FPL Gameweek 23-team-news tips: Watkins owns Ipswich
By Arasi Rex · Updated 15 August 2026 · 5 min read
These fpl gameweek 23-team-news tips start with a simple conclusion: Ollie Watkins is the captaincy pick. He has 16 goals for an Aston Villa side that hosts Ipswich Town, while the two heavyweight options at the Etihad cancel each other out. If you own an injured Arsenal defender, find a route out before the deadline.
FPL Gameweek 23-team-news tips: the fixtures table
All ten Gameweek 23 matches kick off at 15:00 on 30 January. The fixture list below shapes every decision that follows.
Two fixtures jump out. Villa vs Ipswich gives Watkins the platform to turn his 16 goals into a big captain score. Chelsea vs Nott'm Forest offers two Chelsea midfielders as realistic transfers, but the match at the Etihad is the one that will decide the captain debate. The fixture list also points to the teams you should trust: Chelsea at home, Newcastle at home, Spurs at home, Villa at home and Crystal Palace at Hull. Those five clubs supply the majority of the transfer recommendations below.
FPL Gameweek 23-team-news tips: captain picks
The safest captain is not the highest-scoring player. Watkins is the pick because he combines a home fixture with 16 goals and 4 assists, while being owned by only 12.5% of managers. Haaland is in 74.8% of squads, so captaining him when he faces Arsenal does not move you up the ranks.
| Rank | Player | Fixture | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Watkins | Aston Villa vs Ipswich | 16 goals, 4 assists, 167 points. Home fixture and low ownership. |
| 2 | Haaland | Man City vs Arsenal | 27 goals, 8 assists, 239 points. Elite output, tough fixture. |
| 3 | B.Fernandes | Brentford vs Man Utd | 9 goals, 24 assists, 235 points. The creative floor. |
Haaland remains the highest-scoring player in the FPL data with 239 points. You do not sell him. But the fixture is the hardest of the three captain picks. Arsenal have Gabriel on 18 clean sheets and Raya on 19, so the chances of a monster captain score are lower than they would be against a weaker defence. B.Fernandes offers the assists upside if you want a route away from the obvious names.
Players to bring in
If the captain question is about who scores the most, the transfer question is about who is fit and available. These five names all appear in the FPL data with no injury flag and a clear fixture to target.
| Player | Fixture | The case |
|---|---|---|
| Harry Wilson | Leeds at Coventry | 10 goals, 9 assists, 168 points, 8.5% owned. |
| João Pedro | Chelsea vs Nott'm Forest | 15 goals, 9 assists, 177 points, 54.2% owned. |
| Enzo Fernández | Chelsea vs Nott'm Forest | 10 goals, 5 assists, 157 points, 5.5% owned. |
| Daniel Muñoz | Crystal Palace at Hull | 4 goals, 4 assists, 10 clean sheets, 136 points. |
| Bruno Guimarães | Newcastle vs Brighton | 9 goals, 7 assists, 154 points, 9.2% owned. |
Wilson is the standout addition because he is listed as a midfielder with 10 goals. Leeds travel to Coventry, and his 8.5% ownership makes the upside bigger if he returns. João Pedro is not a differential at 54.2%, but he is the Chelsea attacker with the most complete numbers. Enzo is a cheaper route into the same fixture and has 10 goals from midfield. If you already have João Pedro, Enzo is the ideal second Chelsea asset because he is less owned. Muñoz gives you a defender who attacks, which is rare. Bruno Guimarães is the Newcastle midfield pick with a home game against Brighton.
Players to move on
There are three clear sells before Gameweek 23. Hugo Ekitiké has 11 goals and 4 assists, but he is listed as injured with an Achilles problem and has a 0% chance of playing. Carrying a Liverpool forward who cannot be selected is wasted budget. William Saliba is in the same boat with a back injury and an unknown return date. Arsenal still have defensive numbers through Gabriel and Raya, but an unavailable Saliba is not worth a bench spot. Joachim Andersen is suspended until 30 Aug, which takes him out of the Fulham defensive picture for weeks.
The differential
Richarlison is the differential for Gameweek 23. Spurs host Sunderland, and the forward has 11 goals and 4 assists. He is owned by only 1.9% of managers, which gives your rank a real boost if he scores. Spurs are 17th in the standings data, but Richarlison keeps producing attacking returns in the minutes he gets.
FAQ
Who should I captain in FPL Gameweek 23?
Ollie Watkins is the strongest captain pick. He has 16 goals and 4 assists, and Aston Villa face Ipswich at home. Haaland has more total points but faces an Arsenal defence with strong clean sheet numbers.
Is Haaland fit for Gameweek 23?
Yes. Haaland is listed as available with no injury news in the FPL data. He has 27 goals and 8 assists, so he remains a captain option even against Arsenal.
Which injured players should I move on?
Hugo Ekitiké and William Saliba are listed as injured with a 0% chance of playing. Joachim Andersen is suspended. Move on any of those three before the deadline.
Use these fpl gameweek 23-team-news tips as a checklist: captain the best fixture, move on the injured, and keep a differential like Richarlison in reserve.
Key takeaways
- Captain Ollie Watkins against Ipswich: 16 goals, 4 assists, 167 points.
- Haaland is still the season asset, but Raya's 19 clean sheets make him a weaker captain pick.
- Bring in Harry Wilson for Leeds at Coventry: 10 goals, 9 assists.
- Sell Ekitiké, Saliba and Andersen if you still own them.
- Richarlison is the differential: 11 goals, 4 assists, 1.9% ownership.