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Fantasy Premier League is a game played all around the world. A very enjoyable game too. It is the source of many people's excitement on a weekly basis, as they invest their time in making their teams, and money in the players they believe in. The competition and challenge posed by FPL this season, has never been higher. More and more people are playing it, truly making it a global game. It has become a phenomenon in the world of Premier League football.
Players spend lots of time in constructing what they perceive to be the winning formula. Everybody has their way, their approach towards the game. It requires strategic and analytical thinking, along with a huge chunk of luck. It is so important to get the team selection right. After all, you must beat your mates. That is all there is to FPL, there is no better feeling in life than when you win your private Fantasy league.
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Now that each team has played three games, one can start to figure out which players are worth keeping in the team. The feeling out process is over and now is the time where the stars will shine brightest. Value is a key factor, as it is always advisable to save a few extra bucks from the £100m we are allotted. However, there are some hotshots you just cannot leave out from your team. With the objective of ruling the FPL World, here are five players you must have on your team for this season.
#5 Sadio Mane- £9.8m
While one would be inclined to select Mohamed Salah over anyone else, it is worth noting that the Egyptian costs £13m. Choosing him would mean a slight compromise for the rest of your team. If you want to take the risk of not banking on Salah to avoid the extra spending but want a goalscoring Liverpool winger, look no further than Sadio Mane. An extremely smart buy, he has scored 3 goals in 3 games this season.
Mane has been on fire for Liverpool since the turn of the year. After some troubles in the first half of last season, the Senegalese winger has been extremely consistent for the Reds. He scored in every Champions League round on their run to the final, including the final against Real Madrid. Liverpool's attacking firepower is unlikely to slow down, especially as they have not hit top gear yet.
Mane started off at £9.5m but his great start has seen his value reach £9.8m within the first three games. Players who chose him from the start are enjoying his upturn in value and he will likely continue to get better as the season progresses. Often overshadowed by Salah, he is possibly the most underrated player in the Premier League. Sign him in place of Salah and splash the extra cash elsewhere, it could work wonders.
#4 Aaron wan-Bissaka- £4.1m
20-year-old Aaron wan-Bissaka is slotting in comfortably at right-back for Crystal Palace. He has been remarkable for the Eagles, winning the Player of the Month award in his first month of first-team football last season. The youngster is looking to nail down a permanent starting spot at Selhurst Park and has done remarkably as of right now. He looks really promising.
wan-Bissaka has already received an increase in value as he started off at £4m. He is a gem that one must have in their team. The England U20 right-back is fast, strong, good in defence and good in attack. He basically has all the attributes to become a top Premier League player. Right now though, his abilities are being best utilised by the players who have taken a chance on this bargain buy.
Spending such less money on a great source of output is always satisfying, as you retain money and you gain points. It's an undisputed win-win. wan-Bissaka's ownership will continue to shoot up until everybody has realised that he is a Fantasy gem. His performances so far this season have been immense, despite getting sent off in the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool. wan-Bissaka has all the tools for him, and your Fantasy team, to succeed
#3 Danny Ings- £5.6m
The former Liverpool striker endured a difficult spell at Anfield through no fault of his own. His luck was rotten as he was plagued with injuries. Two season-ending knee injuries in a row pretty much put the curtain on his chances of making it in Merseyside. Danny Ings did start well for the Reds, scoring three goals in the opening two months of the 2015-16 season before injury took over. He has moved to Southampton for the season to get back in the goalscoring groove.
It must not be forgotten that Ings did have an impressive 2014-15 season with Burnley and is still in the prime of his career. His career is set to get back on track as he is looking to nail down a regular starting spot at St Mary's. Ings has already scored on his first start for the Saints and will look to build on that. Already having an increase in his value, £5.6m for Ings is easily affordable as a second or maybe a third choice striker.
Southampton's style of play suits the ever hard-working Ings, who will stop at nothing for a chance to get back in the England team over three years after he first got capped. He is certainly worth a look at for players who want to play three up front. Ings is a low-risk option because of his cost, so you can't really go wrong. He would offer nice support to the big guns you choose for your team. There are other cheap forward options to choose from, but Ings is someone who has been tested over an entire Premier League season as he scored 11 goals in his debut season in the top flight.
#2 Eden Hazard- £10.6m
If you follow trends and patterns, you would have noticed that Eden Hazard has been hit-and-miss for a number of years now. Ever since 2014-15, the Belgian's form has alternated from world class to average every season. After winning the 2014-15 PFA Player of the Year award, Hazard followed it up with a sluggish start to the next season. Only recovering his form in the latter weeks of the season, Chelsea finished tenth.
The trend continued as Hazard enjoyed a brilliant 2016-17 season before blowing hot and cold throughout the entirety of last season. Following this trend, one would say that the Belgian star is set to light the league up this season. And with Maurizio Sarri at the managerial seat, Hazard could get even better. The slick passing style adopted by the Blues could make it even better for the winger.
He did not start the first two games but now that he is fully fit, he will begin firing. His two appearances from the bench did produce some assists to his name, prompting a slight increase in value to £10.6m. The 2-1 victory at Newcastle also suggests that Hazard will be taking Chelsea's penalties, even with new signing Jorginho on the pitch. That is an added bonus, as if you needed one, to pick Hazard for your team. He still very much is the main man in attack at Stamford Bridge and if Chelsea are to achieve something this season, Hazard will be a big part of it.
#1 Benjamin Mendy- £6.2m
Manchester City enjoyed a record-breaking campaign last season which could see them emerge as possibly the greatest team in the Premier League era. They won a mammoth total of 100 points, winning the league by an overwhelming margin of 19 points. How could they possibly get better? Benjamin Mendy is the answer. The Frenchman signed for City last season but got a serious knee injury early on. He would miss the entire campaign.
The former Monaco left-back is extremely solid in defence and possesses a great attacking threat out wide that only a few full-backs can carry out. It is scary how a single player can improve a near-perfect team like Man City in the way Mendy has. He has already gone off to a flying start this season, banishing any memories of his absence. The World Cup winner can cross the ball for fun, showcasing why he is inclined to be very popular in FPL this season.
Mendy started off at £6m but his ferocious pace, strength and attacking ability has already seen it increase to £6.2m. It would not be surprising if he ends up closer to Chelsea's Marcos Alonso and his ridiculously high £7m price tag this season. Get him while he's still cheap. Mendy has a very important role to play in this City side, as they are looking to win the quadruple. It is the only logical target they can have, after achieving impossible greatness last season.
Benjamin Mendy is a must-have for your team. A defensive outlet who will start every game for the Citizens provided he is fit. Regular clean sheet points will be often coupled with assists and possibly goals, which means even more points. Bonus points as well. For this reason, Mendy is the ultimate FPL player. While the same could be said about Alonso, anything beyond £6.5m is a bit too much for a defender.
