Golden Boot race with 17 goals this campaign with no forward registering more BC (33) or a higher ‘Expected Goals’ (xG) (18.61) tally this campaign. As the below image from our Match Stats feature shows, over their last five league games he is top for goals (three), xG (3.5) and shots on target (SoT) (nine). Man. City have scored 15 goals over the last six Gameweeks with only Newcastle (16), Arsenal (22) and Liverpool (24) faring better. The Manchester side are top for shots (159) and third for xG (14.75). Their hosts Bournemouth have conceded 14 goals over the same period (14th) and have kept no clean sheets. However, the Cherries are ranked fifth for shots conceded (67) and ‘Expected Goals Conceded’ (xGC) (8.99). Our Predicted Points & Stats tool currently projects a point score of 6.1 for Haaland.

Ollie Watkins (NFO)

Third amongst forwards for goals this season (13), Watkins has found the back of the net four times over the last six Gameweeks with only Adebayo, Darwin (five) and Højlund (six) more prolific amongst forwards. He is ranked third for SiB (18) and BC (seven) over the aforementioned period. As the below image from our Transfer Analytics feature shows, he is the most transferred in player this week with nearly 150,000 FPL managers bringing him in. Villa have scored 12 goals over the last six Gameweeks (eighth) with only Man. City (53) and Liverpool (155) landing more shots on target (SoT) than their 41. The Midlands side are ranked fifth for xG (12.40). Their visitors Forest have conceded 10 goals over the same period (11th) with only Arsenal (3.67) registering a better xGC (3.67) than their 5.97. Our Predicted Points & Stats tool currently projects a point score of 5.5 for Watkins.

Hee Chan Hwang (SHU)

Hee Chan is likely to be playing up top for Wolves after the injury to Cunha, the South Korean international is ranked fifth for goals scored (10) amongst midfielders despite spending a large chunk of time away on international duty. Over the course of the campaign, only Richarlison (15), Bowen (16), Saka (17) and Salah (20) have been afforded more BC amongst midfielders than his 12. As the below image from our Price Predictor feature shows, he is expected to go up in price overnight (Thursday 22nd February). Wolves have scored 12 goals over the last six Gameweeks (eighth) and even though they are ranked 10th for SiB (57), they are seventh for xG (11.09). Their opponents Sheff. Utd. have conceded 18 goals over the same period (20th) with only Luton, West Ham (74 each), Brentford (76) and Chelsea (77) allowing opponents more SiB than their 72. The Blades are ranked 16th for xGC (13.26). Our Predicted Points & Stats tool currently projects a point score of 5.9 for the South Korean international.

Alejandro Garnacho (FUL)

Garnacho has played almost every minute for Man. Utd. over the last six Gameweeks (539) and has notched two goals and as many assists over that period. He is ranked fifth for SiB (14) and seventh for chances created (16) and as the image below from our Opta Stats Sandbox feature shows, no midfielder has registered a higher ‘Expected Assists’ (xA) (2.76) tally. Man. Utd. have found the back of the net 14 times over the last six Gameweeks (fifth), the Red Devils are ranked seventh for shots (90) and eighth for xG (11.02). Their visitors Fulham have conceded seven goals over the same period and have kept just one clean sheet. The Cottagers are ranked 12th for SiB conceded (69) and 15th for xGC (12.05). Our Predicted Points & Stats tool currently projects a point score of 4.2 for Garnacho.

Gabriel Magalhães (NEW)

Gabriel has scored twice for Arsenal over the last six Gameweeks with only Schär (11) attempting more shots amongst defenders than his eight. He has landed five SoT over that period with only Kilman (1.57) registering a higher xG (1.41). Arsenal have conceded just four goals (first) over the last six Gameweeks and have kept three clean sheets. They are also top for both SiB conceded (30) and xGC (3.67). Newcastle have scored 16 goals over the last six Gameweeks (third) but are ranked as low as 13th for SoT (29). Our Predicted Points & Stats tool currently projects a 30% chance of an Arsenal clean sheet and a point score of 3.8 for Gabriel.