FPL: Top 5 FPL Players To Watch For Gameweek 15

We are at a pivotal moment in the FPL season. Players are dropping like flies, and managers seem to be scrambling for upsides and a better rank.

With just 2 or 3 free transfers left before the break, the margin for error is lesser than ever. Let’s take a look at our top 5 players to watch that can give you that much-needed boost to end the first half of the FPL season on a high.

Also read: FPL: TFTWC FPL Analytics Report (Part II) – GW 5 to GW 13

5. Luke Shaw (£4.7m)

United have made gradual improvement this season and have progressed higher up the table. After having kept just 2 cleansheets in their first 8 games, the Red Devils have accumulated 3 cleansheets in their last 4 outings. Fullbacks Luke Shaw and Dalot have been instrumental in United’s form of late. Despite the latter having more points, he is just 1 yellow card away from a suspension. That is an unnecessary burden for FPL managers to have with other possible fires to put out.

Thankfully, Shaw is the perfect alternative. Priced at £4.7m just like Dalot, the Englishman also poses an attacking threat down the left flank. With 1 A to his name, the tally will only likely increase. As United continue to be defensively solid, having a United defender should be a priority on most managers’ lists.

4.  Leandro Trossard (£6.9m)

It wasn’t too long ago when FPL managers were removing Trossard from their teams, just because he was going to face City and Chelsea in back-to-back games. But FPL being FPL, has its own way of punishing managers. Ever since then, the Belgian has scored 1 each against those clubs, while his supposed replacements in Foden and Saka have miserably blanked.

Trossard looks like Brighton’s most potent attacking threat, being the club’s top scorer since De Zerbi took over with 5G to his name. Fresh off of their thrashing of Chelsea, Brighton go into the last 2 games of before the World Cup break playing relatively easier opposition in Wolves and Villa. With Zaha blanking far too often, managers will be looking to replace him and Trossard is a near perfect option for that under the £7m price point.

3. Marcus Rashford (£6.7m)

Rashford finally broke his goal drought in the league as he scored the only goal against West Ham to clinch all 3 points for United. But the blanks in the weeks prior to that do not quite indicate the number of chances he’s had in those games.

In his last 5 games, Rashord has had 15 shots, 7 of which have been on target. That’s the most by any United player in the same time period. He also has an xG of 2.5 in that duration. United play Villa and Fulham next, two teams that have conceded a lot of goals this season. Rashford has heavily dodged points in recent weeks. But his bad luck eventually had to run out, and it seems like it has, at the perfect time.

Marcus Rashford's game by numbers vs. West Ham:

42 touches
16 final third passes
8 touches in opp. box
5 shots
4 ball recoveries
2 duels won
2 fouls won
2 shots on target
1 goal
0.47 xG

The first player to score 100 goals for Man Utd since Wayne Rooney in 2009. 💯

— Squawka (@Squawka) October 30, 2022

2. Kevin De Bruyne (£12.5m)

Having been rested midweek in City’s final group stage game in the Champions League, De Bruyne is undoubtedly one of the players to watch out for this FPL gameweek. With a comparatively underperforming Salah playing Spurs next, this might be the perfect time to sell him and make a big money move for KDB.

He scored a stunning free kick last gameweek to got another points haul, maintaining his place as the highest scoring FPL midfielder this season. Even in the absence of Haaland, the Belgian magician didn’t look out of sorts, as the attacking onus fell on his shoulders. City play Fulham and Brentford at home next. A well rested KdB is bound to score high in these games.

1. Callum Wilson (£7.5m)

When Toney received that annoying 5th yellow of the season to get himself suspended against Forest of all teams, I’m sure a lot of managers must have rage quit the game, having patiently sat through 3 continuous blanks from the striker. But with a better alternative in Wilson, it might have just been a blessing in disguise.

The Newcastle marksman and his club are on a roll currently. As Newcastle sit in the dizzy heights of 4th place, Wilson’s gotten 3G and 2A in his last 2 starts for the club. Whilst he is injury prone in general, and has missed a large chunk of this season, he has started the last 6 games on the trot. There are also just 2 gameweeks left until the break, in case he picks up a knock. But right now, he’s fit, he’s firing, and is a fantastic upgrade on Toney.