11 Gameweeks down, 27 to go! While it’s still early days in the season, we’re starting to see some real standout players emerge. Man United skipper Bruno Fernandes was one of a few assets who have racked up double digits in the recent weeks. But the real question is, who should we be eyeing for explosive returns in the upcoming weeks?
In this article, we’ll dive into the underlying stats of a few midfield maestros who could make a significant impact from now until December. After analyzing data from recent matches, I’ll share insights on the players primed for success and likely to deliver big FPL points. Let’s get into it!
Article written by @TheFPLManual, Do give him a follow on Twitter for all things FPL and UCL Fantasy
Note: We have left out very obvious midfielders like Salah & Palmer in this blog as they are obvious picks and we want to focus on other midfielders in this blog!
Link to all our FPL GW12 blogs including scout picks, wildcard guide, best midfielders, best forwards, players to target, buy, hold, sell analysis, differentials, captaincy metrics, transfer targets, and more. Completely free to access as well!
Top Five FPL Midfielders To Consider from GW12-15
Just to establish a few metrics used for this piece, we will be measuring FPL assets with the best fixtures against form, non-expected penalty goals/expected assists, and shots on target along with necessary data are from FFHUB(Subscribe with 30% off).
Premium FPL Midfielders Selection
Bukayo Saka (£10.1m) – Arsenal (TSB – 25.4% ownership)
In 10 league appearances for the Gunners, Arsenal “Starboy” Bukayo Saka has scored 3 goals and provided 7 assists for Arsenal. However, the Englishman’s performance has been underwhelming in recent weeks, with only 13 FPL points in the last four gameweeks.
Key statistics for Bukayo Saka in his first 10 league games:
- 12 shots on target – Ranked joint 9th in the league
- 0.76 assists per 90 minutes (Total of 3.43 xA)
- 78 touches in the opposition box and
- Average 9.39 progressive carries per 90 minutes (84 total progressive carries)
To give more context on progressive carries, Saka is producing a similar number with the likes of Matheus Cunha and Antoine Semenyo who are predominantly play as strikers for their respective teams. This showcases how Arsenal’s talisman is largely involved with goals for the Gunners and has a 1.10 xGI.
According to our FFHub projections, Arsenal is ranked second for potential attacking returns (only behind Liverpool) for the next four gameweeks, coming up against Nottingham Forest, West Ham, Man United, and Fulham.
With a favorable swing in fixtures for Arsenal and the underlying stats highlighted above, Gameweek 12 presents a good opportunity to invest your stocks in Bukayo Saka as he would likely improve in form and be a popular selection by December.
Further Read: FPL GW12 Wildcard Team & Drafts to Consider | Wildcard Guide
Semi-Premiums
Martin Ødegaard (£8.2m) – Arsenal (TSB – 3.5% ownership)
Another Arsenal player joins the list, this time as a differential. Martin Ødegaard has missed the majority of the season due to injury, but his absence has been felt as he is a key creator for Arsenal.
With only one assist provided in four games, perhaps we should consider Ødegaard’s vital stats from last season. Odegaard was a top leader in:
- Progressive passes among Premier League midfielders with 10.02 progressive carries per 90 minutes
- Amassed 0.32 expected assists per 90 minutes
- Created 102 chances in the league and
- Had 188 touches in the opposition box
The Norwegian international also concluded the season with 8 goals and 11 assists for Arsenal.
According to our Fantasy Football Hub AI estimates, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard are among the top 10 midfielders expected to achieve over 20 points in the coming weeks.
Top FPL Midfield Predictions from GW12-19 via FFHUB -> Subscribe now with 30%
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Ødegaard’s return helped Arsenal secure a draw against their London Rivals, Chelsea, in Gameweek 9. If you can’t afford Bruno Fernandes or need a solid differential to step up in your mini-league, Ødegaard could be an ideal option for your fantasy team.
