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 6 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 6 Ghost Point Hunters
Fresh off the first dreaded international break and a week before our first DGW, it's a good time to take a breath and reflect. Actually, forget all that, let's get into it. We have some very low rostered ghosters and a blast from the past on the big board: Issa Kabore, Ryan Christie/Lewis Cook, & Callum Hudson-Odoi. Honorable Mention features Manor Solomon, MGW, Joao Gomes, & Cheick Doucoure. And we've been waiting to ship a Dr. Peter Venkman Award to Stamford Bridge - the wait is over, congrats, Nico Jackson!
Issa Kabore
Position: Defender
Team: Luton Town
Rostered: 2%
Ghost Points Per Start: N/A
Ghost Points Last GW: 15.5
Prospects: The wingback spots at Luton are both important and volatile. Giles, Doughty, Bell (once), & Kabore have all featured. But Kabore has started 3/5 and their best defensive performance was this past GW v Fulham with Kabore holding down that RWB role. His ghosting is fierce, with constant crosses into the box. He should continue there, has a good matchup this weekend v Wolves at home, and has a tasty DGW incoming.
Verdict: Pick him up! If he doesn't start, drop him for Doughty/whoever slots in.
Plucky Luton Town have unsurprisingly had a rough go at it in the Premier League. With a tiny stadium amidst residential housing and little investment, it's quite impressive to go from non-league to playing the big boys in less than a decade. They've seemingly made the decision that they will happily take the EPL money, invest a little bit, take their chances, and try to maintain a sustainable model. This is contrary to what other promoted clubs have done, which is to spend a ton of money and hope it's enough to stay up. This is a long-winded preamble to calling out one of Luton Town's shrewd acquisitions - Issa Kabore, who has rocked up at Kenilworth Road on loan from Manchester City.
Kabore is a talented wing back who has impressed. Fantasy-wise, while he gets dinged for Luton Town's leaky defense, he can offset goals conceded with his swashbuckling down the wing, pinging in crosses & getting into dangerous positions. Unlike his peers, he can also defend. Against Fulham, he dropped a mouthwatering 15.5 ghosties, stemming from 3 Key Passes, 4 Accurate Crosses Not Corners (ACNCs), 1 Interception, 2 Clearances, 1 Successful Dribble, 1 Blocked Shot, & 2 Aerials. Kabore also finished with Most touches (44), completed passes (25), progressive passes (3) & carries (2). Again, he has a lot of competition. But given that he has started the majority of matches, is more solid defensively, and is coming off that impressive performance (the manager was very complimentary), he should keep his spot. The schedule is also quite favorable - Wolves come to town this weekend, then the Hatters have a DGW v Everton (away) & Burnley (home). You're welcome.
Ryan Christie/Lewis Cook
Position: Midfielders
Team: Bournemouth
Rostered: 13% & 1%
Ghost Points Per Start: N/A
Ghost Points Last GW: 12 & 14.5
Prospects: Christie seems nailed as the more creative engine and takes most set pieces while Cook is nailed as a CDM at least until Adams & Scott are back fit. And both are scoring well and can do a job as streamers in a position that, frankly, there isn't much depth on the waiver wire.
Verdict: Pick them up and stream accordingly.
While there has been a lot of talk about the cluttered Bournemouth attack, most have faded the engine room. This seems to have been a mistake - at least for now. Enter Ryan Christie & Lewis Cook, the Cherry MIDs have been accessing the supernatural of late. Christie has shrugged off Hamed Traore & any other competition to dominate set pieces & serve as a creative outlet. Over the weekend, he delivered a dozen ghosties - 3 Key Passes, 3 ACNCs, 1 Interceptions, 2 Clearances, & 2 Successful Dribbles. Meanwhile, Captain Cook (he's not actually the Bournemouth captain, but he has our vote if he keeps this up) has bossed the midfield at times, picking up both attacking and defensive stats. Case in point - his14.5 scary scores derived from 1 Key Pass, 3 Tackles Won, 5 Interceptions, 2 Clearances, 2 Successful Dribbles, & 1 Aerial.
