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, successful dribbles, interceptions, accurate crosses, and aerials, among others. Identifying these points is essential for your Fantasy EPL prospects, and our Gameweek 34 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 34 Ghost Point Hunters
Another week, another miraculous score for the opponent. But we move, it's almost over. In that spirit, here are your big board ghosters: Christian Eriksen, Miguel Almiron, & Ben Johnson. We have Thiago Alcantara, Matt Targett, Joelinton (HE'S BAAAAACK) & Youri Tielemans in the honorable mentions. Meanwhile, the Dr. Peter Venkman Award, if it isn't burned and/or buried in the back garden, goes on the shelf of Sadio Mane?! Yes, let's get weird.
Christian Eriksen
Position: Midfielder
Team: Brentford
Rostered: 74%
Ghost Points Per Start: 9.4
Ghost Points Last GW: 11.5
Prospects: He and Brentford have found some consistent form. He is nailed on and dominates set pieces. Should provide great value ROS.
Verdict: Would have to try to trade in. Could dangle a DGWer like Ziyech or Alonso +1 for him.
Yes, it's the feel good story of the year. But GPH is heartless, calculating, and only values points. And Christian Eriksen is providing them in bunches at the moment. Coming back from such a serious condition - collapsing with a heart problem at the Euros last summer - many had doubts, including GPH, that the Dane would even come close to getting back to his silky self. After a slow start, he's heating up.
Eriksen finally made his Brentford debut in late February and did little over the following two matches, which is understandable given the long layoff. But form is temporary, class is permanent. He has exploded over his last four starts: 14.5, 20.5, 12, & 19.5. This tally includes a goal and two assists but also some supernatural scores. The dozen v West Ham were all of the ghost persuasion. This most recent performance v Watford feature an assist but it was buffeted by double digit ghosties. Eriksen is starting to roll back the years and this time he isn't weighed down by Spursiness. GPH hasn't seen any reason to doubt he'll keep it up ROS, especially given his stranglehold on set pieces for the carefree and in form Brentford Bees. Try and get him in.
Miguel Almiron
Position: Midfielder
Team: Newcastle
Rostered: 23%
Ghost Points Per Start: 5.5
Ghost Points This Past GW: 10 (1st game)
Prospects: With Ryan Fraser out and Almiron firing, he should keep his place, at least for the foreseeable future.
Verdict: Pick him up - Norwich is next!
It feels like 2019 all over again on the Newcastle wing. Ryan Fraser loses the spot to injury, here comes Miguel Almiron. When the Paraguayan came over to Tyneside from stateside, he was widely touted. He put in some good performances before trailing off. Last season was a wash fantasy-wise as was most of this campaign, until now.
Miggy just dusted himself off and bagged 20+ in the DGW. The first of the two was more impressive from a ghost point perspective, despite his tasty golazo in the latter. His ten ghosties in less than 70 minutes v Leicester came largely from 1 Key Pass, 1 Aerial, & 4 Successful Dribbles (his bread & butter). It must be said that he can go quiet on the ghost point front at times. But given his recent form and the fact that Newcastle face bottom dwellers Norwich this week, Almiron should be amongst your waiver wire claims.
Ben Johnson
Position: Defender
Team: West Ham United
Rostered: 9%
Ghost Points Per Start: 6.1
Ghost Points This Past GW: 13
Prospects: He should continue to rotate with Coufal, who is now seemingly fit, although he may start most Prem games ROS. The Hammers will be focused on Europa League glory but Johnson has shown he can do a job.
Verdict: Decent streamer ROS.
This will be short and sweet. Ben Johnson doesn't have the flashiest of names, obviously, but he can ghost. And that's really all we care about. A young right back that likes to get forward, Johnson is largely a rotation piece in the West Ham backline. Coufal's injury opened up the spot and the Englishman has performed ably for the most part. His ghost point avg is somewhat mediocre but he has it in his locker to put in ghostly shift.
This past GW v Burnley, Johnson did just that, dropping over a dozen scary scores. These stemmed from 3 Key Passes, 4 Accurate Crosses Not Corners (ACNCs), 1 Interception, 4 Clearances, & 1 Aerial. The lot. While Coufal is back healthy, West Ham is almost singularly focused now on the Europa League, in which they've reached the semifinals. So Johnson should continue to get some starts ROS and has shown himself to be streamable in a pinch. A word of caution, however. The Hammers will likely field weakened teams in the EPL as long as they are in Europa, and with injuries to two CBs, Kurt Zouma & Issa Diop, a leaky defense may get even leakier. Don't expect many cleansheets. But hey, live a little.
Honorable Mention:
Thiago Alcantara (Liverpool MID; 14 ghosts): The diminutive Spaniard was mesmerizing against an admittedly hapless Man Utd. Two double digit ghost point hauls in three GWs. If only he could keep it up. But that isn't stopping GPH from drafting him way too early next season. We're ready to get hurt again.
Matt Targett (Newcastle DEF; 17.5 ghosts): The English left back is such a rollercoaster. He can ghost out of his mind at times - including delivering 17.5 of them against Leicester. He's good to have on the ole roster.
Joelinton (Newcastle GOD; 13 & 8 ghosts): After an unexpected but ultimately forgiven dip, Sir Joe is back, baby. This DGW yielded over 20 ghosts, and Norwich beckons.
Youri Tielemans (Leicester MID; ghosts): He has been an enigma this season, some ups and some downs. This DGW epitomized that - 9.5 ghosties in the first game, just 3 in the second. He seems to thrive more when Madders is not in the XI.
Dr. Peter Venkman Award:
Sadio Mane (Liverpool FWD; 1 ghost): GPH is not punishing Mane for our own original sin of drafting him instead of moving up for Salah, and we are incredibly grateful for the 19 point haul this GW. However, we would be remiss if we didn't point out that the ghosts have largely gone back up to hide in the attic. This past GW, he dropped 19 but it took a goal and an assist. And this comes after he needed a goal to get to 13 the previous week. Where have all the ghost points gone? This newish false 9 role puts him in the action more but it seems like Mane loses some of those successful dribble ghosties he gets from the wing. GPH is purely speculating here. It hurts to give our guy the Venkman treatment. But Mane left us no choice. Keep getting these returns and we can overlook it. Deal?
***Click here to view the full Ghost Point Tracker table!***
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