Welcome to the Sportskeeda Power Ranking of attackers in the Premier League. The ranking is done after every gameweek on a cumulative basis to decipher the final top 10 come May. The main criteria for ranking the players is their contribution to goals, either by scoring them, or creating them, which includes deflections and penalties won as well.
When two or more players are involved in an equal number of goals, the type of assist (direct or deflected), the importance of the goal/assist, the consistency in performances and the minutes per goal/assist is considered to rank them.
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A player scoring/assisting in three consecutive games will have a higher ranking than a player picking the same number of goals/assists in one game and drawing blanks in the rest. Similarly, a player scoring winning goals, having better minutes per goal/assist will occupy a higher position.
Also Read – SK Power Ranking: Top 10 EPL attackers – Gameweek 25
The power rankings further act as a guide for players of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) because the list consists of the most consistent players, as well as relevant statistics for fantasy managers to act upon.
Firstly, the previous Gameweek’s poll on the best attacker for Gameweek 25 was won by Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez with 42% of the total votes polled for his brace against Hull City.
You can vote for this week’s best attacker at the end of the article.
Gameweek 26 saw the Manchester clubs, Arsenal and Southampton miss out on their matches due to the EFL Cup final between Manchester United and Southampton. Meanwhile, Leicester City’s Premier League-winning manager Claudio Ranieri was sacked before the gameweek began and they pulled off a superb 3-1 win against Liverpool. Tottenham went rampant against Stoke and Crystal Palace ended their losing streak at home.
Let us first take a look at the watchlist for the gameweek.
Watchlist
Michail Antonio
Gameweek 23 ranking – N/A
The Englishman was involved in the equalising goal for West Ham when his powerful run and shot came off the post to be tapped home by Andre Ayew. However, he was sent off for a second yellow and now faces suspension.
Ryan Fraser
Gameweek 23 ranking – Watchlist
The Bournemouth attacker’s pace proved too much for West Brom defender Allan Nyom as the latter fouled Fraser and thereby conceding a penalty which was converted by Joshua King to put the Cherries in front.
Now, let’s look at the top 10 attackers after gameweek 26.
#10 Gylfi Sigurdsson
Gameweek 25 ranking – 10th
Match performance – one assist and in form
Goals involved in since Gameweek 14 – 9
Sigurdsson is in fine form in recent weeks and he continued the same against Chelsea with a fine assist in the 3-1 loss at Stamford Bridge. His delivery from the centre-circle was met perfectly by Fernando Llorente’s head to equalise for Swansea in the first-half.
However, in the second-half Chelsea proved too good for Swansea and Sigurdsson could not help prevent the defeat. Despite the result, Swansea stay above the bottom three and a lot of credit for that goes to the Iceland international.
Fantasy Tip – Sigurdsson has been involved in six goals in his last five games and with games against Burnley, Hull, Bournemouth and Middlesbrough coming up, he must be in your fantasy team.
#9 Diego Costa
Gameweek 25 ranking – 9th
Match performance – one goal and in among the goals
Goals involved in since Gameweek 14 – 9
Diego Costa has slowly been finding his scoring boots once again and he scored another poacher’s goal against Swansea to clinch three points for Chelsea. He applied the finishing touch to a simple pass from Eden Hazard who embarked on a terrific mazy run into the box before feeding the striker.
The goal keeps Costa at 9th place and given the performances of players ahead of him, he needs to be involved in more goals to climb into the top 5.
Fantasy Tip – Diego Costa is up against West Ham, Stoke and Crystal Palace in his next 3 games and can be expected to deliver good number of points in those games.
#8 Raheem Sterling
Gameweek 25 ranking – 6th
Match performance – match postponed
Goals involved in since Gameweek 14 – 10
The in-form Manchester City winger dropped a couple of spots owing to the postponed match against Manchester United due to the latter’s EFL Cup commitments.
Fantasy Tip – Sterling faces Sunderland and Stoke next and given City’s current goalscoring form, it could be an opportunity to pick a lot of points.
#7 Cesc Fabregas
Gameweek 25 ranking – 8th
Match performance – one goal, one assist and a much-needed start
Goals involved in since Gameweek 14 – 10
Chelsea needed Cesc Fabregas’ creativity and vision in the starting lineup ahead of Nemanja Matic in recent weeks and the Blues manager Antonio Conte made the much-needed change in this gameweek. Fabregas made the most of the start with a goal and an assist to his name.
He opened the scoring for the Blues with a good finish after receiving Pedro’s pass from the right wing. Fabregas hit the crossbar in the second-half when the scores were level through a rocket of a shot. He turned provider for Pedro with a good pass and the Spaniard’s shot from outside the box was not dealt well by Swansea keeper Fabianski and the ball crept in for Chelsea to lead again.
