With the advent of the Fantasy Premier League draft game, where each manager must selectively pick each member of their team on a round-by-round basis rather than spending a £100million budget, we’ve put together a first round mock draft of the top players and when they should be taken in any reasonable draft with your friends. Here’s a 12-man first round draft – so when it comes to the real thing you can gauge where the value can be had for that all important first pick.
1 Harry Kane
He’s the most expensive player in the game for a reason. Anybody passing on the Tottenham striker in the first few picks is making a major mistake – he’s a dominating fantasy figure and all going well, will net another 20+ goals this season. A must-have in all fantasy formats and for us, a certain #1 pick.
2 Alexis Sanchez
Controversial, maybe, given he supposedly wants away from the Emirates. But Arsene Wenger had doubled-down on keeping Sanchez for at least another year despite his contract expiring next summer. Sanchez isn’t the type of player to hide away and last season was absolutely devastating for Arsenal – scoring 24 goals and assisting 10. Anything close to those totals will make for a great pick at #2 overall.
3 Romelu Lukaku
The Belgian striker got a big move to Manchester United and is now the focal point of the attack, in the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney. He scored 25 goals for Everton last season – don’t be surprised if he matches that in the red shirt.
4 Eden Hazard
Hazard exploded back into form last year after a dismal 2015/16 campaign – scoring 16 goals and assisting another five in the league. Expect that assist number to rise with Alvaro Morata on the end of things, and for the Belgian to pick up the baton now that Diego Costa is out the door.
5 Delli Alli
The Tottenham wonderkid has been so good since breaking onto the scene, and proved that last year with a fantastic 18 goals and 7 assists. He’s only going to get better and has the ability to surpass both totals – which would make for a fantasy superstar and a bargain at the #5 pick.
6 Kevin de Bruyne
There’s a pile of Manchester City players waiting to be picked, but we’re going to plump for the reliable Kevin de Bruyne first and hope to get a decent striker in the second round. His goal creation exploits are extraordinary – assisting 18 goals last season and adding another six himself. De Bruyne should benefit the most from the departure of Jesus Navas and Nolito, plus the pushing on of David Silva, and be the main creative fulcrum in the team – don’t be surprised if he matches or betters last year’s assist haul.
7 Sergio Aguero
There’s a feeling Aguero may be getting pushed out or ignored at City, with the arrival of Gabriel Jesus plus more young talent in and around the attack. But he’s still Sergio Aguero, who’s scored at least 20 goals in each of his last three seasons. The onus won’t be on him as much this year and that could be a good thing – more time to recover and avoid injuries, and more freshness on the field to score goals. His pedigree keeps him above the Brazilian for now.
8 Gabriel Jesus
The Brazilian exploded onto the season last January after his arrival from Palmeiras. He scored seven goals in just 10 appearances for City, adding another four assists. He’s expected to take over the mantle from Aguero and if he can continue that vein of form he showed in last year’s cameo prior to injury, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him score and assist 15 goals each, minimum.
9 Alexandre Lacazette
The first unknown of this mock draft is new arrival at Arsenal, Alexandre Lacazette. The Frenchman arrives from Lyon to much expectation and has looked superb so far during the pre-season. Last season he scores 28 goals in the French league, adding to 21 and 27 the two years previous. He has bags of pace and will be a problem for any defence, creating a dynamic tandem with Alexis Sanchez. It’s definitely worth taking a punt on Lacazette in the top ten at least and see if he can get you 20 plus goals and perhaps half that in assists.
10 Sadio Mane
The Liverpool attacker was sensational last season, scoring 13 goals and assisting five in just 20 games. A full season in full flow and he should broach those totals again, more than likely surpassing his assist haul and being just as deadly in front of goal.
11 Alvaro Morata
Morata arrives from Real Madrid where despite being a bit-part player, scored 15 league goals having started just 14 games. He’s now the main man at Chelsea and is expected to take over where Costa left off. He should flourish in a Chelsea team packed with creativity, but there is still a degree of risk involved considering he’s so new to the Premier League and has never started over 20 leagues games in a season. It’s a risk worth taking late in the first round, though, for sure.
12 Christian Eriksen
Christian Eriksen may not have the big-name appeal of some others in the first round, but he’s Tottenham’s main assist provider and has been a beacon of consistency ever since joining the Premier League – assisting 15 and 13 goals in each of his last seasons, plus scoring 31 in total since he joined from Ajax. Another 15 minimum should be expected along with at least eight goals, making him a viable first rounder if you’re picking this late in the draft.
