FPL Draft - What The Underlying Stats REALLY Tell Us

We are ten Premier League gameweeks into the season – but are the results telling us the full story? In this international break special, we go beyond the league table and do a deep dive into the underlying statistics from the opening ten gameweeks of the 2026/27 season to uncover the teams, players and trends that could help to shape your FPL Draft season. From expected goals (xG) and expected goals conceded (xGC) to expected points (xPTS), attacking threat and defensive contributions (DEFCON), we're separating genuine performance from good fortune. 🔍 IN THIS EPISODE: ⚽ Premier League xG Analysis – Manchester City lead the way, but who are the sides at the WRONG end of the table, who should be challenging for Europe?   🛡️ Defensive Data Revealed – Arsenal dominate the underlying defensive numbers, but which other Premier League teams should FPL Draft managers be targeting for clean sheets? 📊 Expected Points vs Reality – Who are the sides that are significantly underperforming their xPTS, and is it time to place our faith in their assets? 🔥 FPL Draft Player Targets – We spotlight kep waiver options ahead of Gameweek 11, including Murillo, Andy Robertson, Pedro Neto, Alex Iwobi, Florian Wirtz and Exequiel Palacios.  🎯 Attacking Threat & xGI Leaders – Erling Haaland is predictably top of the pile, but if you a Manchester United attacker, is it time to keep the faith?  We examine expected goal involvements, shots on target and chance creation. 💪 DEFCON – Which players are consistently delivering defensive contribution points, and should you overlook the team they play for if they’re regularly bringing home a four pointer?   Whether you're looking for FPL Draft waiver wire targets, potential breakout players, undervalued assets or long-term transfer opportunities, this episode is packed with data-driven insights to help you get ahead of your rivals. CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 1:27 - xG Statistics 4:31 - xGC Statistics 8:36 - How The Premier League Table SHOULD Look 16:56 - Player Spotlight: Murillo 18:03 - Player Spotlight: Andy Robertson 18:53 - Top xGI Performers 20:45 - Top DEFCON Performers 23:25 - Player Spotlight - Ezequiel Palacios 24:18 - Most Shots Per 90 Leaders 25:40 - Player Spotlight: Pedro Neto 26:20 - Top Chance Creators 28:27 - Player Spotlight: Alex Iwobi 29:44 - Player Spotlight: Florian Wirtz 30:48 - Gameweek 11 Fixtures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The FPL Draft waiver deadline for Gameweek 10 is not far off, so who are the best players YOU need to target? Kai Havertz was Arsenal's matchwinner against Liverpool, but which other Gunners asset should be on your radar this week?  Yasin Ayari stunned Manchester City to extend Brighton's red-hot run, but is it time to focus in on the Seagulls defence?  And who will win the battle for first team minutes out of Bournemouth's midfield maestros, Justin Kluivert and Kroupi Jr? In this week's show, we break down the biggest talking points from GW9, analyse some key underlying statistics and reveal our top Gamweek 10 waiver picks to help you stay ahead of your draft league rivals.   Whether you're looking for a hidden gem, a short-term punt, a DEFCON beast or a season-long pick up, we've got you covered! PLUS... 📊 We break down the best performing DEFCON defenders and midfielders 📊 Assess the next three gameweeks and reveal which teams to target 📊 Suggest some potential trades for underperforming players 📊 And highlight the key players set to return from injury right after the international break. 🏆 WIN YOUR FPL DRAFT LEAGUE The FPL Draft Zone is dedicated to helping you dominate Fantasy Premier League Draft. Every week, we bring you waiver recommendations, player rankings, trade advice, fixture analysis and the underlying numbers that can give you the edge. SUBSCRIBE for weekly FPL Draft analysis, GW verdicts and waiver targets throughout the 2026/27 Premier League season. 