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Some FPL managers must be busy tinkering with their Wildcard teams while the others would hope for a repeat of their Gameweek 1 success in Gameweek 2. I still feel it's a bit too early to play the Wildcard as we're still yet to unearth the template picks, that is, those who you find in any decent FPL lineup.
Also, the must-have premium assets for this seasons haven't been established yet. The best FPL option from a power-packed Chelsea attack is another option I would want to have more data on.
There is, however, an advantage to playing an Early Wildcard. It helps you avoid the price rises, and if we do join the right bandwagon like say, that of Dominic Calvert-Lewin (EVE)(FWD)(£7.1 m), we could have a great FPL season ahead of us.
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It also helps us identify budget options and get them in our team while they are still budget options. John Lundstram offered better value at the start of the season when he was £4.0 m than later on in the season when his price rose to nearly £5.0 m.
So on that note, let's now take a look at the:
Top 10 budget FPL options for this season
Note: Limit on the price to be considered a budget option:
Goalkeepers and Defenders- £4.5 m
Midfielders- £6.0 m
Forwards- £6.5 m
#10 Emiliano Martinez (AVL)(GK)(£4.5 m)
Emiliano Martinez joins Alex McCarthy (SOU) and Mathew Ryan (BHA) in the list of top budget FPL keepers this season. The Argentine secured a move to Aston Villa away from Arsenal and should start in goal for the Villans. Dean Smith's side put on a strong defensive show in Project Restart, and a safe keeper like Martinez can help them keep more clean sheets.
Aston Villa faces Sheffield United and Fulham in the first two Gameweeks of their campaign, and after a couple of tough fixtures after that, investing in the side's assets could be worth it. They have a very kind run of fixtures from GW 6 onwards and could keep a lot of clean sheets.
Even if they concede goals, Martinez is the kind of keeper who could get you save points from the match, and he could prove to be a great FPL budget option this season.
#9 Luke Ayling (LEE)(DEF)(£4.5 m)
Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds' seems to be the talk of the Premier League after their spirited encounter with champions Liverpool, which ended in a 4-3 defeat for the side. There were plenty of positives to take from the game, which included a variety of potential FPL assets to make a move on later this season. One of those players is Luke Ayling, who captained the side in the absence of center-back Liam Cooper.
While Stuart Dallas (LEE)(DEF)(£4.5 m) is an equally good option, his starting role in the side is less secure than that of Ayling. Both of them play as full-backs for the side, and are allowed to go up the pitch, and have a high potential for attacking returns.
Ayling could offer FPL managers with a great budget option that can be benched for the tougher fixtures. Once their defense settles, and their fixtures ease, Ayling could be a great choice for FPL managers all over the world.
#8 Tariq Lamptey (BHA)(DEF)(£4.5 m)
Young Brighton right-back Tariq Lamptey is another budget option that FPL managers should keep an eye on. The 19-year old played on the right side of the midfield in Brighton's opening fixture against Chelsea, and delivered an eye-catching performance, and provided the assist for Brighton's only goal.
While it remains to be seen whether he will continue to be employed in midfield, Lamptey is a tempting FPL option nevertheless. While he does have some competition from new signing Joel Veltman, Lamptey is worth taking a punt on.
Graham Potter has assembled a pretty solid defense this season, and Lamptey should get some clean sheet points. The attack has sharpened as well, and Lamptey's potential for attacking returns makes him a good budget FPL pick.
#7 Jamaal Lewis (NEW)(DEF)(£4.5 m)
Newcastle's new signing Jamaal Lewis started at left-back in the side's opening fixture against West Ham United and gave a good account of himself, getting one bonus FPL point in addition to the clean sheet points. The former Norwich City player was also the second-most creative FPL defender of the Gameweek and created three chances for the Magpies. His defensive game is also pretty solid and that adds to his potential of earning more bonus points.
Steve Bruce's side proved to be very reliable in defense, as they kept eleven clean sheets last season. With the promise of both attacking returns and clean sheet points, Lewis is a steal at £4.5 m and should be snapped up by FPL managers before his price rises.