Mid-Priced FPL Midfielders for GW12-15
Kaoru Mitoma (£6.4m) – Brighton (TSB – 5.2% ownership)
With 918 minutes under his belt, Kaoru Mitoma has been a key player for Fabian Hürzeler’s Brighton, consistently showcasing his exceptional dribbling skills. However, he’s been unlucky in converting those efforts into goals, having scored only once since Gameweek 1 against Everton.
In terms of stats, the few places Mitoma stands out would be his creativity on the pitch having amassed:
- 9 shots on target (joint 24th in the league)
- 21 successful dribbles
- 14 chances created with a total expected assist of 2.00 xA and
- Touches in the opposition box – 69 (more touches than his teammates Danny Welbeck – 49 touches in the box)
Brighton’s next four fixtures offer a promising outlook for Mitoma’s fantasy returns, as the Seagulls avoid any of the traditional top-six teams in that run. I’m especially keen to target Mitoma in my squad for their upcoming home game against Southampton, whose defense has been porous, conceding 21 goals so far this season.
Further Read: FPL GW12 Wildcard Team & Drafts to Consider | Wildcard Guide
Pedro Neto (£6.2m) – Chelsea (TSB – 0.9% ownership)
Chelsea’s new signing Pedro Neto seems to have broken into Enzo Maresca’s first team as he played 90 minutes for the last three games, accumulating 16 points in that period and scored his first goal for the Blues against Arsenal in Gameweek 11.
During this timeframe, the Portuguese international has picked up a goal and an assist from an xGI of 1.1. It remains to be seen if Maresca favours Neto starting every week, however, he could be worth a punt in the fixture.
Note: Pedro Neto is on four yellow cards, one away from suspension.
Budget-Friendly Pick
Morgan Rogers (£5.4m) – Aston Vila (TSB – 21.4% ownership)
With three goals and two assists to his name, Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers has not been quite as exciting or rather consistent as once teased in our FPL pre-season blog. Rogers, however, stands out among midfielders costing under £6m, ranking fifth in that group, with a total of 45 FPL points.
Key statistics for Rogers include:
- 7 shots on target (joint 34th in the league)
- 16 chances created with a total expected assists of 1.48 xA
- 18 successful dribbles completed
- Touches in the opposition box – 46
Aston Villa’s next fixtures are relatively easy on paper, playing three home times against Crystal Palace, Brentford, and Southampton. According to FFHub AI projections, Morgan Rogers might gain roughly 17.6 points in the next four gameweeks, which could be an exciting period for managers who kept having faith in Morgan Rogers.
Honourable Mentions:
Ipswich Town’s Sam Szmodics (£5.8m) and Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo (£5.7m) show promising potential for future hauls. However, Szmodics remains a player to monitor as we wait for Ipswich’s form to stabilize before he becomes a clear pick. Semenyo, on the other hand, is on a cautionary note, just one yellow card away from suspension.
And that wraps up our article! Hopefully, these insights support your fantasy decisions and help you rise in your mini-leagues. We’ll be back with more forward-planning tips by Gameweek 16. Good luck, managers!
Further reads from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL GW12
FPL GW12 Tips & Ultimate Guide: Differentials, Captaincy & More
FPL Midfielders Watch: Top Assets to Target for Gameweek 12-15
FPL GW12 Wildcard Team & Drafts to Consider | Wildcard Guide
Link to all our FPL GW12 blogs including buy, hold, sell analysis, differentials, captaincy metrics, transfer targets, and more. Completely free to access as well!
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What’s next from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL Gameweek 12 of the 2024/25 FPL Season?
We’ll be covering differential picks, transfer targets, Buy, Hold, Sell analysis, Scout picks, Gameweek preview, Captaincy metrics, FPL GW12 tips, and more. Keep checking allaboutfpl.com for all our blogs. We’ll also be posting regularly about the same on our social media accounts so follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and keep our notification ON.
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