The Scout delves into the data to determine the best Tottenham Hotspur players to target in Fantasy Premier League.
Spurs are set to enjoy a favourable long-term schedule that is bound to raise interest in their key picks. According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), only one of their next 11 matches score more than three.
Spurs’ matches GW22-32
| GW | Opp. | FDR |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | BRE (H) | 3 |
| 23 | EVE (A) | 2 |
| 24 | BHA (H) | 3 |
| 25 | WOL (H) | 2 |
| 26 | CHE (A) | 3 |
| 27 | CRY (H) | 2 |
| 28 | AVL (A) | 4 |
| 29 | FUL (A) | 2 |
| 30 | LUT (H) | 2 |
| 31 | WHU (A) | 3 |
| 32 | NFO (H) | 2 |
The recent departure of Son Heung-min (£9.7m) for the Asian Cup obviously affects how managers should view Spurs’ options right now.
The South Korean is the second top-scoring player in Fantasy on 136 points, scoring 12 goals and supplying five assists.
While Son could be absent until Gameweek 25 depending on his nation’s progress in the tournament, his departure has coincided with a return to training for James Maddison (£7.8m).
The playmaker averaged 5.7 points per match (ppm) in the first 11 Gameweeks before being sidelined, thanks to three goals and six assists.
Meanwhile, a recent role up front has revived Richarlison’s (£6.9m) fortunes. The Brazilian has scored six of his seven goals this season in the last six Gameweeks, amassing 49 points.
Pedro Porro (£5.8m) has been a revelation as an inverted right-back for Ange Postecoglou, supplying eight assists and keeping five clean sheets.
The Spaniard has delivered returns in 13 of the first 21 Gameweeks, second only to the 15 of Mohamed Salah (£13.1m) among all players.
Cristian Romero’s (£4.9m) goal threat, combined with his potential for bonus, highlights his value at a cost of £0.9m less than Porro. The centre-back has averaged 3.9ppm to his fellow defender’s 4.2ppm.
Spurs’ top-scoring players in 2023/24
| Player | Pts per match | Pts | Goals | Assists | Clean sheets* | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Son | 6.8 | 136 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 18 |
| Maddison | 5.7 | 63 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Richarlison | 4.5 | 81 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Porro | 4.2 | 83 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 13 |
| Kulusevski | 4.2 | 79 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 9 |
| Romero | 3.9 | 63 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 11 |
*Midfielders earn one point per clean sheet compared with the four of defenders
Who has the greatest goal threat?
It’s fair to say that the appointment of Ange Postecoglou as Spurs head coach has been a gift for Fantasy managers.
The north London side have been one of the most reliable attacks in 2023/24 Fantasy. Not only have they scored in all 21 of their matches, they have scored at least twice on 16 occasions.
Son ranks top for a host of key goal threat statistics, with his 52 shots, 40 shots in the box and 26 shots on target all team-leading totals.
The South Korean’s world-class finishing is highlighted by his 23.1 per cent goal conversion rate, with Son scoring a goal every 139.5 minutes this season.
Notably, both those numbers are very similar to 2021/22, when Son enjoyed his most prolific-ever campaign, scoring 23 goals to share the Golden Boot with Salah.
Son 21/22 v 23/24 comparison
| Season | Matches | Goals | Mins per goal | Goal conversion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21/22 | 35 | 23 | 130.5 | 26.7% |
| 23/24 | 20 | 12 | 139.5 | 23.1% |
Richarlison’s numbers show he has clearly stepped up under Postecoglou. Indeed, his 149.3 minutes per goal is almost on a par with Son and underlines the Brazilian’s huge impact playing as a No 9.
Crucially, Richarlison fares well when assessed against his best-ever scoring seasons in Fantasy. The Brazilian scored 13 goals in back-to-back campaigns while at Everton in 2018/19 and 2019/20.
However, in terms of minutes per goal and goal conversion, his numbers this season for Postecoglou are superior to either of those seasons.
Richarlison 23/24 v his previous best campaigns
| Season | Matches | Goals | Mins per goal | Goal conversion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18/19 | 35 | 13 | 206.6 | 15.7% |
| 19/20 | 36 | 13 | 236.7 | 14.4% |
| 23/24 | 18 | 7 | 149.3 | 17.1% |
Maddison’s appearance in the analysis is all the more remarkable given he has missed the last 10 Gameweeks.
The playmaker’s 15 shots on target eclipse the 14 of Dejan Kulusevski (£7.1m), despite playing almost half the Swede’s number of minutes.
As evidenced by his recent goal against Burnley in the FA Cup, Porro has boasted a considerable threat. His 34 shots rank top among all Fantasy defenders, while his 16 shots in the box place third.
Spurs’ top goal threats
| Player | Shots in box | Big chances | Shots on target | Goal conversion | Mins per goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Son | 40 | 11 | 26 | 23.1% | 139.5 |
| Richarlison | 34 | 12 | 16 | 17.1% | 149.3 |
| Kulusevski | 28 | 2 | 14 | 14.7% | 333.2 |
| Johnson | 23 | 6 | 10 | 3.6% | 1,174 |
| Maddison | 16 | 4 | 15 | 10.7% | 294 |
| Porro | 16 | 2 | 5 | 0% | N/A |
*Rotate your mobile device to see the full table
Who are the best creators?
Porro’s all-round influence on the Spurs attack is highlighted by the underlying numbers.
Under Postecoglou, his 39 key passes and 10 big chances are near-identical to those of his premium-priced attacking team-mate Son. Both those totals also rank among the top three defenders in Fantasy, showing why the Spaniard’s ownership has climbed to over 32 per cent.
Maddison once again appears in spite of his spell on the sidelines, with his six assists second only to the eight of Porro.
The midfielder’s average of 28 minutes per chance created is markedly better than his team-mates and shows why he will be a strong option to consider when fit and available.
Spurs’ top creators
| Player | Key passes | Big chances created | Assists | Mins per key pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kulusevski | 43 | 8 | 2 | 39 |
| Porro | 39 | 10 | 8 | 46 |
| Son | 36 | 11 | 5 | 47 |
| Maddison | 31 | 6 | 6 | 28 |
It’s worth noting, though, that Maddison’s return could also have a detrimental impact on Porro’s prospects for assists from dead-ball situations.
The full-back has dominated set-pieces in Maddison’s absence, taking 56 of their 61 corners from Gameweek 12 onwards. Prior to that, Porro had taken only six of their first 59 corners, with Maddison the leading figure on 41.
Certainly, Porro is unlikely to take a back seat altogether and there would be no surprise if the pair shared set-pieces when Maddison returns.
So, who are the best Spurs players to invest in?
Son’s ability to deliver huge hauls makes him the one must-have Spurs asset when he returns from the Asian Cup, with the South Korean’s six double-figure returns second only to the seven of Salah.
Meanwhile, Porro’s huge potential for attacking returns makes him a key figure for Fantasy managers’ defence in a season where clean sheets are proving hard to come by.
Both Maddison and Richarlison make a strong argument for a Spurs triple-up, with the latter’s new role up front and budget-friendly price tag suggesting he’s being overlooked, with his current ownership standing at just 11 per cent.
Before investing in Spurs, however, managers should be aware that their match with Chelsea in Gameweek 26 is currently at risk of being postponed due to the latter’s involvement in the EFL Cup.
Should Chelsea overcome a 1-0 deficit from the semi-final first leg against Middlesbrough next Tuesday and clinch a place in the Wembley final, their home encounter with Spurs will be removed from Gameweek 26.
In that scenario, Postecoglou’s side would likely have a Double Gameweek later in the season.