With the 2017/18 Fantasy Premier League ended, The Scout reviews each position to highlight the players managers should consider for 2018/19.
Forwards
A late flurry of points from Ayoze Perez have put FPL managers on alert for the upcoming season.
The Newcastle United striker supplied six goals and two assists over the final eight Gameweeks.
He averaged an impressive 6.8 points per match in that spell.
Starting the season priced at £5.5m, Perez ended the campaign as the top-value forward. His 22.5 points per million were better than any other striker.
The search for value
Perez found the net only twice over the first 30 Gameweeks.
And 53 other players bettered his total of 124 points.
Reliable cut-price forwards who offered consistent points were difficult to find.
Lack of Llorente
In 2016/17, Fernando Llorente was the top-value forward with 146 points. He scored 15 goals in his debut season for Swansea City.
Because Llorente signed for Tottenham Hotspur last summer, FPL managers pinned early-season hopes on his replacement at Swansea, Tammy Abraham.
After scoring twice against Huddersfield Town in Gameweek 8, Abraham was bought by 291,155 for Gameweek 9. A further 215,000 transferred him in for Gameweek 11.
But Abraham scored only one more goal from that point on, returning a mere five for the season.
Only one of the nine forwards to score more than 10 goals this season started at a price of less than £8.5m.
That was Glenn Murray, who began at £6.0m and returned 12 goals for Brighton & Hove Albion.
A change in tactics?
Buying an in-form, inexpensive striker allows managers to free up funds for big spends in attack.
But a lack of reliable options could force managers to reconsider their tactics.
The 3-4-3 formation was previously the most popular formation in FPL.
But nine midfielders and 10 defenders bettered Perez for value.
It could mean a switch to 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 for many managers next season.
Also in this series
Part 1: FPL Lessons: De Gea's season a game-changer
Part 2: FPL Lessons: Burnley battle is key for managers
Part 3: FPL Lessons: Promoted goalkeepers can save seasons
Part 4: FPL Lessons: Chelsea defence still on top
Part 5: FPL Lessons: Liverpool full-backs set to fly
Part 6: FPL Lessons: Cresswell a rare bargain
Part 7: FPL Lessons: Position and price crucial for Salah interest
Part 8: FPL Lessons: Watch out for 'forward' midfielders
Part 9: FPL Lessons: Set-pieces key for midfield bargains
Part 10: FPL Lessons: Kane still the go-to Fantasy forward
Part 11: FPL Lessons: Firmino soars as a forward
