Fantasy Premier League – Player List Analysis – Budget Midfielders

After running the rule over goalkeepers as well as budget, mid price and premium defenders, we now scan the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) player list to assess budget midfielders.

This group of players is often kindly priced for a reason, whether it’s the risk of rotation or just their lowly FPL points output.

Nonetheless, a budget option who can offer consistent pitch time can be a key “enabler” – a player that can free up cash to spend big elsewhere, whilst filling in admirably from the bench when the auto-subs come into play.

As you edge up into the 5.5 bracket, there is even the potential for a budget option to blossom into a regular starter – a scenario we witnessed with none other than Riyad Mahrez in the last campaign.

There’s no question that Bournemouth stand out as a major source of budget midfield talent. Eddie Howe’s side were often plundered in 2015/16, as a cast of midfielders almost took it turns to come to the fore as cut-price options. This time around, their array of candidates remains strong, although FPL managers will hope that a stand-out performer emerges.

Josh King was the pick of the bunch last season with six goals and two assists from 24 starts, having been thrust into the Bournemouth attack for spells. A price hike from 4.5 to 5.5 reflects this strong form, although it’s uncertain if he’ll be given regular starts this time out, let alone the opportunity to spearhead the Cherries’ attack.

Junior Stanislas (5.5) presents another option in the Bournemouth midfield, although security of starts is again an issue. The winger topped their charts for goal attempts per appearance and scored on three occasions but faces fierce competition on the flanks.

Max Gradel is likely to be above Stanislas in the pecking order. Despite being sidelined through injury for much of the previous campaign, the tricky attacker averaged more shots in the box per appearance and also scored 17 goals while at Saint Etienne in 2014/15. If he can claim a number ten role behind the lone striker, he could represent outstanding value.

Having said that, new signing Jordan Ibe appears to be the strongest option from day one. While Ibe made just 12 starts for Liverpool last season, we can surely presume that Howe will hand his £15 million signing regular starts.

Ibe is currently the most popular Cherries midfielder (5.5%) and scored his first goal for the club in today’s friendly with Portsmouth. There are some caveats, though: he registered a shot on goal every 43.7 minutes for Liverpool last season, creating a chance for team-mates every 63 minutes. Both King and Stanislas bettered that shot frequency (36.3 and 34.2), while the latter also surpassed Ibe’s creativity, laying on a chance every 45.6 minutes.

Crystal Palace have often provided another rich source of value midfielders. Their class of 2016/17 is headlined by the erratic talent of winger Wilfried Zaha at 5.5.

Potentially, this could prove exceptional value. We’re certainly expecting Alan Pardew to preserve Zaha in his starting lineup – he was, after all, voted the Eagles player of the season.

However, that could see Yannick Bolasie (6.0) shifted to a number ten role, boosting his stock as an alternative. Meanwhile, the allure of Andros Townsend’s proven goal threat at 6.5 will also detract from Zaha’s promise as a budget option.

If you’re snubbing both Townsend and Bolasie, then Zaha offers a third viable route into the Palace attack ahead of a favourable opening set of matches. Pardew’s men host West Brom, Bournemouth and Stoke in their opening three Selhurst Park meetings.

According to our Fixture Ticker, it’s West Brom who are blessed with the kindest opening to the season in terms of goal potential.

Tony Pulis’ side are rarely associated with providing attacking returns, although for this campaign, a summer signing and a young starlet may offer renewed potential. Recent recruit Matt Phillips has been priced at 5.5 and arrives back in the top flight having already proved a direct goal threat and prolific creator during his spell with QPR.

Phillips averaged a shot on goal every 45.8 minutes in QPR’s relegation season. He also scored three times and assisted a further eight goals for the Hoops. Such statistics offer significant hope he can break the mold and offer a genuine value route into the West Brom midfield for the coming season.

On the opposite flank, Jonathan Leko (4.5) is bracing himself for a breakthrough season. The 18-year-old earned a handful of appearances at the end of last season but, so far, has been almost ever present in pre-season on the left wing.

Pulis looks set to invest his faith in the youngster and, if he does cement starts, there can be no question that he would provide an enticing 4.5 option.

To this point, both Leko and Phillips have claimed just 0.8% and 0.4% ownership respectively. Instead, FPL managers have flocked to Darren Fletcher as a 4.5 option in the Baggies engine room.

The Scot certainly seems assured of starts and claimed a goal and three assists last term. However, there can be no question that Pulis’ wing options provide far more explosive alternatives that could even see them emerge as starters in our XI.

Only N’Golo Kante (5.0) can better Fletcher for ownership amongst budget options to this point, having found his way into more than 21% of squads.

