Fantasy Premier League 2020/21 – Unearthing the new and improved budget superstars

Goalkeepers:

It’s here, that you’ll find this season’s budget men in the form of Matty Ryan and Alex McCarthy especially given the form they ended last season in. Both men have been touted to do rather well this season and given that they averaged 117 and 79 saves respectively, they’re good options. Not only that, but both men also hit triple figures which is a massive bonus for the Saints’ keeper McCarthy when considered that he did it in 28 appearances.

Defenders:

It’s the end of an era with Lord Lundstram now classified as a midfielder and at a £5.5m, he does qualify as a budget option. But that’s a discussion for another section and yet, it’s unlikely we see something as magnificent as that once again. However, unlike goalkeepers, there are quite a few options in defence and Crystal Palace’s Nathan Ferguson (£4.0m) is one to look out for. He may not score as many but many have touted Ferguson to replicate what Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.5m) once did for the Eagles.

Another trio that deserves a place on the watchlist, or a team if you’re a risk-taker, is Jarrad Branthwaite (£4.0m), Ryan Fredericks (£4.5m) and Dan Burn (£4.5m). All three did play a decent chunk of minutes last season but out of the trio, only Branthwaite looks like he might struggle to do the same this term. The youngster was brought in as cover for Mason Holegate (£5.0m) and Yerry Mina (£5.5m) but with both fully fit again, competition is tough.

The other two (Fredericks and Burn) should be locked in barring any injury concerns and Brighton’s defense is decent. West Ham and Fredericks, on the other hand, is a bit of a concern for those looking for consistency. It’s a risk either way.

Now given that the most expensive midfielders sit around the £12m mark, the budget boys sit around half that or less if there are options worth keeping below that. And it all starts with good ol' Tomas Soucek (£5m) and no, the price isn’t a mistake. Somehow, the man who pillaged 13 goals for Slavia Prague and then scored three more in Project Restart, is the man to pick. Soucek proved to be a great asset for the Hammers post lockdown and played a key role in keeping them up.

That does make him a surefire starter, barring something major happening to the club and he’s just the start. Mr Electric Allan Saint-Maximin walks into the room priced at a very reasonable £5.5m which is a £0.5m discount on his price from last season. He wasn’t prolific (3 goals and 5 assists) but with a little consistency, he could be a lethal man especially given that he's now in Steve Bruce's good-books.

But had luck gone his way, and points, then his tally would have placed him alongside Mason Mount and the powerful Adama Traore. Plus, we all know just how deadly, old Prowsey is from a dead-ball which does mean more chances for goals and assists. Others to watch out for are Eberechi Eze (£6m), Dwight McNeil (£6m), Miguel Almiron (£6m) and Jonjo Shelvey (£5.5m) although Eze is the pick of the lot. The man scored 14 goals and created eight more for teammates in a QPR shirt in the Championship last season and effectively transformed the London side. Can he do it again for another London side? We’re hoping so.

Forwards:

One man who certainly fits that is Callum Wilson (£6.5m) and the former Bournemouth man is back, this time with Newcastle United. It looks like a great pairing especially given that Dwight Gayle (£6.0m) is injured and that leaves Steve Bruce with Joelinton (£6.0m), Yoshinori Muto (£5.0m) and Andy Carroll (£5.5m). Not exactly world-class options which does make Wilson a cut above the rest and possibly the most consistent goal-threat for the Magpies. His worst is a 102 point season and his best borders at 170, which at either end makes him better than anything Bruce has got right now.

Brighton’s Neal Maupay (£6.5m) is also an option especially after the debut season he had with a decent tally of 131 points with Michail Antonio (£6.5m) also everpresent. The question for the Hammers man to answer, however, is whether he can keep it up beyond Project Restart especially since us FPL managers have other options, cheaper options. Rodrigo (£6.0m) has signed for Leeds and has shown a penchant for scoring goals in Spain but can he replicate that? Then there’s the great Aleksandar Mitrovic (£6.0m), who is back for another spell in England and once again, he thrived in the Championship.