Premier League fantasy football action returns in gameweek 23, and there is plenty to look forward to over the weekend, with all ten league games scheduled to go ahead in a PL matchday for the first time since December.
Chelsea face Tottenham Hotspur in the marquee clash of the weekend, but there are plenty of other exciting matches from a Fantasy Premier League perspective, with Arsenal taking on 20th placed Burnley and Aston Villa potentially having two fixtures against Everton and Leeds.
Here are our Premier League fantasy football picks for Gameweek 23.
GK: Jose Sa (WOL) – £5.2m
Jose Sa has been the top-scoring goalkeeper in Fantasy Premier League this season, scoring 95 points in 22 appearances. More impressively, the Portuguese goalkeeper has averaged 6 points per game across his last four fixtures and takes on a Brentford side that have scored just four goals in their previous seven league games.
DEF: Trent Alexander-Arnold (MCI) – £8.4m
Trent Alexander-Arnold remains a must-have asset for all Premier League fantasy football managers, with the Liverpool right-back registering his 7th double-digit return in gameweek 22. Alexander-Arnold is the highest-scoring defender in Fantasy Premier League this season and has another excellent fixture away to Crystal Palace this weekend.
DEF: Joao Cancelo (MCI) – £7.0m
Manchester City have been the best defensive team in the Premier League this season – conceding only 13 goals in 22 games – and Joao Cancelo remains the best asset in defence from the Cityzens, starting all but one league game this season and registering nine goals and assists.
DEF: Lucas Digne (AVL) – £5.0m
Lucas Digne had a promising Aston Villa debut from a Fantasy Premier League perspective, with the Frenchman registering 25 final-third touches, two shots in the box and two chances created. Digne was also on some set-piece duty against Manchester United, and with the prospect of a double- gameweek for Aston Villa, the left-back could be a popular transfer amongst Premier League fantasy football managers this weekend.
MID: Bukayo Saka (ARS) – £6.5m
Arsenal haven’t played a league game since New Year’s Day against Manchester City, and Bukayo Saka could be an excellent option for Fantasy Premier League managers ahead of the Gunners’ home tie against Burnley in Gameweek 23. Saka is the top points scorer in Premier League fantasy football for Arsenal this season and has managed four goals, two assists and 42 points in his last five appearances.
MID: James Maddison (LEI) – £7.0m
James Maddison has amassed 64 points in his last six games for Leicester – scoring five goals and registering five assists – and could be one of the most explosive assets to own in Gameweek 23 for FPL managers as the Foxes take on Brighton at home.
MID: Diogo Jota (LIV) – £8.3m
Although Diogo Jota failed to get on the scoresheet in Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Brentford in Gameweek 22, the Portuguese forward registered 0.85 Expected Goals and six shots, indicating that the points are around the corner for the Liverpool forward. Jota is also the second-highest goal-scorer in the league with ten strikes and has managed two goals and an assist in his five previous away appearances.
MID: Phil Foden (MCI) – £8.0m
Although Phil Foden has started only two of Manchester City’s previous five fixtures, the Englishman will be the one to watch for FPL managers ahead of the Cityzen’s favourable run of games against bottom-half opposition.
FWD: Bruno Fernandes (MUN) – £11.7m
After a run of five games without a return, Bruno Fernandes rewarded his FPL managers with 23 points in double-gameweek 22, scoring two goals against Aston Villa and providing two assists against Brentford. Fernandes’ underlying stats have been excellent all season long with a non-penalty Expected Goal involvement of 0.51 per 90, and the Portuguese midfielder takes on a West Ham side in gameweek 23 that are struggling with injuries.
FWD: Harry Kane (TOT) – £12.2m
Harry Kane has slowly got back to his best under Antonio Conte, with the English striker managing five goals and assists in his last five league games. Although Kane takes on a formidable Chelsea side in gameweek 23, the Englishman’s numbers over the past few weeks have been promising, taking ten shots and creating three chances in Tottenham’s 3-2 win over Leicester.
FWD: Josh King (WAT) – £5.7m
Despite managing only two points in Gameweek 22, Fantasy Premier League managers should stick with Josh King ahead of Watford’s meeting with the leakiest defence in the league – Norwich City – on Friday night.
Captaincy Pick
With Mohamed Salah still away on international duty, the captaincy debate is up in the air for Fantasy Premier League managers in gameweek 23 with plenty of attractive options available. Diogo Jota, Cristiano Ronaldo and Bukayo Saka are all viable candidates for the armband, but our captain pick for this week is Bruno Fernandes, given his stunning performances for Manchester United over the past two matches.
Shivaan Shah