A palpable buzz around Fantasy Premier League continues to grow with the game having officially released its updated version for the 2022/23 season. With fans looking forward to their respective teams’ pre-season fixtures whilst anticipating the arrivals of several talents alongside catching a glimpse of newer additions before the start of the campaign, FPL managers have already begun creating their first drafts as they look forward to locking a formidable team on road to the first game-week of the new season.
An inconsistent season saw Southampton finish joint-fourth lowest for total victories (9) alongside Leeds United in the Premier League last season. Having recruited a handful of promising youngsters alongside a couple of established players in a bid to improve their results, Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side possesses several promising assets moving into the new season.
Club captain James Ward-Prowse (£6.5m) alongside striker Che Adams (£6.5m) emerge as the most expensive of Southampton’s assets, with a raft of mid-priced midfielders and forwards following suit. Full-backs Kyle Walker-Peters (£4.5m) and Romain Perraud (£4.5m) establish themselves as promising assets for the season, while the likes of Adam Armstrong (£5.5m), Nathan Redmond (£5.5m), and Mohamed Elyounoussi (£5.5m) emerge as differentials moving into the season.
With prices of every registered player having been revealed following the official release, the upcoming campaign is expected to continue delivering intriguing competitions for places across the board. However, while most managers are likely to contemplate drafting in the most noticeable names, the focus for seasoned managers, as ever, remains on drafting in understated assets capable of delivering sustainable points over the course of the upcoming season.
KYLE WALKER-PETERS (DEF, £4.5)
Amongst the team’s better-performing players last season, Walker-Peters emerges as the Saints’ most exciting defensive option for the upcoming campaign. With Valentino Livramento (£4.5m) unlikely to return before January, Walker-Peters is expected to play a major role, despite reports of a possible move away from the club moving into the campaign.
Registering the fourth-highest (29) number of league starts amongst teammates, the full-back cemented himself as a first-team regular last season. Topping the charts for carries into the attacking third (75) and 18-yard-box (38) alongside registering the second-highest number of goal-creating actions (8) and passes completed into the 18-yard-box (37) amongst teammates last season, Walker-Peters delivers promising numbers moving into the new season.
Although having managed to contribute only a goal and three assists alongside six clean sheets four the Saints last season, the full-back remains a tempting option for FPL managers looking to capitalise on the club’s assets later on in the campaign.
CHE ADAMS (FWD, £6.5)
The team’s second-highest goal-scorer (7) last season, Adams is likely to remain a first-team regular moving into the new season. Having been a pivotal part of the manager’s plans in recent seasons, the Scottish striker will be keen on improving his tally of contributions over the coming season.
A promising presence in the attacking third, Adams registered the second-highest number of expected goals (0.31xG) per game, amongst teammates last season. Additionally, the striker ranked sixth for shot-creating actions (51) whilst finishing third of expected assists (0.12xA) at the club, last season.
With the team reliant on his goal-scoring abilities, Adams is expected to remain vital to the club’s prospects in the coming campaign. Having shown potential in recent seasons, the Scotland international cements himself as a valuable differential moving forward.
JAMES WARD-PROWSE (MID, £6.5)
Southampton’s most coveted FPL asset, Ward-Prowse establishes himself among the reliable options within his price bracket. Having been pivotal to the team’s goal contributions in recent seasons, the midfielder will be keen on remaining a consistent presence on the pitch moving forward.
Accounting for the highest number of goal contributions (15), Ward-Prowse finished as the club’s top scorer (10) in the league last season. Moreover, the midfielder topped the charts for passes completed into the final third (164) alongside accounting for the highest number of shot-creating actions (113) amongst teammates at the end of last season.
Having registered 36 starts and scoring 159 FPL points last season, Ward-Prowse cements himself amongst the most consistent assets within his price range. With much of the team’s attacking prowess dependent on his creativity, the midfielder offers the best chance of gaining valuable returns compared to his fellow teammates moving into the season.
