Premier League Fantasy Football 2013-14: 5 Best Players So Far This Season
As domestic football takes a back seat to make way for the November international break interlude, now is a good time to ponder and mull over what we've learnt so far.
Almost one-third of the way through the English Premier League season, many pre-season prophecies have not come to fruition.
Arsenal and Liverpool have surprised many with their successful aesthetically-pleasing brand of football, Jose Mourinho's second coming at Chelsea has not turned them into the juggernauts many thought they would be, whilst David Moyes' arrival at Manchester United has.
At the bottom of the table, Stoke City, Sunderland, Norwich City and Fulham have all dallied closer with the dropzone than they would have wanted.
But what players have performed admirably in the fantasy football stakes? Let's take a look at the five individuals who, if not already, you should have in your team.
This list is not decided by those who have grossed the most points, but instead those who represent good value for money. This will be evident through consistent point-scoring performances as well as an increase in their value from the start of the season.
Fantasy football stats from Fantasy Premier League.
Tim Howard
1 of 5
Position: Goakeeper
Club: Everton
Fantasy Price: £5.5m
Fantasy points so far: 59
Now in his tenth season in the EPL, Tim Howard is more renowned for his time at Everton than he is for the three years he spent at Manchester United.
Under Roberto Martinez, installed in the summer as David Moyes' successor, Everton have cultivated a swashbuckling brand of football. Currently in sixth place and having lost just one game, they have shaken off the tag of perennial slow starters.
And the stats support this assertion: With an average possession of 58 percent, they also boast an 84-percent pass success and manage 14 shots per game.
In an interview with The Independent's Sam Wallace last weekend, the reliable and impressive Phil Jagielka, Howard's captain and colleague, inferred that this season Everton have thrown caution to the wind. Wanting to outscore and outplay the opposition, the Toffees may perhaps sacrifice a clean sheet.
It would appear, however, that nobody informed Tim Howard that this was the case: The American No. 1 has kept six clean sheets in 11 games.
In fact, the ten goals that that they have conceded is the same amount leaked by Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea—three of the League's top four teams—is testament to the never-say-die attitude that their bearded shot-stopper exudes.
Priced at just £5.5 million, he has accrued the most points of any goalkeeper and is cheaper than Liverpool's Simon Mignolet, Manchester United's David de Gea and Tottenham's Hugo Lloris.
Dejan Lovren
2 of 5
Position: Defender
Club: Southampton
Fantasy Price: £5.8m
Fantasy points so far: 61
At the turn of the year, when Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement was not yet known and was Arsene Wenger under pressure to sign the big names that the Arsenal faithful craved, Nigel Adkins was ruthlessly sacked by Nicola Cortese, the remorseless Southampton chairman.
With the bespectacled Adkins having delivered back-to-back promotions and ending the club's exodus from the top flight, he was adored by Saints fans. There was outcry when the relatively unknown and unproven Mauricio Pochettino replaced him at Saint Mary's, with his ever-present translator in tow.
However, with Southampton currently in third place—above title favourites Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City—and playing slick, smooth football, there are not many near the Solent who still oppose Pochettino's appointment.
They have drawn away to Manchester United, defeated Liverpool on their own turf and, most recently, hammered Hull City.
Central to this success, at the bedrock of their defence is Dejan Lovren. Signed in the summer from Lyon for €10 million, the Croatian has been ever-present for the Saints.
Having started the season priced at just £5 million, his ascension to £5.8 million demonstrates his rise: Six clean sheets, one goal and one assist is an irresistible return on investment.
Until recently, he had accrued the most points of any defender, but has been since overtaken by Leighton Baines and Jan Vertonghen. However, the fact he is priced at such a low price makes him a valuable addition.
Aaron Ramsey
3 of 5
Position: Midfielder
Club: Arsenal
Fantasy Price: £7.2m
Fantasy points so far: 74
There are not many plaudits left to lavish upon Aaron Ramsey: He is a player who, previously lambasted by Gunners fan Piers Morgan (as expanded upon by The Daily Telegraph's Jeremy Wilson), has experienced a rejuvenation and now looks like a world-class prospect.
The stats speak for themselves: Six goals in 11 appearances (the same amount he had managed in the previous four seasons combined), an 85.6-percent pass success as well as four assists.
This is in addition to three clean sheets, whilst accruing just one yellow card.
There have only been two games when he has not played the full 90 minutes as he helped his team go on a nine game unbeaten run (a sequence ended last weekend by Manchester United).
Midfield is Arsenal's strongest department: Even when bereft of Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arsene Wenger has a wealth of talent at his disposal. It is therefore testament to Ramsey's own talent.
From a fantasy football perspective, if you were still seeking assurances over Ramsey's credentials, look no further than the fact that his value has soared from £5.5 million at the dawn of the season to its current £7.2 million.
If you are not one of the 57.8 percent who has him in your ranks, you should reconsider: The player Arsenal fans call "Rambo" looks set to continue his rampage.
Adam Lallana
4 of 5
Position: Midfielder
Club: Southampton
Fantasy Price: £6.7m
Fantasy points so far: 61
The second Southampton player to feature in this list, Adam Lallana fully justifies his inclusion.
As explored, the Saints are currently riding high: In third place, they had until recently a meaner defence than Bayern Munich, Juventus, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
Although they are not the most prolific team in the League—their 15 goals is tantamount to Swansea's haul, who lie in thirteenth place—Lallana augmentation compensates for this with the guile and craft he possesses to ensure their ascendency continues.
Predominantly operating on the right-hand side of a front triumivirate, the 25-year-old has scored three goals and accrued three assists. This rich vein of form has not gone unnoticed: He is one of three Southampton players to be named in Roy Hodgson's squad for the upcoming friendlies against Chile and Germany.
Third in the list of highest-scoring midfielders, Lallana is above the costlier Steven Gerrard, Eden Hazard, Oscar and Mesut Ozil (namely for the fact he benefits from the seven clean sheets he has contributed towards).
Only 16 percent of participants have made room for him in their team, yet at just £6.7 million he is guaranteed to start every game and is available at a frugal price.
Wayne Rooney
5 of 5
Position: Striker
Club: Manchester United
Fantasy Price: £10.9m
Fantasy points so far: 62
In the frenetic frenzy of the summer transfer window, Wayne Rooney was in the eye of the maelstrom.
As Sir Alex Ferguson headed off into retirement hedonism, in his wake he left one disgruntled striker: According to Ferguson, Rooney had requested to leave the club the day after the club were confirmed champions.
Rooney disagrees with this, or at least his former manager's public airing of it, and a summer of uncertainty followed. The fact that the incoming manager David Moyes once sued Rooney (over comments made in the player's autobiography) looked certain that the England striker would be exiting United.
However, the protracted move to Jose Mourinho's Chelsea never materialised, despite the Portuguese coach's public declarations of affection, and Rooney is still United's undisputed No. 10.
Experiencing a renaissance, the striker has thrived, now entrusted by Moyes as an out-and-out striker (as opposed to being played in the more detached trequartista role by Ferguson, or even out wide).
Five goals in ten games has certainly aided United's cause, dogged by speculation over whether Moyes is the right person to assume control of the club.
He also creates opportunity for others: With 16 chances created, he has provided six assists.
Currently 13.6 percent of participants have Rooney as one of their strikers. This number is less than those who have opted for Robin van Persie and Luis Suarez, despite the fact that both are more expensive and have accrued less points.
