Our Fantasy EPL 21/22 Draft Kit promises to be the most comprehensive set of pre-season Draft Premier League articles ever produced! A key component of our Draft Kit will be the Team Preview articles which analyze key assets to sit alongside our all-important Draft Rankings. This article delves into the Best Fantrax Fantasy EPL Players from Aston Villa!
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Aston Villa Best Fantasy Players
As noted above, these are the Best Aston Villa Players for the Fantrax Fantasy EPL platform. We analyze the Villans' top three prospects ahead of the new season, with an estimated draft pick for each player.
Super Jack Grealish
Position: Midfielder
20/21 Points: 414.5 (10th overall)
20/21 Points Per Start: 17.2
Recommended Draft Pick: 4-6
Overview: Top 5 player if he can stay healthy and the last of the super elite mids after Bruno & KDB. If he stays at Villa, he lifts himself and all Villan boats. If he goes to City, he likely gets more attacking returns but less points.
Most of us ran out of superlatives for Grealish last season. Super Jack was easily the most entertaining performer in the Premier League in 2020/2021, singlehandedly (with help from AEG, of course) making Aston Villa a credible top 6 side for much of the campaign. Only injuries could stop him. Unsurprisingly, he was a top fantasy asset, bagging a ridiculous 17 points per start and over 12 ghost points per 90, racking up Key Passes and Successful Dribbles, to go along with 16 attacking returns. Grealish finished the season in the top 10 for total fantasy points despite missing most of the last 3 months. And with the Villans strengthening in the transfer market with the acquisition of Buendia and others, he can be even better. If he stays healthy and keeps Villa humming, Grealish has it in his locker to be top scorer this season. He is a top ten draft pick without question.
Ollie Watkins
Position: Forward
20/21 Points: 437.5 (7th overall)
20/21 Points Per Start: 11.8
Recommended Draft Pick: 14-20 (12 Team League: Mid Round 2)
Overview: Just a cut below the elite FWDs, Watkins was great last season and could become even more explosive this campaign. Worth a 2nd round pick in 12 team leagues.
Watkins actually ended the season with more points than his teammate Grealish. This is in large part due to his iron man status - he only failed to start one match, due to a red card suspension. Ollie will get some much deserved rest this summer and should be rearing to go again this season, with a year of Premier League football under his belt. He will now also have Buendia feeding him. I don't expect Watkins to be a top 10 player again but he could be up there. I worry about his ghost point potential (7.5 ghosties per 90) but he isn't as one dimensional as many of his peers. As far as FWDs go, Ollie is the beginning of the 2nd tier and I'd probably rather have him over the likes of Vardy and Richarlison. I'm quite bullish on this Aston Villa attack this season; banking on a mini-stack with Watkins at the forefront is a not a bad strategy.
Emi Buendia
Position: Midfielder
20/21 Points: - (709.3 in the Championship with Norwich City)
20/21 Points Per Start: - (19.1 PP90 in the Championship)
Recommended Draft Pick: 16-20 (12 Team League: Mid -Late Round 2)
Overview: Incredibly talented footballer, Championship Player of the Season 20/21, recently called up to the Argentina squad, 6th best Fantrax midfielder in 19/20 despite playing for a relegated side.
Our own Norwich City supporter and Buendia truther, FF Chaps, has already said it all about the dynamic Argentine. I would just add that while I'm not as high on him, I still rate him as a top tier mid with a ton of upside, particularly in a better team/attack in Villa. I'm curious to see how he interacts with McGinn, Grealish, Watkins, and company. But I have no doubt about his ability to drop double digit Key Passes in a single game. He is just one of those players that is deceptively good at scoring in Fantrax. If Emi gets some set pieces (B Traore, who he likely replaces on the wing, and Matt Targett took most of them last season), his potential is even greater. He has the upside of a late first round pick but I'd feel better taking him in the late second/early third round. An exciting addition for the Villans, Buendia should be a top mid regardless of whether or not Grealish stays.
Honorable Mention:
Bertrand Traore would be hard done by if he loses his starting spot. But if Grealish stays, I don't know see how he gets in the team with Jack and Buendia on the wings. If he does get into the team, Traore is great value in the later rounds. And Emi Martinez should be the top GK taken in the draft.
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