Welcome to The Draft Society’s team-by-team previews, a vital part of the 23/24 Draft Kit! These articles will provide a one-stop-shop for all the important Fantasy EPL themes from a Fantrax perspective. With players to watch, players to avoid, points projections and early season fixtures analysis, we've got it all covered. Our Draft Premier League Team Previews will help set you up to dominate your draft! Next up is Tottenham Hotspur.
Check back often! Our team previews will be updated throughout the summer as any new transfer, injury, or rotation developments come to light.
Check out our 23/24 Draft Kit for all the pre-season information you could ever need. We've got a Live Draft Aide, Draft Rankings, Team Previews, Cheat Sheets, Strategy Articles, Draft 101, plus so much more!
Tottenham Team Preview 23/24
Check out our in-depth look at Tottenham's prospects for the new EPL season below. This information will form a key component to your draft prep and set you up to dominate your draft!
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Fantasy Flashback
Let's review how Tottenham players fared in 22/23, with an emphasis on their Draft Premier League fantasy assets. But, we'll also discuss any pertinent info regarding managerial tactics, formation, injuries, etc. What can we learn from their performance in the last campaign?
Note: The following table is interactive. Desktop users can apply the Filter, Group, and Sort buttons to arrange the data to their preferences. Mobile users can tap on a player card to view all data points. The table can be reset to its default state by refreshing the page.
Kane was not only Spurs best asset, but the top Fantrax scorer overall last year. He was incredible in a Spurs team that was very sub par, and question marks remain over whether he will stay (more on that later). Son and Kulusevski had themselves quite disappointing seasons, performing way below expectations. Son, especially, was underwhelming, as he was top scorer previously and was a top 3 pick in most drafts last season. Kulu was unfortunate with injuries last season, which limited him to just 23. starts.
As you can see, none of the defenders were even worth rostering, with the exception of January arrival Pedro Porro, who delivered incredible upside (10.3 PPS in his 13 starts). Managers can be excited about a full season of him this year. Perisic was classified as a midfielder but had stints of useful value, although he ended up being a droppable asset as we approached the season run-in.
As a whole, it was a very lacklustre year for Spurs fantasy assets, and aside from Kane, none provided you with consistent points that you would have hoped for at the start of the season.
Overall Team Performance
Despite some viewing the squad as worthy of a title charge, Spurs finished the season in a disappointing 8th place with one of the worst defensive records of any team that wasn't relegated - only better than Bournemouth and Forest. That, combined with their inconsistent attackers outside of Kane, led to quite a disappointing season, which ultimately saw Conte head for an early exit. Spurs did have patches of good form, but as a whole many would have expected better from this team. They were 11 points off the top 4, and lacked depth overall. With Postecoglou now in charge, fans and Fantrax managers will be hoping for a much better and more consistent season for Spurs. But a new manager and system will likely take time to bed in.
Fantasy Forecast
Past is prelude, as they say. So, turning to the 23/24 season, we've got Tottenham player projections, 3 key players to keep an eye on, 3 players we're staying away from, 3 question marks surrounding the club at this moment, and an analysis of Spurs early-season fixtures.
23/24 Player Projections
Below, you'll find our season projections for Tottenham's fantasy assets. Our projections are created using a number of contributing factors such as past performance, fixture difficulty ratings, anticipated minutes played, and more. PPS (Points Per Start) and ProjTotFPts (Projected Total Points) refer to Fantrax Default Scoring.
It's no surprise that Kane is predicted to be Spurs best player, with a slightly worse PPS than last season. If he stays, he is a must draft in the first 3 picks. Son and Maddison are interchangeable among projections, seemingly a case of positional preference. Kulusevski is one who has a chance to outperform his projections and is highlighted below.
The 5th Spurs player predicted to have a double digit PPS is Porro. This makes perfect sense after his incredible albeit brief stint last season. Question marks remain over rotation with Emerson and Spurs overall defensive capabilities, which will be addressed later.
