Van Hecke in FPL: is the GW9 15-pointer a buy signal?
Jan Paul van Hecke plays for Tottenham Hotspur in 2026/27. He scored as Spurs beat Crystal Palace 2–0 on 31 October and topped the early Saturday Fantasy scoreboard with 15 provisional points. His official FPL price reached £5.0m on 1 November. That combination makes him a serious GW10 candidate, but there is a difference between identifying a good defender and chasing last week's haul.
Why his returns matter
Van Hecke's appeal is not just one attacking return. The Premier League's pre-GW9 Scout Selection had already highlighted his clean-sheet, goal and defensive-contribution routes, alongside a strong spell of returns. His 31 October goal reinforces his set-piece upside; the Spurs clean sheet shows a second route to points.
| Source of points | Evidence | Repeatability |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance and minutes | Regular centre-back involvement | Higher if he keeps starting |
| Clean sheets | Spurs shut out Palace | Depends on team defence and opponent |
| Defensive contributions | Previous points from defensive actions | Often more repeatable than goals, but match-dependent |
| Goals from set plays | Scored against Palace | Useful upside, but low-frequency |
| Bonus points | Strong when a defender combines returns | Volatile and affected by final recalculation |
Latest FPL news
Spurs' next three fixtures
| GW | Opponent | Venue | Initial reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Leeds United | Away | Reasonable opportunity, but Leeds have attacking threats |
| 11 | Ipswich Town | Home | Attractive on paper for clean-sheet planning |
| 12 | Sunderland | Away | Potential defensive opportunity, subject to form |
The point of this run is that Van Hecke does not have to score again to justify consideration. A defender with steady starts, defensive contributions and some favourable clean-sheet opportunities can be useful even with ordinary attacking output.
Van Hecke vs Gabriel vs De Cuyper
| Player | Best reason to own | Potential drawback |
|---|---|---|
| Van Hecke | Budget, Spurs fixtures, centre-back minutes | Spurs clean sheets less certain than elite-defence routes |
| Gabriel | Arsenal's defence and set-piece attacking threat | Higher price; premium spend must beat alternatives |
| De Cuyper | Attacking positioning and Brighton's form | Rotation/position changes after returns from injury |
If you already own Gabriel: Do not sell solely to chase Van Hecke's 15. Compare the extra funds released and what they improve elsewhere. If you need a mid-price defender: Van Hecke is a valid target. If you own an injured defender: he becomes more attractive than an unnecessary sideways switch.
Should you buy before the next price rise?
A price change is only part of the equation. The Premier League price update already listed Van Hecke at £5.0m on 1 November. You gain nothing by buying before fresh injury or midweek news if a potential 0.1m difference would not block your squad. Avoid a four-point hit solely to protect price.
Verdict
Shortlist rather than auto-buy. Van Hecke has a credible combination of playing time, price and fixtures. A single 15-point match should increase your interest in researching him, not become the forecast for GW10. Check OneFPL Player Lab for recent defensive data and Transfer Planner for whether the switch improves your overall squad.