Alexander Isak's eye injury has thrown Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers into a frenzy. The Newcastle forward, priced at £8.4m and owned by a whopping 36.5% of managers, is now a major concern after being forced off at halftime against Wolves.
With uncertainty looming over his availability for the upcoming Gameweek against Fulham, it's time to explore potential replacements.
Let's dive into the best options that could fill the Isak-shaped hole in your FPL team.
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At the time of writing, over 474,000 FPL managers have transferred out the Swedish forward, making him the most transferred-out player.
The Transfer Analytics tool highlights the top 10 forward transfer combinations, showing that FPL managers are moving out Alexander Isak, Yoane Wissa, and João Pedro— all currently flagged. Wissa is ruled out until November, while the return dates for Isak and Pedro remain uncertain. Rodrigo Muniz is also being transferred out after being dropped for Fulham’s last game against West Ham.
Popular replacements for Isak include Ollie Watkins (£8.9m) and Jamie Vardy (£5.7m).
Ollie Watkins, priced at £8.9m, is a more expensive option for those seeking to replace Alexander Isak. The Aston Villa forward has had a modest start to the 2024/25 season by his standards, accumulating 22 points in the first four Gameweeks despite limited minutes, shown in the Opta Heatmaps tool below. His reduced playtime may be due to a slight injury, as he was seen icing his ankle after being substituted during a midweek Champions League game.
Watkins' underlying stats are particularly impressive. He has the highest xG (3.73) among the replacement options, indicating that he's consistently getting into strong scoring positions. With 2 goals and 1 assist so far, Watkins has proven he can convert chances into FPL points, although he is slightly underperforming in this regard.
What sets Watkins apart is his versatility as both a scorer and creator. His xA of 0.9 is the highest among the alternatives, and with 6 shots on target from 10 attempts and 2 big chances created, Watkins poses a well-rounded attacking threat.
Aston Villa’s upcoming fixtures are promising for Watkins owners. With matches against Wolverhampton and Ipswich on the horizon, he has plenty of opportunities for returns. His projected points, as shown in the Predicted Points & Stats tool, remain consistently high, peaking at 5.8 for the upcoming match against Wolves, making him the top forward in this analysis.
Owned by 25.3% of managers, Watkins is the second most popular option on our list after Isak himself. This high ownership means that bringing him in could help you keep pace with the pack if he performs well. However, it also means he's less of a differential pick compared to some of our other options.
At £5.7m, Jamie Vardy offers a budget-friendly option with a 9.2% ownership.
Vardy has made a solid start to the season with 19 points from the first four gameweeks. His 2 goals demonstrate that he still knows where the back of the net is.
With 3 shots on target from 3 total shots, Vardy's efficiency is clear. His xG of 0.74 suggests he's overperforming slightly, but his track record suggests he can maintain this form.
As shown in the Fixture Planner tool, Leicester's upcoming fixtures are promising: Everton (H), Arsenal (A), Bournemouth (H), Southampton (A), and Nottingham Forest (H).
Among all the budget forwards in our comparison, Vardy and Leicester have the best run of upcoming fixtures. The home matches against Everton, Bournemouth, and Nottingham Forest could be especially productive for Vardy.
Kai Havertz, priced at £8.1m, is an intriguing option for managers aiming to retain a high-value forward. The Arsenal player has had a strong start to the 2024/25 season, accumulating 24 points in the first four Gameweeks. With 2 goals and 1 assist, Havertz has demonstrated his attacking potential.
In Arsenal’s first four games, Havertz has been a key contributor, leading in goals scored and expected goals (xG), while ranking second in shots on target, as highlighted by the Match Centre tool below. This showcases his ability to consistently get into scoring positions and convert chances, making him a valuable FPL asset.
Havertz's underlying statistics are particularly encouraging. He boasts an impressive xG of 1.94 and has registered 5 shots on target from 10 attempts. His creativity is also noteworthy, with an xA of 0.59 and 1 big chance created.
