From Victoria Pelova’s creative influence at Tottenham Hotspur to Julia Zigiotti Olme’s defensive contributions for Manchester United, these five players are worth keeping an eye on ahead of the next round of Barclays Women’s Super League fixtures.
With strong recent fantasy returns, impressive underlying statistics and upcoming fixtures that could offer opportunities to make an impact, here are five players to consider for your fantasy team.
The Creative Spark — Victoria Pelova, Tottenham Hotspur
Victoria Pelova has emerged as an exciting fantasy option for Tottenham Hotspur, combining attacking output with the creativity to provide opportunities for her teammates.
The midfielder has recorded five goals and two assists, including an assist in her most recent outing against Arsenal. Her expected goals (xG) figure of 1.64, alongside eight shots on target, highlights her ability to contribute in attacking areas.
Pelova's creative numbers are equally impressive. She has created 15 chances, demonstrating her ability to unlock opposition defences, while her 82.7% passing accuracy shows her reliability in possession.
She has also completed 71.4% of her long balls and recorded a successful dribble rate of 57.95%, offering Tottenham another route to progress the ball up the pitch.
With 17 fantasy points across her last three games, Pelova arrives in encouraging form ahead of Tottenham's away fixture against Birmingham City.
Her combination of goals, assists and chance creation makes her an appealing option for managers looking for a midfielder capable of delivering returns at both ends of the attacking move.
Last three games: 17 fantasy points
Next fixture: Birmingham City (A)
The Midfield Maestro — Daniëlle van de Donk, London City Lionesses
Daniëlle van de Donk has made an impressive contribution for London City Lionesses, recording three goals and four assists in just seven starts.
Her attacking numbers underline her potential as a fantasy pick. Van de Donk has registered an expected goals figure of 4.27, alongside 22 shots, while her expected assists (xA) figure of 1.75 highlights her ability to create opportunities as well as finish them.
She has created 10 chances, providing evidence of her influence in the final third, and her 82.6% passing accuracy allows her to contribute to her side's build-up play.
Van de Donk's distribution has also stood out, with a 90% accuracy rate on long balls. Away from possession, she has recorded 32 recoveries and won 12 fouls, demonstrating her involvement across different phases of the game.
Her recent fantasy returns make particularly encouraging reading, with 26 points accumulated across her last three appearances.
London City Lionesses face a difficult test against Manchester City next, but the fixture also presents van de Donk with an opportunity to demonstrate her quality against strong opposition.
Given her combination of goals, assists and creative influence, she could be a worthwhile selection for managers willing to back her despite the challenging matchup.
Last three games: 26 fantasy points
Next fixture: Manchester City
The Chance Creator — Chasity Grant, Aston Villa
Chasity Grant is another player to consider ahead of the next round of fixtures, having combined a goal and three assists with a strong record of chance creation for Aston Villa.
The forward has registered an expected assists figure of 0.92 and created 10 chances, highlighting her ability to provide opportunities for teammates in attacking areas.
Her five big chances created are particularly noteworthy, suggesting she has regularly been involved in moves that could lead to goals.
Grant has completed 74.8% of her passes and recorded a 71.4% accuracy rate on long balls, demonstrating her ability to contribute to Villa's attacking build-up and move possession into dangerous areas.
She has also won seven fouls and recorded seven tackles, showing that her contribution extends beyond attacking play.
With 20 fantasy points across her last three games, Grant has delivered consistent returns for managers looking for an attacking player with creative potential.
Villa's next fixture against Arsenal presents a challenging test. Arsenal have just secured their first win in four games, which could give them renewed confidence heading into the match.
However, Grant's chance creation and ability to provide assists make her an option worth considering, particularly for managers seeking a player capable of contributing to goals without necessarily finding the net herself.
Last three games: 20 fantasy points
Next fixture: Arsenal
The Ball-Winning Machine — Fuka Nagano, Liverpool
Fuka Nagano offers fantasy managers a different profile, with her ability to win possession and contribute defensively making her a player to watch for Liverpool.
The midfielder has recorded two assists and an expected assists figure of 1.17, demonstrating that she can also contribute to attacking moves.
Her passing accuracy of 87.9% highlights her reliability in possession, while a 50% successful crossing rate and an 85.7% successful dribble rate show her ability to move the ball forward and help Liverpool progress attacks.
Nagano's defensive numbers are particularly impressive. She has made 18 tackles and recorded 45 recoveries, underlining her importance in helping her side regain possession.
She has also won 60.7% of her duels and drawn 11 fouls, demonstrating her ability to compete in midfield and disrupt opposition play.
Although her return of 13 fantasy points across her last three games is lower than some of the other players featured, her all-round contribution could make her an interesting option for managers looking beyond goals and assists alone.
Liverpool face West Ham next, giving Nagano another opportunity to influence the game through her work in possession and defensive contributions.
Last three games: 13 fantasy points
Next fixture: West Ham
The Defensive Dynamo — Julia Zigiotti Olme, Manchester United
Julia Zigiotti Olme has combined attacking contributions with impressive defensive numbers for Manchester United, making her an intriguing fantasy option ahead of their next fixture.
The midfielder has scored three goals from an expected goals figure of 1.26, demonstrating her ability to contribute in front of goal. She has registered eight shots, with three on target, highlighting her willingness to get involved in attacking situations.
However, it is her work away from the ball that makes her stand out. Zigiotti Olme has won 46 duels, including 17 aerial duels, while recording 17 tackles and nine interceptions.
Her ability to regain possession in advanced areas is another positive, having won possession eight times in the final third. She has also made 12 clearances, demonstrating her contribution to Manchester United's defensive efforts.
With 20 fantasy points across her last three games, Zigiotti Olme has produced encouraging returns while contributing in several different areas of the pitch.
Manchester United face Everton next, offering the midfielder another opportunity to build on her recent form.
For fantasy managers seeking a player who can contribute through goals while also offering defensive involvement, Zigiotti Olme is a name worth considering.
Last three games: 20 fantasy points
Next fixture: Everton
Who should you pick?
These five players offer different routes to fantasy points ahead of the next round of Barclays Women’s Super League fixtures.
Pelova and van de Donk stand out for their attacking output and creativity, while Grant offers the potential for assists through her chance creation. Nagano provides defensive reliability and midfield work rate, and Zigiotti Olme combines goalscoring potential with impressive defensive statistics.
Van de Donk leads this group with 26 fantasy points across her last three games, while Grant and Zigiotti Olme have each recorded 20. Pelova has collected 17 points, with Nagano registering 13.
Fixture difficulty will be an important consideration, particularly for van de Donk against Manchester City and Grant against Arsenal. However, recent form and underlying statistics suggest all five players have qualities that could make them valuable fantasy selections.
Choosing the right combination could prove crucial as managers look to maximise their returns in the next round.
