4 Smart Tips For Picking a Winning Fantasy Football Team
You’re not participating in a fantasy football league for the good of your health. You’re in it to win it, or at least end up in a respectable final position. But of course, that’s much easier said than done. If you’re relatively new to fantasy football, then it could seem like other people have their formations and players sewn up, while you’re floundering.
And it’s not hard to see why. There are, after all, many, many players to select from. So how should you go about picking a fantasy football team that will put points on the board? In this blog, we’ll take a look at a few essential tips that’ll push you in the right direction.
Double Up On Goalkeepers
Many people believe that their backup keeper will only ever be on the bench and opt for a budget option. But this is a mistake. Your team will be much stronger if you have two top-quality goalkeepers, and rotate them depending on which teams they’re facing. There’ll be games when it’s highly unlikely that any keeper will keep a clean sheet (for example, if they’re playing Liverpool or Manchester City away from home). If you need a little help deciding which keeper to use, look at the best spread-betting brokers. If they predict a high number of goals in the game, then a clean sheet will be less likely.
Don’t Rely On Big Team Superstars
It’s easy to get drawn into picking the players that play for the top clubs, especially the clubs going for the top four positions. But it’s essential to think twice before choosing a player from Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, and so on. One of the reasons why these clubs are always towards the top of the league is that they have many outstanding players. Their goals come from all over the pitch, from multiple players. And because of that, the club can rotate more. It would be better to pick a player from just outside the top 4 who you know will play every week, rather than a player who will have to share the limelight with other world-class players.
Go For Experience
Every football fan is excited when their side signs a marquee player. But if you think back over the years, how many big-name players have hit the ground running? Not so many. Even if the player does go on to become a legend for the side, there’s usually a settling in period, during which the player is finding their feet at their new club. This is especially true if they’re coming from an overseas side, and have never played in the Premier League before. Everyone should expect Timo Werner to be a success at Chelsea, but this is his first season at the club, and he’s only 24. In this case, it’d be better to select a player who has a proven track record of scoring in the top division.
Dig Deeper
Here’s a hard truth that’s always worth keeping in mind: most football fans have tremendous gaps in their knowledge of the sport, or at least have some misconceptions. You might think that one player is good/bad/whatever, but is it really the case? It’s often a good idea to dig a little deeper to see if your gut instinct is correct or not. Will they put points on the board? Fantasy football is a cut-throat business; you’ve got to be ready to make some tough decisions!
You should also check that any players you’re picking from their past performances are still up to their old standards. A player that has struggled with injuries in the pre-season may be off the pace. The same can be said for players at a club that have a new manager, and also for players reaching the end of their career who may not start every game. As with most things in life, when it comes to fantasy football, knowledge is power.