<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1205" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Cover-300x135.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="450" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Cover-300x135.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Cover-768x346.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Cover.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" />
We at The Hype Train will be providing a regular series of Power Rankings updates throughout the season for each position in the traditional Fantasy Premier League game for our partners at the Fantasy Football Hub. We will be picking our top five picks for Goalkeepers, Defenders, Midfielders, and Forwards, providing a graphical aid for each chosen player, and the reasoning behind our choices. All aboard.
<h3>How do our Power Rankings work?</h3>
We use player form, fixtures, potential, and our own gut instinct, to form our own opinionated view on who we believe is the best asset for each position in the FPL. Each position (Goalkeeper, Defender, Midfielder, and Forward) has differing criteria which can help generate FPL points on a weekly basis, whether for short term gain or for the long haul.
For the purpose of this article we will list our top 5 and follow up with a player on the rise in that position to also consider.
All player prices and <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a> are reflective of the official Fantasy Premier League game at the time of publishing.
<h3>Forward Power Rankings: Gameweek 4</h3>
Forward players are at the heart of what makes the FPL tick. The 2017/18 Premier League season arguably has the deepest array of Forward&#8217;s in the FPL game since its launch, with most clubs offering a serious option in attack. A lot of FPL teams are centred around their attacking players providing massive returns as they climb the rankings tables, so it will be a massive plus to see their chosen three featured highly on a Power Rankings chart.
We profile what we believe to be the best five midfielders, and an honorary 6th place, in the FPL game right now after Gameweek 3 and heading into Gameweek 4.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1209" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Firmino-300x135.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="450" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Firmino-300x135.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Firmino-768x346.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Firmino.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" />
1) Roberto Firmino (LIV)
Reclassifying Roberto Firmino as a forward in the FPL has really done favours for his FPL points output, and the results are showing. We&#8217;re not jumping the gun this early in the season, but it is of no surprise to us that Firmino&#8217;s the leading forward so far in the Fantasy Premier League. Starting every match so far, and substituted around the 80-minute mark from two of three fixtures so far, Firmino has scored twice and assisted the same number, matching Mo Salah&#8217;s output.
The difference with Firmino, and why he is a more commanding figure is due to his forward status with the Bonus Points System. Firmino has registered maximum bonus from the 3-3 draw at Watford on the opening day, as well against Arsenal during Gameweek 3 in a 4-0 victory. Firmino is absorbing much of the bonus criteria, which always has been weighed towards goal-scoring forwards, which means he is in the conversation as an essential FPL player ahead of Mane and Salah.
The Champions League is yet to rock Liverpool&#8217;s first team squad on match days, but based on the Red&#8217;s last venture in Europe, a road to the final of the Europa League against Sevilla, Klopp will vastly rotate his squad to fit the needs of European fixtures. There is some depth across the pitch for Liverpool, with Sturridge and Solanke as potential minute-stoppers for Firmino.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1211" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Lukaku-300x135.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="450" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Lukaku-300x135.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Lukaku-768x346.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Lukaku.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" />
2) Romelu Lukaku (MUN)
Sitting pretty in our number two position is a man, who with 58.1% FPL ownership (the most in the game), needs to introduction. Romelu Lukaku started his maiden Man United campaign with three goals in his opening two fixtures, Lukaku split FPL hearts wide-open during Gameweek 3, which saw the Belgian forward have a penalty kick saved by Leicester&#8217;s Kasper Schmeichel.
With 37% of the entire FPL siding with Lukaku as their captain, a zero-point return was crushing on a week which saw limited returns from sought-after Fantasy assets. The powerful forward remains in second due to still being joint-top scorer in the Premier League (with Liverpool&#8217;s Sadio Mane) with three goals to his name so far, and because unlike Alvaro Morata, has provided two good FPL returns prior to a catastrophic Gameweek 3, to an overwhelming percentage of players.
Next up for Lukaku is a trip to Stoke, the same ground which saw Arsenal lose by a single goal. Stoke have yet to concede two goals in a single match, so goals might be slim pickings if Mark Hughes&#8217;s side turn up to the occasion.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1212" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Morata-300x135.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="450" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Morata-300x135.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Morata-768x346.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Morata.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" />
3) Alvaro Morata (CHE)
Chelsea&#8217;s bipolar start to the season has had many thousands of FPL players pulling their hair out, for better or mostly for the worse. Beaten 3-2 by Burnley on the opening day of the season, a game which saw Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas receive red cards, Chelsea then travelled to Wembley to down Spurs 2-1, before comfortably beating Everton 2-0 at Stamford Bridge for Gameweek 3.
Marcos Alonso suffered an indifferent start to the FPL season, being booked within minutes of the game against Burnley, before scoring both goals against Spurs, and then claiming a clean sheet against Everton. Alonso is one example of how quickly the tide can change in the FPL, but Morata is the poster-boy of this example.
Starting the opening game of the season against Burnley on the bench, Morata&#8217;s fleeting appearance in the second half yielded a goal and an assist. Rewarded with a start against Spurs, there was no FPL returns for Morata. Then, at home to Everton, Morata replicated his Gameweek 1 performed with a goal and an assist, though he started the match during Gameweek 3.
It has taken three Gameweek&#8217;s so far to be able to pin Morata down as a valuable FPL asset, which is a breath of fresh air for Aguero owners who will be majorly frustrated by Pep Guardiola&#8217;s constant rotation tussle at Man City. Morata is the perfect replacement for a premium forward, and we at The Hype Train believe that the Spanish international is the real deal who will grow into his new role at Chelsea.
