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 Wolves, 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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Wolves Sleepers
As noted above, these are potential Fantrax Sleepers from Wolves. 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.
Nathan Collins
Position: Defense
21/22 Points: 158.25 (53rd best defender)
21/22 Points Per Start: 8.5 (18 starts)
22/23 Projected Points Per Start: 7.7 (24 starts)
Recommended Draft Pick: 150 or later (12 Team League: Round 13 or later)
Overview: The new record Irish signing should come into the XI and shore up the defense. Given the late transfer, he should go relatively under the radar. His Burnley numbers show he can be a solid DEF3/4.
The young CB, Nathan Collins, was a savvy signing by Burnley last summer. But the Clarets didn't envision him becoming a starter so soon into his tenure. Ben Mee's injuries opened the door for Collins to start 18 games last season. He grabbed the opportunity with both hands, scoring 2 goals and averaging over 8 pts per start. He also boasted impressive ghosties of nearly 9 per start.
With Burnley getting relegated, it's no surprise that an EPL club snapped him up this summer. With the departure of the stalwart at the back, Romain Saiss, Wolves were in dire need of defensive help. They have a very worthy, albeit relatively inexperienced, replacement in Collins. He will face some competition, largely from Coady & Mosquera (if he can stay fit), but he should become a nailed on starter sooner rather than later. If Lage does indeed revert to his preferred 4 at the back, Collins & Kilman should be the primary CB pairing. If not, Collins will surely have a place in a back 3. Given his ghosties & the fact that Wolves will keep more cleansheets than Burnley, he has a great chance of improving on his scores and becoming a 9pps DEF3 this season. And he should be available late in the draft - he'll be pure value if he can nail down a starting role as expected.
Jonny
Position: Defender
21/22 Points: 72 (68th best defender)
21/22 Points Per Start: 6.7 (10 starts)
22/23 Projected Points Per Start: 6.4 (25 starts)
Recommended Draft Pick: 115 or later (12 Team League: Round 10 or later)
Overview: Very unlucky with injuries over the years, the Spanish fullback got a new lease on life. He found form & looked his old self at times. With Semedo still recovering, Jonny should be starting GW1 - decent value after Round 10.
While Matt Doherty got most of the plaudits from fantasy managers during his time at Wingback FC under former manager Nuno Espirito Santo, Jonny also did some work as the other wingback on the left. In 2019/2020, he posted 2 goals and 2 assists as LWB. That unfortunately was the last season he started more than 10 games, succumbing to serious injuries the two following seasons.
But now he's back. Jonny returned late in the season and started 10 of Wolves' final 11 games, posting a middling 6.7 pps despite bagging two goals. This mediocre pps needs to be taken with a grain of salt as Wolves only secured one clean sheet in his ten starts and played pedestrian football in the process. If Jonny nails down one of these starting fullback spots (Semedo's knock could see him at RB in the season opener) and Wolves get back to keeping clean sheets and can get the attack purring, he could be a steal late in the draft. It's a lot of ifs, though.
Morgan Gibbs-White
Position: Midfielder
21/22 Points: N/A (Played in the Championship)
21/22 Points Per Start: N/A (13.1 in Champ.)
22/23 Projected Points Per Start: 9.2 (15 starts*)
Recommended Draft Pick: 120 or later (12 Team League: Round 11 or later)
Overview: Excellent young prospect who shined in his loan to Championship-side Sheffield United last season. He will either be sold (likely to another Prem team with more use for him) or be motivated to prove himself and lock down a starting role in the attack. Great value if either occur.
Morgan Gibbs White (MGW) has been highly regarded in the Black Country for a few years now. But he hasn't yet been given the chance to make his mark at Wolves. That could change this season if he's not transferred out. If it does, look out. He impressed at Sheffield United on loan, delivering 12 goals and 10 assists. Fantasy-wise, this equated to 13.1 points per 90 minutes and 8.1 ghost points per 90 minutes - tasty stuff. But can he do it on a cold wet night in Stoke? Well, yes, he can. Sheffield did play against Stoke in the Championship. Nevermind that, can he do it on the big stage of the Premier League? How much of a Championship tax will he pay?
It'd be absurd to expect MGW to replicate those numbers above in the EPL. But he has the talent to be a solid fantasy asset and that tutelage he received in the rough & tumble Championship last season could prove invaluable. The only knock on him is EPL inexperience and a potential lack of playing time. MGW fancies himself an attacker rather than a central midfielder, and he was a flexible forward at Sheffield, employed centrally and wide just behind a lone striker. At Wolves, he could plug into one of the wide roles tucked in just behind the number 9, giving manager Bruno Lage some tactical flexibility. Alternatively, if Wolves opt for a 352 (as they did at times last season), MGW could slot in as the attacking mid or even a second striker. This versatility could help the youngster get more playing time this season.
If he does, instead, leave Wolves for (maybe?) greener pastures, like Forest or Everton, he could be afforded more playing time with similar attacking quality around him. Forest might be ideal for him as he can be their starting number 10 in their standard 352 (perhaps even taking set pieces if he's lucky). Everton are likely a bit more similar to Wolves in terms of formation and playing time/rotation concerns. Only time will tell if Gibbs-White goes or can force his way into the Wolves starting XI. But taking him late in the draft is a lotto ticket that could reward you handsomely.
Honorable Mention(s):
Max Kilman is a solid defender who scores better than the other Wolves CBs now that Saiss has gone. If they get back to defensive solidity, he's value in the late rounds.
More Fantasy Sleepers: Arsenal | Aston Villa | Bournemouth | Brentford | Brighton | Chelsea | Crystal Palace | Everton | Fulham | Leeds | Leicester | Liverpool | Man City | Man United | Newcastle | Nottm Forest | Southampton | Tottenham | West Ham
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