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Gameweek 31 Ghost Point Hunters: Fantrax EPL

Writer's picture: Ryan BarnesRyan Barnes

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 31 Ghost Point Hunters article is here to help!


Michail Antonio

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 31 Ghost Point Hunters

After a brief layoff, we return for the business end of the season. The proverbial cream is rising to the top. With mid-week games coming thick and fast, now more than ever we need to be ruthless and flexible. Let's get it. On the big board we have Tyler Adams, Felipe, & Marc Cucurella. And an all defensive Honorable Mention features quite the motley crew: Bradley, Muric, Zanka, and O'Shea. The Dr. Peter Venkman Award, meanwhile, is forcing us to do something previously incomprehensible. We hadn't been able to bring ourselves to do it until now. Erstwhile ghost point legend James Ward Prowse has sadly left us no choice. We take zero pleasure in it. We're going to go cry our eyes out; carry on.


Tyler Adams

Position: Midfielder

Team: Bournemouth

Rostered: 4%

Ghost Points Per Start: N/A (not enough starts)

Ghost Points Last GW: 11

Prospects: Captain America made his glorious return to the U.S. Men's National Team over the International Break and proceeded to score a golazo in a final versus Mexico. The long injury layoff seemingly made him even hungrier. Adams followed that up with a surprise start over the weekend for his club, going on to drop double digit ghosts. His 11 scary scores came from a tasty combination of both attacking and defensive counting stats: 1 Key Pass, 3 Tackles Won, 4 Interceptions, 2 Clearances, 1 Successful Dribble, & 2 Aerials. While Adams is a CDM, he was known to put in some tidy fantasy performances previously for Leeds United. If this is anything to go by, he's a nice ROS hold, especially with Bournemouth doubling in GW34. It must be said, however, that he is still far removed from playing week in week out and the Cherry midfield is full of competition. But Adams is still worth a punt.

Verdict: Pick him up!


Felipe

Position: Defender

Team: Nottingham Forest

Rostered: 16%

Ghost Points Per Start: N/A (not enough starts)

Ghost Points Last GW: 15

Prospects: The towering Adonis that is one-word-named Felipe is gracing the pitch yet again. He stole all of our hearts last season when he came out nowhere to take the ghosting defender mantle with a mouthwatering 11 ghosties per start. This season has not gone to plan, unfortunately, as he has struggled for fitness and points. But he showed flashes of his former self this past GW v Crystal Palace. Felipe delivered 15 ghosts from 3 Tackles Won, 3 Interceptions, 4 Clearances, 8 Aerials (his bread & butter). The big fella has only started 6 games this season and it remains to be seen whether he is first choice CB when everyone is healthy. But he has proven that he can ghost when called upon. Felipe is one to keep an eye on ROS and is a must pick up if you need a defender.

Verdict: Pick him up!


Marc Cucurella

Position: Defender

Team: Chelsea

Rostered: 37%

Ghost Points Per Start: 3.6

Ghost Points Last GW: 14.5

Prospects: One of the many who has taken the well worn path from the south coast to West London, Cucurella, like most of his fellow travelers, has yet to regain his Brighton form at Chelsea. He has it in him, though, and he has shown glimpses. Cucurella looked decent over the weekend against Burnley - although it must be said that the Clarets played much of the match with ten men, which surely played a part. Be that as it may, the long haired Spaniard posted a hefty 14.5 ghosties, stemming from 5 Key Passes, 1 Shot on Target, 1 Tackle Won, 2 Clearances, & 1 Blocked Shot. Given Chelsea's schedule - with 2 DGWs remaining - Cucurella is worth a hold to see if he ends up nailing down the LB spot over a struggling Ben Chilwell.

Verdict: Pick him up!


Honorable Mention

  • Conor Bradley (Liverpool DEF; 21.5 ghosts): The kid is an absolute monster. Bradley has kept up the ghosting in Trent's absence and if he can keep his place when his predecessor returns, he's a top 5 defender ROS.

  • Arijanet Muric (Burnley GK; 20 ghosts): The Serbian has followed up his 13 scary scores last GW with an even bigger haul. When his team went down to ten men against Chelsea, Muric rosterers - us included -rubbed their hands in anticipation of tepid shot after tepid shot for the giant to save. He didn't disappoint. And he has surely earned his spot over James Trafford. He can be a top GK ROS.

  • Zanka (Brentford DEF; 19.5 ghosts): Mathias Jorgensen - you know, Zanka - is not a household name. Nor should he be - he's a middling defender at best. But he can drop a ghostly performance every now and again. He and his fellow Brentford defenders all ghosted fairly well against a fairly tame Man United. We don't see this continuing.

  • Dara O'Shea (Burnley DEF; 15 ghosts): Luck of the Irish continues for Dara as he just keeps ghosting. Given that Burnley concede like it's their job, he still isn't set and forget but he is worth a gamble when in a pinch and in need of some defensive upside.


Category Killers:

  • Key Passes: Andreas Pereira (6)

  • Successful Dribbles: Rodri (7)

  • Aerials: Dominic Calvert Lewin (9)

  • Accurate Crosses Not Corners (ACNCs): Malo Gusto (3)

  • Tackles Won: Conor Bradley (5)

  • Interceptions: Tyler Adams (4)

Dr. Peter Venkman Award:

James Ward Prowse (West Ham United MID; 1.5 ghosts): This should not be happening. JWP, the ghost point GOAT, in the Venkman mud. We never thought it would ever come to this. But such is life - never meet your heroes. The former Southampton man has boasted around ten ghosties per start since he broke into the scene all those years ago. There has been a structural reason why James Ward Prowse was never in danger of getting this inconspicuous award - he is a set piece specialist. He picks up points whenever his crosses/set pieces hit a teammate's head. After years of leading the Saints, his ghostliness continued at new club West Ham earlier this season. As recently as March 17th, he maintained a GPPS of roughly 8.5. But the wheels have truly fallen off. For a guy who didn't start only once in a solar eclipse, JWP is not even first choice anymore, seemingly losing his spot in the engine room to Edson Alvarez. He got yanked at HT against Burnley in GW28, did not make the starting xi the following GW, and replaced Alvarez due to suspension this past GW - only to drop an absolute stinker when his team scored 3 goals. His 1.5 ghost point debacle consisted of 1 Accurate Cross Not a Corner (ACNC) and 2 Clearances, which were dented by 1 Dispossession. This is rock bottom. Good night, sweet prince.


***Click here to view the full Ghost Point Tracker table!***


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