The Scout assesses the prospects of the latest batch of players to be added to 2024/25 Fantasy Premier League.
Niclas Fullkrug (WHU) £7.0m forward
West Ham United's Fullkrug looks set to add competition to the mid-price forward bracket in 2024/25 Fantasy Premier League after signing from Borussia Dortmund.
The Hammers' new forward arrives after scoring 12 goals and providing eight assists in 29 Bundesliga appearances last season.
Fullkrug added three goals and three assists in 12 UEFA Champions League appearances last campaign, further underlining his all-round attacking potential. On top of that, he has scored 13 goals in 21 matches for Germany.
His strength in the air certainly suggests West Ham will adopt a different approach under new head coach Julen Lopetegui in 2024/25.
It also indicates there’s less chance of Jarrod Bowen (£7.5m) playing up front like he did on a number of occasions under David Moyes last season.
Ultimately, though, the early schedule is very much against the Hammers. According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), they are one of only two sides - along with promoted Leicester City - who do not have a single match rated at only two across the first four Gameweeks.
On the upside, Lopetegui’s side will embark on a very favourable run of opponents around Gameweek 6, which can also bring Bowen, Mohammed Kudus (£6.5m) and possibly new winger Crysencio Summerville (£6.0m) into contention.
Fantasy managers can allow Fullkrug the chance to settle, and target players with better early fixtures instead, such as Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz (£6.0m), who faces promoted pair Leicester and Ipswich Town in Gameweeks 2 and 3 respectively.
Other additions
Fullkrug is one of two West Ham players who have been added to FPL on Wednesday. Defensive midfielder Guido Rodriguez, who won the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina, is priced at £5.0m.
Overall, 22 players have been added to Fantasy since the 2024/25 game launched on 17 July.
