With the Premier League football season in full flow, various players are auditioning for every fantasy football manager’s team as fantasy bosses around the globe look to find a gem or two to help take their side to the next level and earn them a few sneaky points alongside the usual earners.
Nearly everyone has Sergio Aguero or, in last season’s case, Mohamed Salah, but any fantasy player worth their salt will tell you that adding a shrewd differential or two can help take your team up a peg and gain those vitally important extra points to help give you the bragging rights over your best friend or your annoying boss at work.
Below are a few players in outfield positions worth keeping an eye on or, better still, getting in your side while their price is low and they’re performing at a worthy level in their respective sides.
Defenders
Wolves defender Bennett is one of the more cheaper options when it comes to defensive reinforcements, but he’s a steady points earner and, most importantly of all, plays week in week out in a Wolves side taking the Premier League by storm since their promotion.
Matthew Lowton – Burnley
Lowton, a mainstay in an improving Burnley side, is an attacking full-back who pops up with an assist or two every now and again. Last campaign, Burnley’s defensive record was excellent throughout but after a stuttering start Lowton and his defensive colleagues weren’t popular picks. Now, after improving in recent weeks, Clarets defenders should be on everyone’s radar. Should Burnley fail to kick on further though, odds on relegation at 2/1 (bet365) represent a decent enough return. Perhaps one to monitor over the coming weeks.
Midfielders
Bernard, a tricky Brazilian signed from Shakhtar Donesk in the summer, is finally back after a stuttering start to his Everton career, largely down to a few niggling injuries. The mini playmaker, similar to Manchester City’s David Silva, is capable of taking an improving Everton side up a level. Premier League betting is looking interesting when it comes to Everton, with great value at 8/1 (bet365) being offered on a top six finish. Perhaps unlikely, a top four finish is priced at 50/1 too.
Johann Berg Guðmundsson – Burnley
As touched on earlier with the defensive inclusion of Lowton, Burnley are a team who seem to be turning a corner. Guðmundsson is one their most creative players and takes the majority of their set pieces, which for a team with such height and aerial ability makes him a crucial ingredient to any potential success.
Strikers
Raul Jimenez – Wolves
Wolves are arguably the surprise package of the Premier League campaign so far. For a newly promoted side, the Wanderers have adapted to life in England’s top flight with relative ease and in manager Nuno Espirito Santo and the financial backing from their Chinese owners, the club are in a healthy place. Things are going well on the pitch too, with Mexican striker Jimenez leading the line superbly well. A cheap option, the tidy frontman tends to be behind anything positive Wolves do. Should they keep up their impressive start to the season, a top six finish at 6/1 – with Jimenez at the forefront – could be on the cards.
Luciano Vietto – Fulham
After arriving on-loan from Atletico Madrid, Argentine Vietto has impressed for Premier League new boys Fulham. Perhaps the biggest gamble of the bunch due to him being a rotation risk, Vietto is capable of cementing his place in Fulham’s team as the season progresses. The striker is certainly one to keep an eye on.
Bernard is a very interesting shout which didn’t cross my mind. I would er on the side of caution with Vietto, we’re a complete shambles at the moment. Hopefully the starting eleven should be clear after the next two games and if it’s not Pardew, or someone equally uninspiring, will probably be in the hotseat.
Loving the Bernard and Guðmundsson shouts!
Thanks for this article. A few players here that I hadn’t considered.
Hello! I picked up Kayal (BHU) to enable me to get Benj Mendy back in (Jonny + Maddison out for Mendy + Kayal) – it’s a bit strange I know, but gonna see how it takes on. Maybe he can pick up some sneaky points over the next 6 weeks with Brighton’s run of matches? Have I done something dumb? I think Mendy is worth it; only one Wolves defender was necessary (Doherty) and that this bloke from Brighton might score reasonably well (hopefully he & Mendy amassing more points between them than the other pairing!). Gives me an added excuse to check out BHU results, rather than the usual ‘Oh who gives a toss, it’s only the Seagulls!’ See y’all real soon!