With the 2018/19 Fantasy Premier League now over, The Scout reviews each position to highlight the players managers should consider for 2019/20.
Forwards
The success of cut-price strikers in 2018/19 could persuade many FPL managers to reconsider their approach next season.
In 2017/18, Ayoze Perez (£6.5m) was the top FPL forward for value, producing 22.5 points per million (ppm) and scoring 124 points in total.
Last season, the Newcastle United attacker, who has been reclassified as a midfielder for 2019/20, was one of four forwards who surpassed that value as yet more budget strikers proved their worth.
Best for value
Raul Jimenez (£7.5m) was the standout candidate.
Starting at £5.5m and ending at £6.9m, the Wolverhampton Wanderers forward provided 26.2ppm for managers in his debut campaign, with 13 goals and 10 assists.
Salomon Rondon (25.1ppm), Callum Wilson (24.3ppm) and Perez (23.1ppm) also delivered huge value for money in the cut-price bracket.
Their performances mark a growing improvement from budget-friendly forwards in FPL.
Value forwards outperform
In 2017/18, only 12 forwards scored 10 or more goals in the Premier League.
The premium picks in FPL dominated this list, with only two of those 12 starting at £7.0m or under.
Last season, however, the less expensive picks were far more prolific.
Nineteen forwards scored 10 or more goals in FPL, of which 12 cost no more than £7.0m at the start of the campaign (see table below).
New season planning
The emergence of more reliable, budget-friendly forwards could play a big factor in shaping squads in 2019/20.
Those who prefer a 3-4-3 formation are likely to target a premium forward such as Sergio Aguero (£12.0m) along with two less expensive strikers.
However, the improved output of cut-price forwards also gives managers the option of investing more money in midfield.
This would allow managers to pair big-hitters like Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) and Raheem Sterling (£12.0m) in a 3-5-2 formation.
And by rotating two form strikers according to the fixtures, they could look to take advantage of the emerging value forwards this season.
Budget forwards with 10+ goals
| 2018/19 forward | Club | Price | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson | BOU | £6.0 | 14 |
| Jimenez | WOL | £5.5 | 13 |
| Murray | BHA | £6.5 | 13 |
| Barnes | BUR | £6.0 | 12 |
| King | BOU | £6.5 | 12 |
| Perez | NEW | £6.5 | 12 |
| Mitrovic | FUL | £6.5 | 11 |
| Rondon | NEW | £6.0 | 11 |
| Arnautovic | WHU | £7.0 | 10 |
| Rashford | MUN | £7.0 | 10 |
| Wood | BUR | £6.5 | 10 |
| Zaha | CRY | £7.0 | 10 |
