In this edition of Breaking the FPL Template Gameweek 16/17, <a href="https://twitter.com/Hibbo_FPL">@Hibbo_FPL </a>examines West Ham United attackers and Watford forwards. 
This article will provide FPL tips to help managers break the template and achieve that desired top 10k finish. All data used is courtesy of the <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/Hibbert/73/">Hub&#8217;s OPTA Stats tool</a>.
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<h2>West Ham Overview: Breaking The FPL Template Gameweek 16/17</h2>
David Moyes’ West Ham look well set to build on a very respectable sixth-place finish last season. The Hammers sit fourth in the league ahead of a mouth-watering fixture run which brings their FPL options back into focus.
In terms of attack, West Ham rank joint-fourth best for xG per 90 (1.6) this season. This bodes well for offensive investment.
Defensively, the Hammer have disappointed with just three clean sheets in fifteen matches. They rank joint-eight for this season for expected goals conceded per 90 (1.4).
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41433 size-full" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/1.jpg" alt="" width="940" height="434" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/1.jpg 940w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/1-300x139.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/1-768x355.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/1-610x282.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px" />
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<h2>West Ham&#8217;s Fixtures: Breaking The FPL Template Gameweek 16/17</h2>
In terms of fixture strength over the next six league matches, West Ham are joint third overall on the <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fixture-ticker/">Hub’s fixture ticker</a>.
Home ties against Norwich and Southampton hold huge appeal. Meanwhile, immediate opposition Burnley and Arsenal are far from water-tight defensively.
Burnley sit 18th but are level on points with bottom-of-the-table Norwich.
The Clarets have proven themselves draw specialists with four in their last six league matches. Their one win during that period came against Brentford.
Over the same period, Burnley scored three goals on two occasions. This clearly defies their joint second-worst ranking for expected goals per 90 (1.1) this term.
Defensively, the Clarets have produced just one clean sheet. Sean Dyche&#8217;s side also rank joint fourth-worst for expected goals conceded per 90 (1.7).
Seventh-place Arsenal has recorded three wins and losses respectively in their last six marches.
The Gunners have shipped nine goals in their last four matches. However, the four-goal crushing by Liverpool is an important caveat.
In terms of underlying numbers, Mikel Arteta’s charges demonstrate reasonable attacking threat. Arsenal rank joint-seventh for expected goals per 90 (1.4).
From a defensive perspective, the Gunners rank joint-fourth for clean sheets this term (6) but joint sixth-worst for expected goals conceded per 90 (1.6).
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41434 size-full" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2.jpg" alt="" width="940" height="357" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2.jpg 940w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2-300x114.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2-768x292.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2-610x232.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px" />
My focus on West Ham centres on their attacking options given their recent output.
Injuries to key defenders Angelo Ogbonna (£5.0m) and Kurt Zouma (£5.4m) have also shifted the focus away from their defence.
However, cut-price option Ben Johnson (£4.0m) may appeal as a budget enabler when he returns following his recent hamstring injury.
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<h2>Michail Antonio: Breaking The FPL Template Gameweek 16/17</h2>
Michail Antonio (£7.9m) started the season emphatically. He recorded three consecutive double-digit hauls and even entered the captaincy conversation.
Over the early period, strong underlying numbers were the Jamaican international’s foundation. Their decline since then is a worry for owners and prospective buyers alike.
Antonio’s production (Gameweeks 1-8 vs Gameweeks 9-15) has nose-dived. There is an evident decline in shots (31 to 11), shots in the box (26 to 8), and shots on target (12 to 2).
A solitary goal and assist since Gameweek 9 is poor by Antonio’s standards. Yet if we put things into context, this run of fixtures was difficult.
Any stay of execution for Antonio speaks volumes about alternatives in the forward position.
Adopting a season-long lens, Antonio ranks second among forwards for shots in the box (34) and third for expected goals (6.25).
Perhaps the major appeal is the synergy between Antonio&#8217;s threat and creativity. After all, the Jamaican ranks first among forwards for key passes (29).
Furthermore, Antonio is first for big chances created (6), expected assists (4.66), and expected goal involvement (10.9).
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41435 size-full" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/3.jpg" alt="" width="798" height="650" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/3.jpg 798w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/3-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/3-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/3-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px" />
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<h2>Jarrod Bowen: Breaking The FPL Template Gameweek 16/17</h2>
Jarrod Bowen (£6.5m) appeared in this article series last week before recording his second double-digit haul of the season against Chelsea.
The West Ham winger is an ideal replacement for Raphinha (£6.7m) who is of limited appeal as Leeds rank third-worst overall on the <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fixture-ticker/">Hub’s ticker</a> over the next six games.
Among sub £7m midfielders playing 700 minutes or more, Bowen is first for shots in the box (1.98) and big chances (0.59) per 90 minutes.
His recent deployment as Antonio’s strike-partner, and juicy fixture run, should cement his status as the best pick at his price point.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41436 size-full" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/FFStuffImage-15-1.png" alt="" width="798" height="650" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/FFStuffImage-15-1.png 798w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/FFStuffImage-15-1-300x244.png 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/FFStuffImage-15-1-768x626.png 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/FFStuffImage-15-1-610x497.png 610w" sizes="(max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px" />
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<h2>Watford Strikers: Breaking The FPL Template Gameweek 16/17</h2>
Approximately half of elite-level FPL managers are in the market for a replacement forward. This is a direct result of Brentford confirming on Sunday that Ivan Toney (£6.7m) tested positive for Covid-19.
For those interested in a budget replacement, Watford duo Emmanuel Dennis (£5.7m) and Joshua King (£5.7m) should be considered.
Claudio Ranieri was appointed Watford manager on 4th October 2021 and the team&#8217;s underlying data from Gameweek 8 make for interesting reading. 
Over this period, the Hornets rank seventh for shots on target (37), fifth for big chances (17), and sixth for expected goals (12.6).
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41437 size-full" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/4.jpg" alt="" width="1403" height="631" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/4.jpg 1403w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/4-300x135.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/4-1024x461.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/4-768x345.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/4-610x274.jpg 610w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/4-1080x486.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1403px) 100vw, 1403px" />
Watford have strong fixtures in the mid-term. They top the Hub’s ticker table when sorted by attack over the next eight league matches.
Significantly, the Hornets do not face any of last season’s top five teams during this timeframe.
While Dennis bests King for goal involvement over the period (9 to 5), the underlying numbers paint a different picture.
The Norwegian dominates his strike partner for shots (22 to 13), shots in the box (19 to 10), and expected goals (4.57 to 2.00).
Dennis is the provider ranking better for expected assists (2.30 to 1.47) and King the penalty box striker dominating the Nigerian for big chances (9 to 2).
The heat map below shows that King operates mostly in central areas with many of Dennis’ touches being on the flanks.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41438 size-full" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/5.jpg" alt="" width="798" height="650" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/5.jpg 798w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/5-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/5-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/5-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px" />
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<h2>Conclusion: Breaking The FPL Template Gameweek 16/17</h2>
In conclusion, fixture swings and positive covid cases threaten to manipulate the template in the coming weeks.
Options from West Ham and Watford provide some interesting enablers so you can also afford the premium assets of both Manchester clubs.
My recommendation would be doubling up on West Ham&#8217;s attack with Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen.
Furthermore, I recommend Joshua King over Emmanuel Dennis due to an equal price tag, stronger underlying numbers, and possible African Cup of Nations involvement for Dennis.

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Breaking The Template – FPL Gameweek 16/17 Tips

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