Every new season produces highly owned players who appear in almost every draft. High ownership, however, does not automatically mean a player is a good fantasy pick.
The question here is not how important a player is to his real team. It is whether his price is justified by the fantasy points he is likely to produce.
1. Szoboszlai — £7.0m | 41% owned
Ownership is enormous, but he often plays as a No.8 and therefore operates farther from goal. Set pieces helped his returns last season, but £7.0m is a lot to spend on a midfielder whose fantasy upside depends so heavily on dead balls, especially when Liverpool have more explosive attacking options.
2. Ndiaye — £6.0m | 16% owned
Ndiaye scored only six goals last season. At £6.0m, there are alternatives such as Harvey Barnes and Kevin Schade with stronger attacking numbers, while Everton are not a team you expect to produce huge attacking volume.
3. Enzo Le Fée — £6.0m | 11% owned
This is a different trap. All five of his goals last season came from penalties. Sunderland generate more threat through their full-backs and striker Brobbey, while Le Fée and Granit Xhaka are primarily responsible for controlling the game. Being important to Sunderland does not automatically make him important to your FPL team.
4. Thiago — £8.0m | 18% owned
£8.0m is a premium price. He had a strong club season but looked more average with Brazil, and the price rise reduces his value. With cheaper forwards such as João Pedro and Calvert-Lewin available, I struggle to see him as the best early investment.
5. Luke Shaw — £4.5m | 22% owned
Shaw may look secure for minutes, which explains the ownership, but his fantasy numbers are not especially strong. Despite regular appearances last season, he contributed to only two goals and also produced limited defensive-contribution points.
