Our Fantasy EPL 22/23 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 highlights Fantrax Fantasy EPL Sleepers from Arsenal, as we highlight three potential hidden gems for the new season! Click here for details on how you can access our 22/23 Draft Kit.
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Arsenal Sleepers
As noted above, these are potential Fantrax Sleepers from Arsenal. These Fantasy EPL players are likely to be drafted in the later rounds. Read below for three under the radar players who could provide excellent value in your pre-season draft.
Takehiro Tomiyasu
Position: Defender
21/22 Points: 167.75 (53rd best defender)
21/22 Points Per Start: 8.6 (20 starts)
22/23 Projected Points Per Start: 8.4 (25 starts)
Recommended Draft Pick: 110 or later (12 Team League: Round 10 or later)
Overview: The new signing took like a Japanese duck to water in the Premier League, providing soothing stability at the back & some decent ghost points. His injuries held him back but he's late value if he stays fit.
Last season, it was often easy to forget that it was Takehiro Tomiyasu's debut Premier League campaign. He seamlessly fit into the Arsenal backline and was a rock at right back. Unfortunately, he only ended up with 20 starts as he picked up calf and hamstring injuries. And one could see how much he meant to the defense when he was out of the lineup. He isn't an attacking fullback, hence it's no surprise he only picked up one attacking return (an assist against Newcastle). Tomiyasu is largely tasked with defensive duties, freeing up his Scottish counterpart at LB to make marauding runs. So, he derives most of his fantasy points from defensive categories (interceptions, clearances, aerials) with the occasional successful dribble & accurate cross. He posted the best numbers for an Arsenal Defender - both Gabriel & Ben White averaged 6.6 points per start, and Tierney was close but his 8.4 pps still less than Tomi's 8.6.
Given the injury layoff and his relatively low total points, many will sleep on Tomiyasu. But his decent ghost point average (nearly 8 per start), his nailed-on position in a relatively good defense with the opportunity for clean sheets, a year under his belt in the EPL, and nowhere to go but up attacking-wise, he has sneaky value if you need a DEF after Round 10. He was relatively injury-free at Bologna, so let's hope some rest and a full preseason will give us a healthy Tomiyasu and 30+ starts in 2022/2023.
Thomas Partey
Position: Midfielder
21/22 Points: 178.5 (68th best midfielder)
21/22 Points Per Start: 7.7 (23 starts)
22/23 Projected Points Per Start: 8.1 (36 starts)
Recommended Draft Pick: 135 or later (12 Team League: Round 12 or later)
Overview: At times, he's been the best CDM in the league. But persistent injuries have kept him off the pitch. Fantasy-wise, he showed last season he can be a MID3 if fit & firing. He can be pure value after Round 10.
Injuries have robbed us of seeing the real Thomas Partey, the world class holding midfielder that came from Atletico Madrid. He showed up in fits and starts this past season, bossing Manchester City one week, succumbing to a knock the next. Following a disappointing 2021/2022 in which he was only on the team sheet 18 times, the Ghanaian started 23 games in 2022/2023, ending his campaign in April after aggravating a groin injury. One could argue that a fit Partey in the business end of the season helps see Arsenal over the line for Champion's League qualification.
For much of his time at Arsenal, he has posted middling CDM fantasy numbers. He averaged less than 6 points per start in the 20/21 season, with just two attacking returns (two assists). In short, he wasn't worth rostering. This last campaign looked a little better, with Partey boosting his points per start to a respectable 7.7. However, this masks his potential value. After returning from AFCON in late January, he was a man possessed. In 4 gameweeks, he posted 60+ points. This included a goal and two assists but also a fair amount of ghosties; and they came from everywhere, both attacking and defensive categories. He can't keep up that purple patch all season but it gives a glimpse of what he can do when he is healthy. Many will forget this and let him keep falling in the draft. You'd be wise to take a late punt on him -- it could be Partey time.
Aaron Ramsdale
Position: Goalkeeper
21/22 Points: 238.5 (10th best goalkeeper)
21/22 Points Per Start: 7 (34 starts)
22/23 Projected Points Per Start: 7.5 (34 starts)
Recommended Draft Pick: 150 or later (12 Team League: Round 13 or later)
Overview: Ramsdale had a good run and a string of clean sheets last season. If Tomiyasu & company can stay on the pitch, he will combine eye-catching saves with come cleanies. Should be a top 5 goalkeeper.
Many, including myself, were incredulously watching the numbers being bandied about for Aaron Ramsdale last summer. The young English goalkeeper had just gotten relegated with Sheffield United (not his first relegation campaign) and didn't seem like much of an upgrade on Bernd Leno. But Ramsdale's passion, flamboyant saves, and slick distribution (especially early in the campaign) quickly made him a fan favorite.
Ramsdale was streaky and lost a good bit of form at the end of the season. But he still finished 5th in clean sheets (12) & 90 saves. This resulted in a points per start of 7 even - not spectacular but decent, especially given the awful start. Again, as mentioned above, a healthy Arsenal back line can produce clean sheets. If the Gunners can regain that defensive form, Ramsdale has an outside chance of finishing the next campaign as a top 3 GK. He's worth a pick once the run on GKs starts in your draft.
Honorable Mention(s):
Arsenal finally has a Vieira again. Fabio Vieria, a very promising Portuguese attacking midfielder, was a surprise signing. He will likely deputize for Odegaard in the EPL and start some early Europa League and domestic cup competitions as he gets his feet wet. He's only worth a lottery ticket punt in the very late rounds, if at all.
William Saliba, the long-serving Arsenal player who has never actually played for Arsenal, will be in the draft. The young CB is finally going to get a chance in North London after a successful loan at Marseilles, where he famously caught up with and dispossessed Mbappe while on a breakaway. He was also Young Player of the Year in Ligue 1. Fantasy-wise, he was fairly mediocre, with 5.5 fpts and 5.5 ghost pts/90. However, he had the most successful dribbles for a CB (31). It will be interesting to see how he adapts to the EPL. Gabriel & White will most likely start out the season, so he isn't worth drafting. But keep an eye out over the course of the season and stream accordingly.
You might also be wondering where Emile Smith Rowe comes into play. Well, you can check out the Do Not Draft List article (spoiler alert: he's not on my draft board).
More Fantasy Sleepers: Aston Villa | Bournemouth | Brentford | Brighton | Chelsea | Crystal Palace | Everton | Fulham | Leeds | Leicester | Liverpool | Man City | Man United | Newcastle | Nottm Forest | Southampton | Tottenham | West Ham | Wolves
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