👍 If you find the analysis useful, make sure you subscribe to the pod and leave a lovely comment to help us beat the ALGORITHM!!! CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 1:23 - GW9 Recap 4:41 - Player Spotlight: Josh Acheampong 5:32 - Player Spotlight: Justin Kluivert 6:34 - Player Spotlight: Jack Rudoni 7:30 - Player Spotlight: Taiwo Awoniyi 8:25 - Player Spotlight: Yasin Ayari 9:14 - DEFCON Leaders - Top 10 Defenders 10:28 - DEFCON Leaders - Top 10 Midfielders 12:01 - DEFCON Comparison 15:16 - Fixture Focus 16:38 - Gameweek 10 Fixtures 17:37 - Defender Waiver Picks 24:45 - Midfielder Waiver Picks 32:12 - Forward Waiver Picks 35:08 - Returning Players 38:26 - Trade Targets 41:37 - Top 3 GW10 Waiver Picks #FPLDraft #FPL #GW10 #FantasyPremierLeague #FPLWaivers #Gameweek10 #FPLCommunity #FPLContent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who are the BEST FPL Draft waiver picks for Gameweek 9? With pressure mounting on the managers at Manchester United and Crystal Palace, potential changes could have major implications for your Fantasy Premier League Draft team. This week on The FPL Draft Zone, we identify the best GW9 waiver targets, uncover overlooked players, analyse the latest DEFCON statistics and reveal three players worth exploring a trade for. Whether you're hunting for a game-changing midfielder, a reliable DEFCON defender or a forward ready to explode, we've got the stats, fixtures and analysis to help you get ahead of your draft league rivals. THIS WEEK'S BIG TALKING POINTS: OSCAR BOBB – A breakthrough attacking return, four chances created and encouraging underlying numbers. JULIO ENCISO – First goal of the season and among the leading midfielders for expected assists. RAYAN – A goal against Manchester United and promising expected goal involvement – is he about to explode into life? MAMADOU SANGARÉ – The DEFCON monster does it again with 20 contributions against Hull City. WILL OSULA – An attacking return for Newcastle's emerging forward – is it time to wave goodbye to Wissa? ILIMAN NDIAYE – Four assists already this season – is he fast-becoming first choice at City? FPL DRAFT TRADE TARGETS Is now the time to buy low on some big names from struggling sides Manchester United and Crystal Palace? We assess Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha and Jean-Philippe Mateta, comparing their recent Fantasy points with their underlying xG, xA and xGI to identify potential trade opportunities. BEST GW9 FIXTURES & WAIVER PICKS Which Premier League clubs have the most favourable upcoming fixtures? We break down the fixture runs worth targeting, and then it’s onto the waivers with potential options including Matty Cash, Michael Kayode, Ezequiel Palacios, Harvey Barnes, Justin Kluivert and more. CHAPTERS 0:00 – Intro 1:31 – Gameweek 8 Recap 4:49 – Player Spotlight: Oscar Bobb 5:43 – Player Spotlight: Julio Enciso 6:30 – Player Spotlight: Rayan 7:15 – Player Spotlight: Mamadou Sangaré 8:08 – Player Spotlight: Iliman Ndiaye 9:01 – Player Spotlight: Will Osula 9:55 – Trade Targets: Manchester United and Crystal Palace 14:46 – Fixture Focus 16:03 – Gameweek 9 Fixtures 17:11 – Goalkeeper Waiver Picks 18:24 – Defender Waiver Picks 23:45 – Midfielder Waiver Picks 29:00 – Forward Waiver Picks 31:36 – Top 3 Waiver Picks for Gameweek 9 SUBSCRIBE TO THE FPL DRAFT ZONE for weekly waiver picks, trade advice, player rankings, DEFCON analysis and FPL Draft strategy throughout the 2026/27 Premier League season. #FPLDraft #FPL #FantasyPremierLeague Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

That FPL Draft Gameweek 8 Waiver deadline is approaching FAST, so who are the BEST players to pick up for your draft side? We reveal our top targets, list some potential breakout stars and highlight some hidden value picks to help you get the edge over your rivals! In this week's FPL Draft Zone, we review the standout GW7 performers, analyse the underlying statistics and identify the best GW8 waiver picks across goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards. KEY TALKING POINTS: 🔵 ILIMAN NDIAYE – Could Antoine Semenyo's injury make the Manchester City midfielder one of the biggest GW8 waiver opportunities? 