Chelsea are four points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool and their upcoming fixture run suggests that gap could narrow over Christmas.
The Blues have seven straight games valued by FPL’s Fixture Difficulty Rating as twos: Brentford (H) Everton (A), Fulham (H), Ipswich (A), Crystal Palace (A), Bournemouth (H) and Wolves (H).
So if there was ever a time to double &#8211; or even triple &#8211; up on Chelsea players in your FPL team, it’s now. Here, <a href="https://www.squawka.com/en/">Squawka</a> breaks down the five most popular options.
Visit Squawka’s <a href="https://www.squawka.com/en/fantasy-football/">FPL tips</a> hub for best-value picks in all positions.

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<h2>1. Cole Palmer</h2>
<ul>
<li>Position: Midfielder</li>
<li>Points: 125</li>
<li>Selected by: 61%</li>
</ul>
At this point, Palmer’s FPL credentials speak for themselves. He’s returned double-digit hauls in five league appearances this season &#8211; a third of his total games played.
The Chelsea number 10 has the second highest total for goals and assists combined. Only Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah have more shots on target in the Premier League this season.
The one concern is a potential reliance on Chelsea’s ability to keep winning penalties. Palmer has scored 12 of them since the start of his breakthrough 2023/24 season, more than any other player. 
But even so, his non-penalty expected goals tally in the Premier League this season is second only to Salah when you exclude FPL forwards.
Verdict: Sign
<div id="attachment_69236" style="width: 808px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-69236" class="size-full wp-image-69236" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Palmer-GW1-15.jpg" alt="Cole Palmer's stats" width="798" height="650" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Palmer-GW1-15.jpg 798w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Palmer-GW1-15-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Palmer-GW1-15-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Palmer-GW1-15-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px" />Cole Palmer&#8217;s <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a></div>
<h2>2. Nicolas Jackson</h2>
<ul>
<li>Position: Forward</li>
<li>Points: 80</li>
<li>Selected by: 27.5%</li>
</ul>
Jackson is slightly less of a must-sign player in FPL than was the case a couple weeks ago. 
He has failed to score or assist in three of his last five league matches and is also a <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-yellow-cards-and-suspensions">booking</a> away from a one-match ban. 
While not a rotation risk yet, Christopher Nkunku’s recent start against Southampton and Enzo Maresca’s subsequent comments about &#8216;sharing minutes&#8217; are off-putting.
For now though, Jackson is obviously the best forward option in the Premier League’s best attacking team &#8211; with the most goals and shots on target &#8211; who have the best upcoming fixtures. 
Brentford at home is next, with the Bees taking just one point and conceding 14 goals in seven away games so far this season.
Verdict: Sign
<div id="attachment_69274" style="width: 808px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-69274" class="size-full wp-image-69274" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jackson-gw1-15.jpg" alt="Nicolas Jackson's stats" width="798" height="650" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jackson-gw1-15.jpg 798w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jackson-gw1-15-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jackson-gw1-15-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jackson-gw1-15-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px" />Nicolas Jackson&#8217;s <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a></div>
<h2>3. Robert Sanchez</h2>
<ul>
<li>Position: Goalkeeper</li>
<li>Points: 52</li>
<li>Selected by: 12.6%</li>
</ul>
Chelsea’s excellent form is not built on a strong defence. They have kept only one clean sheet in their last 10 Premier League matches. 
Overall this season, they have conceded 21.97 expected goals, the 11th best total.
No goalkeeper has made more errors leading to shots than Sanchez (four). Three of those errors have led to a goal, with only Arijanet Muric performing worse here (four). 
Filip Jorgensen is waiting in the wings and you don’t want to end up with a £4.8m bench-warmer in your squad.
Verdict: Avoid
<div id="attachment_69275" style="width: 808px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-69275" class="size-full wp-image-69275" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Sanchez-2.jpg" alt="Robert Sanchez" width="798" height="650" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Sanchez-2.jpg 798w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Sanchez-2-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Sanchez-2-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Sanchez-2-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px" />Robert Sanchez</div>
<h2>4. Noni Madueke</h2>
<ul>
<li>Position: Midfielder</li>
<li>Points: 69</li>
<li>Selected by: 7%</li>
</ul>
Madueke is in full squad rotation mode right now, playing just four minutes against Tottenham after registering a goal and assist in his start against Southampton. 
That return followed an assist from the bench against Aston Villa, which ended a run of five games where he registered zero goals or assists but earned two yellow cards.
Furthermore, Jadon Sancho may be Enzo Maresca’s weapon of choice against Brentford after scoring in each of his last two Premier League appearances. Having started two of Chelsea’s last three, he looks like the smart pick for FPL managers over Madueke this weekend.
Another in-form midfielder for Chelsea is Enzo Fernandez, who has stunningly won his place back with three goals and three assists in his last five Premier League appearances – along with a hat-trick of assists against FC Noah in the Conference League. 
Verdict: Avoid
<div id="attachment_69276" style="width: 808px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-69276" class="size-full wp-image-69276" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Madueke-gw1-15.jpg" alt="Noni Madueke's stats" width="798" height="650" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Madueke-gw1-15.jpg 798w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Madueke-gw1-15-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Madueke-gw1-15-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Madueke-gw1-15-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px" />Noni Madueke&#8217;s <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a></div>
<h2>5. Marc Cucurella</h2>
<ul>
<li>Position: Defender</li>
<li>Points: 37</li>
<li>Selected by: 6.5%</li>
</ul>
 Cucurella made two errors leading to goals against Spurs at the weekend, twice slipping to let the Lilywhites through for a 2-0 lead. 
You have to credit him for the recovery. He went on to set up Chelsea’s first goal in the 3-2 comeback win &#8211; albeit through a ‘fantasy’ assist &#8211; and created three chances in total.
As with Sanchez though, it’s hard to justify investing in Chelsea’s defence. In terms of attacking output, Cucurella has no goals and one ‘intentional’ assist in the league this season. 
As for deeper metrics, he&#8217;s recorded two shots on target and seven chances created, only one of which was categorised by Opta as a &#8216;big chance&#8217;. This output wouldn&#8217;t convince us to spend £5.1m.
Verdict: Avoid
<div id="attachment_69277" style="width: 808px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-69277" class="size-full wp-image-69277" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Cucurella-gw1-15.jpg" alt="Marc Cucurella's stats" width="798" height="650" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Cucurella-gw1-15.jpg 798w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Cucurella-gw1-15-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Cucurella-gw1-15-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Cucurella-gw1-15-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px" />Marc Cucurella&#8217;s <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a></div>
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Sign or avoid? The five most popular Chelsea FPL players | Squawka

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