Category Archives: Fantasy Football

Bundesliga Fantasy, Fantasy Football, FEATURED

Bundesliga Fantasy Player Rankings for Matchday 3

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We look at the best players in Bundesliga Fantasy for matchday 3 after the end of the International Break.

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RankNameTeamOpponentValueComments
1Harry KaneFCB@KSV20M
2Lois OpendaRBLvs FCU15MHis two goals against Leverkusen took sellers like me by surprise and even though Union have made a good start this season conceding just once (against weaker teams like Mainz and St. Pauli), I think Leipzig will be very high on confidence after ending Leverkusen's unbeaten Bundesliga streak.
3Deniz UndavVFB@BMG13M
4Tim KleindienstBMGvs VFB12MSleeper pick for a potential goal fest match.
5Marvin DuckschSVW@M0510MJust a hunch that he does well against a Mainz team without Hanche-Olsen.
6Serge GnabryFCB@KSV13MI would bump him higher if he wasn't predicted to play as a wing-back.
7Andrej KramarićTSGvs B0410M
8Maximilian BeierBVBvs FCH12MIt is only time he starts firing with Brandt, Sabitzer and Groß around him but he is still wait and watch for me especially with Heidenheim being in good form.
9Victor BonifaceB04@TSG18M
10Philipp TietzFCAvs STP10MNote: Tietz is not predicted to start anymore by Ligainsider.



Midfielders

 

RankNameTeamOpponentValueComments
1Jamal MusialaFCB@KSV20MGiving him the edge because of the easier fixture but Wirtz is more likely to play the full match than him.
2Florian WirtzB04@TSG20MNote: Wirtz is not predicted to start anymore by Ligainsider.
3Kevin StögerBMGvs VFB15MThe safer option if you are worried about Musiala and Wirtz minutes who played 90 minutes on both of Germany's matches on 8th and 11th. I might not trust Borussia much at home but I trust Stuttgart's current defence even less so I am expecting some goals in this game.
4Vincenzo GrifoSCFvs BOC12MA little skeptical because Bochum's defence has been better than expected and Freiburg's offense has been worse than expected but I still think he might be worth a punt. Bochum have lost each of their last five Bundesliga matches against Freiburg
5Granit XhakaB04@TSG15M
6Xavi SimonsRBLvs FCU17M
7Michael OliseFCB@KSV16M
8Pascal GroßBVBvs FCH11M
9Nadiem AmiriM05vs SVW13MA bit goal reliant but I would still say he has good odds to score in this match.
10Aleksandar PavlovicFCB@KSV12M

Defenders

 

RankNameTeamOpponentValueComments
1Álex GrimaldoB04@TSG20MNew scoring rules but still the same old Grimaldo. Perma-star till the end of the season for me.
2Dayot UpamecanoFCB@KSV12MProbably the best chance at keeping a cleansheet this week.
3David RaumVFBvs FCU15M
4Mitchell WeiserSVW@M0513MA very small sample but he deserves a mention just for being the highest scoring defender so far after Grimaldo. Worth noting he plays Bayern after this week.
5Waldemar AntonBVBvs FCH12MAnton has had a good floor so far and the absence of Nico Schlotterbeck might help him earn more bonus points.
6Jonathan TahB04@TSG13M
7Raphael GuerreiroFCB@KSV14M
8Lukas KüblerSCFvs BOC7MBochum and St. Pauli are the only teams yet to score a goal so far.
9Jeff ChabotVFB@BMG10M
10Lars RitzkaSTP@FCA5M



Goalkeepers

 

RankNameTeamOpponentValueComments
1Robin ZentnerM05vs SVW8MLeads in saves per game after the first two games.
2Jonas OmlinBMGvs VFB10M
3Lukas HradeckyB04@TSG10M
4Gregor KobelBVBvs FCH12MDortmund and Heidenheim are the only teams to not concede so far so one record has to end.
5Noah AtuboluSCFvs BOC9M

Value Rankings

 

RankNamePositionTeamOpponentValueComments
1Jonathan BurkardtFWDM05vs SVW10M
2Paul WannerMIDHDH@BVB8M
3Anton StachMIDTSGvs B0410M
4Nediljko LabrovićGKPFCAvs STP5MCheap and a fair chance he keeps a cleansheet.
5Fabian RiederMIDVFB@BMG9MDoesn't just look like Stöger but plays like him too and scored an amazing free kick last matchday and almost another one later that hit the post. One to keep an eye on.
6Junior AdamuFWDSCFvs BOC6M
7Anrie ChaseDEFVFB@BMG1MOnce again the cheapest starting player.
8Kilian FischerDEFWOBvs SGE6M
9Tom RothMIDFCU@RBL7M
10Max GeschwillDEFKSVvs FCB3MSecond most cheapest starting player.

