Why This Cheat Sheet?
I first came across these metrics in an article in The Economist, which described how fantasy soccer players use them to track performance. At first I thought: “interesting for fantasy geeks.” But as I dug deeper, I started to wonder: are these numbers only useful for fantasy managers? Or could they also help coaches and young players make better decisions on the pitch?
The more I read, the more I realized that the same stats that predict fantasy points can also highlight habits that matter in real soccer — things like smart movement, brave passing, and unselfish teamwork. That’s when this project clicked: take the most useful metrics, strip out the jargon, and explain them in a way that makes sense for fantasy analysts, youth coaches, and players themselves.
So here it is: the Soccer Analytics Cheat Sheet. Seventeen essential metrics, explained in plain English. Each one comes with why it matters to fantasy, where you can find it, and what it means for coaches and players. Whether you’re building a fantasy team, running a training session, or working to improve your own game, these numbers can give you a fresh perspective on the sport we love.
⚽ Soccer Analytics Cheat Sheet: From Fantasy Points to Coaching Insights
Soccer has always been about goals, tackles, and dribbles — but in the modern game, numbers tell deeper stories. Whether you’re managing a fantasy team or coaching a group of teenagers on the training pitch, today’s stats can unlock new ways of understanding performance.
This guide breaks down 17 essential soccer metrics into plain language. Each one comes with:
- What It Means – the definition
- Why It Matters to Fantasy Analysts – the numbers behind points
- Where You Can Find It – public data sources
- What It Means to a Coach – coaching notes
- What It Means to You – practical tips for defenders, midfielders, and forwards
We’ve grouped them into four big categories. Click below to jump directly to a stat 👇
📋 Categories & Metrics
1. Finishing & Goal Threat
2. Creativity & Chance Creation
- Assists
- Key Passes
- Expected Assists (xA)
- Crosses Completed
- Shot-Creating Actions (SCA)
- Goal-Creating Actions (GCA)
3. Ball Progression & Possession
4. Defensive & Work Rate
🔥 1. Finishing & Goal Threat
Metric: Non-Penalty Goals
What It Means: Goals scored from open play or non-penalty set pieces.
Why It Matters to Fantasy Analysts: Shows who’s actually scoring in live play, not just padding numbers from the penalty spot.
Where You Can Find It: FBRef (shooting stats), Understat, Statmuse.
What It Means to a Coach: Picture the forwards on your team finishing crosses, rebounds, or quick combinations. Penalties are rare in youth games, so this is about finding goals in real play. Encourage your strikers to keep moving, sniff out loose balls, and strike quickly. Celebrate the scrappy goals just as much as the perfect ones — they all count.
What It Means to You:
- As a Defender – Deny these chances: clear rebounds, block shots, track runners.
- As a Midfielder – Support attacks by following up second balls and cut-backs.
- As a Forward – Be alert in the box. Non-penalty goals reward movement and timing.
Metric: npxG + xA
What It Means: Expected goals (excluding penalties) + expected assists. Predicts how many goals and assists a player should produce based on the quality of chances.
Why It Matters to Fantasy Analysts: The gold standard for spotting undervalued players — someone with high npxG+xA is due for points.
Where You Can Find It: FBRef (advanced expected stats), Understat.
What It Means to a Coach: Imagine a winger on your team who keeps putting the ball in dangerous spots — but the shots go wide. Or a striker who gets into great positions but hits the post. npxG+xA says: keep going, you’re doing the right things. For young players, this teaches that performance isn’t just about today’s scoreline. It’s about building habits that create chances over time.
What It Means to You:
- As a Defender – Cutting out dangerous passes reduces xA. Positioning matters.
- As a Midfielder – Focus on quality, not just quantity. A single good pass is worth more than ten sideways ones.
- As a Forward – Keep getting into high-quality positions. Even if you miss today, the goals will come.
Metric: Touches in Opposition Box
What It Means: Number of times a player touches the ball inside the opponent’s penalty area.
Why It Matters to Fantasy Analysts: A leading indicator of attacking threat — more touches in the box usually means more goals.
Where You Can Find It: FBRef, FotMob.
What It Means to a Coach: Picture a forward on your team who keeps arriving in the right spot — maybe they don’t score every time, but they’re in the box. For young players, it’s a lesson in movement and anticipation: don’t wait outside the box, get in there. Even defenders should learn to time their runs on set pieces. The more often you’re in the danger area, the more likely you’ll make something happen.
