Ollie Watkins, the Aston Villa striker, experienced a significant shift in Dream Team popularity between the 2023/24 and the current season. Last season, he was a highly sought-after asset, amassing 24 goals in all competitions (27 including Conference League qualifiers). This season, however, his ownership has dipped considerably, initially due to a late return from international duty following England’s Euro 2024 final run and subsequently due to increased competition for playing time from Jhon Duran. This competition has led to shared minutes and frequent substitutions for Watkins, making him a less appealing option for Dream Team managers who generally favor players who complete the majority of matches.
Despite the reduced playing time, Watkins has recently demonstrated a resurgence in form, accumulating 45 points in his last five outings, a period marked by three goals and three assists. While Duran’s recent suspension undoubtedly contributed to this upturn, Watkins’ impact on Aston Villa’s results hasn’t gone unnoticed by manager Unai Emery. Interestingly, Watkins boasts a superior goals-per-minute ratio in the Premier League this season compared to the last, scoring every 154 minutes compared to 169.8 minutes previously. The decrease in overall points tally is primarily attributable to Villa’s participation in the more demanding Champions League this season, as opposed to last season’s Conference League campaign.
Aston Villa’s strong performance in the Champions League, currently sitting fifth in their group and well-positioned for automatic qualification to the round of 16, presents further opportunities for Watkins to bolster his point tally. With upcoming fixtures against Monaco, West Ham, and Celtic, Watkins has ample opportunity to capitalize on his recent form. While his current Dream Team ownership of 12.9% is significantly lower than last season’s peak, it’s still substantial enough to place him as the fourth most popular forward.
The injury to Dominic Solanke has created a void in many Dream Team squads, prompting managers to search for a suitable replacement at the striker position. While Alexander Isak is another attractive option due to his recent prolific form, Newcastle’s lack of European fixtures limits him to a single game in Gameweek 21. This presents a potential opportunity for Watkins, who has two fixtures in Gameweek 21 against West Ham and Celtic, to offer a more advantageous points return.
A strategic approach for Dream Team managers could involve capitalizing on Watkins’ double gameweek in Gameweek 21 and then switching to Isak for Gameweek 22, where he faces Fulham and Arsenal. This tactic allows managers to maximize points potential by leveraging the favorable fixture schedules of both players. Essentially, managers can exploit the double gameweek advantage offered by Watkins and subsequently benefit from Isak’s appealing matchups the following week.
In conclusion, despite initially falling out of favor with Dream Team managers, Ollie Watkins’ recent resurgence in form and Aston Villa’s promising Champions League campaign warrant a reassessment of his value. His improved goal-scoring rate, coupled with the potential for significant points hauls in upcoming double gameweeks, makes him a compelling option for those seeking a forward, particularly those needing to replace the injured Solanke. While Isak presents strong competition, Watkins’ fixture schedule provides a distinct advantage in the short term, making him a player to watch closely in the coming weeks. The strategic utilization of both players, capitalizing on their respective fixture advantages, could prove highly beneficial for Dream Team managers looking to maximize their points potential.