You can find additional Bundesliga Fantasy resources for the 24/25 season here.

Bundesliga Fantasy, Fantasy Football, FEATURED

Bundesliga Fantasy Player Rankings for Matchday 2

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After the initial impressions from the first matchday, we take a look at the best players in Bundesliga Fantasy in our player rankings for matchday 2.

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RankNameTeamOpponentValueComments
1Harry KaneFCBvs SCF20MFreiburg looked better than expected last week and Bayern worse than expected but this is generally a high-scoring fixture (for Bayern) so Kane at home is one of the safest options this week in my opinion.
2Serge GnabryFCBvs SCF13MWas at his spamming best in the first match with six shots and a goal but deserved more and he could finally be rewarded against Freiburg.
3Deniz UndavVFBvs M0513M
4Andrej KramarićTSG@SGE10MConsidering that Frankfurt shipped the most shots last week (20) against Dortmund, I don't think he is the worst third forward to own this week. The new scoring matrix favours players like him who do everything for the team in attack.
5Tim KleindienstBMG@BOC12M
6Karim AdeyemiBVBvs SVW11MBynoe-Gittens stole the show on matchday 1 but I think Adeyemi could be a cheeky differential this week.
7Victor BonifaceB04vs RBL18M
8Ermedin DemirovićVFBvs M0512MAlternate Stuttgart forward in case Undav still has fitness issues.
9Hugo EkitikeSGEvs TSG12M
10Lois OpendaRBL@B0415M



Midfielders

 

RankNameTeamOpponentValueComments
1Jamal MusialaFCBvs SCF20MMusiala star for the ceiling and Stöger star for the ceiling.
2Kevin StögerBMG@BOC15MBochum did well last week to hold Leipzig to just one goal but even if Borussia don't score at all this week (which I don't totally rule out), I wouldn't be too worried since Stöger is one of the best floor players.
3Florian WirtzB04vs RBL20M
4Michael OliseFCBvs SCF16MNot Stöger but managed to get 200 points without a return last week. If Bayern are able to put three or four goals past Freiburg, there is a good chance he will be involved.
5Pascal GroßBVB@SVW11MStill early but seems like a gem at 11M.
6Granit XhakaB04vs RBL15M
7Julian BrandtBVB@SVW14MI just feel like Groß is more reliable than Brandt fantasy-wise.
8Enzo MillotVFBvs M0511M
9Xavi SimonsRBL@B0417MYou know the midfield options are stacked this week when players like Simons and Amiri are at the bottom of the list.
10Nadiem AmiriM05@VFB13M

Defenders

 

RankNameTeamOpponentValueComments
1Nico SchlotterbeckBVB@SVW14MIf you don't own him this week and for the rest of the season, you are playing the game wrong. The best duel winner in the league by far, the new scoring matrix has made him too overpowered as he had 228 points last week just for winning duels. I think he might be this season's Grimaldo.
2Dayot UpamecanoFCBvs SCF12MSince Bayern full-backs are unreliable in attack, Upa is a safe option with his duels won and forward passes.
3Álex GrimaldoB04vs RBL20MProved again last week that he is far better than Frimpong and was the best player in Bundesliga Fantasy for a reason.
4Jonathan TahB04vs RBL13M
5Lars RitzkaSTP@FCU5MAlso had almost 200 points for duels won last season and costs only 5M. Good chance he even gets a cleansheet this week.
6Jeff ChabotVFBvs M0510M
7Mitchell WeiserSVWvs BVB13M
8Maximillian WittekBOCvs BMG10MNiche differential for those who dare. Bochum will be optimistic of three points here.
9Luca NetzBMG@BOC10M
10David RaumRBL@B0413M



Goalkeepers

 

RankNameTeamOpponentValueComments
1Jonas OmlinBMG@BOC10MMight seem like a boring game on paper but the keepers on both sides might have a lot of shots to save.
2Frederik RønnowFCUvs STP10M
3Patrick DrewesBOCvs BMG7M
4Robin ZentnerM05@VFB8M
5Matěj KovářB04vs RBL4MCheapest starting goalkeeper this week.

