Cut-price gems are back in high demand in Gameweek 22 of Fantasy Challenge.
The “Restricted Budget” challenge tasks managers with building a five-a-side squad with a budget of just £25.0m. You can pick one of three formations: 1-1-2, 1-2-1 or 2-1-1.
It’s unlikely that many, if any, of the usual big-hitters will be able to squeeze into this week’s Challenge sides, so Alex Dakers highlights some of the best available budget-friendly buys for the remaining fixtures of the Gameweek.
Remember, you can enter a squad for Fantasy Challenge right up until the final match of the Gameweek kicks off at 20:00 GMT on Monday.
Pick your Fantasy Challenge team NOW!
Sunday
14:00 GMT: Fantasy Challenge deadline
Everton v Spurs
Man Utd v Brighton
Nott’m Forest v Southampton
Everton’s defensive prowess has lapsed again recently but Jordan Pickford (£5.0m) has at least racked up save points in all but one of his last six matches.
Given the Toffees' lacklustre attack, this could be a good week to back Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky (£4.5m) for his first Premier League clean sheet. The same, then, goes for any members of Spurs' makeshift back line, like Radu Dragușin (£4.3m) or Djed Spence (£4.4m). Lucas Bergvall (£4.4m) has also been a bright spark in midfield, starting back-to-back league outings.
Amad (£5.5m) was arguably Manchester United’s stand-out player even before his recent hat-trick heroics. That sole cut-price attacker aside, each of United’s defenders cost £5.1m or less, and the likes of high-volume shooter Diogo Dalot (£5.0m) offer some attacking threat - but they do have just one clean sheet under Ruben Amorim.
That could be promising for Brighton’s Georginio Rutter (£5.1m), who scored off the bench during the week.
Nottingham Forest face the league's bottom side Southampton with Anthony Elanga (£5.3m) boasting six attacking returns in as many matches, while Nikola Milenkovic (£4.8m) and Neco Williams (£4.3m) combine attacking threat with sub-£5.0m starting spots in one of the league’s best defences. Matz Sels (£5.0m), FPL’s top-scoring goalkeeper, also fits nicely into the Challenge budget.
16:30 GMT: Fantasy Challenge Deadline
Ipswich v Man City
Liam Delap (£5.6m) registered three attacking returns in two matches prior to his Gameweek 21 blank and will be eager to score against his former club - especially with the defending champions’ defensive vulnerabilities. Leif Davis (£4.4m) remains a key creative outlet despite his FPL points output drying up over the last few months.
Man City have a similar issue to Arsenal here, with Rico Lewis (£4.6m) - who was benched in Gameweek 21 - the only sub-£5.0m asset who starts somewhat regularly. Otherwise, there are more reliable points-scorers elsewhere on this list.
Monday
20:00 GMT: Fantasy Challenge Deadline
Chelsea v Wolves
Marc Cucurella (£5.2m) ranks third among defenders for goal attempts over the last six matches, scoring one of his two big chances in that time, while Trevoh Chalobah (£4.4m) has netted twice in the same period and could slot straight into Chelsea’s XI after returning from his loan at Palace.
There have been no such recent returns for Enzo Fernandez (£5.0m), who hasn’t scored or assisted since Gameweek 16, but the Argentinian remains a staple in Enzo Maresca’s line-up.
As for Wolves, Jørgen Strand Larsen (£5.4m) twice came close to scoring against Newcastle United in midweek, while attack-minded wing-back Rayan Ait-Nouri (£4.8m) has eight attacking returns so far this season.
