The Premier League is well underway, and at this point, fantasy players might already have an idea of how their team is going to fare unless they make some changes. If you’re ahead in your league, there’s no question that you’d want to widen the gap even more. On the other hand, if you’re lagging behind, you might be desperate for a trade or an unexpected breakout from one of your players.
Whichever side of your fantasy league you’re on, it’s important to keep an eye out for sleepers and potential breakout candidates so that you can make the moves to get them in your team or so that you know not to give them away if they’re already in your club.
One of the best things about football, and in any sport in general, is that there’s always a possibility of a new star emerging in any given season, or even in any given game. With most of the Premier League season still to unfold, these players are among the most likely to take it to another level. This means not just success for their respective teams, but also for fantasy players who have these footballers in their clubs.
5. Jacob Ramsey
Jacob Ramsey started for the first time for Aston Villa late last year, and he’s shown that he can already hang around with some of the best football players in the world at such a young age. The 20-year-old midfielder is yet to show that he is a star for Aston Villa, but his play last year and the fact that he was able to make a total of 27 appearances for the club in the 2020-21 season is promising.
Ramsey has already proven that he belongs in the big leagues, and with a lot more room to grow and hopefully more minutes along the way, Ramsey can develop into a reliable player for Aston Villa.
At just 4.5M and only being selected by 0.4%, fantasy players can pick up Ramsey for cheap and hold him as an asset that will definitely pay dividends in the long run.
4. Curtis Jones
Another young midfielder who’s set for a surge is Liverpool’s Curtis Jones. The 20-year-old made a total of 34 appearances in the 2020-21 Premier League and scored a total of 4 goals for Liverpool, and there’s nowhere to go but up for the young budding star.
Although Liverpool lost Gini Wijnaldum to PSG, Jürgen Klopp has options such as Jones in pocket. This opening may likewise give Jones the time he needs to develop even further as a player and establish himself as a centerpiece for Liverpool.
Fantasy GMs can get Jones for 5.0M and snagging Jones now might just be the move while he has a 0.0% selection percentage.
3. Rayan Ait Nouri
Rayan Ait Nouri has made quite an introduction for himself when the then on-loan left back made his debut for the Wolves, scoring a goal on the way to a 2-0 Wolves victory over Crystal Palace.
After an impressive showing last season, Ait-Nouri moved permanently to Wolves, signing a five-year deal worth £9.8 million. With this move, we should expect more playing time for Ait Nouri and it will only be a matter of time before the talented 20-year-old establishes himself as a key piece, and it might even be a possibility that he lands a long-term starting position as early as this season.
Only 1.6% owned and valued at a steal cost of 4.5M, Ait Nouri is a young prospect that’s definitely worth investing in.
2. Ferran Torres
Ferran Torres’ 2020-21 season with Manchester City was a revelation, and the 21-year-old winger didn’t waste time showing off his skills on the field. Torres was electric by the end of the previous season, and scored a total of 13 goals in 36 appearances.
There’s no doubt that Manchester City will utilize Torres even more this season. Though Torres is already a highly regarded attacker at his young age, making his name as one of the top scorers in the sport, there’s undeniably room for improvement for the young Spaniard.
7.0M is a reasonable price for a promising young talent such as Torres, and with him being only 3.1% owned by fantasy players, getting him on your team can give you an unprecedented advantage.
1. Kai Havertz
Kai Havertz was a reliable weapon for Chelsea in the 2020-21 season, scoring 9 goals in 45 appearances. The 22-year-old German midfielder was also key in Chelsea’s run to the UEFA Champions League Final, where he scored the only goal in the game to give Chelsea the victory over Manchester City.
Havertz is already an established player at such a young age, having proven that he has the talent and the confidence to step up in big moments, but the sky is the limit for the young Chelsea midfielder. It would be safe to expect that Havertz, who already scored a goal in 6 appearances this season, will take it to another level.
Also see: Biography, Instagram Page and Stats of Kai Havertz
Though relatively more expensive at 8.5M and with a decent 12.7% selection rate, getting ahold of Havertz might be one of the biggest steals for fantasy players if he develops and performs even better this season.