The rest of the bunch is nothing more than punts, with the likes of Udogie, Richarlison, and Solomon offering good upside when they start. But serious doubt remains over how many minutes/starts these players will be able to get.
3 Players to Watch
We've highlighted 3 players (and some honorable mentions) from Spurs that we're keeping an eye on. Some players mentioned below may be sleepers. Some may be up-and-coming youngsters. Some may be vying for a spot in the XI. Whatever the case, we'll tell you why we're watching these 3 in EPL Draft Fantasy this year.
Dejan Kulusevski
Position: Midfielder
22/23 Points: 246 (37th best midfielder)
22/23 Points Per Start: 9.5 (23 starts)
Recommended Draft Pick: 14-25 (12 Team League: Round 2-3)
Analysis: I believe this is Kulusevski's breakout season. Last here he struggled with injuries and form and still managed a very respectable 9.5 PPS. He is under a much more attacking manager who will look to get the best of him and boost his attacking returns. Kulusevski only managed 2 goals and 7 assists last year, and there is no reason he can't bag at least 8-10 of each this year. Regardless of whether Harry Kane stays, Kulusevski will be looking to make that RW spot his own, and show his new manager he can offer just as much as fellow wing-man Son. With an average of 7.2 ghost points/start, he has shown he can rack up some big scores once he starts hitting the back of the net. With Postecoglou coming in to improve the attack I would expect his ghost points to increase as a result with more KP, COS, and ACNC's all adding to his tally. Kulusevski can easily be a top 5 midfielder this year, and is worth drafting in the 2nd-3rd rounds even as a MID1.
Son Heung-Min
Position: Forward
22/23 Points: 374 (8th best forward)
22/23 Points Per Start: 9.7 (33 starts)
Recommended Draft Pick: 10-16 (12 Team League: Late Round 1/Early Round 2)
Analysis: Son had himself a "down" season in terms of attacking production and fantasy points. He only managed 10 goals and 6 assists despite winning the Golden Boot with 23 goals the year prior. In Fantrax, he was very inconsistent as well, failing to hit the heights that made him a top pick last year. He had his patches of good form, including that incredible off the bench performance when he got a hattrick in 30 minutes...unfortunately that was his best Fantrax outing of the year. I do have high hopes for Son to steady the ship and prove he will be a consistent first round asset next season.
With Posecoglou already looking to improve Spurs attack, and their overall chance creation, Son should benefit. A word of caution would be Son losing a good chunk of set-pieces to new signing James Maddison - more on that later. Regardless, with or without set pieces, I expect Son to be a FWD1 this season, and thrive under an attacking manager. If Harry Kane is to leave, I would expect Son to potentially benefit even more. He has proven he can play through the middle before - when Kane has been injured in the past - and that should see a massive uptick in his goal return. Winning the Golden Boot just 2 seasons ago without scoring a single penalty shows his potential as a lone striker. If he falls to the later end of the first round, he can be an absolute steal for your fantasy team.
James Maddison
Position: Midfielder
22/23 Points: 411.5 (7th best midfielder)
22/23 Points Per Start: 14.5 (28 starts)
Recommended Draft Pick: 16-24 (12 Team League: 2nd Round)
Analysis: Maddison to Spurs has been on the cards for quite some time, but now the new signing will look to prove he can perform on a "Top 6" team. Maddison was the guy at Leicester for the past few seasons and was the only reason they had a chance to escape relegation last year. He possesses the kind of creativity and raw talent that Spurs have been missing in their midfield for years. Maddison should get nearly all set-pieces except penalties, which should help both his key pass and assist numbers. Being surrounded by much better talent, with the likes of Kane, Son, Kulusevski, and Richarlison to feed ,should make Maddison's job that much easier. The new signing was a top 5 ghost point producer last season, averaging 10/start. I wouldn't be surprised to see him hover around that number this year, but could also see a slight dip since there are a lot of attacking options at Spurs and there are only so many points to go around.
