Best FPL forwards for the next five Gameweeks

As the November international break allows FPL managers to relax, unwind and – eventually – plan for the future, here is a collection of the best forwards between Gameweeks 13 and 17.

We’ve already looked at the stand-out goalkeepers, defenders and midfielders.

BEST FPL FORWARDS

Erling Haaland (£14.0m)

With so few appealing forwards right now, how could we ignore the phenomenal Haaland? Following his record-breaking debut season of 36 Premier League goals, he’s already ahead of the rest with 13 this time.

On Man City’s penalties, he is quite comfortably ranked number one throughout the league for attempts (46), big chances (23) and shots on target (25). It means that those who dared to go Haaland-less for money reasons will have to put up with several Gameweek 12 situations, where he’s fixture-proof and able to haul against everyone.

Yes, he’s expensive. But he’s also going to be the league’s top scorer again.

Julian Alvarez (£7.1m)

Those without will almost certainly be trying to cover him with team-mate Alvarez. Available for half the price, the World Cup winner has started all 12 league games now that Kevin De Bruyne (£10.2m) is injured.

Goalless in his last three outings, he’s bagged four goals and six assists overall. Joint-sixth for chances created (27), his 49 penalty area touches aren’t particularly impressive. Furthermore, although joint-seventh for shots (34), nobody with 25+ of them has fewer big chances (three).

Ollie Watkins (£8.4m)

Elsewhere, Watkins’ ownership has reached 43.4% thanks to both consistency and explosiveness. Sat between Haaland and Alvarez as the second-best forward, he could only set up others during the first five Gameweeks but erupted with five goals and four assists between Gameweeks 6 and 9.

Things have quietened since with just one goal during the Luton, Nottingham Forest and Fulham run. But it’s hard to go against the best in his position for box touches (87) and number two overall for box shots (35), big chances (14) and shots on target (16).

Watkins’ next five fixtures include a trip to Bournemouth. Also, with 13 successive home victories, the hostings of Man City and Arsenal aren’t intimidating.

Odsonne Edouard (£5.5m)

For those needing a cheap seventh attacker, Edouard may tempt some into a 3-4-3 formation rather than a fifth midfielder. Of all players under £6.0m, nobody beats the Crystal Palace man for attempts (31) or shots on target (13).

And Eberechi Eze’s (£6.1m) return will only help with his output. The weekend goal versus Everton was Edouard’s fifth of the season but first since Gameweek 5. Still Roy Hodgson’s first-choice forward, Saturday hinted at a return to his early form, just in time to face Luton, West Ham and Bournemouth.

Taiwo Awoniyi (£6.4m)

Finally, someone who is productive when fully fit. Nottingham Forest’s Awoniyi ended 2022/23 with six goals in the final four matches, continuing this over so that he’d netted in seven successive games by Gameweek 3. A couple of assists ensured his returns streak stretched to nine.

Only three of his eight starts have ended in blanks but those four non-starts were due to ankle and groin issues. His 12 shots and five on target rank poorly – as does Forest being third-worst for attempts (127) – but they soon go against Everton, Fulham and Wolves.