The Chelsea capture from champions Leicester will likely be a certain starter in Antonio Conte’s midfield but his popularity is still somewhat puzzling.

Kante notched just a single goal and four assists for Leicester in their title winning campaign and there is no obvious potential to increase those tallies at Stamford Bridge. Indeed, should Chelsea flourish under Conte, it’s likely that FPL managers will look to rid themselves of Kante in order to free up a Chelsea slot for a more profitable asset.

Ironically, Kante’s capture could have a bigger impact back at his old club Leicester.

The Foxes have a couple of low-cost midfield assets that may just kick-on this season, with Claudio Ranieri forced to re-model his starting XI.

We’re watching to see if Andy King (5.0) can earn regular starts for the champions. With two goals and two assists from just nine starts last season, King has demonstrated that he can reward investors if granted pitch time.

For those willing to stretch to the 5.5 bracket, Danny Drinkwater could also prove value for money. After starting 35 matches last season, his inflated price tag factors in that greater security of starts and the prospect of improving on 2015/16’s promising tally of three goals and seven assists. Drinkwater has so far claimed 8% ownership in pre-season.

That’s left last season budget darling, Marc Albrighton, trailing. The Leicester winger has so far earned just 2% ownership, thanks in the main to his inflated 5.5 price tag.

Albrighton does not convince us this season. Jeffrey Schlupp (a 5.0 defender) will push him for starts if he remains at the King Power, while Demarai Gray (5.0) could also be a threat as he continues to progress.

Tottenham’s Eric Dier (5.5) is another to attract high ownership. This is doubtless explained by the fact that he sits top of the pile for points in the sub 5.5 bracket, having notched 130 last season.

However, Dier was listed as defender for 2015/16 and was therefore boosted by 12 clean sheets. Having been re-classified, he’ll score a single point from shut-outs, rather than four, over this campaign.

Dier managed to emerge from England’s faltering Euro 16 campaign with some credit, revealing a prowess from direct free-kicks. No doubt his 14.2% ownership will be hoping that he can translate that set-piece threat to the Premier League but, with Christian Eriksen in the Spurs ranks, that seems highly doubtful.

Like Kante, the acquisition of Dier will use up one of three Spurs slots that may just become precious should Mauricio Pochettino’s men enjoy another fruitful campaign. The arrival of Victor Wanyama (5.0) could also be a factor as the Kenyan international could be used to rotate Dier around Champions League fixtures.

Across the road in North London, Arsenal’s £34 million signing Granit Xhaka (5.5) has also picked up some healthy interest: The Swiss midfielder is currently found in 6.5% of initial squads.

Like Dier, this level of popularity does not convince us.

Xhaka notched three goals and a single assist in 28 appearances for Borussia Monchengladbach last term – hardly statistics to justify such ownership. He averaged a shot every 71.8 minutes in 2015/16; that ranks him behind new team-mate Mohamed Elneny (5.0), who fired in an effort every 63.6 minutes over his 11 Arsenal appearances.

Sofiane Feghouli (5.5) has hit the ground running for West Ham in pre-season, already providing an assist in the friendly against the Carolina Railhawks early this month.

Over 5% have been tempted thus far, perhaps looking to the Algerian to cover the Hammers’ attack having decided against the 9.5 fee for Dimitri Payet.

Feghouli has never scored more than six goals in any league campaign and fired in an effort every 57.2 minutes for Valencia last season; that was slower than Payet, Manuel Lanzini (6.5) and Michail Antonio (7.0).

Assists may just prove more profitable for his owners, with Feghouli laying on a chance every 48.4 minutes in La Liga last term, quicker than all West Ham midfielders aside from the mercurial Payet.

The Hammers have strong early home fixtures and will surely be buoyed to perform at the Olympic Stadium. However, with plenty of competition for places in attacking positions and Europa League football in the mix, Feghouli’s league starts are far from guaranteed.

The Southampton ranks offer up three prime contenders in this bracket, although it’s worth stating that if you’re considering either Nathan Redmond (6.0), Jay Rodriguez (6.5) or Dusan Tadic (7.5) in the mid-price, you’ll likely to overlook them.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s price tag of just 4.5 has put many on immediate alert and has already drawn an ownership of 4.9%.

The 20-year-old Dane is undeniably a prospect: he is the youngest player to represent Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. However, while his goal record is fairly strong in reserve team football, Hojbjerg has been far from prolific at a first team level.

The statistics bear this out – a shot every 57 minutes and a chance created every 182 minutes for Schalke 04 last season produced just one assist from 13 appearances. Hojbjerg has potential but will have to prove himself to Claude Puel, who will be in no hurry to thrust the young midfielder into the spotlight.

