The Worst High-Owned Players in FPL and Why You Might Want to Rethink Picking Them
Fantasy Premier League (FPL) is a bit like navigating a minefield. One wrong step, and your carefully crafted team could explode, sending your mini-league hopes up in smoke. Every season, a handful of players inexplicably become popular picks, but high ownership doesn’t always mean high returns. Some of these players might be more of a ticking time bomb than a solid investment. Let’s jump into my five highly-owned players who might ruin your weekend — and not in a good way.
1. Eberechi Eze (34.8% Ownership) – Crystal Palace
Eberechi Eze is a player who can dazzle on his day, but trusting him with a spot in your FPL team might be like trusting a chocolate teapot to hold your morning coffee.
- Injury Prone: Eze’s ankles seem to be made of glass. He’s had a few knocks here and there, which have kept him out of action and made him a bit of a liability in FPL. One moment, he’s dancing through defences, the next, he’s on the physio’s table.
- Streaky Performer: He’s one of those players who can score a wonder goal one week and then disappear off the face of the earth for the next three. Unless you’re into rollercoaster rides, this level of unpredictability might not be for you.
- Potential Transfer: The rumour mill has linked him with a move to Manchester City. Now, that might sound like a step up, but at City, he might end up as just another talented player warming the bench. Less time on the pitch means fewer FPL points, and no one wants that.
Eze is like that tempting dessert at the end of a meal—looks great, but do you really need another 800 calories after you’ve just had a full meal? No you gluttonous pig.
2. Joachim Andersen (21.1% Ownership) – Crystal Palace
Joachim Andersen is a solid defender, no doubt. But when it comes to FPL, solid doesn’t always translate to points. And then there’s the small matter of his potential move…
- Transfer Speculation: Andersen has been linked with moves to Saudi Arabia and Fulham. While Fulham might keep him on your radar, a move to Saudi Arabia is the FPL equivalent of being sent to the Shadow Realm—you won’t be seeing any points from there.
- Defensive Output: Let’s be honest, Palace isn’t exactly the fortress it once was. Even if Andersen sticks around, clean sheets could be few and far between. You might want to consider defenders from teams with a more generous schedule if you’re hunting for those all-important defensive returns.
In short, Andersen’s FPL value is as solid as a house of cards in a wind tunnel.
3. Emile Smith Rowe (15.5% Ownership) – Fulham
Remember when Emile Smith Rowe was the next big thing? It feels like ages ago, and sadly, his FPL prospects have aged about as well as that half-eaten sandwich in the back of your fridge.
- Limited Game Time: Smith Rowe has barely seen the pitch in the last two seasons, with just over 500 minutes of Premier League football. That’s like buying a season ticket and only showing up for the last ten minutes of each game—not exactly the best value.
- Rust and Form: He’s been out of the spotlight for so long that it’s hard to say if he can recapture the form that once made him a hot FPL prospect. Even if Fulham gives him a chance, it might take a while before we see anything worth writing home about.
Smith Rowe is the kind of pick that could leave you feeling nostalgic for his glory days — if only those days weren’t so far behind him.
4. William Saliba (40.7% Ownership) – Arsenal
William Saliba had a stellar season for Arsenal, and his high ownership reflects that. But before you get too comfortable with him in your squad, take a look at the upcoming fixtures—because they’re scarier than a midnight trip to the attic.
- Tough Fixtures: Arsenal’s opening five games include trips to Aston Villa, Tottenham, and Manchester City. Let’s just say the chances of Saliba racking up clean sheets in these matches are about as slim as your chances of winning the lottery twice in a row.
- Clean Sheet Potential: Saliba’s clean sheet prospects in those first few games are, at best, shaky. There are better options out there, particularly among defenders with a kinder fixture list and more potential for attacking returns.
Saliba might be a popular pick, but when you’re up against the likes of Man City, sometimes it’s best to leave your defenders at home—and your FPL squad.
5. Christopher Nkunku (16.9% Ownership) – Chelsea
Christopher Nkunku is an exciting player, no doubt. But FPL isn’t always about excitement—it’s about cold, hard points. And unfortunately, Nkunku might be short on both for a while.
- Nailed-On Status?: Nkunku only managed 437 minutes last season, which isn’t exactly confidence-inspiring. Add in Chelsea’s penchant for rotation under a new manager, and you’ve got a recipe for frustration.
- Transition Period: The Premier League is a whole new beast, and even top talents need time to adapt. Nkunku might take a few games (or more) to find his feet, and in FPL, patience isn’t always a virtue.
- Opening Fixture: Chelsea kick off their season against Manchester City. If you’re expecting Nkunku to make an immediate impact, you might want to lower those expectations. Or better yet, save yourself the heartache and look elsewhere.
Nkunku has all the potential in the world, but then, so did all of Chelsea’s 45 signings in the last 2 seasons.
6. Matt Turner (20.7% Ownership) – Nottingham Forest
Matt Turner is the classic example of the FPL hype train going off the rails. Once a potential bargain as a starting goalkeeper, his situation has changed dramatically at Forest —and not for the better.
- Third Choice Status: Turner has tumbled down the pecking order at Nottingham Forest and is now third-choice. Yes, you read that right. He’s likely to be warming the bench more than playing on the pitch this season, which is never a good sign for an FPL asset. They signed a replacement in Sels last season, and this summer signed a giant freak in Carlos Miguel.
- Potential Sale: To make matters worse, there are whispers of Turner being sold. If that happens, you might find yourself with a non-playing goalkeeper, and nothing tanks your team value faster than a keeper who can’t get a game.
- Price Collapse: Once the FPL community catches on, expect his ownership to plummet faster than a lead balloon. His price will drop like a stone, and anyone still holding onto him will be left scrambling for a replacement.
Turner might have seemed like a safe bet early on, but his current situation makes him about as valuable as a Antony. Time to jump ship before it’s too late.
Conclusion
Picking FPL players is a bit like choosing a restaurant: just because everyone else is going doesn’t mean it’s the best choice. Everyone loves McDonalds and McDonalds is terrible.
The players listed above have high ownership, but each comes with significant risks that could leave you regretting your decision faster than you can say “Why did I bench boost in Gameweek 1.”
FPL is a game of strategy, and sometimes the best move is to avoid the crowd and trust your instincts—or at least, make sure your instincts aren’t leading you straight into a trap.
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