We ain’t afraid of no ghosts. In fact, we seek them – ghost points, that is. Ghost Points are fantasy points that do not come from attacking returns or clean sheets. These can come in the form of key passes, shots on target, successful dribbles, interceptions, and tackles, among others. Identifying these points is essential for your Fantasy EPL prospects, and our Gameweek 29 Ghost Point Hunters article is here to help!
This Ghost Point Hunters article is based on the Fantrax Scoring System. Check out our Ghost Point Tracker page for the full list of Fantasy EPL players and their respective Ghost Point capabilities!
Gameweek 29 Ghost Point Hunters
The infamous Blank Gameweek has now given way to the even more dreaded International Break. But if/when EPL footy resumes in GW29, we're hit with a litany of DGWs. The following clubs play twice this GW: Newcastle, Chelsea; Villa; Forest; Bournemouth; Leeds; Liverpool; Brentford; Leicester; Man United; Brighton; &
West Ham. Exhausting. In keeping with the spirit of the DGW, we're just flagging players from this plethora of DGW teams. You're welcome. Here goes: Jefferson Lerma, Felipe, & Jacob Ramsey. And on the Honorable Mention tip, we have: Douglas Luiz, Kai Havertz, Tyrone Mings, & Rob Holding (no DGW but royalty nonetheless). The Dr. Peter Venkman Award is also given to a DGWer: Ivan Toney.
Jefferson Lerma
Position: Midfielder
Team: Bournemouth
Rostered: 25%
Ghost Points Per Start: 4.8
Ghost Points Last GW: 10.5
Prospects: He's the nailed on enforcer in the Bournemouth midfield. Normally not worth streaming (other than GWs like last time out) but the DGW makes him quite the viable asset this GW.
Verdict: Pick him up and stream for the DGW if you need reinforcements in the middle of the park.
First up is someone who normally wouldn't jump out as a decent fantasy option, Jefferson Lerma. Known mostly for his penchant for acquiring cards & occasional screamer golazos, the Colombian has made a case for streaming this GW. Let's hear him out.
Lerma has quietly become a serviceable MID5 option. While his GPPS is pretty weak, it's deceiving. Over his past 5 starts, he has averaged over 9 points per start, and only 1 attacking return during that stretch, meaning most of his points are of the ghostly persuasion. Lerma's most recent outing bears this out. He posted double digit scary scores, which stemmed from 2 Tackles Won, 3 Interceptions, 1 Clearance, 1 Successful Dribble, 3 Blocked Shots, & 3 Aerials. He's active. With two bites of the apple in the form of a DGW, the bruising midfielder surely warrants a start unless your midfield is already pretty stacked.
Felipe
Position: Defender
Team: Nottingham Forest
Rostered: 20%
Ghost Points Per Start: 12.5(!)
Ghost Points Last GW: 11.75
Prospects: Even with the reintroduction of Niakhate last GW, Felipe kept his spot in the Forest backline. A rock at the back, the Brazilian CB seems to be matchup-proof, making him an attractive asset especially in this DGW but also ROS.
Verdict: Pick him up or try trading a bigger name DEF (e.g., Eric Dier in a 1:1).
Just when you think there is no successor to the ghost point god battling it out in a relegation side mantle of one Grant "Manly" Hanley, up steps Felipe. The one-name colossal has taken the Premier League by storm - when it comes to ghosties at least - building up a staggering 12.5 GPPS in his 5 starts, second only to Kieran Trippier. The guy is a monster. Like Hanley, he hoovers up points from across the board but is saddled by the fact that his defense leaks goals. Sadly, this means he has more weeks of 7.5 than 16+, which is what his otherworldliness deserves.
Case in point, last GW he posted nearly a dozen ghosties but ended up with just under 8 points due to 2 goals conceded. Felipe was all over the place, picking up 3 Tackles Won, 1 Interception, 7 Clearances, 3 Blocked Shots, & 3 Aerials. If only lowly Forest picked up clean sheets, he'd be a surefire DEF1. No matter, big Felipe has a tasty DGW upcoming - against - and it's time to feast. Given the ghosts and the fact that he's inherently matchup-proof, he's also worth holding ROS. Don't miss out.
