We’re just about 10 days from the start of the new English Premier League season, and it’s difficult to ignore the growing popularity of the PL’s fantasy sports game. More than six million played last season, and that number is only going to rise, especially as the Prem continues to gain more U.S. followers.
Liverpool and Norwich will kick the season off on Aug. 9, so players are running out of time to form their 15-man squads with just a £100 million salary cap at their disposal. With the help of Maxwell and Adam, a couple of FPL competitors, here’s an 11-man formation of players who could be really strong value sleepers heading into the new fantasy season.
Goalie
Matthew Ryan, Brighton & Hove Albion, £4.5 million
The Australian keeper is the only FPL goalie who scored triple-digit points last season to be priced at under £5 million. His six clean sheets was lower than the 2017-2018 campaign, but he’ll give you guaranteed starts at a lower price in case you don’t want to break the bank on Liverpool’s Allison or Manchester City’s Ederson.
Defenders
Kyle Walker-Peters, Tottenham, £5 million
With Kieran Trippier, last year’s top-scoring defender for Spurs, gone to Atletico Madrid in a $25 million transfer, first-team playing time will be available for the 22-year-old English right-back. If he seizes that opportunity, he’ll have a chance to score plenty of points and benefit from the 13 clean sheets Tottenham accrued last season, good for fifth in the PL.
Jamaal Lascelles, Newcastle United, £4.5 million
The 25-year-old center-back recorded 10 clean sheets last season for a Newcastle backline that remains largely intact. If the team remains stingy both in results and strategy in 2019-2020, Lascelles is going to provide really good value for under £5. That will allow you to spend more on the most popular high-scoring defenders from Liverpool and Chelsea.
Shane Duffy, Brighton & Hove Albion, £5 million
Duffy finished second on Brighton last season with five goals, a stat that looks even better for FPL players considering more points are given when defenders score. If he can help Brighton improve on its seven clean sheets from last year and maintain his impressive offensive output, players are going to have to the 27-year-old a serious look this season.
Midfielders
David Brooks, Bournemouth, £6.5 million
The Welsh rising star was phenomenal in his first Premier League season at 22 years old, scoring seven goals, dishing six assists and recording nine clean sheets. Expect him to have an even more prominent role this year in the Bournemouth attack alongside Ryan Fraser, Callum Wilson and Joshua King.
Jack Grealish, Aston Villa, £6 million
Despite so many transfer overtures for the 23-year-old during the three years Villa spent in the Championship, they held onto the coveted attacking mid. Now as Villa returns to the Prem, Grealish should feature prominently in the team’s attack as he looks to build on the six-goal, six-assist output he registered last season in England’s second division.
Ayoze Perez, Leicester City, £6.5 million
The Foxes spent $38 million earlier this month to acquire Perez from Newcastle, where the 26-year-old Spaniard led the club with 12 goals. He’ll beef up a Leicester attack already featuring Jamie Vardy up front and rising star James Maddison on the wing. If manager Brendan Rogers plays Perez as a forward alongside Vardy, there’s a chance for serious value here.
Declan Rice, West Ham United, £5 million
Listed as a midfielder, the 20-year-old Rice is arguably the future of England’s defense. Stash Rice on your bench, and you’ll essentially be buying a matchup-based center-back for the midfield. If the Hammers have a favorable matchup, play Rice and see if he can improve on the two goals and seven clean sheets he picked up a season ago.
Forwards
Joelinton, Newcastle United, £6 million
With Perez sold to Leicester and Salomon Rondon heading to Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang, Joelinton will have every opportunity to pick up Newcastle’s scoring load. The 22-year-old Brazilian comes in a $50 million transfer fee from German side Hoffenheim, and will form a young attacking duo with former Atlanta United star Miguel Almiron. If Joelinton lives up to the hype, he’ll be a tremendous value after picking up seven goals and seven assists last season in the Bundesliga.
Sebastien Haller, West Ham United, £7.5 million
Following a monster season for Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt, where he scored 15 goals and nine assists and led the club to the Europa League semis, Haller comes to London in a $45 million transfer. He’s expected to become the team’s main striker after Marko Arnautovic was sold to Chinese club Shanghai SIPG. If he can maintain a similar output in the Premier League, Haller will be well worth the money in an attacking group featuring Felipe Anderson, Michail Antonio and Chicharito.
Diogo Jota, Wolverhampton Wanderers, £6.5 million
Wolves were sensational in their first season back in the Prem, and Jota was a big reason why after coming over from Atletico Madrid. The 22-year-old Portuguese international scored nine, had eight assists and formed a tremendous forward pairing last season with Raul Jimenez. The league will be ready for Wolves this season, but Jota remains one of the best money values in FPL from the forward position.
