The fantasy football bargain is a thing of pride, an entity that provides disproportionate levels of satisfaction. A hat-trick from an Aguero or a Rooney or a Costa just can't provide that same level of self-gratification as racking up clean sheet points by virtue of a punt on that under-21 defender worth £4.0 million, who's only deputising for an injured full-back.
It's an awesome feeling. It may not be as important for your overall score as that well-placed armband on Eden Hazard, but it tells your mates in your private leagues: "Hey everyone, look at me. I know the Southampton academy better than you and, therefore, I am a better human than you."
But let's not forget that bargains do serve a serious purpose for any fantasy football manager looking to win their mini-leagues. They are the players that allow us to afford more 'armband material' and make upgrades elsewhere, while also acting as 'differentials' due to their largely low ownership. Bargain players are those magical things than can free up that extra cash that lets us swap Roberto Firmino for Raheem Sterling.
That's why we have a position-by-position breakdown on the deals for bargain players out there that will provide real points potential to find where to save those vital pre-season cents
Goalkeepers
There’s not a huge amount of scope here, considering managers really do one of two things.
A: Buy a £5.5 million goalkeeper (such as Courtois, Cech, etc.) and play him every week with a £4.0 million companion for mere bench fodder (£9.5 million total cost) or,
B) Buy a pair of £4.5 million goalies who, between them, rotate to provide a good fixture for your starting 'keeper each week (£9.0 total cost).
However, there is a secret Option C worth considering: A viable goalkeeping duo that costs you only £8.5 million.
This can be done by signing a £4.5 goalkeeper and his substitute 'keeper which, in Norwich's situation, (John Ruddy and Declan Rudd) would amount to that very sum.
This example is chosen very deliberately as Norwich's opening fixtures are amongst the kindest in the league. Barring a double-injury/suspension nightmare, you'll have the guarantee of a player between the posts each week for a slashed rate. It's a viable option if you're feeling the pinch and could really use the extra budget.
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Elsewhere, Julian Speroni is out for the first few weeks and, based on pre-season, Alex McCarthy looks set to be Palace's number one during his absence. He's worth £4.0 million and, while it's another short-term option, it'll ease the financial constraints on the rest of your squad until your budget inflates.
Defenders
This is the part of the pitch where every single manager should be looking to cut down on what they're spending. Finding yourself a crappy defender who's living off clean sheet points earned by less-crappy defenders is the name of the game. A defender worth £4.0 million that's gaining regular starts is the bargain bucket dream here.
Top of the list is Matt Targett (step up Southampton academy enthusiasts). He'll start at left-back if Ryan Bertrand isn't fit in time for the weekend's trip to Newcastle. A short term option, sure, but an utter steal at that price if he can hold onto the role for even a handful of weeks.
West Ham’s Reece Oxford is also well worth monitoring. Another £4.0 million priced defender, he was left out of West Ham’s Europa League squad this week so there’s every possibility Slaven Bilic has plans for the youngster in his Premier League XI.
If you can stump up the extra £0.5 million, we get to the 4.5 defender category which is far more encouraging. You've got the likes of Micah RichardsSebastian Coates, the Bournemouth duo of Simon Francis and Tyrone Mings and, arguably the best in the range, Leicester’s Robert Huth.
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Interestingly, Liverpool’s Joe Gomez played more pre-season minutes than Alberto Moreno at left-back. If he turns out to be Brendan Rodgers’ first-choice in that position, at £4.5 million, he could prove to be an outstanding fantasy acquisition.
At the top of the range, Cesar Azpilicueta (£6.0 million), Per Mertesacker (£5.5 million) and Luke Shaw (5.5) all look to be the best value for consistent game time in their respective defences. They briefly bring us away from our budget theme, but they all provide cheaper alternatives to some of the most expensive defenders in the game.
Honourable mention here to Leandro Bacuna <(£5.0) who looks as if he will be fielded in midfield for Villa at the start of this season. An out-of-position prospect so early in the season? Fantasy football Christmas has come early.
Midfield
The unfortunate thing about midfielders is that you generally pay for what you get. Unlike defenders, they can’t simply slot into position and garner collective points.
So, while you’ll need to spend big money to get explosive returns from midfielders, there are a number of players priced £7.0 million and below that could prove to be shrewd acquisitions.
We'll start with the most talked-about midfielder of the promoted sides, Matt Ritchie. He comes in at £6.0 million, so he fits more into the mid-price bracket rather than the cheap section. However, 15 goals and 17 assists last season is an incredible record even allowing for the level, and that should give owners plenty of optimism in the top flight considering Bournemouth's enticing run of early fixtures.
The Liverpool duo of Jordan Henderson and James Milner also look like they've got bargain potential. If Liverpool can step up their goal scoring game this season, this pair could benefit massively. Henderson is now getting his fair share of dead-ball duties, while Milner looks set to play most games. His 09/10 haul of 184 points (7 goals, 12 assists) suddenly looks within his range again, if Christian Benteke can become an effective enabling target man for the side. At £7.0 million, both Henderson and Milner are cheaper alternatives to Philippe Coutinho and even Adam Lallana.
It's slim pickings for bargains elsewhere in the top sides which isn't much of a concern anyway as most will spend large chunks of their budget on the likes of Hazard, Walcott and Sterling. However, one potential cheap fantasy gem in Arsenal's ranks is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. If his Community Shield goal gets him a starting spot in the side for the start of the season, he's bound to return above and beyond his price tag of just £6.0 million.
Elsewhere, if you fancy Scott Sinclair to party like it's 2011/12 again, he comes in at just £5.0 million and, crucially this year, he's actually going to play football. That can sometimes be important. Victor Wanyama appears to be the best option in the £4.5 million midfielder category. Breaking the 100-point mark is a viable outcome this season despite his deep role and, at that price, it makes him someone who should be near the top of your list for a 'fifth midfielder'.
Jon Buckle / PA Wire/Press Association Images
Elsewhere, Riyad Mahrez looks as if he'll play 'in the hole' for Leicester this season and, with a guarantee of pitch time, there's every possibility he'll make a mockery of his £5.5 million price tag.
Forwards
Every year, the cheap, 'third forward' proves to be a tricky role to fill and, without fail, we all seem to gravitate to a centre-forward who's just been promoted from the Championship after scoring bags of goals. This year appears to be no different as plenty of teams' value forward will be either Watford's Troy Deeney or Callum Wilson of Bournemouth.
They both come into the game at £5.5 million and, with Deeney having scored just one goal more than Wilson in the Championship last year (21), he currently has a higher ownership than the Bournemouth man.
Jermaine Defoe could provide real value at £5.5 million considering the only fit striker he's contending with right now is much maligned Danny Graham.
But the big potential bargain here is a man called Emmanuel Adebayor. If he can link back up with Tim Sherwood at Villa, he'll make his £6.0 million price tag look ridiculous. It's very rare that a striker at this price has real Premier League pedigree. This guy has hit 200 points before and, while he'll probably never hit that again, an Adebayor playing every week is worth far more than the price makes it appear.
Anthony Devlin / PA Archive/PA Images
If you're feeling brave, Newcastle new boy Aleksandar Mitrovic (£6.5 million) and Southampton's Juanmi (£6.0 million) have proven their worth outside of England. Mitrovic looks the likelier to be part of the first team set up immediately as well as being capable of handling the physical nature of the league and is therefore the better option for Gameweek 1. Here's hoping and praying that he's the next Demba Ba...or Papiss Cisse during that half-season when he was actually good.
Of course, if you've taken these excellent tips, then you'll want to put your squad to the test in the Off The Ball fantasy league, or the Team 33 Fantasy League. Or both.
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