GW24 Rising Stars: 10 Non-Template Picks With Elite Form (and the xGI to Back It Up)

Introduction

Template teams win you safety—but rank gains come from being early on the next wave. For Gameweek 24, these are the Rising Stars: players posting exceptional form while still sitting at low-to-mid ownership, meaning they can move the needle without feeling like a coin flip.

Below, we’ll use the provided metrics—Form, xG, xA, xGI, ICT Index, points per game, bonus, price and ownership—to explain why they’re succeeding and whether the output looks sustainable long-term.

GW24 Rising Stars Radar (High Form, Low–Mid Ownership)

Jarrod Bowen (West Ham) — Midfielder

•Price/Ownership: £7.6 / 8.3%
•Form / PPG: 5.6 / 4.6
•xGI: 7.22 (xG 5.44 + xA 1.78) | ICT: 136.0
•Bonus: 19 | Points: 105
•Transfers: 72,560 in / 31,406 out

Why it’s working: Bowen’s profile screams repeatable FPL returns—strong xG (5.44) suggests consistent goal threat, supported by a high ICT (136.0) and elite bonus (19). That combination often points to a player who isn’t just scoring, but also accumulating baseline involvement that wins bonus when he returns.

Sustainability (GW24+): Very credible. The underlying numbers (especially xGI 7.22) align with points, and the low-ish ownership makes him a classic “early before the crowd” play.

James Garner (Everton) — Midfielder

•Price/Ownership: £5.2 / 4.6%
•Form / PPG: 6.4 / 4.4
•xGI: 4.79 (xG 1.65 + xA 3.14) | ICT: 117.7
•Bonus: 10 | Points: 101
•Transfers: 41,989 in / 30,766 out

Why it’s working: Garner’s appeal is balance: a strong creative base (xA 3.14) with enough goal threat (xG 1.65) to avoid being “assist or bust”. The form 6.4 and ICT 117.7 indicate steady involvement rather than one-off spikes.

Sustainability (GW24+): Solid—particularly if you value assists and steady returns. His xGI is good for the price, and at 4.6% he’s a genuine differential.

Cristian Romero (Spurs) — Defender

•Price/Ownership: £5.0 / 4.2%
•Form / PPG: 6.6 / 4.8
•xGI: 2.51 (xG 1.33 + xA 1.18) | ICT: 85.1
•Bonus: 10 | Points: 92
•Transfers: 22,343 in / 8,564 out

Why it’s working: Romero is delivering defender-friendly output: good PPG (4.8), strong form (6.6), and enough attacking contribution (xGI 2.51) to add upside beyond clean sheets. The bonus (10) suggests he’s converting returns into maximum value.

Sustainability (GW24+): Reasonable. His attacking xGI isn’t elite for a defender, but it’s meaningful, and his points profile is reinforced by bonus accumulation.

Nathan Collins (Brentford) — Defender

•Price/Ownership: £5.0 / 3.9%
•Form / PPG: 6.8 / 4.0
•xGI: 2.30 (xG 1.42 + xA 0.88) | ICT: 97.7
•Bonus: 7 | Points: 91
•Transfers: 11,702 in / 32,251 out

Why it’s working: Collins has a rare combination for a non-template defender: high form (6.8) and strong set-piece style attacking indicators (xG 1.42). His ICT 97.7 is also impressive for a defender at this ownership.

Sustainability (GW24+): The form is hot, but the transfer pattern (more outs than ins) suggests he’s being overlooked or sold for fixtures/structure. As a differential defender, he has a legit case—especially if you believe the attacking contribution continues.

Nordi Mukiele (Sunderland) — Defender

•Price/Ownership: £4.5 / 12.7%
•Form / PPG: 5.6 / 4.9
•xGI: 2.28 (xG 0.60 + xA 1.68) | ICT: 84.9
•Bonus: 8 | Points: 102
•Transfers: 72,400 in / 26,378 out

Why it’s working: Mukiele’s value is in the output relative to cost: £4.5 with 4.9 PPG is the definition of a budget enabler that doesn’t feel like dead money. The chance creation angle shows up in xA 1.68, with a respectable bonus (8).

Sustainability (GW24+): Good, with a caveat: his attacking contribution is more assist-leaning than goal-leaning, which can be streakier. Still, the price plus PPG makes him one of the most practical Rising Stars for GW24 squads.