🎯 PEDRO NETO – Two goals in GW7 - but is the Chelsea winger worth a punt? 📈 JOHAN MANZAMBI – Four attacking returns in three starts. If he's free on your waivers, what are you waiting for?!? 📊 DIEGO GÓMEZ – We called it! Attacking returns AND DEFCON potential. Is it time to place your faith in the Brighton midfielder? 📅 GAMEWEEK FIXTURE ANALYSIS Which Premier League teams have the most favourable upcoming fixtures? Which players should you target now, and which should you avoid?  Who are the long term options you can store on your bench for a week or two, and then bring in when the fixtures swing?  We identify those key opportunities that could give your FPL Draft squad a crucial advantage. 🏆 KEY GW8 WAIVER PICKS We have those all important GW8 Waiver Picks - with Chelsea defensive assets, Ipswich options, DEFCON beasts and Spurs stars all on the agenda.  Plus we reveal our top three favourite waiver targets ahead of Gameweek 8. Who could transform your FPL Draft team and improve your title chances? 🔔 Please SUBSCRIBE to The FPL Draft Zone for weekly FPL Draft waiver picks, Gameweek previews, player analysis, DEFCON statistics and Fantasy Premier League Draft advice.  We're here to help you find the best available players, win your waiver battles and climb your league table. CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 1:22 - Gameweek 7 Recap 4:24 - Player Spotlight: Johan Manzambi 5:21 - Player Spotlight: Victor Muñoz 6:14 - Player Spotlight: Pedro Neto 6:59 - Player Spotlight: Diego Gómez 7:52 - Player Spotlight: Evanilson 8:40 - Player Spotlight: James Maddison 9:50 - DEFCON Comparison 13:05 - Fixture Focus - The Good And The Bad 14:14 - GW8 Fixtures 15:00 - Goalkeeper Waiver Picks 15:50 - Defender Waiver Picks 21:07 - Midfielder Waiver Picks 28:18 - Forward Waiver Picks 31:17 - Top 3 Waiver Picks #FPLDraft #FPL #FantasyPremierLeague #Gameweek8 #GW8 #DraftFPL #FPLhelp #FantasyFootball #FantasySport #FPLanalysis #PremierLeague Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gameweek 6 is DONE AND DUSTED, and it delivered some huge FPL Draft talking points. With Gameweek 7 fast-approaching, we identify the best waiver pick ups, hidden gems, breakout players and potential game breakers for your Fantasy Premier League side.  In this week's show, we break down the biggest GW6 performances, analyse the underlying stats and reveal our key targets for GW7 across defenders, midfielders and forwards.  We discuss:  🔥 Standout performers, bonus point winners and defensive contribution beasts  🎯 GW7 WAIVER PICKS – The best available players to target  📊 PLAYER SPOTLIGHTS – A deep dive into Jérémy Doku, Kobbie Mainoo, Diego Gómez, Jaidon Anthony and Yéremy Pino. Who is delivering, and who can sustain their form?  📈 UNDERLYING STATS – We take a look at the key underlying metrics to give your side an advantage over your rivals.  📅 FIXTURE FOCUS – We assess the next three gameweeks and work out which sides have the best upcoming fixtures.  🏆 TOP 3 GW7 WAIVER PICKS – We narrow down our waiver recommendations to a stellar Top 3.  PLAYERS DISCUSSED INCLUDE:  Erling Haaland, Bukayo Saka, Jérémy Doku, Jack Hinshelwood, Oscar Bobb, Maxim De Cuyper, Kobbie Mainoo, Diego Gómez, Yéremy Pino, Jaidon Anthony, Jayden Bogle, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Ben White, Bruno Guimarães, Johan Manzambi, Carlos Baleba, Noni Madueke, Jean-Philippe Mateta and more.  🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO FPL DRAFT ZONE for weekly FPL Draft advice, Gameweek previews, waiver recommendations, player rankings, DEFCON analysis and Fantasy Premier League Draft strategy.  Whether you're playing in an 8-team, 10-team or 12-team FPL Draft league, we're here to help you uncover value, spot opportunities and get one step ahead of your opponents.  CHAPTERS  0:00 - Intro  1:30 - GW6 Review  5:18 - Key Performers To Target  10:36 - xGI Leaders Comparison  15:11 - Fixture Focus - The Good & The Bad  16:52 - Defender Waiver Picks  20:45 - Midfielder Waiver Picks  28:38 - Forward Waiver Picks  30:19 - Top 3 Waiver Picks  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The BEST FPL Draft waiver picks for Gameweek 6 are here!   