Welcome to ESPN FC's #PremRank.

ESPN FC is counting down the top 50 players in the Premier League right now, as voted for by various columnists, editors and analysts. Who makes the cut? Disagree with our list? Tell us on Twitter using the hashtag #PremRank.

Why Charlie Austin makes the list

The greatest compliment that can be paid to Austin this season is the mere consideration over how bad QPR's campaign would have been without him. His goals ensured they at least had a fighting chance of survival for far longer than they might have had without him. The 25-year-old will probably remain in the Premier League next term, even if his team don't.

He has shown supreme sharpness with much of his finishing, and that deserves real praise given the premium of chances such strikers get in a side like that. What's even more impressive is that his scoring hasn't been streaky. It's not like his return has been boosted by goal gluts, other than one hat trick against Burnley. Beyond that game, which gave QPR such hope, he has never gone more than three matches without a goal. He is likely to have a number of clubs trying to buy him once his team finally go down.
-- Miguel Delaney

The stats that tell the story

- His 18 goals this season were the third most by a QPR player in a Premier League season. The only player with more is Les Ferdinand, who had 20 in 1992-93 and 24 in 1994-95, which were both 42-game seasons.
- Ranked second in the league with 130 shots and 52 shots on goal this season, trailing only Sergio Aguero in both categories.

What the experts say

"Should QPR go down, the chances are that Austin won't. In each case, an ability to score for a lesser side, for which opportunities tend to be fewer, has attracted covetous glances." -- Richard Jolly, March 2015.

"Where would Queens Park Rangers be without Charlie Austin? Far closer to the bottom of the table and staring hopefully at Bobby Zamora, we'd wager. Austin's hat trick saved the day at Loftus Road, where QPR recovered from a two-goal deficit against West Bromwich Albion to win 3-2." -- Iain Macintosh, December 2014.

"Charlie Austin has had to feed on scraps with QPR. He has had to defend from the front, help out at the back, lead the line and hold up play. And quite rightly he is now getting mentioned with a call-up to England's national side." -- Wally Downes Jr., November 2014.