Value Rankings

 

RankNamePositionTeamOpponentValueComments
1Paul WannerMIDHDHvs FCA8MRising star for Bayern that is in good form and scored on matchday 1 against St. Pauli and again in the midweek Europa Conference play-off game against Hacken.
2Nediljko LabrovićGKPFCA@HDH5MSecond most cheapest goalkeeper.
3Anton StachMIDTSG@SGE10MEven if he plays as a center-back, he seems like a good floor option.
4Lewis HoltbyMIDKSV@FCU6M
5Anrie ChaseDEFVFBvs M051MMost affordable starting defender.
6Diogo LeiteDEFFCUvs STP9M
7Nicolai RembergMIDKSV@FCU5MMost affordable starting midfielder.
8László BénesMIDFCUvs STP10M
9Maximilian BreunigFWDHDHvs FCA1MMost affordable player that is predicted to start but I am not sure he is worth the forward slot.
10Tim DrexlerDEFTSG@SGE6M

You can find additional Bundesliga Fantasy resources for the 24/25 season here.

Bundesliga Fantasy, Fantasy Football, FEATURED

Bundesliga Fantasy: New Bonus Points System and How it Affects Scoring

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Bundesliga Fantasy is back and in this article we take a look at how the new points system affects scoring in the game.

Bundesliga Fantasy has introduced some new changes for the upcoming season the most notable one being the change in the scoring system. Here are some of the new changes compared to the old system:

 

Old General Scoring Rules

ActionPoints
All PlayersPlayed 1-69 minutes (1)+1
Played 70+ minutes (1)+2
Scoring two goals in the same game+1
Scoring three goals in the same game+3
Scoring the winning goal (2)+1
Winning team+1
Losing team-1
Losing team by 3 or more goal difference-2
Yellow card (3)-1
Yellow-red Card (3)-3
Red card (straight red)-5
Own goal-4
Foul causing a penalty-2
Penalty Miss-3
Converted Penalty (4)+3

 

New General Scoring Rules

ActionPoints
All PlayersPlayed 1-69 minutes+15
Played 70+ minutes+30
Scoring two goals in the same game+20
Scoring three goals in the same game+60
Scoring the winning goal0
Winning team0
Losing team0
Losing team by 3 or more goal difference0
Yellow card-20
Yellow-red Card-60
Red card (straight red)-100
Own goal-80
Foul causing a penalty-40
Penalty Miss-60
Converted Penalty+60
Foul (new)-5
Successful cross (new)+7
Sucecssful pass into final third (new)+1
Successful pass into middle third (new)+1

 

Old Performance Points Scoring System

ActionGoalkeeperDefenderMidfielderForward
Non-penalty goal+10+6+5+4
Assist+10+5+4+3
Every goal conceded-1-100
Every 2 shots on goal+5+4+3+2
Every 2 shots on goal saved+3000
Succesful dribble0000
Every 5 duels won0+2+1+1
Successful long pass0000
Every 2 passes to shot+5+3+2+2
Corner/cross intercepted0000

 

New Performance Points Scoring System

ActionGoalkeeperDefenderMidfielderForward
Non-penalty goal+200+120+100+80
Assist+150+70+60+40
Every goal conceded-20-2000
Goal attempt+40+20+15+13
Saves+30000
Succesful dribble+12+12+7+5
Aerial duel won+12+12+7+5
Ground duel won+12+12+7+5
Successful long pass+3+5+5+5
Shot assist+20+10+7+5
Corner/cross intercepted+10000

 

The new rules offer a higher point potential for positive actions but impose much harsher penalties for negative actions. The system also shifts the focus from team results to individual performances. DNL created a table of what the total points for the best-scoring players from the 23/24 season would look like with the new points changes:

