Three Budget Striking Options That Could Finish The Season Strongly
The remarkable form of Raul Jimenez and the resurgence of Marcus Rashford has given fantasy football managers a wealth of striking options, with the low cost of those forwards granting flexibility when choosing a potent front three. Both Jimenez and Rashford have strong run-ins with double gameweeks aplenty, so managers might be reluctant to discard.
It could be the premium strikers that are cast aside for cheaper alternatives, to allow for greater investment in midfield options with which to the end the season. Here are three budget striking options worth considering, whether as replacements or supplements for the likes of Jimenez and Rashford.
Glenn Murray, £6.3
Source: Brighton & Hove Albion FC via Facebook.
Murray will be one of the most popular tips across fantasy football scouts, a result of Brighton’s appealing fixture list. The Seagulls are the only side with nine games left to play, with Gameweek 34’s double of Bournemouth (H) and Cardiff (H) particularly enticing.
Murray’s form is less encouraging, with 12 of his last 14 league appearances ending goalless. Yet Brighton’s relative lack of striking options and desperate need for points will likely see the 35-year-old continuing to lead the line.
Cheap enough to be benched for Brighton’s tough away games, Murray’s sheer volume of fixtures makes him an interesting option. Murray’s renowned predatory instincts should ensure that his slump in form is temporary rather than permanent. If anyone can fire Brighton to safety, it is this evergreen forward.
Michy Batshuayi, £6.5
Crystal Palace are not yet flying far enough away from the relegation zone for the Eagles to get complacent, while Roy Hodgson will be keen to give the fans some attacking displays in gratitude for their loyalty during another mixed season.
Michy Batshuayi could therefore prove a snip at £6.5. Pro bettors and fantasy football managers alike will be looking with interest towards this Belgian striker with lots to prove in the remaining weeks. One pro at betconnect, a social betting platform, identified Batshuayi as an attractive anytime scorer at 23/10 against Watford as one of the best betting tips. The Belgian duly delivered in the defeat, and fans will be hoping that Batshuayi continues to be dependable in the coming weeks.
Palace may play a few dead rubbers, but the Belgian’s form will be crucial to his hopes of securing an appealing contract somewhere for next season. Palace end their campaign with a run of Everton (H), Cardiff (A) and Bournemouth (H). Those clubs will potentially have nothing to play for, but Batshuayi will have plenty at stake – that determination could pay off for those who add him to their team.
Source: Crystal Palace Football Club via Facebook.
Danny Ings, £5.4
This one comes with no small amount of risk, given Ings’ injury record. Yet that risk is somewhat negated by the bargain price. Ings filled the ‘cheap striker’ role for many squads earlier in the season, with former Saints star Rickie Lambert tipping Ings to fire the club to safety.
For those looking for a late-season differential, Ings could be the man. Slated to return from injury after the international break, a fit Ings will slot straight back into the Saints’ side. Charlie Austin and Shane Long have mustered three league goals between them this season, so Ings could be the man to capitalise on Southampton’s last eight matches, which feature only one clash with a top-six side (Liverpool, GW33).
The usual suspects of Aguero and Aubameyang still appeal, but in the end-of-season madness it could be unlikely heroes who make the difference.
