The Scout looks at who managers should target ahead of the reduced round of matches

The Scout reveals five players who are MUST-HAVES in Blank Gameweek 31 (BGW31) of Fantasy Premier League.

Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd) £10.2m

The Portuguese’s potential for huge points hauls makes him one of the very best captain picks for Manchester United’s visit to AFC Bournemouth. 

Fernandes has delivered a double-figure return in five of his nine appearances since Michael Carrick took charge in Gameweek 22.

The midfielder has scored twice and supplied eight assists to collect 70 points, placing him second among all players during that period.

The underlying numbers show why Fernandes is the Man Utd player most likely to reward you against Bournemouth.

Fernandes has been involved in a team-high 16 big chances, which are situations where a player is expected to score. His 20 shots and 42 chances created are also both more than any team-mate under Carrick. 

Bournemouth, meanwhile, have struggled to keep out their opponents in home matches recently. They have just a single clean sheet in their last seven matches at Vitality Stadium.

Joao Pedro (Chelsea) £7.8m

Chelsea’s Brazilian forward is the only player to outscore Fernandes from Gameweek 22 onwards.

Similarly, it’s been a change of head coach that has helped transform Joao Pedro’s prospects in Fantasy.

He’s scored eight goals and assisted a further six in just nine outings for Liam Rosenior, amassing 78 points.

The underlying data helps to explain Joao Pedro’s recent output. His 14 big chances and 27 shots in the box both rank top among all players in Fantasy across Gameweeks 22-30.

A trip to Everton this weekend certainly suggests the Chelsea forward can extend that run of good form.

The Toffees have struggled to keep out their opponents at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Like Bournemouth, they have one clean sheet in their last seven home matches. 

Harry Wilson (Fulham) £6.0m

The Fulham winger’s nine goals and eight assists have taken him to fourth place in the midfielder standings on 143 points.

Wilson’s potential for big returns brings him firmly into the captaincy conversation for the Cottagers’ home match against Burnley.

The Welshman has five double-figure scores to his name this season, including his season-high haul of 16 points in the reverse fixture against Burnley in Gameweek 16, when he scored once and supplied two assists in a 3-2 win.

Wilson has been involved in 47 per cent of Fulham’s home goals this season and is their likeliest attacker to exploit Burnley’s defence. 

The Clarets’ record on the road adds even more weight to Wilson’s appeal – Scott Parker’s side have conceded in every one of their 14 away matches this season. 

Anthony Gordon (Newcastle) £7.3m

Managers have made the Newcastle United star their priority pick for BGW31, with over 147,000 bringing in Gordon for the Magpies’ home match against Sunderland.

Listed as a midfielder in Fantasy, Gordon’s prospects have recently been lifted by a move up front for the Magpies.

His goals against Man Utd and Chelsea in the last two Gameweeks have earned the England star a total of 18 points, while also marking the first time this season he has scored in back-to-back league matches.

Certainly, Newcastle have momentum on their side ahead of their derby encounter with Sunderland.

They won both those matches against Man Utd and Chelsea, whereas Sunderland have lost four and drawn one of their last six matches, keeping just a single clean sheet in that spell.

With penalty duties also in his locker, Gordon remains a great overlooked pick to help you rise up your mini-leagues. Despite the recent influx of new owners, he can be found in under six per cent of squads.

Igor Thiago (Brentford) £7.3m

Brentford’s Brazilian forward is now just three goals behind Erling Haaland (£14.5m) in the race for the Coca-Cola Golden Boot after scoring his 19th of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday evening. 

And as Haaland is without a fixture in BGW31 because he is playing in the EFL Cup final, Thiago has the opportunity to close that gap further this weekend when he visits Leeds United.

Again, the statistics are in Thiago’s favour. Across the last nine Gameweeks, his 19 shots in the box and 10 big chances both put him among the top three forwards, along with Joao Pedro and Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike (£9.2m).  

Leeds, meanwhile, have been poor defensively at Elland Road for a number of months now, managing just one clean sheet in their last 13 home matches.