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Welcome to The Watchlist for February, RotoBallers! This is the third year covering FPL on the site, and we are bringing you more coverage than ever before. We will publish the Gameweek Preview, consisting of a Staff Roundtable and our rankings every week. Then, once a month, we will publish our newest article, The Watchlist.
After a hectic December, January slowed down in Fantasy Premier League. There were only two gameweeks (and one of them ends Thursday) due to winter breaks and domestic cup competitions. The transfer market has also been slow in the Premier League. The most significant returns in the game were Kevin de Bruyne, Erling Haaland, and Ivan Toney coming back into their respective squads.
The Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 23 deadline is 6:00 AM ET on Saturday, February 3, for the battle between Everton and Tottenham. Also, look out for the rest of our excellent soccer coverage as the squad gets you all set for every English Premier League, Major League Soccer, and UEFA Champions League slate from a DFS and betting perspective.
Fantasy Premier League - The Watchlist
The Watchlist is our monthly Fantasy Premier League article where we identify over and underachievers from the last month to recommend excellent FPL picks for the short to medium-term future. We will review each position and the fixtures before recommending five players for the upcoming calendar month.
Note: All stats are taken from the last six gameweeks (16-21).
January's Fantasy Premier League High Scorers
- Goalkeeper: Jason Steele, Brighton - 18 points
- Defender: Craig Dawson, Wolves - 19 points
- Midfielder: Cole Palmer, Chelsea - 28 points
- Forward: Darwin Nunez, Liverpool & Zeki Amdouni, Burnley - 16 points
Fantasy Premier League Overachievers
Goalkeepers
| Player | Team | Clean Sheets | Saves | FPL Points | xG Prevented |
| Dubravka | NEW | 1 | 36 | 25 | 4.7 |
| Trafford | BUR | 1 | 35 | 25 | 4 |
| Areola | WHU | 3 | 23 | 32 | 3.6 |
| José Sá | WOL | 2 | 10 | 22 | 2.1 |
| Kaminski | LUT | 1 | 20 | 19 | 1.1 |
Defenders
| Player | Team | Att. Returns | Clean Sheets | FPL Points | xGI | Delta |
| Roerslev | BRE | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0.21 | 1.79 |
| Doughty | LUT | 4 | 2 | 40 | 1.25 | 1.75 |
| Montiel | NFO | 2 | 1 | 17 | 0.26 | 1.74 |
| Senesi | BOU | 2 | 2 | 28 | 0.56 | 1.44 |
| Gabriel Magalhães | ARS | 3 | 2 | 39 | 1.65 | 1.35 |
Midfielders
| Player | Team | Goals | Assists | FPL Points | xGI | Delta |
| Diogo Jota | LIV | 3 | 3 | 32 | 1.31 | 3.69 |
| Lucas Paquetá | WHU | 0 | 4 | 22 | 0.62 | 3.38 |
| Richarlison | TOT | 6 | 0 | 49 | 3.67 | 2.33 |
| Bernardo Silva | MCI | 3 | 1 | 35 | 1.84 | 2.16 |
| Rashford | MUN | 2 | 1 | 21 | 0.84 | 2.16 |
49 points across his last six matches 🔥
No #FPL player has scored more points than Richarlison in that period 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/RbazemmCpz
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) January 31, 2024
Forwards
| Player | Team | Goals | Assists | FPL Points | xGI | Delta |
| Wood | NFO | 1 | 40 | 5 | 3.29 | 2.71 |
| Højlund | MUN | 1 | 21 | 2 | 0.79 | 2.21 |
| Foster | BUR | 1 | 16 | 1 | 0.53 | 1.47 |
| Nketiah | ARS | 2 | 12 | 0 | 0.72 | 1.28 |
| Solanke | BOU | 0 | 40 | 5 | 3.93 | 1.07 |
Fantasy Premier League Underachievers
Goalkeepers
| Player | Team | Clean Sheets | Saves | FPL Points | xG Prevented |
| Flekken | BRE | 0 | 11 | 8 | -4.9 |
| Turner | NFO | 0 | 21 | 14 | -3.4 |
| Neto | BOU | 2 | 14 | 22 | -1.7 |
| Bentley | WOL | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1.5 |
| Foderingham | SHU | 1 | 19 | 19 | -1.3 |
Defenders
| Player | Team | Att. Returns | Clean Sheets | FPL Points | xGI | Delta |
| Alexander-Arnold | LIV | 1 | 2 | 26 | 2.55 | -1.55 |
| White | ARS | 0 | 2 | 18 | 1.07 | -1.07 |
| Cash | AVL | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1.01 | -1.01 |
| van Hecke | BHA | 0 | 2 | 20 | 0.97 | -0.97 |
| Robinson | FUL | 0 | 2 | 19 | 0.83 | -0.83 |
Midfielders
| Player | Team | Goals | Assists | FPL Points | xGI | Delta |
| Saka | ARS | 1 | 1 | 18 | 4.2 | -2.2 |
| Groß | BHA | 0 | 2 | 23 | 4.01 | -2.01 |
| Odegaard | ARS | 0 | 1 | 20 | 3.01 | -2.01 |
| Gallagher | CHE | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1.61 | -1.61 |
