FPL GW20 Best Forwards/Cunha Replacements | Forward Analysis

With the first Gameweek of the year kicking off on Saturday, the return to regular deadlines is much appreciated. Cunha’s suspension, confirmed earlier this week, means he’ll miss two games (just one in the Premier League) and should be back by GW21. However, Wolves upcoming fixtures don’t make a strong case for holding onto him. In this blog, we’ll dive into the potential best FPL GW20 Forwards/Cunha replacements within the same bracket.

Link to all our FPL GW20 blogs including scout picks, players to target, buy, hold, sell analysis, differentials, captaincy metrics, best forwards, and more. Completely free to access as well!

Cunha FPL GW20 Transfer trend so far

The popular transfer combinations for Cunha can be seen below (taken from livefpl.net). The most popular one among managers is Chris Wood. Wissa at 6th is an unexpected one in the list.

Best FPL Forwards Ahead of GW20 – Top Picks

The Table below looks at the top 10 forwards in terms of Non-Penalty xGI per 90 minutes, over the last 6 Gameweeks.

Player	NPxGI/90	GW20	GW21	GW22
Isak (new)	1.22	Spurs	Wolves	Bournemouth
Vardy (lei)	0.81	Aston Villa	Crystal Palace	Fulham
Gakpo (liv)	0.77	Man United	Nott’m Forest	Brentford
Havertz (ars)	0.63	Brentford	Brighton	Spurs
Jackson (che)	0.59	Crystal Palace	Bournemouth	Wolves
Haaland (mci)	0.44	West Ham	Brentford	Ipswich
Solanke (tot)	0.43	Newcastle	Arsenal	Everton
Evanilson (bou)	0.41	Everton	Chelsea	Newcastle
Mateta (cry)	0.40	Cheslea	Leicester	West Ham
Delap (ips)	0.38	Fulham	Brighton	Man City

Top 10 Players for NPxGI/90 | GW14-19

Alexander Isak (9.2)

In incredible form, Isak is currently the highest-scoring forward in FPL. He’s overtaken Cunha, Haaland, and Wood in points and is riding a goal spree since GW14. Owned by 50% of managers, Isak offers explosive potential.

Despite managing just one goal at Old Trafford, he had multiple chances and was close to a double-digit haul. He tops the table with an impressive NPxGI/90 and boasts the second-highest goal attempts per 90 among forwards, alongside leading in big chances (1.61 per 90).

Newcastle’s form and a shaky Spurs defense in GW20 make Isak an obvious pick. He’s also a potential captaincy candidate in GW23 against Southampton. If you don’t already own him, Isak is a must-have replacement for Cunha.

Chris Wood (6.7)

Nottingham Forest have been excellent this season, sitting second in the table with just four losses. With Nuno Espírito Santo steering the ship, Forest look formidable. Their main striker, Chris Wood, is gaining traction among FPL managers.

Wood may not appear in the top 10 for NPxGI, but he has a solid 0.56 big chances per 90 in the last six weeks and excels in headed attempts. With penalties in his arsenal and decent fixtures (Wolves and Southampton in the next three), Wood is a reliable, cost-effective pick.

Nicolas Jackson (8.2)

Jackson is another strong option, ranking fifth in NPxGI/90 (0.59). He leads forwards in minutes per shot (22.6) and has the highest penalty box touches (9.29 per 90).

Chelsea’s attack has been prolific, ranking second in the league, and they have favorable fixtures ahead: Palace, Bournemouth, Wolves, and West Ham. Jackson’s return from a recent absence could see him starting consistently, making GW22 a great entry point.

Jean Phillipe Mateta (7.2)

Crystal Palace’s resurgence, combined with favorable fixtures, makes Mateta an intriguing option. Palace haven’t scored multiple goals in a game yet, but with Chelsea, Leicester, and West Ham up next, that could change.

Mateta has a 0.34 NPxG/90 over the last six weeks and an xG per shot of 0.15. He offers a great differential option for managers chasing rank.

Note: Mateta could be looked at as a potential combination of players. A combination of Sarr/Eze + Wood could be compared to say, Rogers + Mateta and so on.

Cody Gakpo (7.3)

Gakpo has flown under the radar but has been a consistent starter in Jota’s absence. His current form makes him hard to bench, even when Jota returns. Gakpo is fourth among forwards for goal attempts per 90 (3.24) and averages 1.08 big chances per 90 over the last six weeks.

