Joao Pedro's Fantasy Premier League Outlook Amidst Stagnant Form
Chelsea forward Joao Pedro is currently the third most selected player in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), trailing only Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo.
However, while Haaland and Semenyo continue to perform well, Pedro's form has plateaued. The Brazilian has not contributed any goals or assists in his last four matches.
In light of this, FPL expert Pras Singhal examines the pros and cons of retaining the Chelsea forward, especially with the Blues set to face Sunderland at Stamford Bridge this Saturday.
Pras Singhal: As of now, Joao Pedro is owned by approximately 58% of FPL managers. His initial performance, which included two goals and three assists in the first four matches, justified this high ownership. Unfortunately, his form has since declined significantly, as he has not scored or assisted in the last four outings.
The Case to Sell
Pras Singhal: Over the past four Gameweeks, Pedro has recorded only two shots, resulting in a disappointing 0.07 expected goals (xG). This indicates a deeper issue with his goal-scoring ability.
Due to the absence of a fit striker, he has been forced to play in a central role, which does not align with his preferred style that thrives in attacking half-spaces.
Moreover, the Chelsea attack has struggled without Cole Palmer, while alternatives such as Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta and Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade are both in excellent form, making them tempting transfer options.
The Case to Hold
Pras Singhal: Following a late red card in the Champions League match against Benfica, Joao Pedro missed Wednesday's game against Ajax, which means he is likely to start against Sunderland on Saturday.
When Marc Guiu was introduced to lead the attack in Gameweek eight, Pedro's performance improved significantly in a number 10 role. If this trend continues, it could enhance his chances for attacking returns.
Chelsea's upcoming fixtures are favorable, including matches against Sunderland at home, Tottenham away, Wolves at home, and Burnley away, all of which could yield goals.
Additionally, Mateta will be facing Arsenal this week, making it a less than ideal time to make that transfer.
At the very least, I recommend holding onto Joao Pedro for one more week against Sunderland, and then considering a switch to Mateta if Pedro's performance does not improve.