Chelsea travel to Leicester for Gameweek 4, and we can&#8217;t pin exactly what will happen next with the Blues this season. A lot of players didn&#8217;t want to join the club in the transfer window, but we&#8217;re betting a few FPL players would love an Alvaro Morata, just in case he makes it three grand performances in four.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1213" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Rooney-300x135.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="450" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Rooney-300x135.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Rooney-768x346.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Rooney.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" />
4) Wayne Rooney (EVE)
Everton&#8217;s start to the season has seen the returning Wayne Rooney prosper in a forward position. With Everton&#8217;s two goals this season, which have both fallen to Rooney in clinical areas within the penalty area, the English forward has also managed to claim the maximum bonus points on both occasions during Gameweek&#8217;s 1 and 2.
As was prophesied much throughout pre-season, Everton were a no-go from many FPL players due to a daunting early season fixture list which sees Everton face five members of last season&#8217;s top six clubs in their opening ten Premier League matches, all of which means the 20.4% of players who currently own Rooney, chose boldly with their forward picks to great success.
Rooney usually starts strong, but with tough fixtures still to come, there are big concerns that Rooney can maintain his place in our Power Rankings. An adaptable player, Rooney dropped deep in Everton&#8217;s 2-0 loss at Chelsea, which means an out-and-out forward position isn&#8217;t nailed on throughout the season in matches where Ronald Koeman is differing his tactics. There&#8217;s also the upcoming Europa League hangover, which is set to make an appearance when Everton travel to Europe on Thursday nights.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1210" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Javier-300x135.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="450" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Javier-300x135.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Javier-768x346.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Javier.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" />
5) Javier &#8216;Chicharito&#8217; Hernandez (WHU)
Coming in at our last spot in the Power Rankings is West Ham&#8217;s sharpshooting Javier Hernandez, who has beat some major competition around him to be in this spot. With Firmino, Lukaku, Morata, and Wayne Rooney, we are looking at an exclusive club of highly represented players who have scored or assisted in multiple games. In the case of Hernandez, and a handful of others, we had to pick the best of the rest, the one from a group who has only scored in one game, that we feel most confident will be pulling in the points in the coming weeks. Below is who we also considered for the fifth spot.
Jamie Vardy (LEI): 2 goals, 3 bonus, 17 points 
Sam Vokes (BUR): 2 goals, 3 bonus, 16 points 
Steve Mounie (HUD): 2 goals, 3 bonus, 15 points 
Shinji Okazaki (LEI): 2 goals, 1 bonus, 14 points
West Ham have been dreadful in the opening three games of the season, all of which have been played away from home. Hernandez didn&#8217;t have a sniff at goal in the visits to Man United and Newcastle, whilst Southampton afforded the clinical forward multiple opportunities to open his Premier League account at St Mary&#8217;s. Hernandez gets the seal of approval this week due to the potential in the coming weeks, which is why a few players brought him into their teams. With 28.6% FPL ownership as of writing, Chicharito entertains Huddersfield at the first game held at the London Stadium this season, before travelling to West Brom for Gameweek 6.
Huddersfield and West Brom will offer defensively resiliency that might see West Ham potentially struggle, with both sides more than capable of defending, an art that has evaded West Ham this season. Against Huddersfield, a side that have no conceded after three games, the one player who could break away spirits is Hernandez, crowning his home debut for the Hammers with a goal.
If West Ham continue to falter, however, there is no question that Hernandez will be dropped out from the top five, with the likes of Steve Mounie, Joselu, and Tammy Abraham, opening their accounts for sides with favourable fixtures.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1208" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Joselu-300x135.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="450" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Joselu-300x135.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Joselu-768x346.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PR-FOR.-Joselu.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" />
One to consider: Joselu (NEW)
All summer long Newcastle&#8217;s heralded manager, Rafa Benitez, has been searching the globe for class forwards who could provide competition for Dwight Gayle. After a long, drawn out and frustrating off-season, with many still believing to this day that Rafa will walk from the club due to not being supported in the transfer market, there was one forward addition to the squad. Stoke&#8217;s Joselu, who was well-liked amongst Potters fans, joined after being deemed surplus to requirements at the Bet365 Stadium.
Parallels with Newcastle, however, couldn&#8217;t stick out more. Joselu has rapidly become the focal point of Newcastle&#8217;s attack. Alexsander Mitrovic, who Rafa has tried to offload on two separate transfer windows without success, is suspended for the next three Premier League matches (it would have been two had it not been for Newcastle being unable to win cup matches), whilst Dwight Gayle is an injury doubt. Moreover, with Gayle it appeared that the club may have potentially soured on the English forward due to his attitude at being substituted in the opening two games of the season. This all leads to Joselu potentially being the lead forward presence for Newcastle in the coming week, with a fixture list that could offer more goals, and one potentially against his former side, Stoke, at St James&#8217;s Park during Gameweek 5.
Joselu opened his account against West Ham during Gameweek 3 and looks set to lead the line as Newcastle aim for a second win of the season away at Swansea for Gameweek 4.
Newcastle&#8217;s Next 5 Fixtures: 
GW4: Swansea (A) 
GW5: Stoke (H) 
GW6: Brighton (A) 
GW7: Liverpool (H) 
GW8: Southampton (A)
All aboard.

FPL Power Rankings 2017/18: Forwards (GW4)

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