Fantasy Premier League

FPL Lessons: Forward role suits Deulofeu

By The Scout 26 May 2019
Gerard Deulofeu, Watford

The Scout says move up front has transformed the Watford winger's Fantasy potential

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Gracia: “Deulofeu has a high quality” External Link
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The Scout takes a club-by-club look at the 2018/19 Fantasy Premier League season.

Watford

Gerard Deulofeu’s impact as a striker could earn him a change of position in FPL next season.

Watford’s top five FPL performers
Player Position Points
Deulofeu MID 133
Foster GKP 129
Doucoure MID 124
Pereyra MID 122
Deeney FWD 116

The Watford attacker played just 16 minutes in the first eight Gameweeks because of injury.

Yet he still finished as their top scorer, finding the net 10 times and also supplying five assists.

Forward move

A new role up front alongside Troy Deeney transformed Deulofeu’s potential in Fantasy in 2018/19.

He had scored just six goals in his previous four FPL campaigns while playing as a winger.

And the Spaniard's underlying statistics further show his importance to Javi Gracia’s side.

From his first start in Gameweek 9 onwards, his totals of 60 shots, 43 shots in the box and 22 shots on target all ranked first for Watford.

But Deulofeu's success could mean a change of position in FPL.

As a midfielder, he currently earns an extra point for a goal and also picks up one point for a clean sheet.

Bonus for strikers

As a forward, Deulofeu could benefit from an extra boost in the Bonus Points System (BPS). 

Forwards score 24 points in the BPS for every goal scored, whereas midfielders are awarded 18 points.

Encouragingly, Deulofeu still fares well when assessed against FPL frontmen. 

Only 19 strikers scored 10 or more goals this season. And only 10 of them bettered his average of 207.9 minutes per goal. 

Busy Foster

At the back, Watford’s lack of resilience ensures that goalkeeper Ben Foster is kept busy.

The Hornets managed just seven clean sheets, a total better only than relegated Huddersfield Town and Fulham.

But thanks to his potential for save points, Foster finished 36 points ahead of Watford's top-scoring defenders, Jose Holebas and Craig Cathcart.

While Foster can again offer strong value as a cut-price goalkeeper, it is Deulofeu who seems set to be the star turn for Gracia’s side in 2019/20.

See: The Scout's 2018/19 club-by-club FPL lessons

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