Fantasy Football Scout: Forwards about to make a comeback
After looking at some returning defenders and midfielders, Fantasy Football Scout’s attention now switches to fit-again forwards who could have an impact in this campaign’s final weeks.
The Double Gameweek 34 announcement has furthered the need for medium-term planning.
RASMUS HOJLUND (£7.0M)
- Club: Manchester United
- Reason for absence: Muscle injury
- Estimated return date: Gameweek 30
Just as this 21-year-old Dane was starting to showcase his talents, the momentum was curtailed by a muscle injury. Manchester United’s £72 million summer signing failed to score in his first 14 FPL appearances but five Champions League goals were encouraging.
Once his volley turned a 0-2 festive deficit into a 3-2 win versus Aston Villa, Hojlund suddenly couldn’t stop scoring. He now holds the record of being the youngest-ever player to net in six successive Premier League games.
Saturday’s trip to Brentford offers a chance to reach seven, with a probable Double Gameweek 37 making the fixture run from Gameweek 33 onwards particularly enticing.
Owned by just 4.4% of Fantasy managers overall, he’s a differential to consider for those chasing late-season rank leaps.His underlying numbers are Jekyll and Hyde, however.
The good: his rate of big chances (0.91 per 90 minutes) is very similar to that of Ollie Watkins (£9.0m). The bad: his minutes per overall chance (one every 51 minutes) is one of the worst among all regularly starting forwards.
Above: All Fantasy Premier League (FPL) forwards, ranked by big chances throughout 2023/24
Elsewhere, owners of Alejandro Garnacho (£4.9m) shouldn’t be too concerned about a threat to his starting status from Hojlund’s return. The Spaniard has begun 18 in a row, usually in tandem with Hojlund.
