Strikers participating in the popular fantasy football format delivered strong performances over the weekend, cementing a new tactical blueprint for managers across the board. Both Evanilson, valued at £4.4m, and Nicolas Jackson, priced at £4.3m, added 10 points to their respective tallies. This came after both players emerged as some of the most popular recruitment choices heading into Gameweek 9.
The rise of these two forwards offers a shift in how fantasy bosses construct their forward lines, moving away from single-player reliance toward a more balanced, multi-threat attacking structure. Understanding how these players accumulate points helps explain why so many managers are altering their strategies at this stage of the season.
How Evanilson Secured Another Win for Bournemouth
Bournemouth forward Evanilson continued his impressive run by scoring in his fourth consecutive Premier League game. The Cherries secured a 2-0 victory against Leeds at the Vitality Stadium, continuing a strong period of form under the direction of Marco Rose. The Brazilian striker capitalised on an error by goalkeeper James Trafford, who is valued at £3.8m, and benefited from a selfless pass by teammate Justin Kluivert, priced at £3.7m, to open the scoring.
Beyond his goal, Evanilson maintained a high work rate by winning five fouls before being replaced by Alvaro Rodriguez, valued at £3.1m, in the 76th minute. This relentless involvement contributed to him earning a bonus point. Statistical tracking highlights his overall value, as the 27-year-old ranks third among players in his position for points per match this season, second for tackles, and first for assists.
Nicolas Jackson Extends Impressive Goalscoring Run
Nicolas Jackson also found the back of the net to extend his fine form in front of goal. During the match against Fulham, it initially appeared that the Senegal international waited too long to pull the trigger as defenders Timothy Castagne, valued at £3.4m, and David Affengruber, valued at £3.2m, closed the space. However, Jackson exhibited the kind of confidence and persistence typical of a player riding high to get his shot away and beat goalkeeper Bernd Leno, valued at £3.4m.
The encounter saw Aston Villa unable to convert their first-half lead into three points after Zion Suzuki, valued at £4.2m, gifted Fulham an equaliser, making a draw a fair result on the night. Jackson has now scored eight goals in all competitions this season, representing the highest tally among all players not named Erling. Despite rumours of an injury, the former Chelsea forward proved to be the most popular transfer target for Gameweek 9, and his 10-point haul fully satisfied his new owners.
The Shift in Dream Team Forward Lines
A fruitful burst of 53 points across three Gameweeks propelled Jackson to an ownership level of 31.8% at Saturday's deadline. That figure is expected to increase further ahead of Gameweek 10, when the Villains face a beleaguered Manchester United. Before that trip to Old Trafford, the schedule includes a Champions League away fixture against Barcelona. Meanwhile, Evanilson enjoys backing from 14.8% of managers, who will hope for further returns when Bournemouth travel to face Sparta Prague in the Europa League on Thursday.
Statistically, Jackson and Evanilson stand out as the two most in-form strikers in the game at the time of writing. The pair have emerged as superb companions for Erling Haaland in a formidable front line, with more and more managers opting for this appealing front three structure. Thierno Barry, valued at £3.4m, remains second to Manchester City's number nine in the rankings with 92 points, ahead of an evening fixture against Newcastle. Despite this points total, it feels as though his days near the top might be numbered.
Future Outlook for Fantasy Strikers
Without European commitments to rotate squads, maintaining form will prove extremely difficult for players like Barry when trying to hold off the momentum of Jackson and Evanilson. Managers must also factor in traditional heavyweights such as Alexander Isak, valued at £6.5m, and emerging talents like Charalampos Kostoulas, valued at £3.2m. Squad rotation and European fixtures will heavily dictate which forwards maintain their value in the coming weeks.
The current points distribution among top strikers illustrates the dominance of a select few:
- 126 pts - Erling Haaland
- 92 pts - Thierno Barry
- 90 pts - Nicolas Jackson
- 89 pts - Evanilson
- 69 pts - Charalampos Kostoulas
- 68 pts - Alexander Isak
- 63 pts - Georginio Rutter
- 63 pts - Igor Thiago
As the schedule grows more congested with European and domestic fixtures, fantasy managers must weigh transfer budgets carefully. Selecting players involved in continental competitions brings rotation risks, yet the point returns from in-form assets often outweigh the dangers. Monitoring team news and tactical setups remains essential for anyone hoping to climb the overall standings in the weeks ahead.
