<p><strong>Ollie Watkins (£8.5m) </strong>was a surprise absence from Aston Villa&#8217;s Europa Conference League squad on Thursday night (November 30) &#8211; but is he going to make the Villans&#8217; weekend game and is he a sell in Fantasy Premier League (FPL)?</p>
<p>We take a look at the latest on his fitness, what to do with him in FPL and use Hub&#8217;s AI&#8217;s <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/predictions">predicted points</a>, <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta">Opta stats</a> and more to compile a shortlist of potential replacements.</p>
<p>Check out our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/premier-league-predicted-lineups">predicted lineups and team news</a> article for all the week&#8217;s key news, with injury analyst Ben Dinnery covering all the pre-Gameweek 13 player updates you need to know.</p>

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<h2>What happened to Watkins? What&#8217;s the latest on his fitness?</h2>
<p>Watkins&#8217; name was nowhere to be seen when the teamsheet for Villa&#8217;s match against Legia Warszawa was released on Thursday evening.</p>
<p>When asked about whether the striker had missed out through injury or as a precaution, Unai Emery said:</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;Both. He had a small pain yesterday. Not very strong. We decided as well to rest him.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>A further update was given at Emery&#8217;s press conference on Friday, ahead of Villa&#8217;s clash with Bournemouth. Emery said:</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;He is going to be a doubt for Sunday, but we are adding other players like Zaniolo, Duran and Ramsey getting more minutes. He is not completely unavailable for Sunday, we are going to wait until tomorrow and it depends if we can take a risk with him. Also, what is he feeling for 90 minutes.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
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<div id="attachment_59902" style="width: 907px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-59902" class="size-full wp-image-59902" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Watkins-stats-GW13.jpg" alt="Ollie Watkins' stats" width="897" height="731" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Watkins-stats-GW13.jpg 897w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Watkins-stats-GW13-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Watkins-stats-GW13-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Watkins-stats-GW13-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 897px) 100vw, 897px" /><p id="caption-attachment-59902" class="wp-caption-text">Ollie Watkins&#8217; <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a></p></div>
<h2>Should Watkins be sold in FPL?</h2>
<p>As is often the case, the lack of a definitive update on Watkins leaves FPL managers in an unenviable position.</p>
<p>It appears that the problem is minor and even if he missed out on Gameweek 14, he will not spend long on the sidelines.</p>
<p>But FPL gameweeks are coming thick and fast, with seven rounds of matches in December.</p>
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<p>Villa play on Sunday and then face Manchester City on Wednesday, playing again on Saturday.</p>
<p>Even a short absence could therefore mean Watkins misses multiple games.</p>
<p>The immediate <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fixture-ticker">fixtures</a> are not strong either, with Arsenal following after City, albeit both games are at Villa Park. Watkins also scored against them both last time he faced them.</p>
<div id="attachment_60046" style="width: 907px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-60046" class="size-full wp-image-60046" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Villa-fixtures-GW14-next-five.jpg" alt="Ollie Watkins' upcoming fixtures" width="897" height="731" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Villa-fixtures-GW14-next-five.jpg 897w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Villa-fixtures-GW14-next-five-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Villa-fixtures-GW14-next-five-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Villa-fixtures-GW14-next-five-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 897px) 100vw, 897px" /><p id="caption-attachment-60046" class="wp-caption-text">Ollie Watkins&#8217; upcoming fixtures</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Anyone who sells Watkins this week would however likely want him back soon &#8211; fitness permitting &#8211; given they host Sheffield United in Gameweek 18.  This gameweek is a <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-blank-double-gameweek-guide">blank</a> for City and Brentford and with Liverpool facing Arsenal, Watkins could be one of the strongest captaincy options.</p>
<p>A decision on what to do with the seven-goal striker could rest on the health of FPL managers&#8217; wider squad.</p>
