Fantasy Premier League 2013 Week 8: Players Not Worth Their Price Tag

It's said that while form is temporary, class is permanent, yet in the realms of fantasy football a player's pedigree and reputation counts for nothing unless they can make up their profile with points.

With the Premier League now back underway and fantasy managers keen to make ground on every margin possible in an effort to climb the ranks, it's worth considering the true value of the high-class match winners with reassuringly high transfer fees.

Below are four of the the biggest names in the Premier League unworthy of their price tags, and whom players should think on again before adding to their squads.

All prices and stats according to fantasy.premierleague.com

Robin van Persie: £13.9m, 32 Points, Selected by 27.6 Percent

The Dutchman may be the new king of Old Trafford, but in fantasy football a star striker is only as good as their club's form. With Manchester United struggling to provide van Persie with chances and support, he isn't justifying the £13.9m managers must splurge to play him.

Compare his price and points to Olivier Giroud (£9.5m, 53 Points), Loic Remy (£7.7, 42 Points) and Romelu Lukaku (£8m, 33 Points)—at present, United's great grey-haired hope is nothing more than a fantasy football money sink.

Even his erratic striker partner Wayne Rooney is better value at present, coming in at £10.9m for 38 points. Neither forward will be worth their double-figure costs until David Moyes can get the team behind them back on track.

David Silva: £9.3m, 32 Points, Selected by 4.9 Percent

Unfortunately for Manchester City's diminutive genius, the masters of fantasy football care very little for any other measurement of success besides goals and assists.

If key passes and chances created counted, the Spaniard would arguably be one of the most sought-after names in the game for managers seeking to profit from his inventiveness.

Since that's not the case however, Silva is an expensive mistake for any fantasy manager willing to lay down the £9.3m to bring City's playmaker to their club.

Considering that only 4.9 percent of players have continued with the midfielder in their squads however, perhaps the secret is out about his impotency when it comes to fantasy football.

David Luiz: £6.1m, 6 Points, Selected by 8.1 Percent

For a defender, £6.1m is big money. Then again, £6.1m is too much for just six points from any position.

Luiz is a popular figure with Chelsea fans a growing number of neutrals who enjoy his rather jolly approach to life as a professional footballer and unlikely long-range goal threat from centre-back.

When it comes to fantasy football, however, flair does little to boost a defender or any player's points tally. With Jose Mourinho often keeping the Brazilian at arm's length when it comes to team selections and trust, Luiz just doesn't make sense as a high-priced fantasy football centre-back.

Joe Hart: £6.4m, 30 Points, Selected by 9.6 Percent

Hart is the official Premier League fantasy football game's joint most expensive goalkeeper alongside Petr Cech, but neither players seem worth the fee associated with their services when you consider who is ahead of them in terms of points won.

For just £4.7m, Southampton's Artur Boruc has generated 45 points, while Hull City's £4.5m-rated Alan McGregor has so far brought home 40 points to those canny enough to make him their very last line of defence at the back.

While Cech's points also look low for his value, the Czech shot-stopper has remained consistent on an individual level, and once Chelsea find their feet he should rocket up the list of high-scoring keepers.

On the other hand, Hart has become a rags-to-riches story in reverse when it comes to form. In fact, England's No. 1 may find his position at Eastlands under threat if his calamitous ways continue to cost Manuel Pellegrini's title chasers points.

Come January, the Premier League's fantasy football managers may have a new high-cost goalkeeper in the City ranks to sink their millions into.

Iker Casillas, anyone?