FPL top picks for Gameweek 30

Utilising the fixture ticker and underlying stats from the Fantasy Football Scout members area, we pick out some of the FPL top picks for Gameweek 30. Considering team and player form, fixture difficulty and stats will help us shortlist some of the best assets for the round ahead.

Looking at the FPL top picks for Gameweek 30 can be extremely useful to managers in their quest for success. Knowing which players to target for the round ahead can help with important decisions like transfers and captaincy.

Note: This article was written before Gameweek 29 started. Any changes in terms of injuries will be updated upon its republishing as we draw closer to the Gameweek 30 deadline. Stats will naturally change during the upcoming Gameweek but won’t take anything away from the selections.

Fixtures

Below we can see the teams at the top with the easiest fixtures all of the way down to the bottom to teams with the toughest fixtures. This will help us pick out some of the best options for Gameweek 30.

Goalkeepers – David De Gea

Manchester United sit third on the fixture ticker this week. They face Everton in Gameweek 30. The Toffees have been struggling for most of the season, especially offensively. This season no team have scored less goals than Everton. This could suggest backing the Manchester United backline very beneficial.

One of the ways managers could look to invest into the Reds defence is goalkeeper David De Gea (£5m). The Spaniard ranks amongst the highest scoring goalkeepers in the game this season in FPL. In addition, Manchester United have also managed to keep the second most clean sheets this campaign (11). Because of this De Gea makes his way into the top picks for Gameweek 30.

Ederson

Manchester City rank fourth on the ticker this week. They also play against a poor-form team in Southampton. The Saints have been poor in front of goal this campaign. Amongst all teams in the league this season they rank as the joint worst for goals scored (22).

Focusing more on the Manchester City defence, they rank second best for goals conceded (25), the best for shots in the box conceded (134), the best for shots on target conceded (60) and the best for big chances conceded (35). All of this reinforces the fact that the Manchester City defence could be worth investment this week.

Kepa Arrizabalaga

Chelsea face Wolves in the next round. This season amongst all teams in the league they rank the joint worst for goals scored (22) and joint third worst for big chances (36). This could suggesting selecting a defensive player from Chelsea could be rewarding.

Since the Blues reverted back to their wing-back system they have improved defensively. Amongst all teams in the last six Gameweeks Chelsea rank in the best four for shots on target conceded (20) and big chances conceded (nine). The cheapest and most reliable way into the Chelsea defence is Kepa Arrizabalaga (£4.7m). The Spaniard ranks joint first for points per start this season amongst all goalkeepers who have played over 10 matches (4.6 points per game).

Defenders – Timothy Castagne

Leicester sit top of the fixture ticker this week. The Foxes face one of the worst sides in the division, Bournemouth. Amongst all teams in the league in the last six Gameweeks Bournemouth rank in the worst three teams for attempts on goal (48), minutes per chance (12.1) and shots on target (160).

The stats suggest that Bournemouth are struggling in front of goal so investing in the Leicester defence could be beneficial. Although Leicester themselves have been unsteady defensively, they can play with a wing-back system which allows Timothy Castagne (£4.4m) into some of the most advance positions on the pitch. The Belgian also sits amongst the best 10 defenders this season for non-penalty expected goal involvement. Castagne could have big potential this week and because of that makes the top picks for Gameweek 30.

Ben Chilwell

Chelsea have shown huge signs of defensive progress since they reverted to a back three system. They also come up against one of the lowest scoring teams in the league, Wolves. The potential for a clean sheet is clearly there so investing in the Chelsea defence could be key this week.

One way to invest in both defence and attack is Ben Chilwell (£6m). Playing wing-back gives Chilwell huge potential as he gets into some of the most dangerous positions on the pitch. To highlight his attacking capabilities, amongst all defenders in the last six Gameweeks Chilwell ranks second for non-penalty expected goal involvement (1.55). Taking everything account, Chilwell walks into the top picks for Gameweek 30.

Ruben Dias

We have already seen that Manchester City are maintaining some of the best underlying defensive stats in the league and it seems like only a matter of time before those impressive stats convert into a stable run of clean sheets.

Manchester City play a relegation battling Southampton who rank amongst the worst teams in the league for goals scored this campaign. Seemingly, one of the most secure routes into the defence is Ruben Dias (£5.9m). The Portuguese centre-back looks nailed into the backline and also leads his defensive teammates for non-penalty expected goal involvement in the last six Gameweeks (0.81).

Kieran Trippier

Newcastle rank in the bottom half of the fixture ticker this week. They face a game against Brentford in Gameweek 30. Newcastle have maintained some of the best defensive stats in the league this season. For example, they rank joint first for clean sheets kept (12), the best for goals conceded (19) and second best for big chances conceded (36).

Although in the middle of a defensive slump, Newcastle have proven one of the best defences in the league this campaign. Although that is the case, full-back Kieran Trippier (£6.1m) offers much more than that. The set piece taker ranks first amongst defenders for distribution data points like crosses, chances and big chances created. Trippier sits as the highest scoring defender in the game which only highlights his potential going into any given game.