Fabregas’ made the most of his opportunity and now he will be hoping to keep his spot in the upcoming gameweeks.
Fantasy Tip – Fabregas has made just five starts in the last thirteen gameweeks and still has contributed 10 goals, making him the most effective player in the league. With games against West Ham, Stoke and Crystal Palace coming up, he can be expected to make good contributions despite the playing time risk involved.
#6 Romelu Lukaku
Gameweek 25 ranking – 7th
Match performance – one goal and a constant menace
Goals involved in since Gameweek 14 – 11
Romelu Lukaku has truly hit top form in 2017 and Everton’s upturn in fortunes have coincided with that as well. The Belgian was yet again on the scoresheet against Sunderland with a well-taken goal.
Kevin Mirallas released Lukaku on the right-wing allowing him to use his pace and strength to run all the way upto Sunderland’s goal and then showed his composure and finishing ability to seal off the match for the Toffees.
Fantasy Tip – After Tottenham away, Lukaku faces West Brom and Hull at home, making him a good option for your fantasy team then if he is not already in your team.
#5 Dele Alli
Gameweek 25 ranking – 4th
Match performance – one goal and mini-drought ends
Goals involved in since Gameweek 14 – 12
Dele Alli’s three-game goalscoring drought came to an end against Stoke as Spurs went rampant in the first-half. The Englishman made the most of his team’s form to get himself a goal and boost his confidence.
Alli did well to receive Harry Kane’s pass from the right wing and finish it just before half-time. Despite the goal, Alli drops a spot in the power rankings for this gameweek and also has Lukaku breathing down his neck.
Fantasy Tip – Tottenham play Everton next and do not have a match on Gameweek 28, so you can consider replacing him for better options for the next 2 gameweeks.
#4 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Gameweeks at top – 3
Gameweek 25 ranking – 2nd
Match performance – match postponed
Goals involved in since Gameweek 14 –13
Zlatan sees a two place drop due to Manchester United not playing in the Premier League this gameweek. He did play a starring role in Manchester United’s EFL Cup final victory against Southampton and now will be itching to get back to the top of the power ranking when he returns.
Fantasy Tip – Zlatan is up against Burnley next before missing out again on Gameweek 28, so it could be a wise decision to not pick him for the next gameweek although a little bit risky.
#3 Christian Eriksen
Gameweeks at top – 2
Gameweek 25 ranking – 3rd
Match performance – two assists and picks up form
Goals involved in since Gameweek 14 – 14
Eriksen was in a massive slump in form prior to this gameweek with no goal/assist in the previous 4 gameweeks. However, in the last two games against Fulham in the FA Cup and Genk in the Europa League he was involved in two goals apiece. The Dane continued this form by being involved in a couple more assists against Stoke.
He picked up his first assist when his corner reached Harry Kane at the edge of the box and the Tottenham striker scored off it. The second assist arrived through a layoff for Kane off a free-kick that the latter scored off a deflection.
Fantasy Tip – While Eriksen has picked up form, Everton next and a blank gameweek after that implies now is not the time to pick him up for your team.
#2 Alexis Sanchez
Gameweeks at top – 7
Gameweek 25 ranking – 1st
Match performance – match postponed
Goals involved in since Gameweek 14 – 14
The Arsenal superstar had a blank gameweek due to Southampton’s EFL Cup final and as a result is dethroned off the top spot by a top performance in the gameweek.
Fantasy Tip – Alexis Sanchez does not have a good record against Liverpool whom Arsenal face next and then has another blank gameweek. So, you can consider switching him out for the next two gameweeks.
#1 Harry Kane
Gameweek 25 ranking – 5th
Match performance – three goals, one assist and top performance to claim top spot
Goals involved in since Gameweek 14 – 15
Winners are those who do not let any opportunity go waste when it presents itself. With Ibrahimovic and Sanchez not playing this gameweek, there was a chance for another player to climb to the top of the ranking. Harry Kane, who was stuck at 5th spot for a number of gameweeks, put on a performance to remember to make a huge leap from 5th to 1st and become the new leader.
He scored his 2nd consecutive hat-trick following the hat-trick against Fulham in the FA Cup with a right-footed first goal, a left-footed second goal and a deflected free-kick. However, the top spot clinching contribution occurred when he picked up an assist for Dele Alli’s goal and thereby occupy the 1st place for the first time.
Fantasy Tip – Harry Kane scored his third hat-trick across all competitions in 2017 this gameweek. Given his form, irrespective of fixtures, he should be in the team.
