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FPL: The 10 players who could help end your season on a high

FPL: The 10 players who could help end your season on a high
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You could do worse than to follow what these managers are up to.

The top 1,000 Fantasy Premier League managers are the cream of the crop, so what do they do that the rest of us should copy?

When it comes to player selection (figures taken at the gameweek 35 deadline), the numbers throw up some interesting differences between the best and the rest.

A table showing the difference between player selection by the top 1000 Fantasy Premier League managers, and overall selection

There is a lot to digest there, including some numbers which may surprise you.

Raul Jimenez is backed by nearly everybody

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Raul Jimenez
(Chris Radburn/PA)

A whopping 87.3% of the top 1,000 had selected Wolves striker Raul Jimenez compared to 35.9% of overall managers.

That's a strong overall selection, but it's clear that the top 1,000 have seen something special in him.

The forward costs just £6.9million at present, but for those who backed him from the start that figure was an astonishing £5.5m – and with the numbers he achieves, he's the perfect cheap striker.

Jimenez has scored 12 goals and registered 10 FPL assists and has featured in every Premier League game Wolves have played this season.

He scores in big games too, with goals against Chelsea and Tottenham across 2018-19, racking up 30 bonus points in the process. That's why almost every top manager has him in their squad.

Son is the player we're all missing out on

Son Heung-min plays for Tottenham during a Premier League match against Brighton
(John Walton/PA)

The player with the largest disparity in ownership when comparing the top 1,000 and overall ownership is Son Heung-min, who was picked by 84.5% of the best, but just 21.9% of all managers.

The Tottenham forward has been in fine form in Europe, netting three goals in Spurs' quarter-final victory over Manchester City, but he hasn't set the Premier League alight in terms of goals and assists recently.

Perhaps that's why so few have opted for the South Korean overall – but with fixtures against West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton to come, the top 1,000 may be banking on Son bringing his cup form into the league.

If he adds to his 12 goals and eight FPL assists, you can expect that gap between the top 1,000 and the rest to narrow.

The top 1,000 aren't afraid to take risks on a bargain in defence

Southampton's Yan Valery (left) and Southampton's Nathan Redmond (22) after the final whistle during a Premier League match
(Mark Kerton/PA)

Brighton defender Shane Duffy and goalkeeper Mat Ryan are both owned by a small percentage of FPL managers, but were backed by more than 50% of the top 1,000.

Brighton players have enjoyed back-to-back double gameweeks, which may explain Duffy and Ryan's selection figures, but the Seagulls have kept just one clean sheet in seven and are shipping goals in the middle of a relegation battle.

Furthermore, they still have to play Arsenal and Manchester City.

That said, Duffy has scored five goals this season, while Ryan earned nine points for his clean sheet against Wolves, and both were just minutes away from another clean sheet against Tottenham.

Elsewhere little-known gem Yan Valery of Southampton has proved popular with the top managers, owned by 43.6% of them compared to 3.3% overall.

The £4.1m defender doesn't have lots of points, but would have caught the attention of plenty when he earned 26 points in four gameweeks not long ago, including goals against Manchester United and Spurs.

Could one of these players help move you closer to the top 1,000?

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool19144147192846
2Arsenal20117239182140
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1911442619737
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham207943027330
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
11Brentford208393835327
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1944113142-1116
18Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326


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