What It Means to You:
- As a Defender – Be alert to runners sneaking into the box. Communication is key.
- As a Midfielder – Support the play — late runs into the box often catch defenders off guard.
- As a Forward – Live in the penalty area. Your job is to be where goals are scored.
Metric: Aerial Duels Won
What It Means: Number of headers a player wins against an opponent.
Why It Matters to Fantasy Analysts: Important for target forwards and center-backs — aerial dominance often translates into goals or clean sheets.
Where You Can Find It: FBRef (defensive actions), FotMob.
What It Means to a Coach: Think of your tall center-back or striker. Every time they rise above an opponent to win a header, that’s an aerial duel. For young players, this isn’t just about size — it’s about timing, bravery, and technique. Teach them to attack the ball, not wait for it. And remind smaller players: body position and anticipation can beat height.
What It Means to You:
- As a Defender – Own your box. Winning headers clears danger and builds confidence.
- As a Midfielder – Compete for second balls; aerial duels often set the tone in midfield.
- As a Forward – A won header can mean a goal, an assist, or a chance created.
🎨 2. Creativity & Chance Creation
Metric: Assists
What It Means: The final pass or touch before a goal is scored.
Why It Matters to Fantasy Analysts: A core scoring stat — consistent providers are fantasy gold.
Where You Can Find It: PremierLeague.com, ESPN, FBRef, FotMob.
What It Means to a Coach: Think of a winger on your team swinging in a cross that a striker buries. That’s an assist. Simple, right? But don’t stop there — explain to your players that an assist is about vision and generosity. For young athletes, it teaches that the glory isn’t always in scoring; sometimes the best moment is setting up a teammate. Celebrate the passer just as much as the finisher. That’s how you nurture unselfish playmakers.
What It Means to You:
- As a Defender – You can be a creator too: overlaps, long passes, or cutbacks can set up goals.
- As a Midfielder – Look to connect runs and reward movement with a killer ball.
- As a Forward – Share the glory — a smart layoff can be as valuable as a shot.
Metric: Key Passes
What It Means: Passes that directly lead to a shot (goal or not).
Why It Matters to Fantasy Analysts: Shows creative influence beyond assists — a leading indicator of future points.
Where You Can Find It: FBRef (passing stats), FotMob, Understat.
What It Means to a Coach: Picture a midfielder on your team slipping through balls all match long. Maybe the shots fly over the bar, maybe the keeper saves them. No assists, no goals — but tons of value. That’s a key pass. For young players, it reinforces the idea that impact isn’t always visible on the scoreboard. Encourage them to keep looking for those runs and reward their bravery in passing. Over time, that’s how you grow players who take responsibility for creating chances, setting the tempo, and sparking attacks when the team needs it most.
What It Means to You:
- As a Defender – Try to break lines with passes instead of always playing safe.
- As a Midfielder – This is your bread and butter: vision and execution.
- As a Forward – Appreciate the supply line — communicate your runs and timing.
Metric: Expected Assists (xA)
What It Means: The likelihood that a given pass will become a goal-scoring shot.
Why It Matters to Fantasy Analysts: Goes beyond actual assists to measure quality of chances created. Great for predicting breakouts.
Where You Can Find It: FBRef, Understat.
What It Means to a Coach: Imagine a winger on your team cutting back from the byline. The striker shanks the shot. On the scoresheet — nothing. But the data says that chance was golden. That’s xA. For youth coaching, this highlights process over outcome. Teach players: creating high-quality chances is the real success. The finish will come in time.
What It Means to You:
- As a Defender – Be aware: cutting off passing lanes prevents xA opportunities.
- As a Midfielder – Focus on creating good looks, not just volume.
- As a Forward – Work on positioning so teammates’ xA becomes your goals.
Metric: Crosses Completed
What It Means: Crosses delivered from wide areas that successfully find a teammate.
Why It Matters to Fantasy Analysts: High-volume crossers provide assists and bonus points in some fantasy formats.
Where You Can Find It: FBRef (passing breakdown), FotMob.
