Fantasy Premier League: Tips for making effective additions in every position

The selection of expensive players like Sergio Aguero will more often than not certainly force the manager to invest in some effective additions to meet the £100.0m budget.

The Premier League logo in a file photo. (Image credit: Twitter/Fantasy Premier League)
By Arnab Mukherji | Mar 18, 2021 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Managers start their journey in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), with the selection of a 15-man squad comprising of two goalkeepers, five defenders, five midfielders and three forwards. These players have to be selected within a budget of £100.0m. A maximum of three footballers can be selected from any one Premier League club. This 15-man squad is further narrowed down to a starting XI before each Gameweek deadline. While the process sounds quite simple, the difficulty arises when a manager realises that building a strong team full of star performers is close to impossible. The selection of top players like Sergio Aguero, Sadio Mane, Kevin de Bruyne in the attack and midfield will most certainly force the manager to invest in less known players to meet the £100.0m budget. The inability to build a balanced team in such a scenario can prove quite costly.

Bearing this in mind, let’s take a look at some tips which can make the task of selecting players across different positions easier:

1) Selection of defenders with a keen eye for goals and assists

With clubs looking to encourage more and more of attacking football, clean sheets which are a vital parameter for points when it comes to defenders are becoming a rare sight. In such a scenario, a manager can look to select defenders who have a keen eye for goals and assists, providing scope for points even in case of goals being conceded. A clean sheet backed by an assist and goal for such defenders, would certainly be quite rewarding in case of a below-par Gameweek for the rest of the players.

2) Performances in the previous season

It can be difficult to pick players for the lineup when it comes to selecting from sides that have just been promoted from the Championship. A manager should take a look at the performances of the players in the previous campaign, which can help provide some clarity over the most reliable pick from the squad.

3) Gameweek fixtures

A manager can be reasonably confident of gaining a sizeable number of points even in case of addition of players who are not considered the best in the business, if the opposition is not so strong. In such a scenario one can look to invest in players with a mid-range price tag, with the amount saved available for being diverted towards the purchase of a star performer.

4) Recognising the player keeping the boat afloat

Even a team that does not have a formidable look, includes one or two players who are keeping the campaign on track with their leadership or quality performances. Identifying such performers will be a wise move considering the comparatively low price set for such players, as well as the higher possibility of a respectable points tally.