 

 

 

 

Bundesliga Best Crossers

PlayerCrosses per Game
Kevin Stöger2.9
Franck Honorat2.7
David Raum2.6
Joshua Kimmich2.3
Josip Juranovic1.8
Farès Chaïbi1.7
Alex Grimaldo1.7
Christopher Trimmel1.5
Julian Brandt1.5
Andrej Kramaric1.4

 

Bundesliga Best Dribblers

PlayerDribbles per Game
Jamal Musiala3.6
Leroy Sane3.4
Xavi Simons2.6
Florian Wirtz2.5
Alphonso Davies2.4
Chris Fuhrich2.1
Victor Boniface2
Ritsu Doan1.8
Jamie Bynoe Gittens1.7
Manu Kone1.7

 

Bundesliga Most Long Passes

PlayerLong Balls per Game
Manuel Riemann15.4
Kevin Muller9.4
Michael Zetterer8.3
Noah Atubolu7.7
Oliver Baumann7.6
Frederik Rønnow7.4
Robin Zentner7.2
Finn Dahmen6.8
Alexander Nubel5.9
Gregor Kobel5.9

 

Bundesliga Most Passes into Final Third

PlayerPasses into Final Third per Game
Granit Xhaka11.8
Exequiel Palacios9.4
Edmond Tapsoba8.32
Nadiem Amiri8
Angelo Stiller7.78
Joshua Kimmich7.77
Odilon Kossonou7.71
Dayot Upamecano7.55
Xaver Schlager7.13
Leon Goretzka7.07

 

Bundesliga Most Fouls

PlayerFouls per Game
Tim Kleindienst2.7
Ermedin Demirovic1.8
Eric Martel1.7
Mattias Svanberg1.7
Benedikt Gimber1.7
Bernardo1.6
Jens Stage1.6
Matus Bero1.6
Junior Dina Ebimbe1.6
Rolland Sallai1.5

 

Bundesliga Ground Duels Won

PlayerGround Duels Won Total
Anton Stach135
Maximillian Mittlestadt131
Atakan Karazor131
Bernardo123
Nico Schlotterbeck117
Xaver Schlager116
Rocco Reitz114
Benjamin Henrichs111
Kevin Stoger110
Angelo Stiller110

Fun fact: João Palhinha was the best player at winning ground duels in Europe’s top 5 leagues last season with 165.

 

Bundesliga Aerial Duels Won

PlayerAerial Duels Won per Game
Dawid Kownacki6.9
Kevin Behrens6.57
Ivan Ordets6.36
Philipp Hofmann6.34
Anton Stach6.32
Lukas Nmecha6
Tim Kleindienst5.61
Michael Gregoritsch4.87
Stefan Tigges4.69
Keven Schlotterbeck4.61

 

Bundesliga Interceptions per Game

PlayerAerial Duels Won per Game
Anton Stach2.79
Kim Min Jae2.05
Florian Grillitsch2.04
Maximilian Mittelstädt1.97
Rocco Reitz1.86
Ozan Kabak1.81
Lukas Kübler1.80
Danilo Soares1.79
Dominik Kohr1.77
Danny da Costa1.74

 

Most of the data is from whoscored.com but I also used fbref.com and one-versus-one.com as a reference. To keep it simple I excluded players that won’t be playing in the Bundesliga this season.

Final Thoughts

It seems that offensive players will be particularly overpowered this season but there is still some balance for players who aren’t involved directly in goals as often such as Kimmich, Stach, and Palhinha who might be good for their floor.

You can find additional Bundesliga Fantasy resources for the 24/25 season here.

Bundesliga Fantasy, Fantasy Football, FEATURED

Bundesliga Fantasy Player Rankings for Matchday 22

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Just 13 matchdays remain in the Bundesliga Fantasy season and we take a look at the best player picks including differentials that will give your team a boost in the final stretch of the season in our player rankings for matchday 22.