Arsenal's upcoming fixtures present a mixed bag. While they face tough opposition in Manchester City, they also have favourable matchups against Leicester and Southampton. Owned by 17.2% of managers, Havertz could be a relatively low-owned pick with high potential returns.
Chris Wood, priced at £6.1m, could be the differential pick that sets your team apart. The Nottingham Forest striker has quietly amassed 21 points (5.3 points per game) in the first four Gameweeks shown below in the Opta Heatmaps tool, with 2 goals to his name.
Wood's underlying statistics are particularly eye-catching. He boasts the second highest highest xG (2.05) among our potential replacements and has registered an impressive 7 shots on target from 10 attempts. While he hasn't recorded any assists, his xA of 0.42 suggests attacking returns could be on the horizon.
Forest's upcoming fixtures are a mixed bag, with tough matches against Brighton and Chelsea interspersed with more favourable encounters against Fulham and Crystal Palace. Owned by just 7.1% of managers, Wood could be a high-risk, high-reward option.
Jean-Philippe Mateta, priced at £7.4m, offers a mid-price option for those looking to differentiate. The Crystal Palace forward has notched up 18 points in the first four Gameweeks, including 2 goals.
Mateta's underlying stats are very respectable, with an xG of 1.84 and 2 shots on target from 6 attempts. While his creative numbers are modest (xA of 0.35), he could be a solid option for managers looking for a pure goalscorer.
FPL managers considering a Crystal Palace asset might want to look at Eberechi Eze over Mateta. The England international is projected to score more points over the next five Gameweeks and has outperformed his teammate in key attacking metrics, shown in the Fix Comparison Matrix. Eze has taken more shots, registered more shots on target, and attempted more assists per game compared to the French forward, making him a more appealing option for those seeking consistent returns.
Palace's upcoming fixtures present a challenge, with matches against Manchester United and Liverpool on the horizon. However, owned by just 4.5% of managers, Mateta could be a differential pick for the brave.
Danny Welbeck, priced at £5.7m, has caught the eye of many FPL managers, boasting a significant 18.3% ownership.
The Brighton forward has started the 2024/25 season in excellent form. With 25 points from the first four gameweeks, averaging 6.3 points per game (as shown in the Opta Heatmaps tool), Welbeck has proven to be a reliable asset. He's scored 2 goals and provided 1 FPL assist, highlighting his ability to contribute both as a scorer and a creator.
Welbeck's underlying statistics are equally impressive. With an xG of 1.29 and 10 total shots (4 on target), he's consistently getting into dangerous positions. His 4 attempted assists further highlight his all-round attacking threat.
Brighton's next five fixtures look promising for Welbeck: Nottingham Forest (H), Chelsea (A), Tottenham (H), Newcastle (A), and Wolves (H). The home games against Nottingham Forest and Wolves could be especially productive for the English forward.
At £5.9m, Dominic Calvert-Lewin represents excellent value, yet is currently owned by only 3.2% of managers.
Calvert-Lewin has made a strong start to the season, accumulating 22 points in the first four gameweeks. With 2 goals and 1 FPL assist, he's proving to be a potent attacking force for Everton.
The Everton striker's underlying stats are particularly encouraging. An xG of 1.32 and xA of 0.36 suggest his returns are sustainable. With 6 total shots (2 on target) and a big chance created, Calvert-Lewin is showing signs of his best form shown in previous seasons.
Among the budget forwards (£6.0m or less), the Everton forward ranks highest for predicted points in the Predicted Points & Stats tool for the upcoming gameweeks. This is largely due to Everton's favourable fixtures: Leicester (A), Crystal Palace (H), Newcastle (H), Ipswich (A), and Fulham (H). The home matches against Crystal Palace and Fulham could be particularly rewarding for Calvert-Lewin owners.
Replacing Alexander Isak is no easy task, but these forward options present a range of possibilities to suit different strategies and budgets. Whether you opt for the premium pick in Havertz, the budget-friendly Welbeck, or take a punt on one of the differentials, make sure to consider form, fixtures, and your overall team structure. The right choice could make all the difference in the coming Gameweeks.
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