Fantasy Premier League

Wildcard targets: Raphinha a top long-term pick

By The Scout 6 Oct 2021

The Scout reckons Leeds' Brazilian star has the fixtures to emerge as the standout budget midfielder

The Scout looks at the best targets per position and price in Fantasy Premier League for managers playing their Wildcards.

Budget midfielders

Raphinha (LEE) £6.6m

The winger is set to embark on a very favourable run of opponents that lifts his appeal as a long-term acquisition.

According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), each of Leeds United's next eight matches score no more than three.

Leeds' fixtures

GW	Opp	FDR	GW	Opp	FDR
8	SOU (A)	2	12	TOT (A)	3
9	WOL (H)	2	13	BHA (A)	3
10	NOR (A)	2	14	CRY (H)	2
11	LEI (H)	3	15	BRE (H)	2

Five of them score just two, including their next three encounters with Southampton, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Norwich City.

Raphinha’s 24 shots and 14 chances created are both team-leading totals this term.

He is among only four players in Fantasy to place in the top 10 for both those statistics in 2021/22, along with Mohamed Salah (£12.7m), Bruno Fernandes (£11.9m) and Michail Antonio (£8.0m).

Conor Gallagher (CRY) £5.7m

The loan signing from Chelsea has made an immediate for Crystal Palace, scoring twice and supplying three assists in six appearances.

When selected, Gallagher has been involved in 71 per cent of their goals, compared with the 38 of Wilfried Zaha (£6.9m).

Gallagher goal v West Ham

The underlying numbers suggest he can continue offering major value in Fantasy.

His 15 shots, 11 shots in the penalty area and five shots on target are all more than any other Palace player, while his seven key passes are second only to the nine of Zaha.

Three of the Eagles' next five matches, against Newcastle United, Wolves and Burnley, score only two in the FDR.

Abdoulaye Doucoure (EVE) £5.6m

Everton’s Frenchman has been among the most consistent performers at the start of the season.

Doucoure highlights v Norwich

The midfielder has blanked in only two of his seven appearances, also producing double-figures on two occasions.

Home meetings with West Ham United and Watford, followed by a trip to Wolves, look promising for managers seeking a short-term pick.

Bryan Mbeumo (BRE) £5.5m

The Brentford star is finding his form ahead of a kind upcoming schedule.

Mbeumo has scored both his goals this season in the last three Gameweeks, netting against Wolves and West Ham.

Listed as a midfielder in Fantasy, he has played as a striker this season, partnering Ivan Toney (£6.3m) in the Bees’ 3-5-2 formation.

From Gameweek 9 onwards, each of Brentford’s subsequent eight matches score no more than three in the FDR.

At a cost of only £5.5m and owned by just 1.3 per cent, Mbeumo could be a key differential for the upcoming period.

Bukayo Saka (ARS) £6.3m

A goal and two assists over the last three Gameweeks highlights the winger’s improving form ahead of Arsenal’s favourable schedule.

Saka’s nine shots in the box over the last four Gameweeks placed third in midfield, behind Liverpool's Salah and Sadio Mane (£11.9m), who had 13 and 12 respectively.

He also created a team-leading eight chances in that period as his influence on the Gunners’ attack continues to grow.

Arsenal play at home in four of the next six Gameweeks, entertaining Palace, Aston Villa, Watford and Newcastle.