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RankNameTeamOpponentValueComments
1Harry KaneFCB@BOC20.2MBayern's recent form definitely raises questions but if anything, they tend to play better after embarassing losses. And this is the one week where you would want to hoard Bayern players as they have scored an average of 5.2 goals in their last five Bundesliga games against Bochum including three 7-0 wins.
2Leroy SanéFCB@BOC19.4MThe ceiling here is too high to not punt on two Bayern forwards.
3Deniz UndavVFB@SVD12.1MSeems like he is nailed to start while Guirassy is doubtful.
4Lois OpendaRBLvs BMG16.5M
5Niclas FüllkrugBVB@WOB17MFive goals and two assists in his last four games while Wolfsburg haven't won in five games. Good for a sneaky punt.
6Thomas MüllerFCB@BOC13.7MThree Bayern forwards if you are feeling adventurous but I would still like to have some Stuttgart or Leipzig attacking cover personally.
7Patrick SchickB04@FCH11.5MShould be on penalties with Palacios out which gives him a slight boost against the team that has conceded the most penalties so far.
8Andrej KramarićTSGvs FCU15M
9Ermedin DemirovićFCA@M0512.4MHe has quietly returned in four games in a row but I think Mainz' defence is a lot better than people think even if their form suggests otherwise.
10Marvin Ducksch SVW@KOE12.8M



Midfielders

 

RankNameTeamOpponentValueComments
1Florian WirtzB04@FCH19.1M
2Xavi SimonsRBLvs BMG18.1M
3Jamal MusialaFCB@BOC17.4M
4Chris FührichVFB@SVD12.5M
5Joshua KimmichFCB@BOC16.1MOnly worth picking up if you believe that Bayern will score at least four goals in a game. This feels like one of those games.
6Julian BrandtBVB@WOB18.2M
7Jonas HofmannB04@FCH17.1MOn sale if you have an extra midfield spot left for a premium player.
8Dani OlmoRBLvs BMG13.9MWas the first name out of my midfield until I noticed that Borussia is the worst team in the league when it comes to conceding shots. Now I am giving it a thought but I still prefer some of the other midfielders on this list above him this week.
9Vincenzo GrifoSCFvs SGE17.5M
10Jan-Niklas BesteFCHvs B049.9MMassive home game player but the Leverkusen defence is a brick wall that hasn't been breached in the last three games.

Defenders

 

RankNameTeamOpponentValueComments
1Álex GrimaldoB04@FCH16.4MA lock for star for the rest of the season pretty much.
2Jeremie FrimpongB04@FCH19MHis attacking potential is always there but Leverkusen have also kept a cleansheet in their last 5/6 Bundesliga games if you needed another reason to double up.
3Raphael GuerreiroFCB@BOC14.3M
4David RaumRBLvs BMG13.5M
5Maximilian MittelstädtVFB@SVD7.8MA hard decision to rank him over Maatsen in the top 5 since both are equally good but I am giving him a slight edge because Darmstadt are significantly worse than Wolfsburg and haven't scored in their last three games while having only one shot on target in two of them.
6Ian MaatsenBVB@WOB11.1M
7Noussair MazraouiFCB@BOC12.2M
8Mitchell WeiserSVW@KOE11MThe only player I would consider from the early game but the options in defence are really good this week to pick him over someone else.
9Benjamin HenrichsRBLvs BMG13.4M
10Pascal StenzelVFB@SVD4.4MBudget Stuttgart option that rarely starts but when he does he has a weird knack for big scores against bottom teams (MD1 - 25 vs BOC, MD5 - 18 vs SVD and 18 against Mainz last week).



Goalkeepers

 

RankNameTeamOpponentValueComments
1Lukas HradeckyB04@FCH12.4M
2Fabian BredlowVFB@SVD4.1MShould be the Stuttgart #1 for a week or two.
3Manuel RiemannBOCvs FCB7.9MMakes the most saves when he plays the best teams so might be worth a punt on the bench.
4Michael ZettererSVW@KOE2M
5Kevin MüllerFCHvs B046.7M

Value Rankings

 

RankNamePositionTeamOpponentValueComments
1Josip StanišićDEFB04@FCH7.2MTriple Leverkusen defence might sound crazy but it works so it isn't.
2Moritz NicolasGKPBMG@RBL1.7M
3Nadiem AmiriMIDM05vs FCA7.3M
4Max FinkgräfeDEFKOEvs SVW1.8MPotential breakout star that has a high floor and tends to get 8+ even without returns. Koln fans will tell you that he is the next big thing.
5Anthony CaciDEFM05vs FCA5.8M
6Farès ChaibiMIDSGE@SCF8.8M
7Phillip TietzFWDFCA@M058.8M
8Justin NjinmahFWDSVW@KOE3.4M
9Benedict HollerbachFWDFCU@TSG6M
10Pavao PervanGKPWOBvs BVB1.9M

You can find additional Bundesliga Fantasy resources for the 23/24 season here.

