Last night… the battle began.
Today you can learn who to look out for this Fantasy Football Day!

After months of anticipation, the Draft Fantasy League Admin team finally battled it out in the draft arena. It was fast, furious and full of the usual Draft Fantasy League excitement. I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat!

But after the intensity of the draft, it’s now time to reflect upon the teams that have emerged. Where is our inevitable champion, is there a dark horse in the competition, and who’s going to claim the much maligned wooden spoon?

 

Team 50 Shades O’Shea

Goalkeepers

Hugo Lloris – A guaranteed starter with a strong back four in front of him (he’ll be hoping for no defensive injuries) Grade = 9/10

Artur Boruc – Bournemouth were weak defensively last season (although have signed Ake) and Boruc is now competing with Begovic for the Number 1 spot. Grade = 3/10

Defenders

Victor Moses – Regular starter at the back for a strong Chelsea side. Grade = 8/10

Shkodran Mustafi – Should (!) hold down a starting place in Arsenal’s new formation. Grade = 7/10

Eric Bailly – Strong defender in a strong defence. Grade = 8/10

Antonio Rudiger – Will he be a regular starter? If so, could be a great draft pick. Still too much uncertainty. Grade = 5/10

Benjamin Mendy – Quality player with great attacking flair. Only concern would be rotation. Grade 7/10

Midfielders

Mesut Ozil – No doubt has quality but lagging in recent years. Is his heart still in it? Grade = 6/10

Sadio Mane – Quality attacking player in a high-scoring Liverpool side. Grade = 9/10

Pedro – Quality when on the pitch but may lack game time once Hazard is fit. Grade = 6/10

Leroy Sane – Strong end to the season. Good draft pick if he can hold down regular starts. Grade = 7/10

Son Heung-Min – Excellent when on the pitch but very prone to rotation. Grade = 6/10

Forwards

Harry Kane – World class. Grade = 10/10

Marcus Rashford – Could be a great pick if he gets regular starts with Lukaku. Grade = 7/10

Kelechi Iheanacho – Erm… Maybe he was hoping for a loan move…? Grade = 2/10

Total Grade = 100/150

 

Team Tlvers

Goalkeepers

Asmir Begovic – Will be battling it out with Artur Boruc. May lack fitness and Bournemouth concede a fair few. Grade = 4/10

Jordan Pickford – Very good last season. Can he do as well with his new club? Grade = 7/10

Defenders

Ashley Williams – Experienced and strong defender. Improved goalkeeper behind him in Pickford. Grade = 7/10

James Milner – On penalties but Liverpool can be shaky at the back. Will new signing Robertson threaten his game time? Grade = 7/10

Michael Keane – Quality defender. Can he make the step up to a bigger team? Grade = 7/10

Gareth McAuley – Goal threat. Great opening fixtures. Might want to get rid of him in the second half of the season Grade = 6/10

Sead Kolasinac – Should be a sure starter in wing back position. Could be an excellent acquisition. Grade = 8/10

Midfielders

Alexis Sanchez – World class player. Doubts over whether he will definitely stay and will Lacazette damage his points potential? Grade = 8/10

Eden Hazard – Quality player in a quality team. Grade = 9/10

Riyad Mahrez – Undoubted quality but is his heart in it? Last season would say no. Grade = 6/10

David Silva – World class in his time but now a squad player. Grade = 5/10

Manuel Lanzini – Due a good season and could be bolstered by the signing of some good attacking players. Grade = 7/10

Forwards

Josh King – Fantastic last season. Will the signing of Jermain Defoe damage his output? Grade = 8/10

Jamie Vardy – Undoubted quality but less impressive last season. Important campaign for him. Grade = 7/10

Fernando Llorente – Where will he be playing football this season? Team Tlvers will be hoping he stays at Swansea rather than moves to Chelsea. Grade = 6/10

Total Grade = 102/150

 

Team Don’t Be So Krul!