<p>With two free transfers in hand, no <strong>Jarrod Bowen (£7.6m) </strong>&#8211; another <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/premier-league-predicted-lineups">injury doubt</a> &#8211; and a strong option to come off the bench, hopping off Watkins may be an option.</p>
<p>But it may be wise to wait a week, start Watkins in the hope he starts against Bournemouth, and reassess the situation ahead of the Gameweek 15 deadline on Tuesday.</p>
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<li><a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-team-reveals"><strong>See what moves our FPL experts are making this week</strong></a></li>
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<div id="attachment_60044" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-60044" class="size-full wp-image-60044" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Watkins-Getty.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="694" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Watkins-Getty.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Watkins-Getty-300x203.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Watkins-Getty-768x521.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Watkins-Getty-610x413.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-60044" class="wp-caption-text">Ollie Watkins. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<h2>Potential Watkins replacements in FPL</h2>
<p><strong>Darwin Nunez (£7.6m) </strong>stands out as the best alternative in and around Watkins&#8217; price over the next three games.</p>
<p>The Liverpool number nine is second among forwards for predicted points, according to <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/ai-team-rating">Hub AI</a>.</p>
<p>Moving off Watkins to Darwin was one of the transfer recommendations for the Hub&#8217;s AI team this week, even before the Villa man talisman was flagged as a fitness worry.</p>
<p>Liverpool have one of the best runs of fixtures between Gameweek 14 and 16, playing Fulham at home, Sheffield United away and Crystal Palace away.</p>
<p>Nunez is not immune from rotation &#8211; but the Reds have lost <strong>Diogo Jota (£7.7m) </strong>to injury and the Uruguayan has started five of the last six league games. He was benched in Gameweek 9, a Saturday lunchtime kick-off straight after an international break.</p>
<p>He was a second-half substitute in the Europa League on Thursday, leading optimistic fantasy managers to suggest that would indicate a likely start at the weekend.</p>
<div id="attachment_59900" style="width: 907px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-59900" class="size-full wp-image-59900" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Nunez-stats-3.jpg" alt="Darwin Nunez's stats" width="897" height="731" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Nunez-stats-3.jpg 897w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Nunez-stats-3-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Nunez-stats-3-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Nunez-stats-3-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 897px) 100vw, 897px" /><p id="caption-attachment-59900" class="wp-caption-text">Darwin Nunez&#8217;s <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a></p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Alexander Isak (£7.4m) </strong>is another standout option, who has a clearer path to start regularly for Newcastle up front with <strong>Callum Wilson (£7.8m) </strong>out of action.</p>
<p>The Magpies&#8217; next three are not as strong as Liverpool&#8217;s. They rank 16th on our ticker, with Manchester United at home followed by Everton and Tottenham Hotspur away.</p>
<p>Fulham at home is a strong Blank Gameweek 18 fixture though, which could persuade Watkins sellers to persist with him and save a transfer.</p>
<p>Isak is sixth for predicted points among strikers up to Gameweek 16.</p>
<p>The full top 10 for predicted points is below. <strong>Gabriel Jesus (£7.8m) </strong>and <strong>Nicolas Jackson (£6.9m) </strong>are also highly rated by Hub AI.</p>
<div id="attachment_60045" style="width: 1292px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-60045" class="size-full wp-image-60045" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Predicted-points-strikers-GW14-16.jpg" alt="FPL predicted points for strikers " width="1282" height="753" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Predicted-points-strikers-GW14-16.jpg 1282w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Predicted-points-strikers-GW14-16-300x176.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Predicted-points-strikers-GW14-16-1024x601.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Predicted-points-strikers-GW14-16-768x451.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Predicted-points-strikers-GW14-16-610x358.jpg 610w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Predicted-points-strikers-GW14-16-1080x634.jpg 1080w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Predicted-points-strikers-GW14-16-1280x753.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1282px) 100vw, 1282px" /><p id="caption-attachment-60045" class="wp-caption-text">FPL predicted points for strikers</p></div>
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