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Squawka / Gaming / FPL Squawka Score: How we crunch the numbers to identify fantasy football gems

FPL Squawka Score: How we crunch the numbers to identify fantasy football gems

We’ve been very busy here at Squawka trying to find the best way to identify the top picks in FPL for the 2023/24 campaign. Introducing… the Squawka Score.

What is the Squawka Score?

To help find differential picks and under-the-radar fantasy football options for your 23/24 FPL squad, we have used the Twenty3 Sport Discovery Tool to create the Squawka Score.

The Squawka Scores judges a player’s per 90 output for a group of selected stats, with various weightings based on their potential to lead to actual points in FPL. The result is a percentage rating from 0 to 100.

The full lists of metrics used for each position and the weightings given to each are available at the bottom of this page.

By looking at advanced metrics such as Expected Goals, Expected Assists, Touches Inside the Opposition Box and more we can try to uncover hidden FPL gems.

These metrics do not produce FPL points directly but they can help identify attackers that are set to embark on a scoring streak, or highlight defences that may start leaking goals. Don’t worry, we have still included actual goals and assists in the rating.

Ahead of Gameweek 5, we have created a top 10 shortlist of the best FPL picks for each position based on their Squawka Score. And if you want to compare two players in more detail, use the FPL Squawka Comparison Matrix template here.

When picking your FPL squad, you will need to take into account price, fixtures lists and more, but the Squawka Score is the perfect place to start.

Throughout the season, we will use the Squawka Score to provide you with differential picks and help you get the edge in your FPL mini-league. On that note, you can use the code 8ju9vx to join the Squawka Challenge league and pit yourself against our FPL boffins. 

Without further ado, here are the top 10 goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards for the 2023/24 Fantasy Premier League. These will be updated weekly but have currently been compiled using last season’s statistics. 

Best FPL Goalkeepers 2023/24

Here are the top 10 Premier League goalkeepers ahead of Gameweek 5 based on their FPL Squawka Score from the 2023 calendar year. 

PlayerFPL Squawka Score23/24 Team23/24 FPL Price
Alisson69%Liverpool5.5
Nick Pope61%Newcastle5.5
David Raya60%Arsenal4.8
Bernd Leno58%Fulham4.6
Emiliano Martinez58%Aston Villa4.9
Lukasz Fabianski57%West Ham4.4
Dean Henderson56%Crystal Palace4.5
Ederson55%Man City5.6
Sam Johnstone54%Crystal Palace4.5
Aaron Ramsdale53%Arsenal5.0

For the FPL goalkeeper Squawka Score, the per 90 output of each player is compared to all goalkeepers across the past three top-five European league seasons using an automatically calculated minimum minutes played threshold.

Best FPL Defenders

Here are the top 10 Premier League defenders ahead of Gameweek 5 based on their FPL Squawka Score from the 2023 calendar year. 

PlayerFPL Squawka Score23/24 Team23/24 FPL Price
Trent Alexander-Arnold78%Liverpool7.9
Pervis Estupinan78%Brighton5.3
Ben Chilwell78%Chelsea5.8
Pedro Porro76%Spurs5.0
Ivan Perisic70%Spurs4.9
Andy Robertson66%Liverpool6.5
Ben White61%Arsenal5.5
Lewis Hall58%Newcastle4.5
Nathan Ake58%Man City5.1
Kieran Trippier58%Newcastle6.5

For the FPL defender Squawka Score, the per 90 output of each player is compared to all full-backs across the past three top-five European league seasons using an automatically calculated minimum minutes played threshold. The reason we choose full-backs is because you can select Trent Alexander-Arnold and William Saliba for the same position in FPL and wanted to highlight the potential attacking returns more starkly.

Best FPL Midfielders

Here are the top 10 Premier League midfielders ahead of Gameweek 5 based on their FPL Squawka Score from the 2023 calendar year. 

PlayerFPL Squawka Score23/24 Team23/24 FPL Price
Mo Salah80%Liverpool12.5
Solly March80%Brighton6.6
Bruno Fernandes80%Man United8.4
Phil Foden77%Man City7.6
Bukayo Saka76%Arsenal8.7
Jack Grealish75%Man City7.3
Bryan Mbeumo75%Brentford6.8
Gabriel Martinelli73%Arsenal7.9
James Maddison69%Spurs7.8
Eberechi Eze68%Crystal Palace6.3

For the FPL midfielder Squawka Score, the per 90 output of each player is compared to all attacking-midfielders across the past three top-five European league seasons using an automatically calculated minimum minutes played threshold. The reason we choose attacking-midfielders is because you can select Phil Foden and Declan Rice for the same position in FPL – even Mohamed Salah! So, once again, we want the threshold for potential attacking returns to be higher.

Best FPL Forwards

Here are the top 10 Premier League forwards ahead of Gameweek 5 based on their FPL Squawka Score from the 2023 calendar year. 

PlayerFPL Squawka Score23/24 Team23/24 FPL Price
Erling Haaland76%Man City14.1
Gabriel Jesus70%Arsenal7.9
Callum Wilson69%Newcastle7.8
Eddie Nketiah63%Arsenal5.6
Ollie Watkins62%Aston Villa8.0
Alexander Isak61%Newcastle7.7
Danny Welbeck60%Brighton5.8
Cody Gakpo60%Liverpool7.3
Evan Ferguson52%Brighton6.0
Yoane Wissa50%Brentford6.2

For the FPL forward Squawka Score, the per 90 output of each player is compared to all strikers across the past three top-five European league seasons using an automatically calculated minimum minutes played threshold.

So, based on the above rankings, here is the Squawka Score FPL squad for Gameweek 5 of the 2023/24 season. If you think you can beat it, join the Squawka Challenge League here.

How we work out the Squawka Score

Here are the metrics used and the weightings given for the FPL Squawka Score.

Outfield Metrics1-5
Expected Goals5
Expected Assists4
Goals4
Assists4
Shots2
Shots on target3
Shots from inside the opposition box2
Touches inside the opposition box2
Chances created2
Big Chances created3
Crosses attempted2
Penalty area entries2
Through-balls attempted1
Final third passes1
Fouled in final third1
Clean sheets4
Goals conceded2
Expected goals conceded5
Fouls committed1
Yellow cards1

 

Goalkeeper Metrics1-5
Expected goals conceded5
Clean sheets4
Goals conceded4
Saves made4
Penalties faced1
Penalties saved3
Ball recoveries2
Errors leading to a shot2
Errors leading to a goal2
Own goals2
Yellow cards2
Fouls committed1
Penalty area entries1
Final third entries1
Chances created1
Pass accuracy (%)1

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