While Maddison's assist numbers could improve, and he will be one of the chief creators, on a team with Harry Kane and Son he will no longer be the "big fish". We have seen players struggle to replicate their fantasy value after going from being the star at a smaller club to a bigger club where they are no longer the focal point. The best example I can think of in recent years is Gylfi Sigurdsson after moving from Swansea to Everton. At Swansea he was easily a top 5 midfielder, producing incredible scores on a relegation bound team, but once he got the jump to Everton he was nothing more than your average MID3 that struggled for consistency. While I don't expect Maddison to suffer to this degree, don't be surprised if it takes him some time to properly find his feet and define his role at Spurs. Usually I consider Maddison a first round asset, but this year I think he is better left until the 2nd round. I have every confidence he will be a top 20 player this year, and I think his presence will only help Son and Kulusevski hit the lofty heights we have come to expect.
Honorable Mention(s):
I think it goes without saying that Harry Kane doesn't need much of a write up. If he stays at Spurs, he is easily a top 3 draft pick, especially at a more attacking Spurs. The timing of your draft will dictate if/when Kane is drafted (if it looks like he is leaving, obviously he'll slip much later). If it is confirmed he will stay, he should easily contend for the Golden Boot once again, and be a set and forget top 3 player. The #1 overall asset from last season should give you no reason to worry.
Defenders are worth monitoring under Postecoglou, especially Porro. The January signing was incredible in his short stint at Spurs, and with a full preseason under his belt, he has the potential to be a top 3 defender that you can probably get in the 4th round. Monitor his progress and positioning in preseason to ensure he is still getting the proper attacking chances that made him such a star last year. There is a chance Royal steals some starts from him here and there. But, again, as preseason progresses, we should be able to clearly see if Porro is making that spot his own.
Ndombele is a potential late punt. If he can stay fit, he has every chance to lock down the #8 role. He seems to have been given new life by Postecoglou, and could offer some MID4-5 value. If he doesn't start by gameweek 2/3, he is an easy drop.
3 Players to Avoid
It's not all sunshine and rainbows at Spurs. At least, not as far as Draft Fantasy Football is concerned. Below, we will also highlight 3 fantasy assets that we're not so thrilled about. These are the 3 Tottenham players you might want to avoid come draft day.
Iyenoma Destiny Udogie
Position: Defender
22/23 Points: N/A
22/23 Points Per Start: N/A
Recommended Draft Pick: 133-168 (12 Team League: Round 12-14)
Analysis: Udogie has the talent and the upside to be the next Danny Rose for Spurs, but I don't think that happens this season. At only 20 years old, he is definitely one who was signed for the future, and one who could face major rotation in his first year at Spurs. Postecoglou will want to take his time with Destiny to ensure he can develop into a proper full-back. With the likes of Davies, Reguillon, and even Perisic all able to operate in that LB/LWB role, Destiny will be facing some stiff competition. He is a very attacking minded full-back and him and Porro paired together in a lineup could be a defensive disaster for Spurs. While Destiny will have the upside of a higher end DEF2 when he starts, I don't think he is worth using a valuable draft pick on. I have seen him go as early as round 6 in mocks, but personally would avoid him until at least the 11th/12th round when we start to enter punt territory. I do expect the new LB to be constantly dropped to your league's waiver wire. My best recommendation would be to avoid drafting him unless he is gaining significant preseason minutes, and pick him up closer to when we start to see schedule congestion.
Richarlison
Position: Forward
22/23 Points: 136 (38th best forward)
22/23 Points Per Start: N/A
Recommended Draft Pick: 109 - 132 (12 Team League: Round 10-11)
Analysis: Harry Kane may have one foot out the door, but is Richarlison really the guy to lead the line in his absence? No, he isn't, although he will be a suitable rotation piece for Spurs during the hectic times, cup games, and during injuries. Richarlison offers almost none of the same qualities as Kane, and lacks in both his composure and ruthlessness in front of goal. If Kane ends up leaving, I am sure Postecoglou will have a few targets in mind to come into the XI to replace Kane. Richarlison will probably go way too high in drafts if the Kane news heats up, with many managers hoping he gets his shot at striker. Unless Spurs really have a horrific end to the transfer window, this just doesn't happen. I think once you start to get near round 11, if Richarlison is still there, he could be worth a punt in case he gets a few starts early in the season, especially with Spurs' kind fixtures early doors. In that scenario, he would be one to draft, trade on a high, and never look back. He won't be a long term asset for any fantasy team this season, and I really advise against drafting him in single digit rounds.
