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Who are the best FPL Challenge GW31 picks? Players who create three or more chances will receive an additional six points this week. We use Opta data to find the top players to target in the Premier League.
The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed that Gameweek 31 of FPL Challenge, Creativity, closely mirrors Gameweek 22, The Playmaker.
The key difference lies in the scoring. In Gameweek 22, players earned a point for every chance they created. This time, they must meet a threshold of three or more chances created, but doing so earns a flat six points, irrespective of whether they create three chances or 30 (hey it could happen).
With that in mind, let’s take a look at which players have reached that threshold on the most occasions this season:
The added complication this week, of course, is that Gameweek 31 is a blank gameweek in FPL. This term refers to any matchday in which at least two teams do not play. Because Arsenal and Manchester City will instead be playing in the Carabao Cup Final, players from their teams will not be available. The same applies to those from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace, who would have been their opponents.
In an effort to maximise our creative potential, we’ll be going with a midfield-heavy 1-1-3-1 formation this week.
Goalkeeper
Aaron Ramsdale: Newcastle vs Sunderland (H)
This may seem like a strange choice given Newcastle United conceded seven goals at the Camp Nou against Barcelona in midweek, but we’re selecting Aaron Ramsdale as our goalkeeper.
Newcastle kept an impressive clean sheet away to Chelsea in their last Premier League game, and this week they welcome rivals Sunderland to St. James’ Park for the Tyne-Wear derby.
Sunderland have scored eight goals away from home in the Premier League this season, the second-fewest of any team, after Wolves (seven). No other side in the division has scored fewer than 15 such goals.
Newcastle fans will expect a reaction to their midweek drubbing, and there is no better game for which to refocus their minds.
Defender:
Antonee Robinson: Fulham vs Burnley (H)
Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson averages 1.55 chances created per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, which is the most of any defender in FPL who is currently fit to play.
Having failed to score in their last three games in all competitions, Fulham aren’t exactly in their attacking prime right now, but the visit of Burnley to Craven Cottage offers them a great opportunity to rediscover their verve in the final third.
Chances created are essentially shots that are assisted, and Burnley have allowed the most assisted shots of any team in the Premier League this season (361).
Robinson has had ongoing fitness issues and therefore isn’t a certain starter, so make sure to be attentive to Fulham’s line-up announcement on Saturday, and take a peek at our list of honourable mentions (below) for an alternative.
Midfielder
Bruno Fernandes: Manchester United vs Bournemouth (A)
This is the fourth consecutive week in which Bruno Fernandes has made our team, so forgive us for running out of superlatives.
The Manchester United captain is the chief creator in the Premier League this season, with his 16 assists double that of any other player.
He’s now four assists shy of the single-season Premier League record co-held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, who assisted 20 goals each in 2002-03 and 2019-20, respectively.
With three clean sheets across their last four games, Bournemouth are no slouches, but such is the weekly excellence displayed by Fernandes, he will nonetheless be our choice of captain this week.
Anton Stach: Leeds United vs Brentford (H)
Next up is all-action midfielder Anton Stach, whose Leeds team face Brentford at Elland Road on Saturday night.
Stach has gone seriously under the radar this season – his 2.41 chances created per 90 minutes ranks fifth league-wide – a highly impressive feat for a player in their first season in the Premier League, and especially while playing for a side battling relegation.
Most important for this week’s scoring system, Stach has achieved the threshold of three or more chances created in 46% of his starts this season, which is the third-highest mark across the league.
Dominik Szoboszlai: Liverpool vs Brighton & Hove Albion (A)
Rounding out our midfield is Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai, who scored again in midweek against Galatasaray to take his tally to 12 for the season in all competitions, the joint-best return of his career.
Multiple Liverpool players are great options this week, and although Florian Wirtz (2.24) and Mohamed Salah (2.18) average more chances created per 90 minutes than Szoboszlai (2.01) in the Premier League this season, they can’t match him for availability.
He regularly completes a full 90 minutes for Liverpool, and that has enabled him to stay on the pitch long enough to create three or more chances in 11 games this season, third only to Fernandes (17) and Declan Rice (12).
Forwards
Jarrod Bowen: West Ham vs Aston Villa (A)
Across his last nine games in all competitions, Jarrod Bowen has scored four goals and provided five assists, with goal involvements against the likes of Man City, Liverpool, Man Utd and Chelsea during this stretch.
Bowen has created the most chances of any player listed as a forward in FPL this season, with 30, and while he averages just one chance created per 90 minutes, he has been in strong creative form of late.
Indeed, he has met the three-chance threshold in three of his last four Premier League appearances, only failing to do so last time out against Man City when he nonetheless assisted West Ham’s only goal of the game.
GW31 Honourable Mentions
Pedro Porroleads all defenders for total chances created in the Premier League this season, with 34. Spurs have failed to keep a clean sheet in nine consecutive games in all competitions, but a midweek win against Atlético Madrid could provide a much-needed spark for some Premier League form.
Pascal Großhas been wonderful to watch on his return to Brighton and has met the threshold of three chances created in 30% of his starts in the Premier League since re-joining the club in January.
João Pedrodoesn’t make our team this week as a result of Chelsea’s run of three consecutive defeats, but he is nonetheless a strong pick due to his blend of scoring and assisting potential. He ranks second among forwards for chances created, with 27.
Opta Analyst’s Team Reveal: Gameweek 31 FPL Challenge Picks
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