Fantasy Football Scout
Gameweek 1 is just a day away and Fantasy managers are encouraged to sign up today to give themselves the best chance of being in the prize shake-up come the end of the season.
Unlike in Fantasy Premier League, the deadline for each Gameweek is ten seconds before the very first match kicks off – giving Fantasy managers the advantage of being able to see the teamsheets released for that opening fixture.
For those who hate the lull of the hour between FPL deadline and kick-off, Fantasy managers can get hands-on with their FanTeam squads while FPL is updating.
The beauty of FanTeam is that the rules, scoring and prices are very similar to FPL, so skills – and indeed squads – are easily transferable.
There is more on the rules in the article below.
Prizes
There’s a staggering €250,000 in prizes on offer with FanTeam this season, with €50,000, €25,000 and €12,000 going to the Fantasy managers who finish first, second and third respectively.
It’s not just those with a podium finish who are rewarded.
A top-20 finish guarantees a four-figure sum, while FanTeam even pays out if you are among the first 1,250 managers in the world.
FanTeam is also offering additional weekly and monthly prizes to sweeten the deal.
The full prize breakdown is as follows:
Scoring
Seasoned FPL managers should have no problem in adjusting to FanTeam and running a squad with its familiar scoring system.
The main differences are the absence of a Bonus Points System, which is replaced by plus/minus points if a team is winning/losing during the period a player is on the pitch.
Goalkeepers also get 0.5 points for every save made, unlike the one point awarded in FPL for increments of three stops.
Committing a foul that leads to a free-kick goal is also penalised by minus two points.
The full scoring breakdown is as follows:
Five Players to Consider in Gameweek 1
Mohamed Salah
FanTeam price: £12.5m
FanTeam 2018/19 score: 288 points
GW1 Fixture: Norwich City (h)
Salah is famously not well rewarded on the FPL Bonus Points System but the absence of that in FanTeam arguably makes him an even more attractive option.
The Egyptian was the leading points-scorer in FanTeam last season, finishing 29 points clear of Sadio Mane (£11.5m).
Salah racked up more penalty box touches, attempts on goal, shots in the box, big chances and efforts on target than any other FanTeam midfielder in 2018/19.
Norwich haven’t kept a single clean sheet in pre-season and leaked 57 goals in the Championship last year.
With Liverpool red-hot favourites for this Gameweek 1 curtain-raiser, Salah will surely collect a bonus point for being on the winning side, too.
Raheem Sterling
FanTeam price: £11.5m
FanTeam 2018/19 score: 255 points
GW1 Fixture: West Ham United (a)
Another ‘stating the obvious pick’ he
The England winger, who has spent time playing as a central striker this summer, has five goals and two assists to his name in pre-season.
West Ham only kept seven clean sheets in 2018/19 (only Fulham and Huddersfield recorded fewer) and City are something a bogey team for the Hammers.
In the past four meetings in east London, City have won 5-0, 4-0, 4-1 and 4-0.
Pep Guardiola’s side also beat West Ham 4-1 in the PL Asia Trophy in July.
Sterling scored a goal and banked two assists in this fixture last season.
Lucas Digne
FanTeam price: £6.0m
FanTeam 2018/19 score: 136 points
GW1 Fixture: Crystal Palace (a)
Only relegated Huddersfield Town scored fewer home goals than Crystal Palace last season and the Eagles may well be without their talisman, Wilfried Zaha (£7.5m), this weekend.
Everton kept eight clean sheets in their final 11 games last season, meanwhile.
Digne offers more than just clean sheet points, of course: no defender created more chances than the Frenchman in 2018/19.
With Everton facing just Manchester City of the ‘big six’ in Gameweeks 1-10, Digne could easily pick up win bonus along with shut-out points and attacking returns.
Lucas Moura
FanTeam price: £7.5m
FanTeam 2018/19 score: 143 points
GW1 Fixture: Aston Villa (h)
Harry Kane (£11.0m) is the obvious choice for Spurs this weekend but for those budgeting, Lucas Moura is a decent alternative.
Listed as a midfielder in FanTeam, Lucas could very well be playing up top alongside Kane against Villa on Saturday.
Even if he is only in an attacking midfield position, the absences of Son Heung-min (£9.5m) and Dele Alli (£8.0m) should ensure a start.
The Brazilian has three goals and one assist to his name in pre-season.
Spurs’ first eight home fixtures are all against sides who were in the bottom half of the table or in the Championship last season.
Jamie Vardy
FanTeam price: £8.5m
FanTeam 2018/19 score: 165 points
GW1 Fixture: Wolves (h)
While many of the FanTeam prices are similar to FPL, there are some notable exceptions.
Vardy, in particular, looks like a steal at £8.5m in FanTeam.
After Brendan Rodgers first took charge of Leicester in Gameweek 29 last season, no striker scored more goals than Vardy (nine).
No forward recorded as many big chances or shots on target in this period, either.
The Foxes take on a Wolves side who were impressive last season but who come into the game off the back of a 6,000-mile round-trip to Armenia on Thursday.
If you want to sign up to FanTeam, CLICK HERE.
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