Ivan Perisic
Position: Midfielder
22/23 Points: 443 (31st best midfielder)
22/23 Points Per Start: 9.9 (23 starts)
Recommended Draft Pick: DND
Analysis: Perisic had a decent season last year, especially for a defender classified as a midfielder. He offered solid MID3-4 value when he started, with the odd game of 15+ points. This year he will probably be lucky to get more than 7-8 starts. For me, he is one to avoid completely, he isn't even worth that punt in the 16th round. He really has no spot in Postecoglou's XI, especially in a back 4 system. His only real chance at cracking the XI will be an injury to a winger, and even then Richarlison and potential new signings may be ahead of him in the pecking order. I wouldn't be surprised to see Perisic leave Spurs this window. All in all, there are a lot better more upside punts to take late in the draft, with a clearer path to playtime, or with a higher ceiling, and I would advise that you head in that direction and leave Perisic to a hopeful Spurs fan.
Honorable Mention(s):
Yves Bissouma might be one to see an uptick in his minutes this season, but under no circumstances should he be drafted even in the 16th round of any league! Bissouma has never been a fantasy starlet and even less so on Spurs. Even if his minutes improve, he will be in the bottom half of streamers each week. Until I see a consistent floor from him, or the potential to go 180 minutes in a double gameweek, I have no interest in him.
3 Question Marks
Not everything is crystal clear and predictable at Tottenham These are 3 questions surrounding Spurs that we’re grappling with this preseason. We’ll try to note whether or not (and how much) these questions are affecting our perceptions of Tottenham's fantasy assets.
Harry Kane - This is easily the biggest question mark of the summer - what happens to Kane? The Spurs star is in the news with a transfer to Bayern seemingly on the cards. Kane has been nothing short of class so far, acting as if nothing is happening, showing up to training, and playing with his all in preseason. If he does leave, truly Spurs will have lost a great one. The closer we get to gameweek 1, the less likely he will be to leave. If you are able to draft on the week of gameweek 1 and Kane is still in a Spurs shirt, I see no reason why he shouldn't be a top 5 pick.
The big issue here is who will replace Kane if he leaves. Richarlison was discussed earlier as a very much last resort option, but I do expect a new striker to be signed. Well, unless it's Mbappe I don't see anyone filling the void Kane will leave, which means Spurs will suffer in a "transition" type year. I still expect Son, Maddison, and Kulusevski to be fine for fantasy, but as a whole I expect less goals from Spurs. Those assists may just turn into KPs for the attacking midfielders, and the new striker will need to hit the ground running to give Spurs a fighting chance at top 4.
Son is my obvious pick to play through the middle until a long-term solution is found, especially if Spurs manage to sign a new winger this year. Son has played there before and proven he can do quite a good job. This only helps his fantasy prospects this year and can make him a top 7 player. He should be the obvious replacement to take penalties in Kane's absence.
Ange's Tactics - Postecoglou is coming in as a "wildcard" with regards to how he will set up Spurs. There are a lot of rumours and preseason indications that a classic 4-3-3 might be run out at least to start the season. That would mean Spurs not using a back 5 for the first time...in a while. Maddison will occupy the most advanced role of the 3 midfielders, with Son and Kulu flanking Kane or a new striker. The other 2 midfield roles are tough to determine with the likes of Bentancur (when he is fit again), Bissouma, Ndombele, and Hojberg if he stays (rumoured to be on Atletico Madrid's wish list) will battle with any other new signings for a spot in the XI. The 2 who start with Maddison will offer next to no upside, but the one in the more "8" role could offer some sort of ghost point base. My pick right now is a punt on Ndombele in the 14-16th rounds. He could offer a solid floor if he stays fit and locks down the role. The player who wins the role of the "6" isn't even worth streaming.
