Fantasy Football Scout picks out four players to get in your line-up for Gameweek 8.
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Double Gameweek 7 began with Aston Villa’s shock 6-1 thumping of Brighton and soon brought Luton’s first win of the season, Man City’s first loss and a rather controversial meeting between Spurs and Liverpool.
Each of the four players we backed were able to succeed, as Carlton Morris (£5.6m) and Jarrod Bowen (£7.2m) scored whilst Kieran Trippier (£6.8m) bagged 12 points and Abdoulaye Doucoure (£5.5m) provided an assist.
Now looking ahead to Gameweek 8, with an 11:00 BST Saturday deadline, here are a few less obvious players who we think could haul.
JAMES MADDISON (£7.9M)
OK, so perhaps Maddison is fairly obvious but, while a lot of managers are activating their Wildcards this week to grab Son Heung-min (£9.3m), let’s not forget how superb the former Leicester midfielder has been since signing.
He’s the league’s second-best player for both chances created (21) and shots on target (13), strong numbers that make him very difficult to overlook.
Life after Harry Kane has started well for Spurs, who are still unbeaten and rank as the number-one team for attempts (138). Maddison is already the epicentre of all this, with set-piece duties also in his locker. Away to newly-promoted Luton, targeting a double-digit points return is realistic.
PEDRO PORRO (£5M)
The Hatters are the opposite to Spurs, in that no outfit has mustered fewer shots on target so far (15). That means an attacking full-back like Porro has huge potential at both ends of the pitch.
Although slightly overshadowed by left-sided accomplice Destiny Udogie (£4.8m) so far, Porro was a revelation after his January arrival and has begun every match except Gameweek 1. From a mere 13 starts and 1,127 minutes, the Spaniard ended 2022/23 as the joint-best defender for goals (three) and shots per 90 (2.08) amongst regulars.
Since Gameweek 2, he’s second-best in his position for shots (nine) although none have yet tested the goalkeeper. His cross forced a dramatic stoppage-time own goal versus Liverpool – assist number two for the campaign.
LUIS DIAZ (£7.5M)
Yet that encounter will forever be remembered for Diaz’s disallowed goal. Opinions, audio recordings and general disbelief have dominated the week and we back the Colombian to reply with an allowed goal when travelling to leaky Brighton.
For all the attacking brilliance of Roberto De Zerbi’s lot, they are yet to keep a clean sheet and this culminated by conceding six times at Villa Park.
As Diogo Jota (£7.8m) is suspended and Cody Gakpo (£7.2m) has to nurse a knock, the start of Diaz shouldn’t be in doubt and therefore he has huge differential potential for Gameweek 8.
DOMINIC SOLANKE (£6.4M)
Finally, the forward with the most penalty area touches so far (53). It may be a surprise to see Bournemouth’s Solanke top this category ahead of some bigger names but he’s quietly notched three goals and will visit an Everton side that has lost all four home matches so far. This includes defeats to Fulham, Wolves and Luton.
He could even be a good pick for a little bit longer, considering the Cherries follow this fixture with Wolves (H) and Burnley (H).
It’s also worth noting that Solanke was the only FPL forward of last season to reach ten assists. He has the goals, the creativity and the in-box touches needed to flourish.