| Ramsey | AVL | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1.39 | -1.39 |
Forwards
| Player | Team | Goals | Assists | FPL Points | xGI | Delta |
| Calvert-Lewin | EVE | 1 | 14 | 0 | 2.68 | -2.68 |
| Álvarez | MCI | 1 | 24 | 2 | 4.82 | -1.82 |
| Broja | CHE | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1.71 | -1.71 |
| João Pedro | BHA | 1 | 25 | 2 | 4.25 | -1.25 |
| Ogbene | LUT | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1.13 | -1.13 |
Fantasy Premier League Fixtures - February
Best Fixtures
- Man City: at Brentford, Everton, Chelsea, Brentford, at Bournemouth
- Aston Villa: at Sheffield United, Man United, at Fulham, Nottingham Forest
- Brighton: Crystal Palace, at Spurs, at Sheffield United, Everton
- Sheffield United: Aston Villa, at Luton, Brighton, at Wolves
- Crystal Palace: at Brighton, Chelsea, at Everton, Burnley
Worst Fixtures
- Chelsea: Wolves, at Crystal Palace, at Man City, BLANK*
- Liverpool: at Arsenal, Burnley, at Brentford, BLANK*
- Luton: at Newcastle, Sheffield United, Man United, BLANK*
- Spurs: at Everton, Brighton, Wolves, BLANK*
- Bournemouth: Nottingham Forest, at Fulham, at Newcastle, Man City
*BLANK = No fixture due to conflicts with the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Chelsea
Fantasy Premier League Five To Watch - February
Martin Dubravka - Newcastle
- It seems as though Martin Dubravka has done a good enough job between the sticks over the last two months. Newcastle showed no signs of bringing in competition during the transfer window, meaning the job is Dubravka's for the remainder of the season. The Magpies looked back to form in a 3-1 win over Aston Villa on Tuesday, and it could be time to jump on the Geordies. In the next three fixtures, Luton, Nottingham Forest, and Bournemouth beckon for the Toon Army.
Jan Paul van Hecke - Brighton
- With Erling Haaland's return and a double gameweek on the horizon, FPL managers will need to find savings in their lineups. Jan Paul van Hecke offers those cost-cutting capabilities with some minor upside. The Brighton defender is £4.0m and has played every minute of Brighton's previous 12 Premier League games. A goal is imminent for the Dutch defender, as he's registered at least 0.2 xG (expected goals) in two of his last four fixtures.
Diogo Jota - Liverpool
- All he does is score goals! Diogo Jota has been prolific since his return to the Liverpool starting XI. The Portuguese forward has 40 FPL points in the last four gameweeks, and his starting spot is secure as long as Mohamed Salah remains sidelined. Regardless, it would likely be Darwin Nunez or Luis Diaz to make way for the Egyptian's return. Jota has been the tip of Liverpool's spear as the battle in four competitions heading into February.
A quick look at Diogo Jota's #FPL returns before and after his injury...
Just how good has he been since returning to Liverpool's line-up? 🔴 pic.twitter.com/o4GsKIfcF5
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) February 1, 2024
Ivan Toney - Brentford
- After an eight-month suspension, Ivan Toney returned to the Premier League with immediate returns. He's grabbed two goals in two games and will quickly become an option in our FPL squads. The English striker has two games in Gameweek 25, and Brentford has a confirmed fixture in the dreaded Blank Gameweek 29 due to the FA Cup quarterfinals. Jumping on Toney before the masses could give your team a significant edge before Double Gameweek 25.
Erling Haaland - Man City
- This is obvious, but Erling Haaland has shaken off a two-month injury and made it back to the pitch for Man City. FPL managers should move to DEFCON 1 and do whatever it takes to bring in the Norwegian. While he's been sidelined since Gameweek 17, Haaland is still a terrific asset. Man City has five games over the next four gameweeks, and Haaland will severely punish those managers who go against him.
Erling Haaland is set to return to action today after missing six Premier League matches 👀
How will he do? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/tCygXfbuvD
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) January 31, 2024
Is there anything else you would like to cover for FPL every week? Hit us up on Twitter @RotoBaller. We would love to hear your feedback and ideas!
