The hype is real - or is it? A lot of factors go into how we feel about players prior to the Fantasy EPL draft. How did they finish this season? Did they join a better team or system over the summer? Were they injured? Will they benefit from another season in a new league? All of these things were considered when analyzing and predicting value for the upcoming draft. We have you covered with players whose value is inflated and should be avoided too early, as well as some undervalued assets that could outperform their average draft positions.
Check out our 21/22 Draft Kit for all the pre-season information you would ever need. Draft Rankings, Team Previews, Strategy, Draft 101. We've got it all!!!
Undervalued Fantasy EPL Players
Whose stock took a hit last season? Who showed potential that will be realized this season but won't show up in last season's stats? Acquiring undervalued assets in the draft is the key to building a winning roster. Here are a few players that should be primed for this season but for a plethora of reasons will not be drafted as high as they should. Rodrigo's injury masked his fantasy ability, ASM's injury prone season will give managers' pause, Kai Havertz's underwhelming debut season hurts his draft position, Trent Alexander Arnold was overhyped last season but will be slightly underhyped this season, and Thiago showed he has it in his locker to outperform his mediocre stats from his first season in the Premier League.
Rodrigo Moreno | Leeds United | Forward
As a Valencia supporter, I have watched Rodrigo closely for years and was saddened by his departure but excited about his fantasy prospects in the Premier League. Injuries blighted much of his debut season but he caught fire at the end, dropping 5 goals and 1 assist in the final four games. He also finished the season with a ghost points per 90 of over 9. While I worry that Leeds may be figured out this upcoming season, I don’t worry about Rodrigo providing great value in the draft. His total numbers will hide his potential and he could be a later round steal.
Estimated Draft Pick: 8th or 9th Round
Ryan's Draft Pick: 6th Round
Allan Saint-Maximin | Newcastle United | Midfielder
Fantasy darling, ASM, was overhyped and overrated in last year’s draft, going in the 2nd round in many leagues. Constant injuries and Newcastle just sucking for much of the campaign tarnished ASM’s Fantrax reputation and should depress his fantasy stock in the upcoming draft. His numbers proved that he can still score ghost points with the best of them. If he stays healthy, he could post second or third round numbers but at a much better price.
Estimated Draft Pick: 4th or 5th Round
Ryan's Draft Pick: 3rd Round
Kai Havertz | Chelsea | Midfielder
Disclaimer: THIS WAS WRITTEN JUST AFTER THE SEASON/PRIOR TO MOCK DRAFTS, WHERE HE IS GOING IN THE FIRST OR EARLY SECOND ROUND; HE IS NOW OVERVALUED
One of the trio of big money Chelsea flops, Kobra Kai was the most disappointing to me. But only because he has the most potential in my opinion. He has it in his locker to light it up. First season in a new league and a new country was always going to be tough. His debut season, in which he went in the first few rounds, will scare many managers off. But there is value here if he can crack on.
Estimated Draft Pick: 4th Round
Ryan's Draft Pick: 3rd Round
Trent Alexander-Arnold | Liverpool | Defender
Trent had the season of his life in 2019/2020 and had the fantasy numbers to show for it, ending the season as a top ten player. This is unheard of for a defender. He naturally was taken very early, usually around the seventh pick, in the last draft. But inconsistency plagued him and Liverpool last season and he struggled to justify that price tag. This will stick in the minds of many of your peers. What they may forget is that he ended the last two months as the top fantasy scorer. If he falls to the 2nd Round, it's highway robbery.
Estimated Draft Pick: Mid-Late 2nd Round
Ryan's Draft Pick: Late 1st Round/Early 2nd Round
Thiago Alcantara | Liverpool | Midfielder
Staying in Merseyside, Thiago invoked mixed opinion in his first season in the Premier League. He also flattered to deceive fantasy-wise in many gameweeks. But he turned on the ghost points (17 against West Brom) and even picked up a few attacking returns in the process. He showed that he can be a great fantasy asset going into next season. His numbers will not show this but he is one to watch in the middle rounds.
Estimated Draft Pick: 6th or 7th Round
Ryan's Draft Pick: 5th Round
Honorable Mention
Virgil Van Dijk: VVD is back after a long injury; folks forget how good he is. And a healthy Liverpool defense is a clean sheet machine, going on past performances. Good value in the 5th Rd. His CB partner, whoever that may be (Matip, Konate, or Gomez) will also be a nice sleeper in the late rounds.
Aubameyang: Too goal-dependent & usually taken far too early. But his terrible season has him being drafted later than he should. A top 20 scorer when firing, he should bounce back. I like him in the 4th Rd or later.
Nicolas Pepe: Has taken some time to adjust to the Prem & hasn't been given enough starts. Hit form and posted great scores late last season. I back him to be a regular starter & crack on; a steal in the 7th Rd.
Riyad Mahrez: Rotated but has the ability to win you GWs (e.g., his 50+ pt game v Burnley). He is going in some mock drafts in the late 2nd Round, which is excellent value. He should be the starting RW on the best team in the league. Don't let Afcon & rotation scare you; just pick up F Torres as cover in the 9th Rd.
Che Adams: Was one of the few bright spots in an awful Saints team in the latter stages of last season. Che is a great FWD3 or FWD4 that you could get as late as the 10th Round.
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