After looking at the Defensive options, our second post-overhaul article for the Sky Sports game brings you our top targets in midfield and up front.
The bulk of our budgets and transfers should be spent in these areas, with strong captain picks for each individual Matchday a top priority.
Scanning ahead at the TV schedule is heavily encouraged to pre-plan captains and therefore keep our transfer count in check.
Taking Brighton as an example, they feature no fewer than eight times outside the standard Saturday kick-off, including four times as a single fixture on a Friday or Monday night. Picking a Seagulls’ asset to cover these matches therefore looks a smart transfer saver if you’re looking to roll the captain dice.
In order to pick the top-end strikers and midfielders, a budget midfield pick is usually required, so we’ll aim to highlight a few potential gems to go alongside the usual heavy-hitters.
Midfield Picks
Ruben Loftus-Cheek – 7.3m – Points so far: 4
Price is very much a factor here, but also the allure of an advanced role for the Eagles. Loftus-Cheek impressed in his two matches before injury despite Crystal Palace struggling for form. Passing and tackling bonus do not look a real possibility, particularly if he’s stationed further up the field, but assists and Man of the Match (MoTM) awards are within reach – he’s created three chances and one big chance so far. Currently uncertain to recover from a groin problem in time for the weekend, Loftus-Cheek nonetheless could be a factor once Wilfried Zaha (9.3m) returns to fitness and Palace start to fire.
Aaron Mooy – 7.5m – Points so far: 20
The pick of the budget midfielders to date, with a goal, assist and MoTM award already. Mooy clearly is the key asset for Huddersfield and seems likely pick up MoTM any time the Terriers get a result. His passing and tackling stats from the Championship made it look like he might have an impact on bonus, too. But the Premier League is an obvious step up in class and he’s yet to net extra points, though has narrowly missed out on both tackles and passes.
Richarlison – 7.6m – Points so far: 19
The Brazilian starlet is learning English but speaks the language of football already, according to his team-mates. They might be right – Richarlison has netted 19 points from two starts and a sub appearance. Featuring as almost a left-sided forward, he’s posted some impressive numbers; in the last two matches he’s had more touches in the box than Dele Alli and Mo Salah and is joint-top for attempts on goal with Paul Pogba. The upcoming fixtures aren’t great, but at such a cheap price he might be worth the risk.
Nemanja Matic – 8.3m – Points so far: 20
Jordan Henderson move aside, we have a new bonus king. Or at least it looks that way. The Serbian has netted nine points from both passing and tackling so far and has also chipped in with a MoTM award. Considering Matic picked up seven assists last campaign, if he can add those to the mix, his 8.3m pricing could prove to be extremely kind.
Anthony Knockaert – 8.5m – Points so far: 9
The real appeal of Knockaert is captain coverage, and therefore transfer-saving long term. A nine-point return doesn’t look great on paper, but injury meant he was only used from the bench in his first two fixtures. His first start resulted in a MoTM award, which is encouraging, and he does look the Seagulls’ biggest threat going forward. He also managed two shots on target in his only start, narrowly missing out on bonus.
Granit Xhaka – 8.7m – Points so far: 20
The Swiss international sits on nine bonus points, alongside Matic at the top of the table. In his case, however, these were all earned from tier two passing. In fact, with 239 completed passes so far, Xhaka leads the way in the Premier League for midfielders. Passes are a more consistent method than tackles for bonus and we expect Xhaka to dominate even Matic in this area come the end of the season. The 0.4m saving offered by Matic, and the general unrest at Arsenal, probably just tips the balance in the Serb’s favour at present, but there is an argument for owning both. The added plus is they both make respectable captain choices, with a near-enough guaranteed five-to-eight-point return.
Mohammed Salah – 9.4m – Points so far: 36
Already looking criminally underpriced, the Egyptian is the highest scoring player in the game despite only starting two of the three matches so far. Salah has also chipped in with the rarely seen tier two shots on target bonus. Currently owned by 34%, we expect post-overhaul that this figure will only increase, pushing him into the ‘essential’ category. Speaking of which, Sadio Mane (11m), Philippe Coutinho (11.3m) and forward Roberto Firmino (11.6m) all also look great picks. A double up-could prove wise. It remains to be seen just how quickly Coutinho will be integrated back into the XI after failing to orchestrate a switch to Barcelona.
Christian Eriksen – 10.8m – Points so far: 19
Eriksen and Dele Alli (11.6m) have been fairly predictable so far. The former has three assists and flirted with bonus points, while the latter has a couple of goals. Both look great picks again this season, with Eriksen just edging it due to his cheaper price. With Harry Kane likely to remain popular, the question mark over owning either player may come down to the armband – taking up two premium slots limits your captain options. Adopting that strategy will require looking ahead to guarantee coverage.
Paul Pogba – 11.2m – Points so far: 30
The Frenchman finally looks like coming good on his promise. Bonus magnets have rarely had an attacking input in recent times and the Sky Sports Fantasy manager has craved that blend since Cesc Fabregas, Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey and Yaya Toure were prominent for their respective teams. Two goals, two assists and seven points from passing and tackling suggests that Pogba could be the real deal, particularly when you factor in that he’s joint top for attempts on goal among midfielders. Such is Pogba’s appeal right now that managers might look to him ahead of team-mate Romelu Lukaku for the armband – or even outright selection. With five assists and a MoTM award, Henrikh Mkhitaryan (10.0m) has to enter our thoughts, as a 1.2m saving for starters.
