With every team comes a handful of star players we all pine for. However, there are always a few who go under the radar. When we draft, it can be hard to pick the best players under pressure, so here is a list of the top five players from each team to use as a basic reference.
See More from the Fantasy Guide: Prioritizing your Picks Part 1
Arsenal
Arsenal are an untrustworthy team after their fiasco last term, but I believe Wenger is building something special this transfer window, and so expect big things (and copious amounts of goals) from this team.
Top 5
Alexis Sánchez
Was there any doubt? With the signing of Lacazette and the (hopefully) imminent signing of Mahrez, there is really no reason for him to leave. This team has the potential to be the champions. Highest points total in the league last season, bags goals for fun, this player is one to grab at the first possible opportunity.
Laurent Koscielny
This spot should be taken by Bellerín, however the recent speculation about his return to Spain makes him a doubt for the season. But no fear, for Koscielny is just as reliable. His presence on the field and his commanding strength make him an excellent defender for clean sheets (should Arsenal go back to routine next season and concede less goals).
See More: Arsenal FPL Draft Overview
Alexandre Lacazette
A player who has proven himself time and time again. Personally, I believe he will slot perfectly within the Arsenal front line. I expect a good link up with Sánchez, as well as plenty of feeds to him from Özil. Lacazette looks likely to surpass the 20 goal mark for the season, and I’m sure he’ll get some assists too.
Petr Čech
Back in my days as a dreamer, this man was the reason I burned £60 on goalkeeper gloves. Brilliant goalkeeper with quite a few good years left in him yet. If you pass the halfway mark in the draft, and this man is free, you should consider picking him up.
Theo Walcott
This may be a surprise as Theo has eclipsed magical Mesut to the fifth spot, but Özil’s apparent attitude problem last season makes him a risky pick. Walcott may not last the whole season, but last year he had an explosive start. He claimed it was down to a good pre-season regime, so I’d put money on him doing a similar training program this year. If he starts to slow down with his goals, or gets yet another injury, trade him off, but if you are in need of a midfielder, he’s your man.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth surprised all last year to finish 9th, and that was because of Eddie Howe. A brilliant manager who I think will be aiming for an even better finish next year. They may not have a huge reputation, but they have some big names on their roster.
Top 5
Joshua King
King was integral in Bournemouth’s success, because he just always seemed to find the goal. The perfect example of a sleeper last season, King scored 16 goals, 13 of which were in the second half of the season. I doubt he will slow down going into next season, so pick him up.
Jermain Defoe
This man is a football deity, there are no two ways about it. His mastery was proven last season, as he managed to claim 15 goals whilst on board a sinking ship. This season, he’s with a better, more confident team, and this will inevitably end up in more goals for a golden oldie.
See More: Bournemouth FPL Draft Overview
Nathan Aké
Despite his haircut, he is a good player. So good did Chelsea deem him that they forced him back from his loan spell early so they had a backup defender. But now Bournemouth own him, and shy of shaving his head they will do everything in their power to make him a better player. He showed he could keep clean sheets, but also that he could score when the situation allowed it. Aké will be a reliable defender for later in the draft.
Charlie Daniels
If you pick Daniels, apart from when he is injured, you are guaranteeing yourself 2 points for 60+ minutes. Because Bournemouth have a relatively strong defence, that also means you have a good chance of getting a clean sheet every couple of weeks or so. And as an experienced player, he also manages to get some goals and assists, so he’s worth considering.
Junior Stanislas
He may be a risk because he’s not a guaranteed starter, but I see potential. Since he ended the season on a three-game scoring streak, and if he can repeat such prolific form, he will start to see more and more game time. He is a good choice for the later rounds of the draft.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Honestly, Brighton aren’t a team I know much about. However, their turn around in form to finish 2nd in the table last season surprised all. I’m sure they can be contenders in this year’s league, and there are a few players worth looking at to fill your fantasy line ups too.
Top 5
Anthony Knockaert
Wow, what a knockout. This midfielder proved he could score goals with ease last season, so he is highest on my list of priorities for Brighton players. Netting 15 and assisting 8, this man is a war-chest of points waiting to be opened. I highly suggest thinking of him later in the draft when there are less options.
Glenn Murray
A forward who can score 23 in a season is a forward I want on my team. His championship reputation reminds me of Andre Gray – he can score loads at that level, but what about in the Premier League? Gray scored 25 in the championship before moving up, and then only bagged 9. Standing strong at 33 years of age, I think Murray can use experience to be more successful than Gray. He may not score every week, but he could be a reliable backup.
Sam Baldock
Another attacking midfielder for Brighton, Baldock scored 11 and assisted 4 last term. He didn’t play as frequently as Knockaert, but still managed to score a few goals. He would be a risky pick, and may be a player to consider towards the end of the draft. Alternatively, watch him throughout the season, and snatch him up if he hits form.