It’s also worth noting that, although he netted from the spot in today’s friendly win over PEC Zwolle, there were no first-team regulars on the pitch at the time of the award.

Spend a million more and you can take your pick of James Ward-Prowse or Steven Davis (both 5.5).

We’ve been monitoring Ward-Prowse for several campaigns, waiting for him to cement a starting role. This season could well prove to be a breakthrough, with the England U21 starlet looking to build on his 14 starts from 2015/16.

There’s no doubting his quality: Ward-Prowse’s dead-ball delivery is a potent weapon and he’s also listed high on the pecking order for spot-kicks – he may even be the designated taker when on the pitch.

Pitch-time isn’t an issue for Steven Davis and, while he lacks the obvious appeal, the shift to a number ten role in the latter stages of last season has raised awareness – particularly after a brace at White Hart Lane. Only Dusan Tadic (7.5) created more chances for Southampton last term.

It’s uncertain how Puel will deploy the Northern Ireland international but, if he choses to use his qualities behind a lone striker, we’ll certainly be monitoring Davis’ progress.

While we have some reservations on the Hojbjerg hype, we certainly recognise the growing case for Watford’s Etienne Capoue as a 4.5 enabler.

Although the defensive midfielder has only scored one Premier League goal in his career, he has now netted twice in summer friendlies – new manager Walter Mazzarri has granted him freedom to bomb forward from the heart of the Hornets’ new 3-5-2 system.

On last season’s form, Ben Watson (4.5) looks the pick of Watford’s budget midfielders after starting 31 times and emerging as their most successful supplier of crossed balls. His two goals, assist and tally of 89 FPL points last term further add to his appeal.

Unlike Capoue, Watson’s role appears to be uncertain under Mazzarri. He made his first start of the pre-season in today’s stalemate with Anzhi Makhachkala and will need monitoring over the remaining summer fixtures.

Budget options are normally littered amongst the promoted squads and, sure enough, there are candidates on offer for 2016/17.

Hull City will be considered relegation battlers in waiting as a result of Steve Bruce’s departure and a string of cruel pre-season injuries at the back.

In attacking quarters they at least have the talents of Robert Snodgrass (5.5), who scored four times and notched seven assists in an injury-ravaged promotion season for Hull that restricted him to 21 starts. The Scot’s ability to play on either flank adds to his appeal, as does his strong underlying statistics, having averaged a key pass every 30.1 minutes last season, more than any other team-mate. With set-pieces in his locker, Snodgrass may come into the reckoning once Hull get a foothold.

For the same price Mo Diame offers a significant goal threat from the centre of the park, having scored ten times and assisted a further four more goals. He averaged 30.5 minutes per goal in 2015/16, which was better than any other Hull midfielder.

Finally, Sam Clucas (5.0) started 39 times in Hull’s promotion season, where he accrued six goals and eight assists. However, with just two starts in Hull’s final eight fixtures, the former Chesterfield winger looks a risky proposition.

While Middlesbrough boast the top-flight experience of Stewart Downing (5.5), a tepid promotion campaign has us doubt his ability to make an impact this time around. Instead, we’re monitoring the pre-season progress of Viktor Fischer (5.5) who has so far attracted a 2.3% ownership.

As our Scout Report revealed, the former Ajax prospect notched eight goals and three assists from 28 appearances last season, registering a shot on goal every 29 minutes – only Jordan Rhodes (21.9) amongst Boro’s promotion squad bettered that.

With the fixtures falling very kindly for Aitor Karanka’s men, Fischer is certain to figure on our pre-season Watchlist.

Burnley’s cupboard was looking a little bare until recently.

While the romantic in us wants to look again at George Boyd (5.5) after he served us so well as 4.5 option in the Claret’s relegation season, we’re now more drawn to new signing Johann Berg Gudmundsson (5.5).

As we outlined in our recent Scout Report, Gudmundsson averaged a shot attempt every 36.1 minutes for Charlton last season, which was far better than Boyd (71.6). The Iceland international also held a significant edge in terms of assist potential, producing a key pass every 43.1 minutes, compared to Boyd’s 93.6 minutes.

Finally, we’re monitoring two more “breakout” options.

Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek (5.5) has so far enjoyed an encouraging pre-season, pushed into a striking role by Antonio Conte.

While the return of Chelsea’s established stars from their extended break will likely oust the 20-year-old back onto the bench, we’ll be watching and waiting for Loftus-Cheek to make his mark.

Equally, with David Moyes now seizing the reigns at Sunderland, we have to track the progress of Duncan Watmore (5.0).

Classed as a midfielder this time around, his direct running can terrify defences and Moyes could hopefully turn to the local boy to win the affections of the home fans early on.