As Fantasy Premier League managers, we're always on our toes with player availability, and the latest news on Richarlison has certainly caused a stir. The Spurs forward, priced at £7.1m and selected by 29.9% of the top 100k FPL managers, is currently sidelined with a knee injury. Expected to return on March 16th, Richarlison will miss a crucial fixture against Crystal Palace on March 2nd and faces a race against time to be fit for the following matches against Aston Villa and Fulham.
Given his ownership and the potential for points in Spurs' upcoming fixtures, managers are faced with a tough decision: bench Richarlison for a single game or transfer him out for a player with the potential to score in the interim.
To aid in this decision, let's delve into the data of the most popular replacements among top managers: If viewing on a mobile device please swipe left to view all table contents.
| Player Name | Team | Cost (£m) | Next 3 Fixtures | Projected Points (Next 3 GWs) | Goals (Last 5 GWs) | Assists (Last 5 GWs) | Bonus Points (Last 5 GWs) | xFPL (Last 5 GWs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maddison | Spurs | 7.9 | CRY (H), AVL (A), FUL (A) | 12.8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 16.66 |
| Douglas Luiz | Aston Villa | 5.6 | LUT (A), TOT (H), WHU (A) | 12.9 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 27.52 |
| Martinelli | Arsenal | 7.7 | SHU (A), BRE (H), MCI (A) | 15.3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 29.44 |
| Bowen | West Ham | 7.7 | EVE (A), BUR (H), AVL (H) | 12.7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 22.84 |
| Bailey | Aston Villa | 5.6 | LUT (A), TOT (H), WHU (A) | 12.7 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 23.38 |
| Sarabia | Wolves | 4.7 | NEW (A), FUL (H), AVL (A) | 10.8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 25.0 |
Note: Martinelli has a blank gameweek in GW29, and Sarabia has a blank in GW29 as well.
Currently the most popular transfer replacements are leaning towards Son, Salah, Saka, Sarabia, and Maddison for Richarlison. These players offer a mix of form, fixtures, and potential for returns. Son and Salah are premium options that require additional funds, while Saka, Sarabia, and Maddison are more direct swaps in terms of price.
Maddison has been a creative spark for Spurs, and despite not scoring in the last five gameweeks, his underlying stats suggest returns are on the horizon. With a direct involvement in set-pieces and a favourable run of fixtures, Maddison is a solid replacement for Richarlison.
Douglas Luiz offers exceptional value at £5.6m. His goal-scoring form and bonus point potential make him an attractive option. With a penalty-taking duty and a couple of favourable fixtures, he could be a budget-friendly enabler for your squad.
Martinelli has been a consistent performer for Arsenal, and his expected FPL points are the highest among the replacements. He's involved in a high-flying Arsenal attack, and despite a blank in GW29 and a tough fixture against Man City in GW30, his potential for returns in the other games is significant. He could be the best option for managers choosing to use their Free Hit in GW29.
When replacing Richarlison, FPL managers should consider the balance between immediate returns and long-term prospects. Maddison, Douglas Luiz, and Martinelli present compelling options across different price points, with each bringing a unique set of advantages to the table. Managers should weigh these options against their team's needs and budget constraints to make the optimal transfer decision.
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