In this FPL Draft GW6 preview and waivers episode, we go fixture-by-fixture through the standout out Fantasy Premier League Draft waiver targets, injury opportunities, returning players, DEFCON beasts and potential breakout picks ahead of Gameweek 6.   We cover Arsenal v Leeds, Aston Villa v Brentford, Chelsea v Bournemouth, Ipswich v Fulham, Sunderland v Brighton, Manchester United v Spurs, Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest, Hull v Everton, Liverpool v Manchester City and Coventry v Newcastle - identifying the players who could be available in your league and and are worth acting on NOW.   We also look at:   ⚽ The best and worst fixtures for Gameweek 6 🚨 The latest injury doubts and potential replacements 📈 Players with strong xG, xA and xGI numbers 🛡️ The defenders and midfielders delivering DEFCON points 💎 Under-rostered FPL Draft differentials worth targeting 🔄 Players returning from injury who could become waiver opportunities 👀 Potential changes to starting XIs after the international break 🏆 Our Top 3 FPL Draft waiver picks for GW6 If you play FPL Draft make sure you SUBSCRIBE to The FPL Draft Zone for weekly waiver advice, player rankings, fixture analysis and everything you need to win your draft league - and turn notifications ON so you don't miss the next episode! 👇 WHO IS YOUR NUMBER ONE WAIVER TARGET THIS WEEK? Drop yours in the comments, and tell me if I've missed any other top picks!   CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 1:15 - GW6 Injury Doubts 2:05 - GW6 Fixtures 3:12 - GW6-8 Fixture Difficulty 4:42 - Arsenal v Leeds Preview & Waiver Picks 12:02 - Aston Villa v Brentford Preview & Waiver Picks 16:10 - Chelsea v Bournemouth Preview & Waiver Picks 19:46 - Ipswich v Fulham Preview & Waiver Picks 24:11 - Sunderland v Brighton Preview & Waiver Picks 28:23 - Manchester United v Spurs Preview & Waiver Picks 33:19 - Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest Preview & Waiver Picks 37:10 - Hull v Everton Preview & Waiver Picks 40:57 - Liverpool v Manchester City Preview & Waiver Picks 44:40 - Coventry v Newcastle Preview & Waiver Picks 48:33 - Top 3 Waiver Picks for Gameweek 6 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Manchester City have been found guilty of serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules - but what happens next, and how will it impact your FPL Draft team? In this special, we break down the potential fallout from the Manchester City charges - and what possible punishments could mean - not just for City, but for the entire Premier League and FPL. Could City face a massive points deduction? Could they be relegated ot even expelled from the Premier League? What happens to their remaining fixtures? Could the number of relegation places change? And what would happen to City's players if the punishment they received was particularly brutal? We look at: ⚖️ What Manchester City have actually been found guilty of 📉 The possible points deductions and sporting sanctions 🚨 Could Manchester City be relegated or expelled? 📅 What could happen to Premier League fixtures and results 🔄 The potential impact on City players and transfers 🏆 What it could mean for the rest of the Premier League There are still major steps to come, and the sanction has not been decided. Manchester City continue to plead their innocence, and have said they will appeal, and the scenarios discussed are possibilities rather than predictions. If you enjoy football and FPL Draft content with a bit more depth SUBSCRIBE to The FPL Draft Zone! #FPLDraft #FantasyPremierLeague #FPL #ManchesterCity #ManCity #PremierLeague #ManCityCharges #115Charges #GW6 #Gameweek6 CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 1:00 - The Charges 3:03 - The Process From Here 3:51 - Scenario 1: No Sanctions This Season 12:59 - Scenario 2: Points Deduction 14:56 - Scenario 3: Huge Points Deduction 16:18 - Scenario 4: Expulsion From The Premier League 19:49 - Wrap & Goodbye Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're