The Scout reveals the best Fantasy Premier League Draft strategies to adopt for the initial draft.
Building a squad in FPL Draft is very different to constructing one for Fantasy Premier League.
In Draft, there are no player prices or squad budgets. There is also no captain.
Crucially, a Premier League player can be owned by only one manager in a mini-league.
See: Time to get your FPL Draft started
Harry Kane has been the top pick in Draft leagues so far, though just two other forwards, Jamie Vardy and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, feature in the top 10.
Pinpointing those players who are first-choice forwards for their respective sides is crucial when building your initial squad.
Due to so many sides playing with lone striker systems, look to avoid rotation risks.
This is vital when selecting forwards as managers can only have three in their squad and the competition for reliable picks is fiercer than in five-man midfields.
The Scout highlights forwards who have mainly been ignored early on in Draft rounds, with all four failing to make the top 30 picks for current squads.
Raul Jimenez (WOL)
Draft ranking 39, Forward ranking 18
The Wolverhampton Wanderers striker has returned to their starting XI over the summer after recovering from the head injury that forced him to miss much of last season.
Jimenez has placed only 18th among forwards in the Draft round process so far.
That is partly down to a tough opening schedule. Wolves face Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United before a kind run of opponents from Gameweek 4 onwards.
The Mexican’s record in his last two campaigns as a regular suggests Draft managers should keep a step ahead of rivals by targeting him earlier on.
Jimenez produced 30 goals and 17 assists in that period, returning hauls of 181 and 194 points in Fantasy.
Michail Antonio (WHU)
Draft ranking 32, Forward ranking 16
West Ham United’s frontman approaches the start of 2021/22 in fine form.
Antonio produced three goals and an assist over his side’s final three summer friendlies.
Despite being limited to 26 appearances last season, he produced 10 goals and six assists.
When selected, Antonio was involved in 40 per cent of West Ham’s goals, more than any of his current team-mates.
Ivan Toney (BRE)
Draft ranking 70, Forward ranking 27
He may be the most popular player in his position in FPL but the Brentford forward is less of a priority for Draft managers.
Toney ranks only 70th in Draft selections and just 27th among strikers.
His all-round contribution will be essential if the Bees are to build on their promotion last season.
He combined 31 goals with 10 assists in the 2020/21 Championship.
Chris Wood (BUR)
Draft ranking 42, Forward ranking 20
The Burnley striker’s consistency makes him a handy option in Draft.
Wood has scored at least 10 goals in four successive seasons, having found the net on 12 occasions in 2020/21.
His FPL output is similarly reliable, with 131, 136 and 138 points over the past three campaigns.
Wood’s underlying numbers show why he is worth considering. The New Zealand international's totals of 26 big chances and 39 shots on target both ranked among the top seven players in Fantasy last season.
Also in this series
Part 1: Pick Coufal for the season
Part 2: Get Raphinha and Harrison early
Part 4: Tsimikas provides short-term solution
Remember, the Gameweek 1 deadline is at 18:30 BST on Friday 13 August.
