Fantasy football tips: Best team names, player prices, bargains and how to sign up ahead of the new Premier League season
Earth to fantasy football players - it's time to get your act together ahead of the big day.
Arsenal and Leicester get the campaign underway TOMORROW and the new Dream Team game will be more than ready for it.
Dream Team 2017/18
How does the game work?
- This year's fantasy football game is absolutely FREE for all players to play
- The total prize pot is an approximated £750,000
- Game Weeks will run from Friday to Thursday
- £50m budget on 11 eligible players
What's different to fantasy football this season?
Well the main change between Dream Team this season and last season is that entry is absolutely free for all managers, with the golden prize pot at the end of the shiny rainbow an eye-popping £750,000.
There's also a massive shake up on the Game Week front, with Game Weeks running from Friday to Thursday in 2017/18.
Which players should I pick?
Alexis Sanchez was the game's top points scorer in 2016/17 after a stunning individual season for Arsenal, scoring 29 goals and racking up 13 assists in all competitions.
But the Chilean had the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sergio Aguero and Christian Eriksen hot on his heels for the accolade.
What will Liverpool new boy Salah bring to Dream Team?
- 15 goals and 11 assists in Serie A for Roma last season
- Had a higher rating (7.48) than Paulo Dybala (7.46) in Italy last season
- Quick, nippy winger with a point to prove after failed spell at Chelsea
Attacking players, by virtue of actually putting the ball in the back of the net, tend to score juicier points wise, but clean sheets are just as important so you can't neglect the trusty goalkeepers who have been dominating fantasy football either.
Harry Kane has been revealed as the most expensive player on the Dream Team game this season at £8m, with Sanchez (£7.5m), Aguero (£7m) and Eden Hazard (£7m) not far behind.
Which fantasy football team names are the most popular?
Team names have become almost as important as picking winning sides in recent years, with the punnier the better the general perspective.
So whether it’s Giroud Sandstorm, Neville Wears Prada or Teenage Mutant Ninja Skrtel, check out our foolproof list to help you decide.
What other games can I play?
The standard Dream Team season game remains the bread and butter, but Dream Team Weekender and Dream Team Europe are also back in 2017/18.
Weekender sees you pick seven players from just the Saturday and Sunday fixtures on a weekly basis, with smaller cash prizes at stake.
The Europe game will return, as normal, when the Champions League and Europa League reach the knockout stages in February 2018.
Which new players are on the game and how much will they cost?
Premier League clubs have been extremely busy getting deals done already this summer, with some of the fees agreed simply eye-watering.
While Romelu Lukaku's mega move to Manchester United isn't likely to be beaten financially, Alexandre Lacazette's arrival at Arsenal might cause the biggest waves.
What will Lacazette offer on Dream Team?
- Highest rated player (7.57) in France last season
- 28 league goals in as many appearances for Lyon
- 61 points on Dream Team Europe after helping Lyon reach the semi-finals of the Europa League
Liverpool have splashed the cash on former Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah while Manchester City, as always, have loosened the purse strings again.
Every new signing will be added to the Dream Team game, with Lacazette priced at an intriguingly cheap £5m.
What else do I need to know?
Remember Dream Team stands above it’s competitors because it factors in every single competition in the season – not just the Premier League.
That means you’ll have to have your wits about you in the League Cup, FA Cup, Champions League and Europa League too when selecting your players.
Head to Head leagues and Mini Leagues will also be back so you can beat your mates and earn those all important bragging rights.
Who are the best bargains?
While we'd all like to be able to pick a team of superstars, that £50m budget means you also need to have an eye for a cheeky bargain.
This season there are quite a few intriguing options available, with Vincent Kompany (£3.5m) and Ander Herrera (£3.0m) both at eye-catching prices.
In attack, West Ham new boy and Manchester United favourite Javier Hernandez is £3.5m which seems like pennies for guaranteed goals.
Why is Sergio Aguero such a fantasy football legend?
It says a lot about the depth of the Manchester City squad that one of the Premier League’s deadliest ever strikers isn’t a guaranteed starter.
The arrival of Gabriel Jesus in January cast Sergio Aguero’s future into doubt, but the Argentine hitman still managed his best ever scoring last season since arriving in England in 2011.
When he’s fit he’s lethal and while Guardiola may prefer Jesus in the long run, partnering the two together seems a devastating possibility for the title favourites.
Aguero’s record in Europe and domestic cup competitions means he has to be considered for your Dream Team again this season.
Is Jay Rodriguez the fantasy football bargain of the season?
Keeping with bargain Baggies, you can’t argue with £2m for Rodriguez.
Considered one of the most exciting English forwards around not too long ago, a couple of lengthy injuries and a lack of game time has somewhat stunted the former Southampton man’s rise.
But a £15m move to West Brom this summer could be exactly what the doctor ordered.
A stunning goal against Leicester in pre-season tells us he’s more than capable of leading the line for Tony Pulis’ side, while West Brom’s favourable start to the season sees them up against just one of last season’s top eight in the opening eight Gameweeks.
Is a fantasy football new boy the hottest Premier League player right now?
Purists will tell you - and rightly so - that the business really starts when the season gets underway, but pre-season form does play a part in fantasy football picks.
And Liverpool new boy Mohamed Salah might just have been the most impressive player of the lot in the last month or so.
What will Liverpool new boy Salah bring to Dream Team?
- 15 goals and 11 assists in Serie A for Roma last season
- Had a higher rating (7.48) than Paulo Dybala (7.46) in Italy last season
- Quick, nippy winger with a point to prove after failed spell at Chelsea
The £34m signing from Roma has been absolutely electric for his new side, scoring four goals against the likes of Bayern Munich, Leicester and Hertha Berlin.
At just £4m on the Dream Team game the Egyptian speed merchant might be the bargain of the season - so get him in your side before his price rockets.
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