We ain’t afraid of no ghosts. In fact, we seek them – ghost points, that is. Ghost Points are fantasy points that do not come from attacking returns or clean sheets. These can come in the form of key passes, shots on target, successful dribbles, interceptions, and tackles, among others. Identifying these points is essential for your Fantasy EPL prospects, and our Gameweek 23 Ghost Point Hunters article is here to help!
This Ghost Point Hunters article is based on the Fantrax Scoring System. Check out our Ghost Point Tracker page for the full list of Fantasy EPL players and their respective Ghost Point capabilities!
Gameweek 23 Ghost Point Hunters
While GW22 still hasn't finished, we have no time to waste. It has already been fairly illuminating, especially with regard to debuts for many new January transfer signings. And that is the general focus of this week's edition of GPH, where we have 2 new boys on the big board (Hamed Traore & Paul Onuachu) & the other feels like a new signing (Jan Bednarek). The honorable mention section, meanwhile, features mostly more household names: Gnonto, Willian, Onana, Bree, Kilman, & Coufal. Yes, the list is littered with "assets" from the worst teams in the league. We go where the points lead us, ladies & gents. Finally, the Dr. Peter Venkman Award is, sadly, on the mantle of everyone's favorite, Miguel Almiron. Again, it's not up to us.
Hamed Traore
Position: Midfielder
Team: Bournemouth
Rostered: 6%
Ghost Points Per Start: N/A (not enough starts)
Ghost Points Last GW: 8.5
Prospects: He was immediately shunted into the starting lineup this past GW v Brighton and looked dangerous. He took some set pieces and most of the attacks went through the Ivorian. They have a tough schedule but if Tavernier is out and/or he keeps his current role, he should provide sneaky midfield value.
Verdict: Pick him up!
There is yet another Traore in the Premier League. Hamed has big shoes to fill if he wants to rival his namesake Adama as the favorite Traore. But he is off to a decent start. The gifted Ivorian swapped Sassuolo in Italy for Blighty's south coast and was quickly thrown into the lion's den v Brighton. And he came out alive, controlling the engine room in a very difficult fixture in which the Cherries had very little of the ball.
Traore dropped a very respectable 8.5 ghosties v the Seagulls. This haul stemmed from a variety of sources: 1 Key Pass, 3 Tackles Won, 1 Accurate Cross Not a Corner (ACNC), 1 Interception, & 2 Successful Dribbles (CoS). This is exactly what you want to see from a box to box midfielder. His numbers should further improve when they face an opponent that isn't so possession dominant. And some set pieces, at least until Tavernier is out, should provide a decent floor. Despite a tough schedule, Traore is worth a cheap punt if you need help in the middle of the park.
Jan Bednarek
Position: Defender
Team: Southampton
Rostered: 2%
Ghost Points Per Start: N/A (not enough starts)
Ghost Points Last GW: 19
Prospects: Hard to tell if the giant Pole will keep his spot in a back 3. But if he does, he is a solid shout, especially in a decent matchup v Wolves at home this weekend. A shakeup by Jones or a new manager coming in could mean he is relegated back to the bench. But he's an easy drop if so.
Verdict: Pick him up & stream accordingly. If he doesn't start this GW, drop him. Drop Salisu if Bednarek does start (he seems to have sucked all the ghost point oxygen out of Salisu).
Well, we didn't we'd have Jan Bednarek on the big board this season - definitely not on our bingo cards for 2022/2023. But here we are. The lanky defender was shipped off on loan to Aston Villa but was promptly returned to Southampton in January. And Bednarek started straight away in the midweek Carabao Cup fixture v Newcastle and in the EPL v Brentford. No cleansheets, of course, but the ghosties have flowed.
This should not be a total surprise for veterans of the game. Bednarek has put up some monster scores over the years and is no stranger to ghosties. He averaged nearly 9 scary scores per start last season. Even so, dropping 19 this past weekend is still fairly jarring. Bednarek was able to do it by snagging the following: 2 Tackles Won, 10 Interceptions (!), 4 Clearances, 1 Blocked Shot, & 5 Aerials. Putting it mildly, he was quite active. The 3 goals conceded still left him with a total score that looks like he bagged a cleanie. His partner in the back, Mohammed Salisu, who was previously hoovering up all the ghosts, finished with only 2 points & change. Manager Nathan Jones has talked about getting back to his old ways, which has been construed as defensive solidity & aggression. If Bednarek fits into this, he, not Salisu, may be the fantasy set & forget defender for the Saints ROS. Stay tuned.