What It Means to a Coach: Picture your full-back charging down the wing. They whip the ball in — but it sails over everyone. Common, right? Completed crosses measure when that delivery actually connects. For young players, it’s a reminder that accuracy beats volume. Teach them to lift their head, aim for zones, and time the cross. Reward smart delivery over hopeful hoofs.
What It Means to You:
- As a Defender – Deliver with purpose when overlapping.
- As a Midfielder – Switch play and find wide runners to open crossing lanes.
- As a Forward – Time your runs. A great cross is wasted without movement.
Metric: Shot-Creating Actions (SCA)
What It Means: The two offensive actions (pass, dribble, foul won, etc.) leading to a shot.
Why It Matters to Fantasy Analysts: A more holistic creativity measure than just assists.
Where You Can Find It: FBRef (advanced passing stats).
What It Means to a Coach: Picture your team building up: a midfielder dribbles past one opponent, lays it off, and a forward takes the shot. Only the final pass shows up in the stats normally. SCA gives credit to the dribble too. For young players, it shows that the chain matters. Every link in the move counts, not just the last touch.
What It Means to You:
- As a Defender – Even winning a foul can spark an SCA.
- As a Midfielder – Take pride in build-up play — you’re the link.
- As a Forward – Recognize teammates who create space before your shot.
Metric: Goal-Creating Actions (GCA)
What It Means: The two offensive actions directly leading to a goal.
Why It Matters to Fantasy Analysts: Captures hidden creativity — secondary assists, clever dribbles, fouls won.
Where You Can Find It: FBRef (advanced passing stats).
What It Means to a Coach: Think of a winger who beats their marker, then lays it off for a teammate who plays the final ball for the goal. Without GCA, the dribble doesn’t get recognition. For young players, it teaches that goals are team products. Everyone in the build-up deserves credit. Encourage them to value those ‘pre-assists’ — they’re just as vital.
What It Means to You:
- As a Defender – Your clearance or interception can start a goal.
- As a Midfielder – The second assist is often yours — own it.
- As a Forward – Dropping deep and linking play can still create goals.
🚀 3. Ball Progression & Possession
Metric: Progressive Carries
What It Means: Runs with the ball that move it significantly closer to the opponent’s goal.
Why It Matters to Fantasy Analysts: Identifies players who advance play, even if they don’t get goals or assists.
Where You Can Find It: FBRef (possession stats), FotMob.
What It Means to a Coach: Picture a winger on your team who drives forward with the ball, carrying it 20 yards toward the box. That’s a progressive carry. For young players, this is about courage and intent: not just keeping possession, but going somewhere with it. Teach them to pick their moments — forward carries change games.
What It Means to You:
- As a Defender – Step forward with confidence; don’t always offload immediately.
- As a Midfielder – Drive into space; it opens passing lanes.
- As a Forward – Running at defenders unsettles them and creates panic.
Metric: Progressive Passes
What It Means: Forward passes that move the ball closer to goal by a significant distance.
Why It Matters to Fantasy Analysts: Reveals who moves play forward — great for spotting underrated deep-lying playmakers.
Where You Can Find It: FBRef (passing stats).
What It Means to a Coach: Picture your center-back playing a ball through midfield that bypasses two lines. That’s progressive. For young players, this highlights the value of bravery in passing. Teach them not to fear a turnover — line-breaking passes make goals possible.
What It Means to You:
- As a Defender – Your passes can set the tone — dare to play forward.
- As a Midfielder – Look to break lines, not just recycle possession.
- As a Forward – Show for the ball — your movement makes progressive passes possible.
Metric: Progressive Passes Received
What It Means: How often a player receives the ball in advanced, goal-threatening areas.
Why It Matters to Fantasy Analysts: Measures off-ball movement and positioning — key to predicting attacking returns.
Where You Can Find It: FBRef (possession stats).
What It Means to a Coach: Picture a striker who’s always in the right pocket of space to receive a forward pass. That’s this metric. For young players, it underlines that movement is as important as passing. Teach them to scan constantly and create space to be found.
What It Means to You:
- As a Defender – Anticipate these runs; cut off the passing lane.
- As a Midfielder – Position yourself between the lines to receive.
- As a Forward – Movement without the ball is your superpower.
Metric: Dribbles Completed
What It Means: Successfully beating an opponent one-on-one while retaining the ball.
Why It Matters to Fantasy Analysts: Marks out dangerous attackers — dribblers create chaos and draw fouls.
