In this blog, Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Gameweek 6's numbers are analysed to determine the best players and teams to target going forward.

xFPL review

Salah tops the Custom Stats xFPL table for Gameweek 6 with a score of 12.9. The Egyptian international took four shots in the box (SiB), one of which was a ‘big chance’ (BC) and also created two BC. Saka is close behind in second with a score of 11.6, he took two SiB and attempted four assists, with two BC involvements overall. The Gameweek’s highest FPL points scorer Trippier (18) was joint-top for attempted assists (five), two of these chances created by the right-back were BC. C. Wilson and Darwin were joint-top for BC (three), both scored a goal each and notched xFPL scores of 7.9 and 7.6 respectively. Gordon’s numbers were impressive, the 22-year-old was top for BC created (three) and also took two SiB, leading to an xFPL score of 9.0

What is xFPL?

xFPL is calculated primarily using expected goals (xG), assists (xA), which combine as Fantasy Premier League (FPL) involvements (xG + xA = xI), as well as expected clean sheets (xCS). These numbers are a result of underlying statistics (i.e. shot type and location will give a probability of scoring = xG). xFPL is the combination of these statistics and factors in appearance and bonus points to give an overall expected FPL point score.

Early Transfer Activity Analysed

Evaluate transfer analytics to see which players are popular with other managers.

As the above image from our Transfer Analytics feature shows, FPL managers have wasted no time in making their transfers with Botman, Son and Trippier already seeing over 150,000 transfers in each. Morris is also a popular buy ahead of Luton’s Double Gameweek with over 125,000 transfers. Three Chelsea players make up the top transfers out with Chilwell, Jackson and Gusto being sold in droves along with the misfiring Rashford. Up top, the majority of traffic seems to be going towards Morris with the Luton forward accounting for seven of the top 10 transfer combinations for forwards. In midfield, it is a bit more scattered with Son accounting for nearly 20% but Salah, Maddison and Bowen also feature. In defence, everything seems to be moving towards Newcastle with Botman and Trippier accounting for nearly 50% of all defender transfer combinations.

Bowen vs Ward-Prowse

After conceding eight goals to Newcastle, Sheff. Utd. travel to West Ham who have scored in every game this season. As the above images from our Fix Heatmaps feature show, Bowen has scored four goals compared to two for Ward-Prowse and notched eight more FPL points. The ‘Expected Goals’ (xG) numbers are better for Bowen (2.66 vs 1.71) and he has taken significantly more SiB (12) than the former Southampton midfielder (three). However, Ward-Prowse has taken over all set-pieces which shows in his underlying numbers, he has attempted eight assists to Bowen’s four and has created three BC. Both appear to be excellent options to capitalise on Sheff. Utd.’s poor defence, Bowen appears to be the better option but Ward-Prowse is significantly cheaper at £6.2m compared to £7.1m so it also depends on what the extra funds enable.