Fantasy Premier League managers have always loved a reliable striker. Pay the premium, captain him every week, and wait for the points to roll in. This season, that old formula is wobbling. The World Football Index recently pointed out that only two of the top 20 scoring players in FPL are forwards, a figure that would have sounded absurd a few years ago. Midfielders are collecting the big hauls, and strikers are struggling to justify their price tags. Against that backdrop, Erling Haaland goals this season matter more than ever, because he is the clearest example of what a true number nine can still deliver. Here is what is going on, and how to plan around it.
Why Midfielders Have Taken Over the FPL Scoring Charts
The first thing to understand is that FPL rewards more than goals. A midfielder who scores, assists, wins bonus points, and sometimes picks up a clean sheet bonus can outscore a striker who simply finds the net now and then. Goals from midfield are worth five points, compared with four for a forward, and that small gap adds up over a long campaign.
Tactics play a part too. Many Premier League sides now play with fluid front lines, where wingers cut inside and attacking midfielders arrive late in the box. The traditional target man is no longer the only finisher, and in some teams he is barely the main one. Chances get spread around, and so do the points.
Then there is the question of supply. A forward can only score if the service is good, and several strikers have been stuck in sides that create fewer clean openings than before. Managers who want to see how unusual this trend really is can read the full breakdown of Erling Haaland goals this season and compare it with the wider forward group. The gap between him and the rest is hard to ignore.
How to Build an FPL Squad When Strikers Struggle
If forwards are underperforming as a group, the smartest response is not to panic. It is to rethink where your budget goes.
Spend big in midfield. Since the highest scorers are mostly midfielders, it makes sense to put your premium money there. One or two elite midfielders who carry both goal and assist threat can anchor a squad far better than a mid-priced striker who blanks half the time.
Keep one proven forward. Having no striker at all is risky. When a premium forward does hit form, his ceiling is enormous, and missing out on that haul hurts. Many managers find that one trusted forward, paired with cheaper rotating options, gives the best balance.
Choose fixtures over names. A cheaper striker facing three weak defenses in a row can be worth more than a famous name in a tough run. Look four or five gameweeks ahead before you commit your transfer.
Watch minutes closely. A forward who plays 90 minutes in a busy attack is gold. A forward who is regularly substituted at 65 minutes is not. Check recent starts before you spend your free transfer.
What Erling Haaland Goals This Season Tell Us About Premium Forwards
It is tempting to treat Haaland as a freak outlier, and in some ways he is. But his numbers also teach a useful lesson. He thrives because his team creates a steady volume of chances, and because he is the clear first choice to finish them. Strip away either of those conditions and a forward’s output drops quickly.
That is the real story behind the World Football Index finding. The problem is not that strikers have suddenly forgotten how to score. It is that many of them are in systems that do not funnel enough chances their way, or that share the scoring load across several players. A forward with great finishing and poor service will usually lose out to a midfielder with average finishing and a central attacking role.
Analysts who follow fantasy football often make the same point when they discuss expected goals. A striker who is underperforming his expected total may be due a correction, but one who has a low expected total to begin with is a trap. Before you back a forward on a hunch, look at shots inside the box and touches in the penalty area. Those numbers say far more than last week’s goal tally.
A simple example makes this clear. Imagine two players priced the same. One scores twice in a single match but averages just two shots per game. The other has not scored for three weeks but takes five shots every time he plays. Over a month, the second player is the safer bet, even though the first looks better on paper.
Where FPL Strategy Is Heading Next
If the current pattern holds, FPL will keep pushing managers toward flexibility. Clubs are rotating more, formations are shifting during matches, and the line between midfielder and forward is blurring. Some players are even listed as midfielders in the game while spending most of their time as the focal point of the attack. Those players can offer striker-level threat at a midfielder price, and the sharpest managers are already hunting for them.
Expect data to matter even more. Tools that track chance creation, shot location, and minutes played are easier to find than ever, and the managers who use them tend to climb the rankings. Gut feeling still has a place, but it works best when it sits on top of solid numbers.
There is also a practical lesson that applies well beyond fantasy football. Whether you are building a squad or managing a business budget, the highest price tag does not guarantee the best return. Spend where the evidence points, stay ready to change course, and do not cling to a plan simply because it worked last year.
Conclusion
The fact that only two of the top 20 FPL scorers are forwards tells a clear story about how the game has changed. Midfielders collect more varied points, tactics spread goals around, and many strikers lack the service they need. Yet Erling Haaland goals this season remind us that a forward in the right system can still dominate. The smart approach is to stay balanced, invest in midfield, keep one reliable striker, and let fixtures and underlying data guide your transfers.
FAQ
- Why are so few forwards among the top FPL scorers this season?
Midfielders earn points from goals, assists, and bonus points, and they get five points per goal instead of four. Changing tactics have also spread scoring across more players. - Should I still own a premium striker in FPL?
In most cases, yes. One dependable forward gives you a high ceiling for captain picks, as long as he plays a lot of minutes and sits in an attack that creates plenty of chances. - Is it smart to leave out forwards completely?
It can work for a short run of gameweeks, but it is risky over a full season. A single big haul from a forward you do not own can cost you ground. - What stats should I check before picking a striker?
Look at shots inside the box, touches in the penalty area, expected goals, and recent minutes played. These tell you more than recent goals alone.