Eden Hazard – 11.8m – Points so far: 0
Yet to feature, the Belgian still demands our attention given his Sky Sports record. He was the fifth highest scoring player overall last campaign and has topped the MoTM table in three out of the last four. This makes Hazard a great captain choice, especially at home where he thrives. Forward Alvaro Morata (12.2m) does offer an alternative, given his brace of goals and assists, but, in a straight pick between the two, Hazard’s proven track record edges it for us, particularly when he’s 0.4m cheaper.
Forward Picks
Tammy Abraham – 8.6m – Points so far: 16
An 8.6m price tag is incredibly cheap for a starting forward, particularly one with such kind upcoming fixtures (NEW, tot, WAT, whu, HUD, LEI, ars, BHA, bur, BOU). Abraham plays on Sunday against Newcastle and therefore offers a captain pick right off the bat. Picking the young Englishman as a third forward and keeping some money in the back pocket to swap to a premium mid later down the line, could be a consideration for Fantasy managers.
Wayne Rooney – 10.4m – Points so far: 24
Rooney was a MoTM darling in his prime days with Man United and since his move to Everton, he seems to have rekindled that love affair – two goals and two accolades in tough matches highlight his potential. He’s even the joint top scoring forward pre-overhaul. Although probably not a mainstay, he does look a good option to transfer in when Everton feature on a Monday night, for example. Midfield option Gylfi Sigurdsson (10.4m) also looks a strong pick in those circumstances, and ultimately it may come down to who takes penalties.
Javier Hernandez – 10.7m – Points so far: 20
Like Brighton, West Ham feature on four Friday/Monday nights in the current TV schedule and therefore demand our attention. Of all The Hammers assets, Hernandez currently looks the best captain pick, having bagged a MoTM and a brace against Southampton. Michail Antonio (8.5m) and Manuel Lanzini (8.6m) could offer cheaper alternatives to cover their fixtures, if fit and firing. The form of West Ham is a worry, though, so transferring these players in for a captain, rather than making them a mainstay in your team, seems the smarter approach.
Jermain Defoe – 11.0m – Points so far: 4
Fitness issues have hampered the veteran’s start to life with the Cherries, but with an early Friday night match on September 15, Defoe still looks the go-to man given his past scoring exploits. Fifteen goals for Sunderland last season is impressive and, hopefully, with penalties in tow, it should just be a matter of time before he starts to fire again.
Jamie Vardy – 11.2m – Points so far: 16
Like many of the cheaper to mid-price strikers, their time in our teams will likely be short to cover a favourable run of matches and captain options. When the time comes to call on Leicester City, Vardy looks to be the main man once again. Two goals already this term, and a propensity to pick up the MoTM award – four last season, seven the year before – heighten his appeal further.
Alexandre Lacazette – 11.8m – Points so far: 15
Arsenal’s form has been patchy, to say the least, but right now the Frenchman offers us the best route into their attack. A kind run of home fixtures are on the horizon, with BOU, WBA, BHA and SWA among their next seven encounters. The West Brom match, in particular, stands out as it’s the only fixture on Monday, September 25. The elephant in the room is, of course, Alexis Sanchez (12.7m). If he’s still interested in playing then he instantly jumps close to the top of our thoughts- the Chilean was the top scoring player last season with a stunning 285 points, after all.
Gabriel Jesus – 12.1m – Points so far: 15
The young Brazilian’s start to the campaign was way off the expected margins. He delivered back-to-back blanks before Sergio Aguero (12.8m) was benched as Pep Guardiola reverted to one up front at Bournemouth. This tactic paid instant dividends as Jesus took home the MoTM award to go with his goal and, if he can continue as a lone frontman, then he could challenge for the Golden Boot considering the wealth of talent behind him on the pitch. The other consideration regarding City assets is the lack of captaincy requirements. On virtually every matchday we have an equal or better pick, making 12.1m a rather large drain on funds – particularly if the big two below are also in your team.
Romelu Lukaku – 12.4m – Points so far: 20
The Belgian has started life in Manchester as expected, scoring three goals in as many matches. Of course, it could have been more Lukaku hadn’t missed a penalty, but that’s the only blip so far to his time at Man United. It’s unknown at this stage if he’ll keep hold of spot-kick duties or whether Pogba will step up next time but, on current form, one or both of these players should be in our teams. With over 50% ownership (and probably more post-overhaul), Lukaku offers you the safest pick money can buy.
Harry Kane – 12.9m – Points so far: 6
Some 38% of managers still hold the Spurs striker in their sides despite a dismal return of points thus far. Whether this percentage changes significantly remains to be seen, but – aside from scoring – Kane could barely have done more to convince us to keep him. He’s top forward for every stat that indicates goals – penalty area touches, attempts, shots in the box and shots on target. It should be just a matter of time for last season’s Golden Boot winner.
Weekly articles and podcast
In Friday’s Sky Sports Focus I’ll reveal who has made my Overhaul line-up ahead of the weekend.
As well as the weekly Focus article this season, I’ll be talking through the week’s action and upcoming plans with FFS posters Buffrey and Lewis on our regular podcast – the latest episode can be found here.
The Fantasy Football Scout League
We’ve already set up our Fantasy Football Scout League and, after winning the League of Leagues for each of the last four seasons, we’re looking to defend our crown in 2017/18.
Get your teams in – the name is FFScout and the pin number to join is 8300422.
