The essence of fantasy sport is finding value. Anyone can pick up a great player in round one, the mark of a good fantasy manager is the way they use their picks as the pool grows shallower. Here are 10 players I think could be 'sleepers' – those who may go unheralded on draft day but finish the season as coveted assets.
NB. The key word here is 'value'. Some of these players are already well known, others less so. The key is that I expect them to produce above what might be expected of them, based on public perception of their past performance and other factors.
I've also avoided listing any of the players who have moved club this summer, having covered that ground last week.
Goalkeepers
Ben Foster, Man United – ODR 354, GK rank 20
Van Der Sar starts the year as Old Trafford's unquestioned number one, but injuries and age may take their toll, and even if the Dutchman avoids those, Ferguson will look to give his young star game time against weaker teams. Foster had a 70.9% save percentage in a terrible Watford side, which could only rise behind United's rock solid back four, and should edge out Thomas Kuszack for the primary understudy spot at Old Trafford. If Van Der Sar takes a bad knock, Forster becomes one of the most valuable keepers in fantasy. If not, he still won't hurt you for save percentage.
Craig Gordon, Sunderland – ODR 450, GK rank 36
25 year-old Gordon endured a miserable rookie season in English football, which began with him becoming Britain's most expensive goalkeeper and ended after he had conceded 1.6 goals per game and saved barely 60% of shots. Gordon demonstrated his quality, however, while racking up 80% save seasons for Hearts in the SPL and his 1.1 goal per game average for Scotland's national side.
Having had time to acclimatise to the league, and with the improvements made by Sunderland boss Roy Keane to his defence and midfield, Gordon should become a keeper with fantasy value. There will still be struggles, and he won't break the top 10 GKs, but he could return good value on a late round selection.
Defenders
Glen Johnson, Portsmouth – ODR 36, DEF rank 10
Setting problems with concentration and off-field distractions behind him, last season Johnson finally began to look the player for whom Roman Abramovich wrote his first cheque as Chelsea owner. Johnson tackled more, fouled less, created more and began to exploit the space behind Pompey's five man midfield to whip in crosses and even some shots.
Now 23, Johnson is entering the prime age for a fantasy contributor, and I think that what he may lose in clean sheets this year he could more than make up for in marauding full-back play. He must learn to be more careful with his distribution, but his eye for a diagonal pass will be delighted to rest upon the lanky figure of Peter Crouch leading his side's line.
Alex, Chelsea – ODR 75, DEF rank 27
It remains to be seen which centre back partnership Phil Scolari prefers, but with captain John Terry picking up no fewer than six injuries last season, and veteran Portugal international Ricardo Carvalho not on his top form, I think the burly Brazilian could have a big role to play. With elements of Terry's attitude and Carvalho's ball skills, I think he could add further value by surpassing last season's brace of goals, especially from set pieces floated in by the likes of Deco. He may also have the opportunity to make more tackles following the departure of defensive shield Claude Makelele.
David Wheater, Middlesbrough – ODR 194, DEF rank 63
Not one to break the bank for, stuck in the ongoing re-building project that is Gareth Southgate's Middlesbrough side, but as a later round pick or reserve Wheater could deliver a very nice return. A centre-back in the mould of his boss, the emergence of Wheater was what allowed Southgate to send the superb Jonathan Woodgate south to Spurs last winter.
He can count Fabio Capello among his admirers, and may break into the fringes of the national squad this season. Needs to learn not to give away silly fouls, but only a handful of centre backs will make more tackles.
Midfielders
Stephen Ireland, Manchester City – ODR 71, MID rank 26
As Wales' manager, Mark Hughes brought the best out of young right midfielder Simon Davies; at Blackburn he developed David Bentley from Arsenal misfit to England star – I think there's every chance 'Sparky' completes one more hat-trick with Ireland.
Hughes loves a player who can make a tackle and split a defence, and Ireland has both weapons in his armoury. Ireland's stats from last season beat what Bentley and others like Stewart Downing were producing at that age hands down, and as he turns 21 I back him to extend his passing range and with that lift his attempts created into the very top tier. His tackling is already there.
Lassana Diarra, Portsmouth – ODR 135, MID rank 54
Diarra is only 23, and already at his fourth professional club. That two of the previous ones were Chelsea and Arsenal tells you all you need to know about his talent; his problem has been finding regular time on the pitch. At Portsmouth he will have all he can wish for.
If he stays healthy all season, in Sulley Muntari's former role as chief shield of the Portsmouth back four, Diarra should be amongst the league's top half dozen tackle-makers. If he can improve upon the 3:2 tackle:foul ratio he sported last season, he becomes an elite defensive midfielder. On top of that, however, Diarra has the form to break the top 25 midfielders at creating attempts, and is passing is consistently good too. A breakout waiting to happen.
Vasiriki Abou Diaby & Denilson, Arsenal – ODRs 305 & 257, MID ranks 114 & 98
With Matthieu Flamini gone to Juventus, Gilberto Silva to Panathinaikos and Diarra now at Portsmouth, Diaby (age 22) and Denilson (20) are currently in a pre-season battle to win the holding job alongside Cesc Fabregas in the middle of the Arsenal midfield. If Arsene Wenger can't split them yet, then I won't attempt to either, but whichever gets the job has the potential to become a top 70 fantasy player, as Flamini was last season.
I prefer Denilson's skills, on the evidence of dominant Carling Cup performances against Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle, but Diaby has slightly more experience, and may have the inside track with Wenger. Both are efficient tacklers, with the pace, technique and hugely efficient passing game which comes as standard with Wenger's Arsenal. Diaby, who has been used on the left of midfield as well as the centre, has better long passing, but Denilson is the more prolific ball-winner, who could eventually become the destructive box-to-box force that Patrick Viera was at Arsenal.
Forwards
Florent Malouda, Chelsea – ODR 100, FW rank 22
“I need to give more chances to Malouda because, last season, he didn't play in the same role as he had done at Lyon. I want Malouda the same as he was in Lyon, flying down the wing and getting forward... shooting and scoring goals. He was wasted last season”: So said new Chelsea boss Phil Scolari last week after seeing the Frenchman impress during pre-season.
When on the pitch last year, Malouda was effective – only four players created more chances per minute, for example. He was also hard working, touching the ball every two minutes, more than any other wide man who played as many minutes. At 28, he is old for this list, but if used wisely and often, could convert many sceptical observers with one last big year.
Afonso Alves, Middlesbrough – ODR 335, FW rank 47
In 145 professional club games, Alves has scored 104 goals. Scepticism about his ability to bring that scoring rate to the Premier League was swept aside by Alves, who netted six times in just 650 Permier League minutes after Gareth Southgate paid nearly £13million to bring him from Dutch club Heerenveen. He is a pure goal poacher in the Jermain Defoe mould, often uninvolved in the game for long stretches, but with the positional sense and reflexes to score with frightening regularity.
Next time I will name my top 10 candidates to under-preform and become a fantasy 'bust'.
By Sandy King
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