Florian Wirtz (Liverpool) — Midfielder

•Price/Ownership: £8.3 / 12.9%
•Form / PPG: 5.6 / 3.8
•xGI: 8.15 (xG 4.64 + xA 3.52) | ICT: 137.5
•Bonus: 14 | Points: 83
•Transfers: 32,613 in / 93,449 out

Why it’s working (and why he’s interesting right now): Wirtz has premium-ish underlying numbers—xGI 8.15 with a massive ICT 137.5—yet his ownership is still below true template levels. The standout here is the blend: strong xG and strong xA, giving multiple paths to points.

Sustainability (GW24+): The underlying data says “yes”, but his PPG (3.8) lagging behind the xGI hints at either under-conversion or variance. That’s often when sharp managers buy—before the points catch up.

Morgan Gibbs-White (Nott'm Forest) — Midfielder

•Price/Ownership: £7.3 / 3.1%
•Form / PPG: 5.6 / 3.9
•xGI: 7.58 (xG 5.81 + xA 1.77) | ICT: 118.9
•Bonus: 7 | Points: 90
•Transfers: 19,193 in / 5,987 out

Why it’s working: The headline is xG 5.81—that’s forward-level goal threat coming from a midfielder. Add ICT 118.9, and you’ve got a player who looks central to his team’s attacking output.

Sustainability (GW24+): Strong. At 3.1% ownership, this is exactly the kind of non-template pick that can create separation—especially when the data supports his goal threat.

Yasin Ayari (Brighton) — Midfielder

•Price/Ownership: £4.8 / 0.6%
•Form / PPG: 6.4 / 3.9
•xGI: 3.49 (xG 2.54 + xA 0.95) | ICT: 69.4
•Bonus: 6 | Points: 77
•Transfers: 25,972 in / 2,680 out

Why it’s working: Ayari is the ultimate ultra-differential: 0.6% ownership with form 6.4. His xGI isn’t massive, but for £4.8 it’s viable, and the xG 2.54 suggests he’s getting into scoring positions rather than relying purely on random assists.

Sustainability (GW24+): As a cheap enabler, he’s intriguing—especially if you want a bench player who can spike. The lower ICT (69.4) indicates he may not dominate games, so treat him as value/structure rather than a weekly “must start.”

Thierno Barry (Everton) — Forward

•Price/Ownership: £5.7 / 1.0%
•Form / PPG: 6.2 / 2.6
•xGI: 3.99 (xG 3.80 + xA 0.19) | ICT: 65.6
•Bonus: 5 | Points: 59
•Transfers: 24,860 in / 5,282 out

Why it’s working: Barry’s case is built on pure goal potential: xG 3.80 dominates his profile, with minimal assist expectation. At 1.0%, he’s the kind of pick that can deliver big green arrows if he hits.

Sustainability (GW24+): Riskier than the midfield options. The PPG (2.6) is modest despite the form, suggesting returns may be coming in bursts. But as a low-owned forward with real xG, he’s a classic calculated punt.

Brian Brobbey (Sunderland) — Forward

•Price/Ownership: £5.5 / 1.3%
•Form / PPG: 5.6 / 3.1
•xGI: 2.44 (xG 2.24 + xA 0.20) | ICT: 48.4
•Bonus: 8 | Points: 56
•Transfers: 44,691 in / 6,512 out

Why it’s working: Brobbey is another “goal-first” forward (xA is negligible), but what stands out is the market movement: heavy transfers in alongside low ownership. The bonus (8) is encouraging for a budget forward—when he returns, he can return well.

Sustainability (GW24+): The weakest underlying profile among the list (notably ICT 48.4 and xGI 2.44), so he’s more of a short-term momentum play than a set-and-forget.

What Makes a Rising Star Sustainable?

When deciding who can stay in your team beyond GW24, prioritize:

•Strong xGI + strong ICT (repeatable involvement, not just a hot streak)
•Multiple routes to points (xG and xA, plus bonus)
•Value relative to price (PPG that outperforms cost tier)

Best long-term signals from this group:

•Wirtz (elite xGI 8.15 and ICT 137.5)
•Bowen (top-end xGI 7.22, huge bonus 19)
•Gibbs-White (midfielder with xG 5.81)

Best budget structure plays:

•Mukiele (cheap with 4.9 PPG)
•Garner (assist-leaning mid with strong xA 3.14)
•Ayari (0.6% ownership enabler with form 6.4)

Conclusion

For Gameweek 24, these Rising Stars offer what the template can’t: leverage. The data suggests several of these picks aren’t just riding luck—players like Bowen, Wirtz, and Gibbs-White have the xGI and ICT that typically underpin sustainable returns. Meanwhile, Mukiele and Garner provide budget-friendly routes to steady points without joining the crowd.

If you’re chasing rank, GW24 is a great time to back form before it becomes ownership—and turn a smart differential into tomorrow’s template.