Bundesliga Fantasy, Fantasy Football, FEATURED

Bundesliga Fantasy Player Rankings for Matchday 21

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Just 14 matchdays remain in the Bundesliga Fantasy season and we take a look at the best player picks including differentials that will give your team a boost in the final stretch of the season in our player rankings for matchday 21.

Forwards

 

RankNameTeamOpponentValueComments
1Deniz UndavVFBvs M0511.9MScores of 22, 26 and 11 in his last three games while Stuttgart have scored the goals of any team in the same period (8) so Undav seems like a fun punt for this week against a second-to-bottom Mainz who only have one win this season.

The only worry is that Mainz somehow haven't conceded more than one goal in their last 11 Bundesliga games but I guess the streak has to end someday and Stuttgart are well poised to score multiple goals with Guirassy back again.

Update: Undav is now doubtful for MD21.
2Harry KaneFCB@B0420.4MA massive 6-pointer and the best chance that Bayern will have to claim the #1 spot against a tired Leverkusen side. I still think this match can go either way.
3Lois OpendaRBL@FCA18.1M
4Alasanne PleaBMGvs SVD12M
5Leroy SanéFCB@B0419.5MStill on the edge whether I should keep him in my team or not. Should have a decent floor this week if anything.
6Niclas FüllkrugBVBvs SCF16.6MThe most in-form Dortmund forward right now and Freiburg missing both first-choice center backs will definitely help if you are looking for a differential.
7Omar MarmoushSGEvs BOC11.9MKalajdžić is still struggling to fit in and is yet to score, so I prefer Marmoush's all-round game against one of the better set-piece defending teams in the Bundesliga.
8Andrej KramarićTSGvs KOE15M
9Serhou GuirassyVFBvs M0514.6MHopefully we have an update on whether he actually starts or not.
10Marvin Ducksch SVWvs FCH12.7M



Midfielders

 

RankNameTeamOpponentValueComments
1Xavi SimonsRBL@FCA16.2MOn an insane run of nine games in a row with a double-digit score, so Simons is as safe as it gets when it comes to the star pick.
2Julian BrandtBVBvs SCF18.2M
3Chris FührichVFBvs M0512.5M
4Florian WirtzB04vs FCB19M
5Dani OlmoRBL@FCA13.8M
6Kevin StögerBOC@SGE11.2MStöger with his floor is still a more reliable fantasy pick for me than Chaibi and hoping that he has a ceiling game.
7Jamal MusialaFCB@B0417.5M
8Jan-Niklas BesteFCH@SVW9.5M
9Jonas HofmannB04vs FCB19MDoubtful whether he starts after the Pokal game.
10Rolland SallaiSCF@BVB10MWill play OOP as a striker.

Defenders

 

RankNameTeamOpponentValueComments
1Alejandro GrimaldoB04vs FCB14.4MConflicted because this feels like the one week I should move my star to someone else but I can't look beyond the fact that his lowest score in the last 11 matchdays is 14.
2David RaumRBL@FCA13.2M
3Maximilian MittelstädtVFBvs M057.4MMainz might have a good defence but they have only scored three goals in their last six games.
4Ian MaatsenBVBvs SCF10.7M
5Jeremie FrimpongB04vs FCB19M
6Benjamin HenrichsRBL@FCA13.3M
7Aurélio ButaSGEvs BOC8.1M
8Luca NetzBMGvs SVD7.9MBorussia have conceded the most shots and the most goals after Darmstadt but I am slightly optimistic about their defence this week as Darmstadt have failed to score in three of their last four games.
9Robin GosensFCUvs WOB11.6M
10Noussair MazraouiFCB@B0412.3MThe best option from Bayern's defence considering that Davies is out and Guerreiro might start over Boey. Still don't think I would want him against the second-best attack in the league even if they are worn out.



