Diogo Jota Replacements for the Run In | FPL GW37 &38

Following Sunday’s news that Diogo Jota has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a foot injury, I am sure everybody is scrambling to find the next mid-priced midfielder that will help them finish the season strong. In this article, I will look at 4 affordable midfield options, delving into their attacking stats and looking at the opposition they will face in FPL GW37 and 38, attempting to pick out a hidden gem that will help you soar up your mini-league and rise up the ranks. Hope you enjoy it!

Diogo Jota Replacement for FPL GW37 and 38:

Raphinha (Sou, WBA), £5.5, TSB: 6.7%

The Brazilian has recently returned from injury, and has already hit the ground running, picking up 2 assists in 2 GWs. His numbers have been impressive this season, with an xA of 8.32 and creating 12 big chances in the process, both 1st in the Leeds squad, and 1st in the division, discounting premium assets. Raphinha has also been involved in 33% of Leeds’ goals this season, despite only starting 64% of games, showing how his numbers can be skewed by injury and a lack of match fitness.

Looking at the opposition, both Southampton and West Brom are ‘on the beach’ with seemingly nothing to play for. Southampton have an xGC of 1.98 per 90 and conceded 2.67 big chances per 90, both 4th worst in the division. It looks bleaker for the baggies, who have the 2nd worst xGC in the last 6 (2.12), conceding 2 big chances per 90 in the process. This screams huge points potential for Raphinha, who will be looking to show what he can do, as he aims to propel Leeds to their first top-half finish since 01/02. Some may even think the Brazilian will be aiming to secure a big move in the Summer, but whatever the motivation, I think Raphinha is a fantastic option for the run-in.

Joe Willock (SHU, Ful), £4.7, TSB: 0.6%

I now turn my attention to a huge differential, owned by only 0.6% of managers. The Arsenal loanee has been in superb form since joining Newcastle, with 5 goals in his last 5 appearances. Willock’s numbers have been equally as impressive, amassing an xG of 0.51 per 90 in the last 6, the highest in the Newcastle squad, and the 5th highest in the division. Willock is also taking 0.75 big chances per 90, suggesting his scoring numbers aren’t just a fluke. The Englishman has been involved in 36% of his teams’ goals in the last 6, demonstrating how key he is to their plans.

📌 Willock(0.5%) could be a very good differential for the last two games

5 goals in his last five appearances for Newcastle. Second highest amongst goals since GW30👀

Started two games in a row and up against already relegated Sheffield United and Fulham😬#FPL #FPLCommunity pic.twitter.com/9gN1Xnaz4k

— ALLABOUTFPL (@allaboutfpl) May 15, 2021

Turning to the fixtures, the Magpies play 2 of the already relegated sides, including the worst defense in the league; Sheffield United. The Blades have an xGC of 2.01 per 90 and conceded 2.6 big chances per 90 in their last 6, both horrific figures. Likewise, Fulham’s numbers have been poor of late, with an xGC of 1.86 per 90, as well as conceding the most big chances per 90 in the last 6 (3). Both these sides are playing for nothing and seem to have lost motivation, so I could see Joe Willock benefitting from this, and securing a decent points tally in the final 2 fixtures.

Mason Greenwood (FUL, Wol), £7.2, TSB: 9.1%

Here I look at one of the most in-form players in the Division, with Mason Greenwood having the time of his life. The wonder kid has really matured this season and is taking the Premier League by storm, with 6 goals and 1 assist in his last 6 starts. In that time, Greenwood has amassed an xG of 0.48 per 90, the highest in the United squad. Greenwood also leads the way for the Red Devils in xA (0.26) and shots in the box (2.67) per 90, demonstrating he is equally as creative as he is clinical. The winger has been involved in 50% of his side’s goals in the last 6, which is staggering considering he is still only 19!

Briefly looking at the opponents, we have previously discussed relegated Fulham, who just seem to have pushed so hard for survival, they are now going to be sleepwalking to the end of the season. But Wolves have been equally as bad defensively of late; since their 4-0 loss to Burnley, Wolves have an xGC of 1.77 per 90, conceding 2.5 big chances per 90, putting Wolves in the bottom 5 defenses in that time. The Wanderers seem to be that team this season that secured safety very early, so have taken their foot off the gas for the remainder of the season. This makes Greenwood a great option, with United still pushing to secure 2nd place.

Phil Foden (Bha, EVE), £6.1, TSB: 8.9%

Surprisingly, the Champions have become rather unpopular in recent times, mostly due to the dreaded, unpredictable Pep Roulette. However, with only two games left of the campaign, it may become easier to predict who will see out the season, and Phil Foden is one that I can see featuring in both. The youngster has been phenomenal when he has played this season, playing an influential role in the City midfield. In his last 3 league starts, Foden has 2 goals and 3 assists, being involved in 56% of goals in those games, highlighting his influence in the team. The Citizens as a whole though have been below par recently, with an xG of 1.61 per 90 and are only having 1.8 big chances per 90 in the last 6, both in the bottom half in the division, suggesting there is more to come from City.

The opposition actually have fairly decent defensive stats, with Brighton having an xGC of 0.95 per 90 in the last 6, the 3rd best in the division. The Seagulls have also only conceded 1 big chance per 90 in that time, showing they are a hard team to break down. However, without the suspended Lewis Dunk, this may be an opportunity for City to strike. Everton have been weaker this season, but still only having an xGC of 1.12 per 90, marginally behind Brighton.

As well as this, Foden has only started 1 of the last 7 league games, being preferred in more important Champions League games. But now only the Premier League remains and with a 6-day gap between the Everton home game and the final, I see Foden playing both league games. If you are looking for an educated punt, I think Foden could be the one.

Final Words

Hopefully, you found this article interesting and can use the info provided to pick out your Jota placement for the run-in. Thanks for reading, and if you have any questions, my DMs are always open @fpl_serpent Good luck!

FPL GW37 Captaincy poll

[Total_Soft_Poll id=”6″]

Do vote in this week’s allaboutfpl captaincy poll. The same will be available in the captaincy analysis and metrics blog written by AK. The metrics has been delivering consistently since debuting in GW29 and is absolutely free. Stay tuned for the same.

Don’t want to pay and try out a free trial instead?
Get a seven-day free trial for FFHUB now: Free trial

Further reads from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL GW37:

FPL Tools Overview, Comparison, and Feature Analysis
All that you need to know about FPL cup
History Of Fantasy Football And Origin Of FPL
FPL History: Highest Scoring FPL Players Each Year Since The First FPL Season in 2002/03
FPL Tools guide for managers: Free and Paid

Keep checking allaboutfpl.com for regular blogs. Also, follow our 16000+community on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to stay updated on regular Posts and FPL updates.

What’s next from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL GW37 Deadline?

Our team of good writers are working relentlessly as we strive to deliver good FPL good content. Stay tuned for our, Differential picks(<10% TSB), Captaincy metrics for FPL GW37, Teams and players to watch out for the remainder of the season, FPL Transfer trend analysis, Our star writer Nima’s Team reveal, tips, and strategy for the remaining weeks, and Matchups blogs. All the blogs will be out soon ahead of a Tuesday evening FPL deadline.

Our content is always free and if you like our content do drop a comment, follow, subscribe, and support us. Your love is what keeps us going:)

FPL GW37 FPL Deadline Countdown

Login and set your team for FPL GW37 now!