FPL Gameweek 18 Gold Rush: Top Players Set to Deliver Maximum Points
Fantasy Premier League (FPL) marches on following Christmas Day festivities. These represent the traditional Boxing Day matches in English football, though only a single fixture will take place on December 26th.
With Manchester United hosting Newcastle United on Friday evening at Old Trafford, it essentially becomes another regular weekend, as most matches are distributed across Saturday and Sunday.
However, if you're seeking FPL guidance, continue reading to discover who deserves consideration for your upcoming team selection before the cutoff time.
Goalkeepers
Liverpool haven't recorded numerous clean sheets this campaign, but Alisson Becker (£5.4m) should be anticipated to blank Wolverhampton Wanderers, who have netted merely nine times across 19 matches.
Brentford's Caoimhín Kelleher (£4.5m) faces Bournemouth this round. Everton and Chelsea both denied the Cherries earlier this month, while struggling Burnley conceded just once in their previous outing—only Manchester United allowed four goals.
A capital city derby at home versus a team considerably lower in the Premier League standings? This certainly suggests the potential for Bernd Leno (£4.9m) to experience a productive FPL gameweek as Fulham welcome West Ham United to Craven Cottage.
Defenders
Manchester City's sequence of consecutive clean sheets has excellent prospects of extending against Nottingham Forest, making Joško Gvardiol (£6.0m) an ideal choice. The Croatian defender can accumulate points at both ends of the field due to his capacity to score or provide assists.
Facing his previous club, James Tarkowski (£5.5m) represents solid value for a clean sheet when Everton meet Burnley. Only three other sides, ironically including Everton, have registered fewer Premier League goals than the Clarets this season.
Arsenal's Piero Hincapié (£5.5m) is collecting the FPL points that would typically go to others if not for injuries. Gabriel's return isn't far off, but the Ecuadorian replacement has at least this week's match remaining ahead of him.
Midfielders
Less than 20% of FPL squads feature Morgan Rogers (£7.2m), which could provide a strategic advantage. Factor in that he's the key player for one of the league's hottest teams and the selection becomes logical, plus he won't break your budget.
Could Mason Mount (£5.9m) be worth a low-cost gamble for FPL managers dealing with tight finances? Current form suggests otherwise, but remember that Bruno Fernandes will be absent on Boxing Day due to injury, placing creative responsibility on alternative players.
Anthony Gordon (£7.3m) represents the type of attacking player who could trouble Manchester United's defense. The Newcastle winger enters this gameweek following a 10-point performance when the Magpies met Chelsea previously, with another double-digit return two weeks prior.
Forwards
Erling Haaland (£15.1m) carries a hefty price tag, certainly. However, he's netted nearly half the goals for the Premier League's highest-scoring side. Only Phil Foden demonstrates superior current form across the entire game. Additionally, 74.1% of FPL participants have selected him, so if you're among the remaining 25.9%, you're forgoing the points that others are accumulating.
There's no clear indication why Hugo Ekitiké (£8.9m) should cease scoring anytime soon. Alexander Isak remains sidelined through injury, making the Frenchman's position in Newcastle's lineup more secure than ever, having found the target five times in just the last three matches.
Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.8m) serves as the budget-conscious selection here. He's delivered 22 points over the previous two gameweeks and could inflict significant damage against Burnley in this fixture round.
When Is the FPL Gameweek 18 Deadline?
The GW18 deadline for FPL occurs at 6:30 p.m. GMT (1:30 p.m. ET, 1:30 a.m. PT) on Friday, Dec. 26.
All modifications must be completed before the deadline to take effect for GW18.