Goalkeepers

Jack Butland – A good back-up keeper. Grade = 6/10

Petr Cech – Experienced keeper at a top 6 team. Grade = 8/10

Defenders

Cedric Soares – Some great opening fixtures and potential attacking points. Grade = 7/10

Gary Cahill – Regular starter for a top 4 team. Potential goal threat. Grade = 9/10

Vincent Kompany – World-class player in his day. Can he stay fit? Grade = 7/10

Joel Matip – Regular starter for Liverpool but can they improve their defensive record? Grade = 5/10

Victor Lindelof – New signing for United. Safe bet for regular clean sheets if he holds down a starting place. Grade = 8/10

Midfielders

Dusan Tadic – High hopes when he signed for Southampton but has, so far, failed to deliver. Grade = 5/10

Naser Chadli – Ditto above! Grade = 5/10

Cesc Fabregas – Quality when on the pitch but prone to rotation. Grade = 6/10

Henrik Mkhitaryan – Ditto above! Grade = 6/10

Bernardo Silva – Could be a good draft pick but likely to be rotated. Grade = 6/10

Forwards

Romelu Lukaku – Excellent draft pick. Should be prolific at United. Grade = 9/10

Wayne Rooney – Hasn’t been at his best for years. Could this move reignite the striker? Grade = 6/10

Sergio Aguero – World class. But will he hold down a regular starting spot? Grade = 8/10

Total Grade = 101/150

 

Team Pride Comes Before Boufal

Goalkeepers

Thibaut Courtois – World class keeper. Great draft pick. Grade = 9/10

Ederson Moraes – Good choice if he can settle into the Premier League quickly. Grade = 8/10

Defenders

Toby Alderweireld – World class defender in a strong Spurs back 4. Lacks some attacking points. Grade = 8/10

Danny Rose – If he can hold off the injuries, good attacking and defending potential. Grade = 8/10

Kyle Walker – Excellent points potential at both ends of the pitch. Grade = 9/10

Laurent Koscielny – Consistent and a regular starter. Goal threat. Grade = 8/10

Cesar Azpilicueta – Excellent draft pick. Attacking and defending points potential. Grade = 9/10

Midfielders

Kevin De Bruyne – Excellent draft pick. Most likely midfield starter for City. Grade = 9/10

Aaron Ramsey – Undoubted quality but can he stay fit and hold down a starting role. Grade = 6/10

Christian Eriksen – Excellent Spurs pick. Regular points scorer. Grade = 9/10

Jordan Henderson – Some potential for Kante points if he can hold down a regular starting place. Grade = 5/10

Paul Pogba – Big season for him. Will Lukaku help him to achieve his potential. Grade = 7/10

Forwards

Michy Batshuayi – Not likely to see much game time. Grade = 4/10

Jay Rodriguez – Could be a great punt but will he stay fit and can he find his form again? Grade = 5/10

Manolo Gabbiadini – Poor first season. Will need to show much improvement this time round. Grade = 4/10

Total Grade = 108/150

 

Team Roberto Daddinhio

Goalkeepers

Fraser Forster – Quality goalkeeper but not at a top 6 team. Grade = 7/10

Heurelho Gomes – Watford had a poor defence last season. Can’t see much changing. Grade = 5/10

Defenders

Marcos Alonso – Fantastic draft pick. Brilliant attacking and defending. Grade = 10/10

Hector Bellerin – Should do well when he plays but doubts over his consistency of starts. Grade = 7/10

Antonio Valencia – Excellent draft pick. Potential attacking and defending points. Grade = 9/10

Ryan Bertrand – Some potential for points at both ends of the pitch. Is he settled at the club? Grade = 6/10

Ben Davies – Great pick if he can keep Rose out of the side. It’s a big if… Grade = 4/10

Midfielders

Raheem Sterling – Great when on the pitch but worries over game time this season. Grade = 6/10

Adam Lallana – Ditto above! Grade = 5/10

Jonathan Walters – Could be a great pick after his transfer to Burnley. Bit of a punt. Grade = 6/10

Theo Walcott – Always prone to rotation/injury. Just too much of a risk. Grade = 5/10

Mohamed Salah – Great potential and has had a very good pre-season. Grade = 8/10

Forwards

Christian Benteke – Undoubted quality but very poor second half to last season. Can he improve? Grade = 6/10

