Fantasy Premier League: Richarlison vs James Maddison - Who to Transfer In?

In the ever-evolving landscape of the Fantasy Premier League, we now know that there will only be four fixtures in Gameweek 29.

Therefore this week, the focus turns to two standout Spurs players: Richarlison and James Maddison. Both have shown flashes of brilliance throughout the season, but which one should FPL managers bank on in the upcoming Gameweeks? Let's delve into a comprehensive comparison to assist in making that crucial decision.

Player Overview

Richarlison, with a price tag of £7.1m, has been a significant contributor for Spurs this season, amassing 107 FPL points from 10 goals and 3 assists in 22 games (1,351 minutes). His ownership among the top 100k managers is 29.9%, reflecting a fairly high level of popularity. Impressively, he has outperformed his expected goals (xG) of 8.14, indicating his efficiency in front of goal. However, with expected assists (xA) at 1.5, he slightly underperforms in creating goals. This Gameweek, 28,848 managers have transferred him in, drawn by his potential for high returns.

James Maddison, on the other hand, is priced at £7.9m and has earned 78 FPL points this season, scoring 3 goals and providing 8 assists in 15 games (1,237 minutes). Despite a lower ownership of 0.7% among the top 100k managers, his creative prowess is undeniable, outperforming his xA of 4.29. However, with an xG of 3.36, his goal-scoring has not met expectations. Maddison has seen 16,438 transfers in his favour this Gameweek, signaling a growing interest in his playmaking abilities.

While Richarlison provides a direct threat with his goal-scoring, Maddison offers substantial assist potential. This can be seen in their stats per 90 minutes in the Opta Player Heatmaps tool above. Their differing strengths make this comparison intriguing for FPL managers.

Upcoming Fixtures

The next four fixtures for Spurs are as follows:

As shown in the Fixture Planner feature, Spurs are 5th for attacking difficulty.

These fixtures present a mixed challenge for Spurs, however, the Predicted Points & Stats tool is projecting them to return 8 goals. No other team is expected to score more in this period.

Predicted Points

The predicted points for midfielders £8.0m and under, who have a fixture in Gameweek 29, are as follows:

This table suggests that Richarlison is expected to outperform Maddison in terms of predicted points across the next four Gameweeks, with the Crystal Palace and Luton fixtures being particularly promising for him. Maddison's consistent assist potential, however, could make him a valuable asset, especially in games where Spurs are expected to face stiffer opposition.

Conclusion

The choice between Richarlison and James Maddison is a nuanced one, hinging on whether FPL managers prioritise goal-scoring or creative playmaking. Richarlison's superior goal threat and higher predicted points make him an enticing option, especially in the shorter term. Maddison's assist potential and playmaking skills, however, could prove invaluable, as well as being on some set pieces. Both players have the potential to significantly impact FPL rankings, making this decision a compelling one for managers.