The defence is quite scary to look at right now. More on the full-backs below, but the center back depth and quality is non-existent. Right now you have the likes of Romero, Davies, Dier, Sanchez, and Tanganga battling for 2 spots - none of whom have shown the talent or consistency to be a starting CB at a top 4 side. Spurs are in dire need of a new CB, especially if they plan to only line up with 2 of them. Romero and Davies will probably be the 2 to start the season if no new signings come in, but I really can't see them keeping many clean sheets. Maybe punt on them in the late late rounds, but you are better off waiting to see how Spurs fare in their easier fixtures then deciding if you want to pick them up.
Battle of the Full-Backs - The RB and LB spots aren't as clear cut as many may think. Porro is my pick for the RB spot, and this one should be a bit easier to see than the LB side, but there is every chance Emerson gives him a run for his money. Shockingly, Emerson is the better defender of the two, and in bigger games Postecoglou may turn to him to help his side keep out the goals. A few bad performances by Porro could also see him rooted to the bench for a spell. I expect the majority of starts to go to Porro, but if you get whiff of Emerson potentially starting, be ready to swoop him off your waiver wire, or even as a very late draft pick. I think the RB starter will offer decent fantasy value, and should be licensed to get more forward than the LB side based on pre-season indications.
In terms of who will start at LB, well, that is a mystery. Destiny and Reguillon are the two that will battle it out, but Davies will also throw his hat in there, especially if he is no longer needed at CB. Reguillon has a better chance to win the role than many may think, but a poor showing in his first preseason outing is putting Destiny on the front foot. I think it will be a back and forth tussle for the majority of the season between the LB's at Spurs. None are really worth drafting before round 9 because of their lack of guaranteed minutes, and the uncertainty of their production under Postecoglou. Pay close attention to the final 2 preseason games if you really are set on drafting one of the LB's to see who Postecoglou starts, and how each of these players performs.
Early-Season Fixture Difficulty
The way that teams come out the gate has big implications in EPL Draft. A red hot start creates red hot trade targets. A dismal start means plummeting player values and losses for your fantasy team. Check out our thoughts on Tottenham's early-season fixtures and our analysis of the fantasy implications they will have.
Spurs have a friendly start to the season with the exception of the gameweek 2 fixture vs. United. They face two of the newly promoted teams in the first few weeks, and have the schedule to get Postecoglou off to a hot start. In terms of defenders, with the exception of Porro, and maybe someone taking a late punt on whoever starts at LB, I expect the rest to go undrafted. The move would be to pick them up after gameweek 1 to prepare for that friendly 3 week stretch where they should be able to keep a few clean sheets. In terms of their midfielders and attacking assets, punting late on Nbombele or whoever might take up that role could prove to be very valuable. Even if you don't plan to keep that player long term, if they get off to a hot start, you could ship them off in a larger deal and get a lot more than you paid for them.
The likes of Kane, Son, Maddison, and Kulusevski will all be gone by round 3 regardless of fixtures, but if you are someone who likes to draft and trade (like me), this schedule should give these players a slight bump in your rankings.
23/24 Spurs Predicted Lineup
The following lineup represents our prediction for the most likely line-up for the long-term for Spurs in the upcoming season. We can't account for injuries or new transfers, but this should provide a reasonable guide for who will be the preferred starters for the majority of Premier League matches this season.
The big question mark is obviously Kane's future here, but lineu-wise, they have a ready-made replacement available, who might just fit Ange's system even better than Kane does in Richarlison. The only real issue is the defensive cover and the ability of first-choice full-backs, Udogie and Porro to add enough defensively. If not, Royal will feature more at RB to provide stability at the back.
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