five gameweeks in, so is it time to rethink what we thought we knew about FPL Draft? In this international break special, we dig into the numbers from the opening five gameweeks to find the players and teams every Fantasy Premier League Draft manager MUST reassess. We look at: ⚽ The Premier League's underlying xG and xGC numbers 📊 The players dominating attacking involvement 🎯 Shots on target, chance creation and finishing efficiency 🛡️ The new DEFCON monsters emerging for Draft managers 📈 Players whose underlying numbers suggest more could be coming 📉 Early-season performances that may NOT be sustainable 👀 Plus some ridiculous stats you probably haven't seen Five gameweeks isn't enough to tell us EVERYTHING, but it's enough to start spotting patterns and acting on them. Subscribe the The FPL Draft Zone for waiver picks, trades, rankings and more! CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 1:30 - Attacking Masters 4:21 - Defensive Kings 7:05 - The REAL Top 6 (Based on Underlying Metrics) 9:45 - Murillo - Draft Gold? 11:03 - Jeremy Jacquet - Draft Gold? 12:27 - Key Players for Attacking Involvement 16:50 - Top 8 Players for Attacking Involvement 17:34 - Ultimate DEFCON Teams 18:10 - Ultimate DEFCON Beasts 20:31 - Anton Stach - Draft Gold? 21:41 - Elite Shot Monsters 24:15 - Josh King - Draft Gold? 25:27 - The Best Chance Creators 27:31 - Morgan Gibbs-White - Draft Gold? 28:42 - Granit Xhaka - Draft Gold? 30:07 - Ridiculous Stats 32:40 - No Forwards, No Problem? 33:32 - Gameweek 6 Fixtures 35:23 - Goodbye Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The FPL Draft waivers are nearly here, and Gameweek 4 has given you some big clues about who you need to target, hold and potentially drop before it's too late. In this episode of The FPL Draft Zone, we break down the biggest lessons from GW4, before identifying the best GW5 waiver picks for your Fantasy Premier League Draft team. Which players are genuinely breaking out? Who is defying their historical data? Which underperforming players should you hold? And who are the upcoming gems who take you one step closer to title glory? Another gameweek is done, but there's another on the horizon - it's time to act now before that pesky international break! CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 1:05 - GW4 Recap 3:34 - Player Spotlight 11:14 - DEFCON Comparison 13:39 - Fixture Focus 15:04 - Gameweek 5 Fixtures 15:59 - Goalkeeper Waiver Picks 17:25 - Defender Waiver Picks 22:58 - Midfielder Waiver Picks 30:00 - Forward Waiver Picks 32:33 - Top 3 Waiver Picks Don't forget to subscribe to the pod so you never miss and episode, and please leave us a nice comment as it helps with that curious thing called... THE ALGORITHM...! #fpldraft #fpl #fantasypremierleague #gameweek5 #GW5 #waivers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gameweek 3 has given us plenty to think about - and now it's time to act. We break down the biggest lessons from GW3 and then turn our attention to those all-important Gameweek 4 waivers. Who is genuinely breaking out? Who should you hold despite a slow start? And who should you be targeting before your rival managers get there first? Three gameweeks in and the picture is starting to become clearer - this is where good draft managers start making moves! Subscribe to The FPL Draft Zone for weekly draft analysis, waiver picks, rankings and strategy throguhout the 2026/27 Fantasy Premier League season. CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 0:57 - Gameweek 3 Recap 3:51 - Key Performers from GW3 11:34 - DEFCON Player Comparison 14:04 - Fixture Difficulty Dilemmas 16:08 - Goalkeeper Waiver Picks 17:20 - Defender Waiver Picks 21:26 - Midfielder Waiver Picks 29:13 - Forward Waiver Picks 31:44 - Top 3 Waiver Picks 33:30 - Goodbye 11:34 - DEFCON Player Comparison14:04 - Fixture Difficulty Dilemmas16:08 - Goalkeeper Waiver Picks17:20 - Defender Waiver Picks21:26 - Midfielder Waiver Picks29:13 - Forward Waiver Picks31:44 - Top 3 Waiver Picks33:30 - Goodbye Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices