Five of the top six Premier League clubs will be playing in the Champions League during the coming season, which increases the need for rotation.
This creates difficult when it comes to draft day, as there are question marks regarding the game-time of several big-name players. This is especially true for midfielders, as they do the bulk of the running and the entire top-six have a number of good options there.
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Pep Guardiola started to play a very attacking, fluid style towards the end of last season, but not every Manchester City midfielder will be guaranteed game-time in the Premier League.
Who should you draft?
One of the players that will be going in the first round of most fantasy drafts will be Kevin de Bruyne. He is the most reliable Manchester City midfielder in terms of both minutes on the pitch and productivity in the final third.
Although he might not always be playing in his favoured position, he is a key player for Manchester City, which means that he will be on the pitch more often than not. Last season, he contributed six goals and 18 assists, while he only missed two matches. He would be a great first round draft pick.
At the age of 20, Leroy Sane came into the Premier League with a huge reputation. Although he started slowly, he did manage to finish the season in the City first team. He managed to make the left-wing spot his own and it would be expected that he starts the season in that role.
In terms of contribution in the final third, he scored five goals and grabbed three assists. This was only the start for Sane and there is more to come. The German would be a good choice as a second midfielder.
Who would be a risk?
David Silva and Raheem Sterling are both damaged by the arrival of Bernardo Silva. It is yet to be seen where the former Monaco midfielder will fit in under Pep Guardiola, but he is likely to take minutes away from both players mentioned.
They are each worth drafting in the later rounds, but it would be a surprise if either managed to finish in the top-15 midfielders this year. The uncertainty over Bernardo Silva also means that he would be a risk.
As a player that is perfectly suited to Guardiola’s style of play, Ilkay Gundogan could be a sneaky pick-up as a fourth or fifth midfielder. He gets forward enough to contribute in the final third, as shown by his three goals from ten matches last season.
Furthermore, his reading of the game means that he could earn valuable points through the ‘Kante rule’. However, his injury record is poor and it would be a risk to draft him on that basis.
Who should be avoided?
Although he managed to revive his career last season, it is doubtful whether Yaya Toure would be a smart pick in Draft Fantasy Football based on the return of Gundogan. The German will be a regular when fit, while the arrival of new signings means that Fernandinho won’t be required to play at full-back. Toure will have a part to play, but it won’t be a huge one.
Fernandinho may be a good player for the ‘Kante rule’, but the return of Gundogan could hinder him too. He is now 32 and he will be rested more often, especially when the Champions League is being played. There is little draft fantasy value in drafting the Brazilian. The final player that should be avoided is Samir Nasri. The Frenchman doesn’t have a future at the club.
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