Who has been the best value for points so far this season?
Anyone who has managed a Fantasy Premier League (FPL) team for more than a season knows that even though it’s a fun hobby, it is still a lot of work. The constant need to evaluate and re-evaluate the value of each player that you have in your starting line can be intense.
The close tracking of news and stats needed to ensure that your line-up wins you points does have a side advantage though. It ensures you are extra knowledgeable about the EPL as a whole. This can make you a savvier bettor.
Betting on the EPL is obviously big business. With the rise of online betting, it’s easier than ever to find a bookmaker with the right odds and decent bonuses. Your FPL experience and knowledge might not transfer directly to sports betting wisdom, but it certainly doesn’t hurt.
While betting on the EPL limits you to the real teams, playing in the FPL gives you the freedom to build your own. Start buying up all the star players, however, and that £100m won’t go very far. You need to seriously consider if every player you’ve picked is worth their price.
There has been some discussion about the best way to calculate value, and everyone has a formula that they swear by. Points scored / price is the classic formula, but those who want to go a bit more in depth prefer: (Points scored – Average point scored by cheapest player) / (Price – Minimum position price).
Either way, overspending on your starters can hamstring you later in the season. Saving enough to have a strong bench or a good transfer budget is essential. We’re still early in the season so everything could change. As of today, however, this FPL line-up represents the best value for points.
Goalkeeper
Dean Henderson (£4.6m)
Manchester United might be seriously regretting their decision to loan Dean Henderson out to Nottingham Forest this season. He’s proven himself to be a much better value than more expensive keepers such as Liverpool’s Alisson or Manchester City’s Ederson.
Defenders
William Saliba (£4.6m)
Arsenal is one of the hottest FPL team in terms of value right now. William Saliba is a steal right now at £4.6m. The young French centre-back has already made an impression in his early appearances for the club. His time at Nice and Marseille have clearly helped him mature as a player.
Fabian Schär (£4.7m)
When looking at defenders from Newcastle United, more managers are choosing Kieran Trippier, but Fabian Schär is a smarter choice in terms of value. Schär’s goal against Nottingham Forest in the season opener was a surprise that showed that this player will reward the investment in him.
Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.2m)
Saliba’s Arsenal teammate Oleksandr Zinchenko is one of the best value for points players in the EPL since he’s equally comfortable playing left-back and midfielder. With Zinchenko, you’re more likely to get defensive clean sheet points as well as midfield attacking points.
Joël Veltman (£4.5m)
Brighton & Hove Albion has two smart picks for defenders in the form of Joël Veltman and team captain Lewis Dunk. They’re both leading in terms of value, but we’ve got a soft spot for Veltman. This is partly because the Dutch player is one of the top one-on-one defenders in the EPL and partly because his ability to get under his opponent’s skin makes him fun to watch.
Midfielders
Rodrigo (£6.3m)
The big question surrounding the Leeds United midfielder is whether or not he’ll be able to maintain his fiery early season form. Many were unsure how Rodrigo would perform with Leeds, fearing that his ego of being the most expensive player in the club’s history would make him hard to work with. Instead, Rodrigo seems to be loving his club and revelling in his star power.
Wilfried Zaha (£7.1m)
Wilfried Zaha is an expensive player but worth every penny. He is Crystal Palace’s main man. With three goals in three matches to start the season, he’s a smart investment. There are some rumours floating around about a transfer to Arsenal, but he can really shine at Palace, so hopefully he’ll stay.
Josh Dasilva (£4.6m)
Brentford’s Josh Dasilva spent much of last season injured and out of play. Whether it’s a desire to make up for lost time or simply a talented young player coming into his own, Dasilva is one of the best value for points midfielders. Considering he’s scored two goals in his first three games, his price is likely to go through the roof in the next few weeks.
Forwards
Gabriel Jesus (£8.2m)
Arsenal’s star forward Gabriel Jesus is the most expensive player on our list, but he has more than earned that valuation. Despite being less hyped than many of his counterparts, he’s currently outperforming Mo Salah, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane. Some stars have a tendency to get a bit selfish with the ball, but Jesus seems to be as happy to score or assist, depending on what’s needed.
Ollie Watkins (£7.4m)
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has been described as “the only shining light” for manager Steven Gerrard. Fans may have been critical of how Watkins finished out the season last year, but in the first weeks of this season, he has shown why he was an easy choice for the World Cup team.
Alexander Mitrović (£6.6m)
Alexander Mitrović, Fulham striker, rounds out our best value for points FPL team. Marco Silva has made the clever decision to build his team around Mitrović and that decision already appears to be paying off for the club in their return to the Premier League. Just like Dasilva, Mitrović is a player to invest in as soon as possible before his price goes up.
What are your thoughts on the team we’ve put together? Do they really offer the best value for points? Or should we have spent a bit more on our starters and worried less about saving a chunk of our budget for the bench and transfers?
