Chelsea pair worth adding to your FPL side ahead of double gameweek
4-time top 1k and 5-time top 5k finisher Abdul Rehman uses stats, fixtures and the eye test to find the best Fantasy Premier League players with the potential to pick up big points and help shoot you up the rankings.
Reece James (£6.3m) – Chelsea
Fixture: West Ham United (H) and Manchester United (A)
Reece James has been a frustrating player for his owners recently. He has been benched in two of his last three league games as he was he was being prioritised for the Champions League, but now Chelsea are out, they only have the league to focus on until the FA cup final next month. He should, therefore, play the majority of league games from here on in.
It’s not often a 'rotation risk player' is in such high demand in FPL, but there is a reason why Reece James is still popular. That’s down to his amazing stats and the fact he plays in a solid defence. In 16 starts he has an xG of 2.43 and has created 32 chances with an xA of 3.93, which is fifth among defenders.
Chelsea have a double gameweek this week as they take on West Ham United and Manchester United. Although they come up against two decent attacking teams, one is still confident about the Blues' defensive prospects here.
Thomas Tuchel’s side have conceded the third fewest goals (27) in the Premier League this season with an xGC of 31.8 (3rd) and are only marginally behind Liverpool in defensive stats. They are also at 44% to keep a clean sheet against West Ham and around 35% against United. It's also worth noting that they have two more double gameweeks between now and the end of the season.
Mason Mount (£7.6m) – Chelsea
Fixtures: West Ham United (H) and Manchester United (A)
Mason Mount is enjoying his best season in a Chelsea shirt. In 27 outings, he has amassed 10 goals and nine assists, with an xG of 7.59 and he has also created 44 chances with an xA of 6.29. The England international is on corners and free-kicks, too, and has shown more goal threat this season to add to his assists.
Chelsea play West Ham United and Manchester United in the double gameweek. This is a good double for the Blues from an attacking sense. The Hammers have conceded 43 goals (8th) with an xGC of 44.8 (9th) and United have conceded 48 (12th) with an xGC of 48.4 (11th).
The London club are also the third favourites to score 2.5+ goals in both fixtures (39% and 24%) according to the bookmakers. Over the season, they have the third-best attack in the league and have scored 66 goals (3rd) with an xG of 57.9 (3rd). Both West Ham and United are likely to concede here.
And with Mount on so many set-pieces, he can pick up attacking returns in any match really. It’s clear he has upped his game in terms of scoring, as we can see this in his underlying numbers.
Teemu Pukki (£5.9m) – Norwich
Fixture: Newcastle United (H)
Teemu Pukki is now the fifth highest scoring forward in the game with 10 goals and three assists. This is quite an achievement considering his team have only scored 22 goals, and sit bottom of the league. The Finnish forward has an xG of 9.35, which is sixth among forwards, and has created 23 chances with an xA of 5.38, that fifth among forwards.
Despite Norwich scoring the fewest goals in the league, this hasn’t hasn’t stopped Pukki from being a handy FPL option. The Canaries play Newcastle United next, and this is a match they will think they can win.
Eddie Howe’s men have conceded 55 goals with an xGC of 53.4 over the season. Norwich are not going to be favourites for this tie, and with them all but relegated and nothing to lose, they can perhaps play with a bit more freedom.
Pukki has the highest goal involvement in the league, and he is also their penalty taker, and nailed on to start. In addition, Norwich have a double gameweek soon and a decent run of fixtures up until the end of the season.