Goalkeepers

 

RankNameTeamOpponentValueComments
1Alexander NübelVFBvs M057.1M
2Moritz NicolasBMGvs SVD1.7M
3Michael ZettererSVWvs FCH2.2M
4Kevin MüllerFCH@SVW6.7M
5Oliver BaumannTSGvs KOE10M

Value Rankings

 

RankNamePositionTeamOpponentValueComments
1Rocco ReitzMIDBMGvs SVD3M
2Maximilian BeierFWDTSGvs KOE7.9M
3Jamie Bynoe-GittensMIDBVBvs SCF7.8M
4Tim SkarkeMIDSVD@BMG5.3M
5Jan ThielmannMIDKOE@TSG5.6MPredicted to play OOP as a striker.
6Felix AguDEFSVWvs FCH2M
7Nadiem AmiriMIDM05@VFB7.2M
8Omar TraoréDEFFCH@SVW1.2M
9Pavao PervanGKPWOB@FCU2.1M
10Sven UlreichGKPFCB@B043.8MMight sneak a start over Neuer who is doubtful.

You can find additional Bundesliga Fantasy resources for the 23/24 season here.

AFCON Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football, FEATURED

AFCON Fantasy: Quarter-Final Preview – Top Captain Picks and Differentials

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AFCON progresses into the quarter-finals with the final eight teams ready to battle it out for Africa’s biggest prize. TheFPLManual reveals top captain picks and differentials to consider for the remaining rounds of AFCON Fantasy.

Senegal ❌, Morocco ❌, Cameroon ❌, Egypt ❌ and now top ranked nation in Africa, Morocco got eliminated last night to South Africa. If AFCON 2023 isn’t the best one yet, it will surely be remembered for the series of upsets football fans have witnessed each game week. Let’s take a look at the top performers from the last round

 

 

AFCON MATCHDAY 4 TOP PERFORMERS

  1. Gelson Dala: The 4.8m forward impressed with two goals and an assist leading as the top-scoring AFCON  fantasy asset in the last round, accumulating 17 points for the Palancas Negras.
  2. Ademola Lookman: The Nigerian attacker secured two goals in a significant clash against Cameroon and finished with a total of 15 points.
  3. Ryan Mendes: Singled-handedly completing 11 duels won and scored the winning goal from the spot for the Blue Sharks, Mendes finished with total of 11 points.
  4. Bertrand Traore: Contributed a late penalty goal for the Stallions, accumulating a total of 10 points.
  5. Hamari Traore: Mali’s captain provided an assist for teammate Sinayoko, delivering a solid performance for the Eagles.
  6. Calvin Bassey: Scoring a whooping 11 points, the Nigerian defender completed an impressive 13 duels in the clash against Cameroon, provided an assist and secured a clean sheet for Nigeria.
  7. Fredy: Notched two assists, two key passes, and won four duels, playing a crucial role in helping Angola secure a win against Nambia.
  8. Kialonda Gaspar: The Angolan defender was fantastic behind for the Palancas Negras completing six duels won, seven CBIs and securing a clean sheet, finishing with eight points.

 

AFCON FANTASY TOP CAPTAIN PICKS

 

Victor Osimhen 12.1m 🇳🇬

TSB: 72% ownership

Despite scoring one goal since MD 1, the Nigerian striker has maintained an impressive average of 3.79 shots per 90 in his last four AFCON 2023 appearances. Contributing significantly to the Super Eagles’ attacking transitions, Osimhen provided an assist and completed 11 duels won in the clash against Cameroon. With his goal-scoring potential ready to manifest, Victor Osimhen could rise to the occasion and improve his goal conversion, which could lead Nigeria to the next round. I believe he is due a goal or two, and I still tip Osimhen to challenge for the top goal scorer before AFCON 2023 concludes on 11th February.

