The player prices for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) are out for the upcoming 2018/19 season. It is time to start planning your Gameweek 1 lineup now!
As you begin, your roster contains 15 empty slots. You have 100 pounds to spend to transfer in 2 goalkeepers, 5 defenders, 5 midfielders, and 3 forwards. If all positions were created equal, you could just equally divide the money as well, but life is just not that simple. Forwards and midfielders are pricey -- the really good ones, anyway.
It would be easy to divide 15 into 100 (which comes out to 6.6, by the way) and spend that much at every position, but don't do that. You will have great goalkeepers (but you can only play one) and an amazing defense, but you will regret not spending money on the Mo Salahs and Harry Kanes in this game.
Which begs the question: For whom should you break the bank? Who deserves more than their share of the 6.6 cost? To answer this question, let's look at the 10 players who begin the season with a 10.0+ cost:
- Mohamed Salah (LIV) - 13.0: Last year's highest scorer should be this year's highest-priced player, right? The club's system is the same. The personnel is largely the same and, if anything, has only improved. Yes, he will eat up double your budget, but this is probably worth it.
- Harry Kane (TOT) - 12.5: It is weird to see Harry Kane not priced the highest. However, he will still appear in his fair share of lineups. The question (and I'm serious) is this: Will this finally be the year he breaks his August curse and scores a Premier League goal in the opening month? If you say no, wait until September.
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ARS) - 11.0: He played well in the second half of last season, but you should always hesitate a bit on players playing for clubs that have a new manager. His cup-tied status guaranteed him PL playing time, but that's no longer the case. He will probably be good, but there's reasons to pause here and wait for proof.
- Raheem Sterling (MCI) - 11.0: Pep loves him. He played well last year. He's in the prime of his career. This might be a good choice. Just be prepared for that dreaded City rotation. If you keep him all year, though, it won't matter in the long run.
- Romelu Lukaku (MUN) - 11.0: Lukaku is another one of those guys that usually pans out over the course of the entire season, but he will also have frustrating weeks. If you can be patient, you will be fine with Lukaku.
- Sergio Aguero (MCI) - 11.0: Aguero or Lukaku? Neither 11-pound forward feels safe to start the new season. Aguero had a down year with some occasional "up" weeks. Of course, with Jesus next on the list, you really have to wonder whether you want to start here. It will probably take an Aguero hat trick sometime in August for us to take a look.
- Gabriel Jesus (MCI) - 10.5: If the choice is between Aguero and Jesus, Jesus is the more likely pick based on Pep's perceived preference of him. With their prices very similar, though, you will want to keep an eye on this MCI forward situation.
- Alexis Sanchez (MUN) - 10.5: Are you surprised to see him on this list? We are. Alexis will have to prove that he can thrive at United just like he did at Arsenal before we go anywhere near him.
- Eden Hazard (CHE) - 10.5: This is why we are happy about the transfer window closing before the season starts. Will Hazard even be here for GW1? Who knows? The better question is whether or not Chelsea will have a new manager by then.
- Kevin de Bruyne (MCI) - 10.0: KDB never really fully panned out last year, did he? His assist numbers are always great, but you can usually find more points for your money with other (goal scoring) midfielders. As someone who transferred in KDB to start last season and then vigorously defended it for weeks before finally shipping him out, I (Scott) don't plan to repeat that again this year.
Your money is precious. When it comes to the players in the above list, you will want to shop wisely.
