The Scout is tipping four players for big success in Gameweek 21 of 2025/26 Fantasy Premier League ahead of Tuesday's 18:30 GMT deadline, to help managers gain an edge over their mini-league rivals.
With Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike (£9.1m) an injury doubt for Thursday's trip to Arsenal, managers could consider the two forwards listed as possible replacements.
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) £8.7m
After a slow start to 2025/26 Fantasy, Aston Villa’s forward has recaptured the form that made him a must-have in previous seasons.
Watkins’ goal against Nottingham Forest last weekend means he has now scored or assisted in six of the last seven Gameweeks.
He is the third top-scoring player in Fantasy across that spell, with his six goals and two assists earning him 49 points, just behind the 51 of Erling Haaland (£15.1m) at the summit.
When you consider Watkins managed just a single goal and no assists over the first 13 Gameweeks, the turnaround has been remarkable.
Crucially, the underlying statistics over those last seven Gameweeks also back up the Villa star’s revival.
Watkins’ total of 10 big chances – situations where a player is expected to score – is more than any other player in Fantasy.
He is the fourth most-bought player in Gameweek 21, with 244,000+ managers bringing him in for Villa's trip to Crystal Palace.
Facing an Eagles side who have managed only one clean sheet across the last eight Gameweeks, Watkins’ numbers point to more success at Selhurst Park on Wednesday evening.
Igor Thiago (Brentford) £6.9m
Brentford’s Brazilian is the most-bought forward in the Gameweek after he ended his six-match goal drought with a hat-trick against Everton at the weekend.
Thiago has earned 325,000+ transfers in on the back of his 17-point haul at Goodison Park, which took him to 108 points for the season.
That total places him 20 points clear of third-placed Jarrod Bowen (£7.7m) in the forward standings and, at a cost of only £6.9m, offered a timely reminder of his great value in Fantasy.
Upcoming home matches against Sunderland and Forest over the next three Gameweeks look hugely encouraging for Thiago’s growing band of 28 per cent owners.
He scored in both his meetings with those same opponents earlier this season, collecting six points on each occasion.
Brennan Johnson (Crystal Palace) £6.5m
A January move to Crystal Palace gives the Wales international the opportunity to rediscover his best form in Fantasy.
Johnson produced 130+ points in each of the last two seasons at Tottenham Hotspur, with a combined 16 goals and 18 assists across those campaigns.
He also scored in Spurs’ first two matches of 2025/26 before falling out of favour under their new head coach Thomas Frank.
Despite blanking on his Palace debut at Newcastle last weekend, Johnson’s all-round potential was immediately in evidence.
His two shots in the box and two chances created both ranked second among Palace players before he was replaced midway through the second half.
A home match against Aston Villa could allow Johnson to make his mark again in the mid-price midfielder bracket.
Villa have conceded 13 big chances across the last four Gameweeks – the third-most in the league – and are without a clean sheet across their previous seven matches.
Harvey Barnes (Newcastle) £6.1m
After being rested against Palace in Gameweek 20, the winger is expected to return to Newcastle United’s starting line-up at home to Leeds United.
Although his pitch-time has been limited due to rotation over the busy festive period, Barnes has still been among Newcastle’s main goal threats.
Indeed, both his six shots in the box and three big chances place joint-top for the Magpies over the last four Gameweeks.
Leeds’ defensive frailties suggest Barnes and his fellow Newcastle attackers can reward investors for their contest at St James’ Park on Wednesday evening.
Daniel Farke’s side have struggled to keep out their opponents for many months now, with just one clean sheet across their last 17 matches.