Jermain Defoe – Experienced striker. How will he fit into the Bournemouth/Josh King outfit? Grade = 7/10

Gabriel Jesus – Excellent prospect but some concerns over how City will line up. Grade = 7/10

Total Grade = 99/150

 

HurriKane FC

Goalkeepers

Lukasz Fabianski – Regular starter but The Swans can be weak at the back. Grade = 5/10

Tom Heaton – Excellent season last year. Will the loss of Keane have an impact? Grade = 6/10

Defenders

Charlie Daniels – Excellent attacking potential but can Bournemouth sure up at the back? Grade = 7/10

Nacho Monreal – Consistent starter last season but could Kolasinac threaten his game time? Grade = 6/10

Leyton Baines – Experienced full back. No longer as much of a threat going forward. Grade = 6/10

Jan Vertonghen – Quality defender in a strong team. Less attacking threat than wing backs. Grade = 8/10

Christian Fuchs – Defence struggled last term but Fuchs had good stats. Grade = 6/10

Midfielders

Georginio Wijnaldum – Showed quality last season but can he hold down a starting place? Grade = 6/10

Gylfi Siggurdson – Racked in the points for Swansea last season but, should the Everton switch go through, will he continue in that vein? Grade = 8/10

Dele Ali – Excellent player with superb attacking stats. Grade = 9/10

Wilfred Zaha – Decent season last year and should continue to improve this time round. Grade = 7/10

Philippe Coutinho – World class…but will he still be at Liverpool at the start of the season? It doesn’t look that way. Too big a risk. Grade = 6/10

Forwards

Olivier Giroud – Looks to be on his way out of Arsenal. Could be a great draft pick if he becomes a regular starter elsewhere. Certainly a risk. Grade = 6/10

Roberto Firminho – Great draft pick up front for Liverpool. Expect a high-scoring season from him. Grade = 9/10

Diego Costa – Brilliant last season but looks to have played his last game for Chelsea. Grade = 2/10

Total Grade = 97/100

 

ZG United

Goalkeepers

David de Gea – World class keeper. Great draft pick. Grade = 9/10

Ben Foster – Good second choice. West Brom strong at home and great opening fixtures. Grade = 7/10

Defenders

David Luiz – Strong defender for Chelsea but lacks attacking threat. Grade = 8/10

Kieran Trippier – Should hold down the left back position after Walker’s move to City. Attacking and defending points potential. Grade = 9/10

Nathan Ake – Bournemouth poor defensively last season. However, Ake shone during his short loan spell. Grade = 6/10

Virgil Van Dijk – Much sought after player. Where will he be playing his football next season? Either way, a strong defensive pick. Grade = 8/10

Craig Dawson – Goal scoring threat. Can West Brom sure up at the back this season? Grade = 6/10

Midfielders

N’Golo Kante – The Kante rule is in play, so a great draft pick! Grade = 9/10

Idrissa Gueye – Would have been a high scorer last season if the Kante rule existed. Can he do it again this time round? Grade = 7/10

Oriol Romeu – Ditto above! Grade = 7/10

Marko Arnautovic – Good buy for West Ham. If he can settle in quickly could be a decent draft pick. Grade = 7/10

Junior Stanislas – Undoubted quality but can he stay fit and hold down a starting place? Grade = 6/10

Forwards

Alexandre Lacazette – Fantastic goal scoring stats. Can he do the same in the Premier League? Grade = 9/10

Alvaro Morata – Excellent player with a wealth of experience behind him. Should do well. Grade = 9/10

Javier Hernandez – Experienced and back to prove a point. Has he still got the legs? Grade = 6/10

Total Grade = 113/150

 

Final Grade Predictions

So there we have it, ladies and gentlemen. The DFL Admin League, in all it’s glory. With only 16 points separating the 7 teams, it’s all to play for. And with trades and transfers already flying back and forth, the excitement has only just begun.

So if you haven’t already done a draft of your own, what are you waiting for? Get your mates together and get started. I promise, you won’t regret it!