Midfielders – James Maddison

Leicester sit top of the fixture ticker this week. They face one of the poorest defences in the league, Bournemouth. The Cherries have been conceding some shocking defensive stats this campaign. Amongst all teams in the league so far Bournemouth rank the worst for shots in the box conceded (299), the worst for shots on target conceded (145) and the worst for total attempts conceded (457).

Bournemouth are clearly a team to target and they have also conceded more double-digit hauls than any other team in the league. Because of this James Maddison (£8.3m) could be have huge potential in the round ahead. In the last six Gameweeks amongst midfielders he ranks joint third best for chances created (15) and joint second for big chances created (four). Maddison provides multiple routes to points and that can be reflected in the fact he has banked nine goals and six assists already this season.

Marcus Rashford

Manchester United have been brilliant this season. The Reds come up against relegation battling Everton in Gameweek 30. This season Manchester United rank amongst the best six teams in the league for attempts on goal (366), big chances total (70), minutes per chance (6.8) and shots on target (134).

The Manchester United attack is well worth investment this week. The standout option in the frontline is without a doubt Marcus Rashford (£7.3m). The winger sits amongst the five highest scoring players in the game this season. In addition, since the restart, no player has edged Rashford in terms of goals scored (10). He also ranks second for big chances total in that same period (13). Not only is Rashford a fantastic option this week but he could also be considered for the captaincy and so eases his way into the top picks for Gameweek 30.

Bruno Fernandes

Manchester United’s game against Everton could increase investment for the round ahead. To highlight Everton’s defensive woes this season, amongst all teams in the league they rank the second worst for shots in the box conceded (296), second worst for total attempts conceded (424) and third worst for attempts conceded from set plays (117).

Another Manchester United player that could take advantage of Everton’s poor defensive stats is Bruno Fernandes (£9.6m). The Portuguese midfielder has shown multiple routes to points this season scoring five goals and creating six assists. Fernandes also takes set pieces and penalties. giving him even more appeal.

Bukayo Saka

Arsenal lead the way at the top of the Premier League table. They will be looking to extend their run with a win against Liverpool. Although the match can be deemed as tough, Liverpool rank amongst the worst three teams in the league for big chances conceded this season (75). This could indicate them as a team to target.

To emphasise the attacking capabilities of Arsenal, in the last six Gameweeks they rank first for goals (21), first for attempts on goal (139) and dominate most of the other key offensive data points. One player who has contributed towards that is Bukayo Saka (£8.6m). Amongst all players in the last six Gameweeks the penalty taker ranks second for goals (five), second for attempts (26) and first for shots in the box (18). Saka is in form and could cause serious problems for Liverpool so becomes an easy inclusion into the top picks for Gameweek 30.

Alexis Mac Allister

Brighton have been on a great run this season. Their frontline is becoming one to fear and their stats reflect that. This season they rank amongst the best five teams in the league for goals scored (46), big chances total (71) and shots on target (138).

They face a Tottenham side riddled with issues. From behind the scenes problems to defensive inconsistency, they are seemingly a team to target. one of the players that could take advantage of that is Alexis Mac Allister (£5.5m). Amongst all players in the last six Gameweeks he ranks fourth for non-penalty expected goal involvement (4.05). He also takes set pieces and penalties giving owners even more potential. Other very good options include Solly March (£5.2m), and Kaoru Mitoma (£5.6m).

Forwards – Ollie Watkins

Aston Villa sit second on the fixture ticker this week with a game against Nottingham Forest. Amongst all teams in the last six Gameweeks the newly promoted side rank the second worst team for shots in the box conceded (66), third worst for total attempts conceded (97) and big chances total (18).

Nottingham Forest are conceding some concerning defensive stats and some of which Ollie Watkins (£7.5m) could scrutinise. The penalty taker has picked up five returns in his last six matches whilst also ranking second for non-penalty expected goal involvement (3.12), second for shots in the box (14) and second for big chances total (seven) amongst all forwards in the league. Watkins has huge potential in the round ahead and walks into the top picks for Gameweek 30.

Kai Havertz

Chelsea have been improving as of late. The Blues have managed to rack up eight goals in their last four games, averaging two goals per game. They come up against a Wolves side who conceded six goals in their last two games, four being against Leeds in the previous Gameweek.

The best way into the Chelsea attack is via German international Kai Havertz (£7.6m). Havertz has managed to net in both of his last two Premier League matches highlighting an uptake in his confidence. The striker is the focal point to the frontline and also takes his teams penalties, giving him an additional route to points. Havertz could have big potential against a poor Wolves defence and because of that makes the top picks for Gameweek 30.

Erling Haaland

Manchester City have dominated most of the key offensive data points this season with title rivals Arsenal. Because of this buying into the frontline could be absolutely essential this week as they face the struggling Southampton in Gameweek 30.

The main contributor towards the Manchester City stats and goals this season is Erling Haaland (£12m). The Norwegian has managed to rack up a monstrous 28 goals and five assists this season. He also sits as the highest owned and highest scoring player in the game. To highlight his explosiveness Haaland has netted eight goals in his last two matches in all competitions. If fit, Haaland could be an absolute essential going into the new round and for that reason breezes his way into the top picks for Gameweek 30.