Where You Can Find It: FBRef (possession stats), FotMob.
What It Means to a Coach: Picture a winger on your team who takes on a defender and gets by them cleanly. That’s a completed dribble. For young players, it’s more than showboating — it’s about creating an advantage. Teach them when to dribble: in the final third, when they can destabilize a defense. And remind them: decision-making is as important as skill.
What It Means to You:
- As a Defender – Stay on your feet — patience beats flashy moves.
- As a Midfielder – Use dribbles to create space and break lines.
- As a Forward – Beat your marker to open shooting lanes or win fouls.
🛡️ 4. Defensive & Work Rate
Metric: Pressures / Successful Pressures
What It Means: Pressures are attempts to close down an opponent; “successful” means the ball is won back within a few seconds.
Why It Matters to Fantasy Analysts: Advanced stat showing defensive work rate; in some formats, rewarded with bonus points.
Where You Can Find It: FBRef (defensive stats).
What It Means to a Coach: Picture your forward sprinting to close down a defender, forcing a rushed clearance. That’s pressure. It might not look glamorous, but it wins games. For young players, this stat shows that defense starts from the front. Energy, commitment, and teamwork matter — even when you don’t touch the ball.
What It Means to You:
- As a Defender – Organize the press behind the forwards.
- As a Midfielder – Anticipate loose balls after a press.
- As a Forward – Your effort sets the tone — press with intent.
Metric: Tackles, Interceptions, Recoveries, Blocks
What It Means:
- Tackles – winning the ball off an opponent.
- Interceptions – cutting out a pass.
- Recoveries – regaining a loose ball.
- Blocks – stopping shots or passes.
Why It Matters to Fantasy Analysts: Core defensive stats; crucial for clean sheets and bonus systems.
Where You Can Find It: FBRef, FotMob, PremierLeague.com.
What It Means to a Coach: Think of your center-back sliding in to win a tackle, or a midfielder stepping into a passing lane. These are the bread-and-butter defensive actions. For young players, it shows that defending isn’t just brute force — it’s anticipation, positioning, and timing. Praise the little interventions as much as the big tackles. They add up to control of the game.
What It Means to You:
- As a Defender – This is your foundation: solid, reliable defensive actions.
- As a Midfielder – Interceptions and recoveries are your chance to shine.
- As a Forward – Even a block up front can swing momentum.
✅ Quick Takeaways: What Matters Most
Different roles look at the game through different lenses. Here are the five metrics that matter most depending on whether you analyze, coach, or play.
Top 5 if You’re an Analyst (Predicting Points)
- npxG + xA – Best single predictor of future goals + assists (penalties excluded).
- Expected Assists (xA) – Quality of chances created; flags playmakers who are “due.”
- Touches in Opposition Box – Strong leading indicator of goals over time.
- Progressive Actions (passes + carries) – Drives territorial dominance and chance volume.
- Shot-Creating Actions (SCA) – Repeatable creative involvement beyond raw assists.
Top 5 if You’re a Coach
- Progressive Passes / Carries – Reward purposeful ball progression and bravery.
- Key Passes – Encourage vision and decision-making, not just outcomes.
- Shot-Creating Actions (SCA) – Teach the value of the whole build-up chain.
- Pressures / Successful Pressures – Build team work rate and pressing habits.
- Touches in Opposition Box – Promote movement and anticipation in dangerous areas.
Top 5 if You’re a Player (Personal Development)
- Progressive Passes Received – Master off-ball movement; make yourself available.
- Dribbles Completed – Grow 1v1 confidence and learn when to take on defenders.
- Key Passes – Improve vision and timing to create shots for teammates.
- Non-Penalty Goals – Focus on live-play finishing and alert movement in the box.
- Pressures – Earn trust with effort; defense starts from the front.
Final Word
Use the numbers to guide habits, not replace judgment. If the metrics point one way and your eyes see the same thing, you’re onto something—whether you’re picking a fantasy sleeper, designing Tuesday’s session, or sharpening your own game.
📚 Further Reading on Soccer Analytics
- FBRef Advanced Stats – Free, detailed player and team metrics.
- Understat – Great resource for expected goals (xG) and xA.
- Opta / Stats Perform – Leading provider of advanced soccer data.
- Premier League Official Stats – Official data straight from the league.