Paul Onuachu
Position: Forward
Team: Southampton
Rostered: 11%
Ghost Points Per Start: N/A (not enough starts)
Ghost Points Last GW: 10
Prospects: While he didn't get a start in his first game with the Saints, he did come on at HT & immediately made the attack look more dangerous. His ghosting ability, albeit based just on 45 minutes, looks quite tasty. He is a high upside play if he nails on a starting berth in this sputtering front line, which he should.
Verdict: Pick him up!
Sticking with Saints, the team at the very bottom of the table, we move from defense to attack. Paul Onuachu, the towering Nigerian forward, was signed in January to add some potency to a languid Southampton. He was lighting up the Belgian league with Genk & fancied a shot at the Premier League.
In his 2nd half cameo, Onuachu was able to deliver double digit ghosts: 3 Key Passes, 1 Shot on Target, 1 Clearance, & 6 Aerials. His link up play & aerial ability (his height is a huge advantage) intimate that even without goals, he can be a more than viable fantasy scorer. Which is a great thing given that Saints have failed to score many goals. His substitute performance should warrant a start this weekend v Wolves, especially as Nathan Jones has warned of a shakeup (the board might also want that shakeup to include his departure). If your league mates scooped him up off waivers last week, they likely dropped him when he didn't get the starting nod v Brentford. If Onuachu can nail down a starting role, he has the potential to be a dangerous set & forget FWD2.
Honorable Mention:
Wilfried Gnonto (Leeds United FWD; 14 ghosts): The diminutive left winger had the ghost point game of his life v Forest. It's no coincidence that GPH was vs him this GW. He should continue to be a decent FWD 3 but this Casper-like performance is an aberration (he hasn't come close to these #s before).
Willian (Fulham FWD; 14 ghosts): The ageing Brazilian has put in shifts this season but had been off the boil of late. A date against his former flame did something to him. Our guess is that he doesn't keep this up - might be a good time to trade out on a relative high.
Amadou Onana (Everton MID; 13 ghosts): The "Dyche Effect" truthers are already out in full force banging the drum for Dwight McNeil to be KDB rest of season. Onana ghosted more & might be just as available if not more.
James Bree (Southampton DEF; 12.75 ghosts): The poor man's Jan Bednarek this week, he is the manager's boy (he brought him from his former club) & if Jones stays, Bree might become nailed. And this early evidence shows he can ghost. Go for Bednarek, settle for Bree.
Max Kilman (Wolves DEF; 12.5 ghosts): Keeping Liverpool at bay is not too difficult these days but Kilz & co did it with aplomb this GW. Wolves have a favorable schedule for defenders, making him, Craig Dawson, and the fullbacks decent streaming options in a pinch.
Vladimir Coufal (West Ham DEF; 12 ghosts): An erstwhile ghoster is getting back to basics. Coufal has been piecing some decent performances together and is serviceable option as a DEF3/4 moving forward.
Dr. Peter Venkman Award:
Miguel Almiron (Newcastle MID; -1 ghosts): Sometimes we get things right. We have been calling for folks to trade out Miguel Almiron on a high for a few months now. Yes, it was tempting to believe he would just keep scoring goals, especially after he went 7 of 8 games with an attacking return. But the well is dry, as predicted. The lovable Paraguayan is now 5 games in a row without a goal or assist. And his ghosts just don't hold up his value without them - Miggy boasts a measly 5 ghost points per start. His most recent performance - in a favorable matchup against West Ham at home - was the worst of the bunch as he ended the game in the red. He accumulated 2 dispossessions and nothing more. If you still roster him, you'll have to persist with him at least until he has another game with an attacking return. It's too late to deal him for value now.
***Click here to view the full Ghost Point Tracker table!***
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