Whether you're competing against friends, family, workmates or a complete bunch of randoms, there's nothing quite like finishing top of the pile and claiming the bragging rights. Every season, we want to have the edge in our fantasy football game of choice and I've listed below some of the players worthy of consideration at this stage.
EVERTON
This is a team who constantly punch above their weight, meaning their players often great value in fantasy football games. JOLEON LESCOTT was gold last season, forming part of a stubborn Toffees defence and scoring plenty of goals. The likes of LEIGHTON BAINES and PHIL JAGIELKA are cheaper alternatives, while I am a big fan of TIM CAHILL who is listed as a midfielder in most games but will play the supporting striker role. YAKUBU should also be good for around 15-20 goals next season.
FULHAM
Defensively, you wouldn't want to touch them with a bargepole after last season, while they were hardly full of goals either! CLINT DEMPSEY was a good cheap enabler last term, although the American is unlikely to play in a striking role this time around, while new boy ZOLTAN GERA will get goals from midfield. DANNY MURPHY also takes a mean free-kick, although they are short of striking options.
HULL
The Tigers are still on the recruitment march, although GEOVANNI notched three goals for Man City last season, despite only making two league starts. Can DEAN WINDASS enjoy a final hurrah in the Premier League? It’s unlikely but he’s dirt cheap for that extra striker slot, while NICK BARMBY also has an abundance of top-flight experience and could pick up some decent points. The defence are probably best avoided.
LIVERPOOL
Lots of interesting possibilities here. Defensively, you might expect the Reds to be as good as anyone, so PEPE REINA and JAMIE CARRAGHER would seem obvious picks. We all know that Rafael Benitez likes to rotate, so the above two are the only current bankers, although ANDREA DOSSENA should expect plenty of games too. In the midfield, STEVEN GERRARD is a red-hot pick, especially if played in an advance central role, while FERNANDO TORRES is already proving popular with fantasy league players. Worth noting that the Spaniard was rotated a fair bit at the start of last season. This could also be the season that RYAN BABEL makes a name for himself.
MAN CITY
It’s well worth considering a City defender or two, especially with MICAH RICHARDS and RICHARD DUNNE making a formidable centre-half pairing. VEDRAN CORLUKA is also a class right-back and keeper JOE HART could be England keeper by the end of the season. New signings are imminent, although MARTIN PETROV was an assist machine last year, while ELANO will be the likely set-piece taker for the Citizens, although does blow hot and cold.
See our Arsenal, Aston Villa, Blackburn, Bolton and Chelsea Fantasy Tips
See our Everton, Fulham, Hull, Liverpool and Man City Fantasy Tips
See our Man United, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Portsmouth and Stoke City Tips
See our Sunderland, Spurs, West Ham, West Brom and Wigan Fantasy Tips