Was this just a flash in the pan? Christie hasn't previously shown a penchant for consistently ghosting. And CDMs like Cook are notoriously up and down; Adams & Scott are also coming for a spot in said engine room. The former has been one of the few nailed on starters and, again, sets provide a nice floor. He seems to have more staying power than Cook, who is just a streamer until proven otherwise. Act accordingly.
Callum Hudson-Odoi
Position: Forward
Team: Nottingham Forest
Rostered: 20%
Ghost Points Per Start: N/A
Ghost Points Last GW: 11
Prospects: CHO was thrown right into the mix against Burnley after his late acquisition and quickly impressed. He seems to have a point to prove and slotted into this Forest attack effortlessly. Granted, it was against Burnley at home, but a great start for the former starlet.
Verdict: It's going to be very tricky getting him in this week after that performance. Thankfully Forest have City this week; wait for that inevitable drop-off then try to pounce.
Callum Hudson-Odoi showed some promise in a recent Premier League outing. What year is it? After years of being "the next big thing" at Chelsea, he finally departed for Bayer Leverkusen in Germany last summer. Now he's back in Blighty at Forest and is looking for redemption. Early signs are positive. He slotted in immediately in the Brennan Johnson role and did not disappoint. In his debut at the City Ground, CHO finished with a golazo and a bag of ghosts. His 11 ghosties came from 3 Key Passes, 2 Shots on Target, 1 Tackle Won, & 2 Successful Dribbles - a proper winger.
Burnley at home is one of the most favorable fixtures in the league so should we temper expectations? Yes and no. We do need to see if he can sustain it - Manchester City is quite the test this GW - but he undoubtedly passed the eye test. CHO was constantly running at defenders and looked hungry for the first time in awhile. He seems to have the bit between his teeth and wants to prove the naysayers, especially in West London, dead wrong. We all know he can ghost and has an eye for goal. Hudson-Odoi is one to watch.
Honorable Mention:
Manor Solomon (Tottenham FWD; 12.5 ghosts): The Israeli got his second start on the trot and ghosted very well after his monster debut the previous GW. The problem is that Richarlison finally hit the back of the net late on in that game and his days may be numbered. Trading out on a high is a decent plan of action.
Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest MID; 12 ghosts): The guy won't stop ghosting. No attacking returns in a good matchup is a bit concerning but you know what you're getting with MGW - set piece threats for days.
Joao Gomes (Wolves MID; 11.5 ghosts): The CDM has bookended two double digit performances with some stinkers. Let's see if he can finally string together some of these types of performances in a row. Otherwise, he is a mirage.
Cheick Doucoure (Crystal Palace MID; 11 ghosts): The Duke is in another one of his random mini purple patches. We're not falling for it. He'll always be a streamer who has the potential to get you double digits out of nowhere but lacks the consistency to be a set and forget.
Category Killers:
Key Passes: Mohammed Salah (5)
Successful Dribbles: Eberechi Eze (7)
Aerials: Oliver McBurnie (13)
Accurate Crosses Not Corners (ACNCs): Issa Kabore (4)
Tackles Won: Joao Gomes (5)
Interceptions: Lewis Cook (5)
Dr. Peter Venkman Award:
Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea FWD; 2.5 ghosts): Not to rub salt in the wound but Jackson's whiff over the weekend gave birth to one of the greatest memes in history, with the goal needing to be enlarged by over 300% for his shot to reach the back of the net. If you haven't seen it yet, please do yourself a favor and give it a watch. What we're more concerned about is Nico's lack of ghosts. His 2.5 ghosts were the result of 1 Shot on Target, 1 Successful Dribble, & 1 Aerial, and then drowned out by 2 Dispossessions. He added a yellow card to boot - his 4th in 5 games - to finish with a half point total. Jackson was highly touted by some coming into the season as he was Chelsea's only healthy, recognizable #9. But other than hauling against lowly Luton Town at home, he has done very little to live up to the hype. He has it in him to turn it around but patience is running out. Maybe the humiliation of Venkman status will spur him into action?
***Click here to view the full Ghost Point Tracker table!***
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