Jacob Ramsey
Position: Midfielder
Team: Aston Villa
Rostered: 61%
Ghost Points Per Start: 5.7
Ghost Points Last GW: 11
Prospects: Back in the starting xi & thriving in new manager Unai Emery's system, Ramsey is a great DGW option and a MID4 ROS.
Verdict: Pick him up if he's somehow on your wire; if not, open with an underperforming but more recognizable MID (e.g., Ruben Neves).
Forever "the next best thing", Jacob Ramsey could finally be ready to take that next step up. The Villa youngster has shown flashes of brilliance before but has yet to string together a consistent season. Under Dean Smith & Stevie G, he failed to make himself an indispensable starter, although he did bag 28 starts last season. We all were waiting for Ramsey to crack on this season but just hasn't happened - yet. Unai Emery has recently started to favor him, fielding him in his last 3 starting XIs. And he hasn't disappointed.
Fantasy-wise, Ramsey has been limited by a terrible case of goal dependence. Historically, he has only been able to muster up a GPPS of around 5, which is quite damning. However, it is somewhat offset by the fact that he can pick up attacking returns. So has he turned the corner in this regard under Emery? Jury is still out but the early returns look good. In his past 3 starts, he is averaging nearly 9 ghosties per start. Against Bournemouth last GW, Rambo passed the eye test and also paired a goal with 11 scary scores. These came from the following: 2 Key Passes, 1 Shot on Target, 1 Tackle Won, 1 Interception, & 3 Successful Dribbles. Like his contemporaries above - are you starting to grasp the theme yet? - he has a DGW. It will be tough to trade him in given his 20+ pointer in GW28 but see if you can test the waters. Ramsey could be lights out over the next two.
Honorable Mentions:
Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa MID; 15 ghosts): The Brazilian, who dominates sets for the Villans, is always a threat to ghost & nick attacking returns. This past GW was one of those peak performances. His rosterers will hope he saved some magic for the upcoming DGW.
Kai Havertz (Chelsea FWD; 13.5 ghosts): Sorry, Kai fans, he is not playing against yours truly this GW. So don't expect anything, despite the DGW. His record ghost point performance in GW28 was surely a spiteful aberration. But he is in a little purple patch.
Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa DEF; 13.5 ghosts): Is there a weirder/more unpredictable fantasy asset than Tyrone Mings? First off, the Villa defense is quite an enigma. And then you add Mings' ability to ghost & get on the end of attacking returns. But one thing is for sure - this Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde is worth wheeling out in the DGW to see what happens.
Rob Holding (Arsenal DEF; 10.25 ghosts): With William Saliba picking up a knock, the glorious return of Sir Robert of Holdingshire was on the cards in DGW28. Strikingly similar to his predecessor, Shkodran Mustafi, the guy can somehow ghost very well. If Saliba's injury continues to keep him out, Holding becomes a solid DEF3 until the Frenchman returns.
Hamed Traore (Bournemouth MID; 8.5 ghosts): He's back. And not a moment too soon. The ghost point savant returned from injury last GW to make a brief cameo - and he reminded us of his supernatural bonafides, picking up an absurd 8 scary scores in just a half hour. The guy is a machine. And he has a DGW - swoop him or suffer from a severe case of FOMO.
Dr. Peter Venkman Award:
Ivan Toney (Brentford FWD; 1 ghost): It must be maddening to roster Ivan Toney at the moment. It's a perfect storm. There is the uncertainty that comes with the ongoing gambling investigations - a long suspension is coming at some point but we still don't know when or how long. And then there is just poor form. The monster that could win GWs singlehandedly has gone off the boil a little bit (save the 22 pointer v Southampton a few weeks ago). Toney just put in a stinker v Leicester, dropping one single solitary point: 2 Aerials, that's it. When you add up his last 5 starts, it's not that bad - 9 points per start. But that masks two sub 3 point performances in the last 3: 2.5 v Everton & this 1 pointer against the Foxes. Trading him is nearly impossible as his value, given the circumstances outlined above, is incalculable. So Toney rosterers will just have to hope he totally redeems himself in this DGW. In the meantime, he can look at this silverware & think about what he's done.
***Click here to view the full Ghost Point Tracker table!***
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