 

Ryan Mendes 6.9m 🇨🇻

TSB: 25% ownership

Having topped Group B in the group stage, Cape Verde is prominently labelled as the “dark horses” of AFCON 2023. In his last four AFCON appearances, The Blue Sharks captains has amassed an xG of 1.34, scoring two goals and providing an assist for his nation. After converting the last penalty against Mauritania in the last round, Ryan Mendes brings an additional feature of penalty duty to owners and is poised to accrue extra points for owners. Additionally, I have observed a consistent trend of Mendes winning duels for his nation, contributing an average of 5.75 duels completed in this competition. About to face South Africa, I tip Mendes as one of the top players to captain for the Quarter Finals.

AFCON FANTASY TOP DIFFERENTIALS (<10% Ownership)

 

Stanley Nwabali 4.7m 🇳🇬

Since making his first competitive appearance in Matchday 1 against Equatorial Guinea, Nwabali is the only goalkeeper in this contest to have conceded just one goal, keeping three clean sheets in his last four appearances. With eight saves so far, the Super Eagles’ goalie has amassed a save percentage of 88.9%, second only to Mali’s goalkeeper Djigui Diarra with 90.9%. However, there seems to be some injury concern around the Nigerian keeper after he was subbed off in the 77th minute in the clash against Cameroon. Nwabali is now back in training and could be ready for the upcoming game against Angola this Friday. With just 8% ownership and a great save rate, I nominate the Nigerian goalie as one of my major differentials heading into the Quarter Finals. 🧤

 

 

Mohamed Bayo 6.1m 🇬🇳

In 3 out of 4 starts for Guinea, Mohamed Bayo has showcased his impact by scoring two crucial goals. His recent late winner in Matchday 4 was a decisive factor that led to the elimination of our favored Equatorial Guinea fantasy assets. Delving into the statistics, according to FBRef, Bayo impressively averages 1.24 shots per 90, boasting a remarkable 57.1% shot on target rate. Currently ranking 15th for most shots on target per 90 minutes, he appears to be more clinical than some top forwards, including our top captain Osimhen.

While there are concerns within the fantasy community about Guirassy potentially affecting Bayo’s minutes, considering Bayo’s form and his ability to shine in significant matches, I predict Mohamed Bayo to be one of the main strikers to score in the Quarter Finals against DR Congo.

 

Honorable Mention

Themba Zwane 5.6m 🇿🇦

With two goals and an assist in his last four AFCON appearances, the South Africa attacker has elevated himself to become one of the top-scoring midfield options in AFCON Fantasy. This impressive performance has propelled his score tally to 27 points, placing him joint-highest with Ademola Lookman of Nigeria.

BONUS SECTION: Q & A TIME ❓

In concluding this article, I got a question from an X user @mlupescu0509 and he wanted to know who are the best options to get as he still has the Wildcard chip available and is trying to create the perfect draft.

 

With all the major favourite nations out, AFCON Fantasy managers are left with lots of cash in the bank but just a small pool of players to select from. If I were to play my wildcard ahead of the Quarter Finals, this team below would likely be my best draft squad:

 

Notes:

  1. Gelson Dala and Mabululu remain solid choices but Nigeria’s robust defense may neutralize Angola’s fiery attack. Bayo emerges as a budget-forward option in this context.
  2. Haller’s return against Senegal indicates his readiness to contribute significantly to his nation’s advancement in the contest.
  3. Prioritize players who are penalty takers with Kessie, Tau, Mendes, and Osimhen fitting into this valuable category.
  4. An in-form Ademola Lookman becomes a template option following the exits of Mane and Sarr. Lookman’s confidence especially after a brace against Cameroon suggests he can find the scoresheet again.
  5. While Nwabali and Vozinha are strong goalkeeping options, Djugui Diarra remains a solid pick with an impressive save percentage of 90.9.
  6. Masuaku from DR Congo is the sole recommendation from their squad, as there is hesitancy in trusting their attacking options. However, Wissa remains a viable choice on paper if that direction is preferred.
  7. Stay vigilant for injury updates, particularly on players like Haller and Nwabali, who might not be 100% ready to start.

That brings me to the end of this article. Feel free to share this with your friends and other AFCON Fantasy Managers to aid in their decision making.

You can find additional AFCON 2024 Fantasy resources here.