With Salah’s Effective Ownership (EO) soaring, adding Gakpo offers exposure to Liverpool’s attack at a somewhat affordable price. His shot heatmap also indicates that he has been taking shots from the central and left flank (the non-Salah areas) on the pitch. Despite coming with a rotation risk, he could be worth going for with fixtures against United, Ipswich & Brentford in next 5.

Other Mentions

Ollie Watkins (8.8)

The Villa attacking duo of Duran and Watkins have been sparring for dominance and starts throughout the season. Duran’s suspension has given Watkins a chance to cement his place, and he’s taken full advantage. In the previous match, he converted a penalty and provided a brilliant assist. Additionally, he had multiple opportunities to score even more points, recording an impressive xGI of 1.23. Watkins could be a solid one-week punt option. Villa faces Leicester this weekend, a team that has consistently conceded over 1 xGC per game and tends to leave gaps in their defence. However, there’s always the possibility that Watkins might be rotated when Duran is back in contention

Gabriel Jesus (6.8)

Gabriel Jesus looks like a more secure option in terms of starts. After his brace against Palace, where he recorded an xGI of 0.82, he became a popular transfer pick and he duly returned with a goal and an assist in GW19 vs Brentford. Jesus is known to be a streaky player, and Saka’s absence might guarantee him more starts. Priced under 7 million, Jesus could prove to be a valuable asset. However, the main concern is how Arsenal will adapt without Saka. They’ll need to reduce their reliance on the right flank, and it’s uncertain how long it will take for their attack to find its rhythm again. Scoring goals has been a lingering issue for Arsenal, even when Saka was fit.

Joao Pedro (5.7)

The Seagulls’ forward Joao Pedro managed to earn a fortunate 9-pointer in their match against Villa. Prior to his assist, many managers were losing patience with him. At a price of 5.5m, he still provides great value. However, his performance has noticeably dipped in the absence of his partner, Welbeck. With Welbeck on the pitch, Pedro was able to make more direct runs and was often on the receiving end of final passes or shots. Furthermore, he is a hot-tempered player prone to picking up cards and was lucky to avoid suspension a couple of weeks ago. If you already have Pedro in your team, he’s worth holding onto, but he’s not an ideal candidate as a replacement for Cunha.

Raul Jimenez(5.5)

Another forward with a rotation risk in this price bracket is Fulham’s Raul Jimenez. He’s been in competition with Muniz, and his starting position is far from guaranteed.

That said, Jimenez has a favorable run of fixtures coming up—Ipswich, West Ham, and Leicester—which could serve as an ideal entry point. Over the course of the season, Jimenez has maintained respectable stats, including 0.45 xG/90 and 0.11 xA/90. While he isn’t a standout pick, he could deliver a few returns during this stretch.

Special Mention – Jamie Vardy (5.5)

The legend of the game, Jamie Vardy, deserves a special mention. While his minutes have been limited and he missed one game recently, he still ranks at the top for shots in the box per 90 minutes among forwards over the past six weeks. Additionally, he’s second in terms of NPxGI/90, with only Isak ahead of him. This season, Vardy has already notched six goals and three assists. Although his upcoming fixtures aren’t the best, he could be a useful rotation option for specific weeks. A potential entry point for Vardy could be GW26, making him worth keeping on your radar.

With GW20 around the corner, choosing the right forward can make a huge difference. Isak remains the standout option, while budget alternatives like Wood and Mateta provide excellent value for managers looking to shake up their squads.

Who’s your pick for the Cunha replacement?

Thank you for reading, wish you all an amazing 2025!

Further reads from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL GW20:

Top FPL GW20 Differential Picks to Consider Ahead of Deadline
FPL GW20 Scout Picks Based on Stats, Analysis, and Matchups
FPL Gameweek 20 Transfer Tips: Two Players to Buy, Hold & Sell 
Top FPL Gameweek 20 Captain Picks Based on Analysis & Metrics
FPL GW20 Tips and Dilemmas Answered- Wood, Jackson, Trent and Fixtures to Target
FPL GW20 Tips & Ultimate Guide: Differentials, Captaincy & More
FPL GW20 Best Forwards/Cunha Replacements | Forward Analysis

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