See More: Brighton and Hove Albion FPL Overview
Lewis Dunk
The most reliable defender for Brighton, this giant of a man is a good pick for a backup defender. There is no way of telling if Brighton’s defence will hold up in the Premier League. However, if you want to put your money on a Brighton defender, Dunk is your guy.
Bruno
This right-back recently made it clear he wishes to play every top-flight game this season. Making 42 appearances last season, he captained Brighton to 2nd in the championship. Despite being 36, his determination makes me think he will try his hardest this season. Pick him up, and you will most likely be rewarded.
Burnley
Burnley didn’t have the greatest campaign last season. Despite their decent start, they eventually dropped down to 16th, and they recently sold their best defender in Michael Keane. Unless they bring in a new striker, and at least one defender, the future is grim. But there are a few players who stand out as potential back-up picks.
Top 5
Tom Heaton
Heaton is an excellent goalkeeper in an average team. Akin to that of Schmeichel during Leicester’s run of poor form in the first half of last season. He only managed 10 clean sheets, but he made 141 saves, the most of any player. He should be a priority goalkeeper, if merely for the extra point or two that he will get from his saves. His average saves per week was 3.7, and that means he got an average of 1 point extra each game. This means he is a better choice than many other keepers from mid-range teams.
Sam Vokes
He was not always the starter, but Vokes was Burnley’s top scorer last term with 10. For a top scorer, this is quite a modest total, but I think Vokes can surpass this next year if he starts. But if Burnley sign a good striker soon, they may be a better option than Vokes.
See More: Burnley FPL Draft Overview
Andre Gray
What he lacks in acceptance of others he has in football talent. He only managed 9 goals last season, but he does show some promise, and his championship goals total two seasons ago shows this. A risky pick, sure, but he will deliver some points. He would be a good third striker for a fantasy team.
Ben Mee
This spot should have been taken by Michael Keane, but Mee is the next best thing. Playing almost all the games last season, he is sure to do the same next season with a Keane-shaped hole in the defence. Not a goal scorer, so his main source of points will be from clean sheets. Therefore, not the best defender, but not the worst to have either.
Robbie Brady
A midfielder who didn’t rack up many points (or minutes…) last season. But I think he shows promise, and to be fair to him, he only joined half-way through the season. He could be a back-up to keep in your team in case he does well next season. I think he has the potential to.
Chelsea
Chelsea won the title last season. Okay, great. That does not mean you should fill your team up with 3 Chelsea players. No sir. Last time Chelsea won the title, the next season they didn’t make it into the top 6. And that was under the glorious Mourinho. Conté is also being thwarted in the transfer market, with Lukaku moving to United rather than the champions. They could lose some of their best players, and I don’t see them bringing in too many new ones. Their new striker prospect is Morata, who hasn’t yet played a season of first-team football, and Conté has already angered Costa too much for him to stay. But their excellent form last season should at least repeat itself in part. So Chelsea’s season is unpredictable.
Top 5
Marcos Alonso
Chelsea had a great defence last season, and I’m sure that will continue in a similar fashion, even if it does decay a bit quality-wise. Alonso was one of Chelsea’s best players. As a left wing-back, he gets 4 points for a clean sheet, but is still involved in the attacking play. Alonso managed 6 goals and 5 assists in the previous campaign, which contributed to his massive points haul. He missed the first 5 weeks of the season, and still managed to be the highest (points) scoring defender in the league. This player is a must-pick. BEWARE. Leave him for the first couple of rounds. I would rather have two good strikers/midfielders first before thinking about defence. But if the time comes round and he is available, get him.
Eden Hazard
Obviously this man was going to be included. Hazard was back to his best last season. A real… hazard for the opposition. 16 goals, 9 assists, 191 points. I really don’t need to sell him.
Pedro
Throughout last season, I was unsure about Pedro. Mostly because he was always competing for a place with Willian. He only played 2151 minutes, and yet he managed to score 9 and assist 10, giving him a total of 144 points. That is a massive total compared to his minutes, and so I think if he is given more opportunities this year, he will get even more points.
See More: Chelsea FPL Draft Overview
César Azpilicueta
I really wanted to put Rüdiger on this list, because I think he’s a very good player. But I doubt he will beat Cahill or Luiz to the first team. Therefore, I have gone with the most reliable full-back-turned-centre-back for Chelsea. He played in a new system under Conté, and showed his excellence. The fans love him, and there is a reason why. He will be played, and he will contribute to the attacking play every now and then too.
N’Golo Kanté
Now, I’m very much against having holding midfielders in a fantasy team when there are better options. So do not pick Kanté under the current scoring system if there is someone else to get. But. If scoring system begins to praise tackles and interceptions (like it rightly should) then there will literally be no better player to have on your team.
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