We are a quarter of the way through the Premier League season. All of the best Fantasy players are obviously owned, and Draft managers are busy clamouring over the in-form players. If only there was another way of changing your Draft Fantasy team…
Well yes there is dear reader! There are likely forgotten players in your free agents list. Forgotten because they have been injured and are low down in most search criteria that you use to search for new additions.
Read on to learn about the best players who are nearing, or have returned, to full fitness and are ready to be the new addition to your Draft Fantasy Team!
[Injury news correct at the time of writing via https://www.premierinjuries.com/]
Kieran Tierney / Hector Bellerin
Fit. Lacking PL match fitness, but have featured in the Europa League.
Many Draft managers would have drafted in Tierney (29.2% ownership) when Arsenal signed him in the summer, despite joining the Gunners with an injury. This injury has dragged on a bit but he is close to a PL return now and most foresee him going straight into their starting XI. Managers will not be adding Tierney for his defensive returns given how poor Arsenal are in that department, but looking for frequent assists as Unai Emery does encourage his wing / full backs to push on. He got an assist in his 1st Arsenal appearance in the Europa League.
Look at trading him in now, or drop your worst defender for him.
Similar to Tierney, Bellerin is also close to a PL return and made his 1st Arsenal appearance in the same game as Tierney. I would give priority to Tierney though as Bellerin has to replace Callum Chambers who has been playing well at right-back. Add to this the fact that Bellerins’ final ball last season was not at the highest standard that he has achieved and he will likely provide fewer assist for Draft managers than the player on the opposite wing.
Avoid unless you are in a deep league or have rotation risks in defence.
Players replaced upon return: Saed Kolasinic and Callum Chambers.
Leandro Trossard
Fit. Close to a return.
Has scored 1 goal in the 3 matches he has played for Brighton this season, but don’t let that fool you. He didn’t feature in their opening season victory over Watford, got his only goal in their draw against West Ham, then Brighton lost their next 2 games with him in. During his absence Brighton have found their rhythm and are putting in better performances and getting better chances at bingosites.bet . Their improved form is not down to Trossard’s absence and he would be a very good pick in all but the smallest of Draft leagues. If Graham Potter uses the 3-4-3 then Trossard will feature in the forward line. He could also be used as a left winger in a 4-4-2. Whichever formation is used would see different players drop to the bench to fit the Belgian into the team, putting a few players at risk for Draft Fantasy managers.
Bring Trossard in for a rotation risk from a ‘big club’ or for an under performing midfielder.
Players replaced upon return: Aaron Mooy (suspended for GW10) / Pascal Groß / Aaron Connolly
Luke Shaw
Close to a return. Expected return 24/10/2019
1 clean sheet and no assists in his 2 and a bit games for Manchester United this season, yet Shaw is the 4th most owned defender for United on Draft Fantasy. This shows how Draft managers rate his potential for attacking returns. At less than 50% ownership there is a good chance that he is available in your league. If not, you might be able to trade him in for a CB who is ticking by on clean sheet points but offering no attacking returns. Draft Managers willing to take a gamble on United getting some of those in their upcoming fixtures (Norwich, Bournemouth, Brighton, Sheffield, Villa) on top of the attacking threat that Shaw adds, now is the time to do it.
Drop your worst defender for him.
Player replaced upon return: Ashley Young
Benjamin Mendy
Fit. Already returned.
Already back in the City XI for GW9, Mendy kept a clean sheet but did not register a key pass in their away win v City. It was thought that during 2018/19 Pep Guardiola did not like starting both Mendy and Sane together as they both want to occupy the same space. Given the long-term injury to Sane, and Zinchenko’s preferred position is in midfield, Mendy should now keep his spot. Clean sheets are not guaranteed given injury to Laporte and now Rodri. Draft managers will be looking at Mendy for attacking returns though, as with most in his role, and as a late way into the Manchester City team Mendy would be an astute selection at this point of the season.
Definitely worth the gamble for your least favourable defender, or flex him in for your worst midfielder.
Player replaced upon return: Zinchenko
N’golo Kanté
No return date.
The best Kante point scoring midfielder from 2 seasons ago has seen his role change at the club under Sarri continue under Frank Lampard. No longer the sole anchor in midfield, Kanté has been further forwards and with this move goals, albeit few, is mostly where his points have come from. When starting he does get his bread and butter tackle and interception points, with 8 and 10 respectively in 4 appearances this year. Players such as Ndidi are surpassing these stats though.
It could be a while longer before Kanté is back in the starting XI and the longer this goes on, the more chance other players, including Barkley, have of remaining in the team ahead of him. Bench in deep leagues. Move on and add him later if he returns to the XI in all other leagues.
Player replaced upon return: Ross Barkley
Alisson
Fit. Already returned.
Given his fantasy potential he wasn’t dropped in most Draft leagues and his ownership is currently 83.6%. If you are in a small league of friends then he might be available.
Player to replace upon return: Adrian. If you picked up Allison’s replacement then you can consider dropping him now for a goalkeeper who will be playing regularly. If your league has flex positions then bring in an outfielder.
Looking ahead
Troy Deeney is expected to return at the end of November. He will go straight into the starting XI for Watford and would be expected to help them get back to winning again, and consistently.
Hopefully you are able to add 1 or 2 of these players to your Draft Team. I have taken my own advice and added Mendy and Trossard to my team this morning, dropping Bellerin in the process.
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I hope to be back soon with another Draft Fantasy blog to help you to stay competitive in your Draft league.
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