#6 Tomas Soucek (WHU)(MID)(£5.0 m)
Tomas Soucek from West Ham is still one of the best budget FPL midfielders this season. Despite West Ham's tough opening fixtures that are keeping FPL managers from investing in the team, Soucek should be someone who you should consider.
The perfect enabler, Soucek, offers plenty of goal threat and could offer a valuable haul of 7-8 FPL points coming on as an auto-sub. He fired three shots in the Hammers' loss to Newcastle and offered the second-highest goal threat of all players in the side. He was in the list of top five FPL midfielders for goal threat offered in the first Gameweek.
Soucek is cheap enough to keep on the bench for West Ham's difficult schedule but once it eases, he's certainly someone who can bring some FPL points to your team.
#5 Abdoulaye Doucoure (EVE)(MID)(£5.5 m)
While FPL managers are flocking to get James Rodriguez (EVE)(MID)(£7.5 m), fellow new signing Abdoulaye Doucoure offers good value as a budget FPL option. Despite being played as a central defensive midfielder along with Allan (EVE)(MID)(£5.5 m), Doucoure was the second-most creative player for the Toffees behind James.
He is a proven PL player and should feature in every game under Carlo Ancelotti and could play in a more attacking position if Andre Gomes doesn't start. He has provided some decent FPL returns in the previous season and is a good investment at £5.5 m.
#4 Leandro Trossard (BHA)(MID)(£6.0m)
Brighton's Leandro Trossard is an enticing, yet overlooked out-of-position FPL asset. The Belgian, who is listed as a midfielder in FPL, played up front alongside Neal Maupay (FWD)(£6.5 m). While his goal against Chelsea was partly due to a goalkeeping error, one could say that his industrious performance in the game merited the goal.
Trossard had the highest ICT index of all the Brighton players and was very creative for the Seagulls. If he continues to operate as a strike partner to Maupay, Trossard could prove to be a great FPL option.
He's also a major differential, as he is only owned by 0.6 % of FPL managers at the time of writing.
#3 Ollie Watkins (AVL)(FWD)(£6.0 m)
Aston Villa's club-record signing Ollie Watkins could prove to be a great budget FPL forward this season. Despite creating a lot of chances and having a creative midfield, Villa lacked a quality striker as both Wesley and Mbwana Samatta struggled. Watkins, who was the joint-highest goalscorer in the Championship last season could offer a solution to that problem.
The new signing made his impact and scored in a pre-season friendly win over Manchester United. With the likes of Jack Grealish (MID)(£7.0 m) in the side, Watkins should get a lot of goal-scoring opportunities this season. If he continues with his clinical finishing in the Premier League, he will be someone who FPL bosses will want in their team.
#2 Chris Wood (BUR)(FWD)(£6.5 m)
Due to Burnley's Gameweek 1 blank, striker Chris Wood was ignored by most FPL managers. The New Zealand international is, however, set to have another great season in front of goal for Burnley. Wood finished last season with 14 goals and one assist and had an xG stat of 17.23, which was greater than that of Harry Kane.
He's very dominating in the air and is a huge threat from set-pieces while also being a very effective finisher. Burnley hasn't exactly been known for their attacking FPL options but Wood could change that notion this season. While strike partner Jay Rodriguez (FWD)(£6.0 m) is another option to consider, Wood's high points potential makes him a great FPL budget forward.
#1 Callum Wilson (NEW)(FWD)(£6.5 m)
Newcastle's new signing Callum Wilson made an impactful debut and scored their opener against West Ham. The forward has since found his way into more than 13% of FPL teams and is undoubtedly a great FPL option. Wilson was Bournemouth's best attacker last season and he could combine very well with ex-Cherries teammate Ryan Fraser (MID)(£6.0 m).
While the fact that he's a great goal-poacher is evident, Wilson is also very likely to get assists. He was the most creative forward in the first Gameweek and has provided 18 assists in the last two seasons of the Premier League.
With a great potential for points and at just £6.5 m, Wilson is one of the best budget FPL options this season.
