By Neil Leverett
- New Fantasy Premier League season continues this weekend
- Every Gameweek we pick a budget forward, midfielder and defender
- Watford, Brentford and Liverpool offer up bargain picks for Gameweek 2
PREMIER LEAGUE – With starting XIs looking clearer after opening weekend, which players could preserve your kitty for Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 2?
So you want to bring in Romelu Lukaku (11.5) for his Fantasy Premier League debut in Gameweek 2? These players could help you juggle your FPL finances this weekend.
Forward: Cucho Hernandez (5.0)
As Watford made a winning start to the Premier League life under Xisco Munoz, the Hornets’ attacking unit impressed against Aston Villa and as the man who scored what turned out to be the decisive goal last weekend, Cucho Hernandez looks poised to be unleashed for Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 2.
Following Watford’s electric start that saw them open up a 3-0 lead courtesy of goals from fellow debutante Dennis Bonaventure and Anfield-linked Ismaila Sarr, the Hertfordshire side were forced to cling on to their advantage following the Villans’ late show at Vicarage Road.
Finally making his Premier League debut last week, Cucho netted off the bench within 60 seconds of taking the pitch for the stricken Bonaventure, scoring with a rocket from outside the box, as he claimed a bonus point also.
Having been officially on the Watford books for the past four seasons, the 22-year-old Colombian has been unable to get a work permit to play in England since 2017, but has impressed on loan in Spain with Huesca, Real Mallorca and most recently, Getafe.
Catching the eye for Huesca between 2017 and 2019 in particular, the speedy South American netted 20 goals for the Aragon outfit, and has similar traits to that of Eduardo Vargas, the Chilean striker who briefly flourished at QPR some seven seasons back.
With Bonaventure a remaining doubt with a knock this weekend, the Colombian could be set for the starting XI, and running at a Brighton defence that looks steady, Cucho will however, put the cat amongst the pigeons on the South coast.
At just 5.0, his existing 1.4% ownership – but steadily climbing – could be handsomely rewarded.
Midfielder: Bryan Mbeumo (5.5)
Brentford made a dream start to life in the Premier League last Friday night as they humbled Arsenal, but aside from the sterling performances of Ivan Toney and Sergi Canos in particular, Bryan Mbeumo made a sizeable impact.
From early indications, it looks as though Thomas Frank is set to play the Frenchman in support of Toney as a duo in attack as they did in The Championship, which makes Mbeumo a potentially lucrative recruit for FPL.
Indeed, before the Bees took the lead through Canos, Mbeumo broke in on the Arsenal goal and perhaps, with a little more top-flight confidence would have notched the first goal of the new campaign, but wasted his chance.
But there will be more openings to come, there can be little doubt.
A cheaper alternative by 1.0 to the close to 30% owned Toney, his supporting partner in attack can also free up further funds across the team.
Having scored 23 goals in 87 games for Brentford since his arrival in 2019, Mbeumo is sure to test Crystal Palace’s still rather rocky back line in GW2 with his pace and uncanny ability to find pockets of space.
As one of Frank’s key pieces on the field, if the west Londoners can make it a 100% start to life on their return to the top tier, Mbeumo will likely be central to their efforts, and for a paltry outlay.
Defender: Konstantinos Tsimikas (4.1)
If you were one of the 16% or so of FPL managers that had been alerted to the dirt-cheap price of Kontantinos Tsimikas before the new season started last weekend, you would have been greatly rewarded.
Not only did Liverpool’s stand-in left-back claim a clean sheet for Liverpool on his Premier League debut, the Greek continued his impressive pre-season form, as Andy Robertson remains absent with an ankle injury.
Available for a mere £4.0 before GW1, Tsimikas has seen over 267,000 new owners during the past week, and inevitably, his price has already risen by £0.1 and will probably rise again before Gw2’s deadline.
The tenth most-owned player in the game currently, Tsimikas may prove to be a short-term option alone, but registering 1 SOT away to Norwich City last time out, there is every reason to suggest that just like Robertson, the Greek defender could prove to be fantasy gold until at the very least the international break.
With a home game against Burnley this Saturday lunchtime, Tsimikas will be eyeing further spoils at both ends of the pitch.
In the knowledge that The Reds have scored 17 goals home and away against the Clarets during their last seven league outings, Tsimikas should have ample opportunity to impress further, and still at the very base level value for an FPL player.
If you haven’t jumped on this particular FPL bandwagon, you really should.
Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 2 deadline is Saturday, 11:00 UK time.
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