Gameweek 19 Sleepers XI: Draft EPL

Our Gameweek 19 Sleepers XI article provides Draft managers with a lineup of Fantasy EPL hidden gems. Our starting eleven of Draft Premier League differential picks will help you find a golden ticket to a big score this weekend! These hints and tips will give you a better chance of picking up an all-important victory, as any one of these under-the-radar picks could make the difference in a head-to-head game!

We'll be focusing on players that will bring us not only attacking returns or clean sheets, but also those players that score Ghost Points in the sophisticated and statistics based Fantrax Scoring System!

Fantasy EPL Gameweek 19 Sleepers XI

For this article, we use the percentage rostered calculation from Fantrax and Sleeper. Our only rule is that each player we highlight is rostered in 60% of leagues or fewer at the time of writing. Therefore, there's a good chance some of these players will be free agents in your Draft league! As always, we'll take form, fixtures, projected points, and a healthy dose of intuition into account to make our selections.

A new PB baby! 115.75 FPts is our new high score for the season! So you already know that the coming gameweek is going to be brutal. So before we go there, let's review the XI that scored so well. Worst bits before the best though. Only 5 of our assets scored under 10 FPts, which is the dream! In defence, Maatsen got 3.25 FPts after conceding a goal, which is pretty sweet given he nearly scored one for Aston Villa himself. In midfield, Lewis Cook ghosted his way to 8.25 FPts, whereas Keane Lewis-Potter only mustered 4.5 FPts. Our forward line disappointed us yet again with Barry coming off the bench to score 4.75 ghosts in 19 minutes, whilst Nketiah got 0.25 FPts in 31 minutes as a sub. Now let's gloat a bit. We successfully got a stack of cleansheets from the Fulham lads Leno (11.25 FPts with 2 saves) and Cuenca (11.25 FPts) but got even more from Mykolenko (16.75 FPts with a clean sheet) and Dorgu (32.75 FPts with a goal and clean sheet). Even Struijk joined in on the fun with 12 FPts, despite conceding 1 goal. Our final double-digit scorer was Carlos Alcaraz, who scored 10.75 FPts with no attacking returns against Burnley. What a way to end the year. Here's hoping we can start 2026 with another big score, but we're tempering our expectations. So stay tuned to see what happens!

The Sleepers XI table below includes a full team of Starters, as well as 5 Reserves - high-upside players with some question marks around whether they'll start in Gameweek 19. So, keep an eye out when lineups are announced and pick them up if you see them starting, especially if you need to fill a spot on your roster. Read below for the rationale behind each of the Starter selections.

Senne Lammens (G, Man Utd)

It's been a while since we last suggested Lammens as a goalkeeper option. After his hot start to the season with scores of 15.25 FPts (with a clean sheet) and 13.25 FPts (1 goal conceded) against Liverpool, he's not scored higher than 5 FPts until Gameweek 18. He registered his 2nd clean sheet of the season against Newcastle Utd, scoring 15 FPts in the process. So that's what we're really expecting from him against Wolves this weekend. Wolves have only scored 10 goals this season and blanked in 10 games as well. So there's a strong chance Lammens can get a double digit score this weekend, especially since the soon-to-be-relegated West Midlands team are also missing one of their best players, Andre, due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

Luke Shaw (D, Man Utd)

If you were late to the Dorgu and Dalot-train, fear not, there's still an opportunity for you to be a part of the fun this weekend, as most managers have been scrambling to get assets against Wolves every gameweek. Luke Shaw has been one of Amorim's trusted players pretty much all season, and seems to be the first name on the team sheet that isn't Bruno Fernandes. The Red Devils are missing a lot of their key players at the moment, especially the experience of players like Maguire in their backline, so Shaw will be key in making sure young players like Heaven have someone dependable to play alongside. Man Utd host Wolves this weekend, a team that has only scored 3 goals over the last 8 gameweeks, the least in the league by some distance. The last couple of times that Shaw kept a clean sheet, he scored 14.75 and 16.5 FPts. He also scored 7.5 FPts after conceding 1 goal against Wolves in the reverse fixture. So don't overthink this, just start him.

Nikola Milenkovic (D, Nottingham Forest) 

According to our Fixture Difficulty Tracker, Nottingham Forest defenders have the 2nd best rated fixture of all teams in Gameweek 19. Let's be honest, if Burnley can keep a clean sheet against Everton, then surely the team that tied with Arsenal last season for the most number of cleansheets can also get one this weekend. Since Dyche took charge of the Tricky Trees, Milenkovic has been a mainstay and been averaging just over 7.5 gPPS, leading his defensive compatriots in clearances (64), blocked shots (15) and aerials won (32). He's managed to keep 3 clean sheets during that time and put up season high scores of 13 and 17.5 FPts. We're expecting something similar against the Toffees this weekend, especially since neither Beto nor Barry seem like they can hit a barn door these days.

Wesley Fofana (D, Chelsea)

This one is a dart-throw. Due to the insane fixture congestion at this time of the season and the number of injuries that have started cropping up for clubs across the league, Maresca has been rotating his central defenders not named Chalobah. It's fair to say that Badiashile is definitely on the bottom-end of that list of options, but if it's either Fofana (ideally) or Adarabioyo, you'll want a piece of this action. Other than Chalobah, who has gotten 8 clean sheets with the Blues, Fofana sits on 4, Adarabioyo and Acheampong on 2 and Badiashile on 0. Fofana's 10.0 gPP90 is the highest of the aforementioned lot and his 11.3 PPS isn't too shabby either. The Blues are now closer to 17th place than 1st in the league table, so they'll be seeking a statement win against the Cherries, who are quickly plummeting down the table themselves.

Emile Smith Rowe (M, Fulham)

Emile Smith Rowe has now started the last 5 games in a row for Fulham and has been scoring decently. 15 FPts with a goal versus Man City, 5.5 ghosts against Palace in 67 minutes, 12. 75 FPts with a goal against Burnley and then 4 and 6.25 FPts against Forest and West Ham respectively, has given the English MID an average of just under 9.0 PPS. Crystal Palace up next seems like a tough fixture on paper, but the Eagles have dropped off a bit in recent weeks due to a number of factors keeping key personnel out of their regular starting XI. Crystal Palace have conceded 9 goals in the last 4 gameweeks, which is the 2nd most of all teams during that span of time. This makes ESR a great MID-4 option with some attacking upside.

Joelinton (M, Newcastle)

Joelinton is back! After getting injured post-Burnley in Gameweek 15, we're expecting the Brazilian to start and face the Clarets again this weekend. He came off the bench to try and salvage a result against Man Utd in Gameweek 18, and was impressive in his short cameo scoring 4.5 FPts in 21 minutes, attempting 3 shots (2 on target) and accumulating an xG of 0.20. If he gets a start against Burnley, I'd try to roll him out as my MID-4/5. Burnley have conceded 10 goals over their last 6 gameweeks and have been 18th best of all teams during that period. It's basically a target-the-teams-to-get-relegated tactic and one that shouldn't surprise you. 5.5 PP90 isn't anything to write home about but he could easily fluke an attacking return against a team that has only kept 3 clean sheets all season.

Manuel Ugarte (M, Man Utd) 

You know pickings are very slim when I'm suggest Ugarte as an option this gameweek, but only if you desperately need a replacement for one of your midfield studs who could be rested during these quick turnaround gameweeks. With Bruno Fernandes still out with his hamstring injury, Ugarte should be the natural starting option alongside Casemiro in the Man Utd midfield. The Red Devils host Wolves next, the worst team in the league. So we're hoping that Amorim and his men completely dominate this game with attacking returns to be spread amongst the team. Ugarte surpassed 10 FPts for the first time this season against Newcastle Utd in Gameweek 18, but it's only because they're facing Wolves that I think he could do it again. He got 1 goal and 2 assists last season, so maybe he finally gets his first attacking return of this season this weekend. With a 7.4 gPP90 average, he's a MID-5 gamble at best.

Vitaly Janelt (M, Brentford)

If you're a Damsgaard owner, I sympathise with you, I truly do. There is a solution though, albeit a very uninspiring one, and that's rostering Janelt. Now before you instantly reject this idea in your head, hear me out. Janelt's 9.9 PPS is the 4th best of all Brentford assets, behind the likes of Igor Thiago, Schade and Ouattara. His 9.4 gPP90 is also the best at the club. We usually expect scores of 5-6 FPts from this typical steady-eddy but over his last 3 games, he's been averaging just under 12 PPS with scores of 8.5, 16.75 and 9.75 FPts, with an assist in his double digit score. He's even taken a couple of set pieces like corners to go with his typical defensive work, which are the barebones of his points. If you need a MID-4/5 backup, this is a safe choice.

Yasin Ayari (M, Brighton)

Ayari hasn't featured much for us this season as an enticing streaming option, but when you're facing one of the worst teams in the league, it's worth taking a punt. In fact, over the last 6 gameweeks, West Ham have been 19th in the form table, not winning a single game and conceding the 2nd most goals (11). The Hammers are displaying prime relegation form at the moment and Brighton will most likely capitalise on that. One of the other reasons we're suggesting Ayari is that in his last 2 starts, he attempted 5 shots against Sunderland and 4 shots against Arsenal, which is a bit shocking given these are two of the best defences in the league these days. Ayari got an assist against Arsenal as part of his 11 FPts score and scored 8.75 ghosts against Sunderland. Not the worst MID-4/5 who takes the odd set piece as well.

Igor Jesus (F, Nottingham Forest)

Chris Wood is set to be sidelined for yet another "period of time" after posting a photo on his social media account while in the hospital. There's no clear timetable for the Kiwi's return to action, which means that Igor Jesus should be nailed as their starting striker for the foreseeable future. It's yet to be seen if he will take up the penalty duties for Nottingham Forest, but with 6.9 PPS as a near 90-minute nailed striker, you could be doing a lot worse than what else is free in your leagues. He's going to be central to most attacks, as his assist versus Man City had shown, and with Everton up next, a team that conceded 1.41 xG to Burnley in Gameweek 18, you'd fancy another attacking return from the Brazilian.

Omari Hutchinson (F, Nottingham Forest) 

Omari Hutchinson has been an absolute godsend to patient managers that held him for this very moment of the season, or to the lucky ones that snagged him since his first start against Wolves in Gameweek 14. Other than his tasty scores off the bench, since nailing a starting spot in the Tricky Trees' starting XI, Hutchinson has scored the most Fantrax points compared to all his teammates. During this 5 game stretch, he's registered the 2nd most key passes (5), shots attempted (7), accurate crosses (4) and most successful dribbles (9), averaging just under 10 PPS. He should not be free in any leagues, so find a space to either start or stash him for this gameweek and possibly ROS.

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