The FootballCoin Fantasy Football Scout

In this Fantasy Football Scout, we will do our best to let our fantasy managers know just what players to watch out for and which ones to seek to avoid. Today our focus is on three players that could make the cut for your fantasy football draft.

It’s hard to speak of fantasy football rankings without mentioning some of the game’s biggest star. Their status exists for a reason. Players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are known to be tremendously efficient. Here are a few players flying just below the radar in real life games, as well as in fantasy football competitions. Feel free to consider them for inclusion in your squad.

We’re in the final stretch now. European leagues are getting ready to draw to a close. And, teams are scrambling. For the players, it’s the moment to make it count. There are fights to win trophies. There are battles to avoid relegation. And, certainly, there is a great degree of effort, for players, to prove themselves to their manager. Here are three players we recommend for this weekend’s fantasy football contests.

Tiquinho Soares (FC Porto) – We haven’t been talking enough about Liga NOS of Portugal. We want to make it up. Soares is Porto’s main scorer this season. He’s managed 12 strikes in Liga Nos. With not much left in the campaign, Soares will be looking to win the league’s golden shoe. Four goals now separate him from Benfica’s Haris Seferovic. We would bank on him against Boavista, tonight. If you reckon the same, make sure to choose him for your draft in the free FootballCoin contest.

Andrew Robertson (Liverpool) – Speaking of today’s contests, we’ll be excited to watch Liverpool attempt to remain shoulder to shoulder with rivals, Man. City. Their opposition, Southampton, won’t be making it easy. Much will be expected from left-back, Robertson. The Scotsman has been the leading EPL player in this position and a constant source of strength, both defensively and in attack. Great choice for your draft!

Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth) – If you will be watching the Premier League matches, do yourself a favor and keep an eye on Fraser. It’s easy to lose sight of his achievements. In an unremarkable season for Bournemouth, Fraser has been the standout player. He’s provided 10 assists, scored 6, and is one of the best EPL fantasy players. The Cherries are safe for one more year. But, it’s anyone’s guess if they’ll manage to retain the services of their talented midfielder for one more season.

The Champions League, the most popular European competition returns today, and fantasy football fans are among the most excited. We are already into the second part of the second leg of the round of 16. If this sounds complicated don’t fret.

Here’s in a nutshell what you should know. Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Juventus will be looking to create an offset against Atletico Madrid. Juventus were perhaps UCL favorites going into this round. But, the 2-0 defeat in the first leg surely has hurt them. Yet, Manchester United’s elegant display against PSG is likely to inspire Massimiliano Allegri’s side. Then again, there’s also the example of Real Madrid‘s tragic defeat to Ajax.

It’s an unexpectedly tight affair in tonight’s other match, as well. Shalke 04 looked certain victims against Premier League champs Manchester City. And while Pep Guardiola’s men won 3-2, things look far from over. Manchester City does play at home, giving them an additional advantage.

Here are three players that are free in the fantasy game FootballCoin for tonight’s contest. We feel safe about recommending them to you. Feel free to adapt our draft as you see fit. A pot of XFC cryptocurrency awaits at the end of the road.

Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus) – The weight of expectation is on the Uruguayan shoulders tonight. But, at 21 years of age, Bentacur already has amassed a good deal of experience. The midfielder is expected to start. What’s more, he’s expected to direct Juventus’ non-stop attacks on Atleti’s goal. We think Bentacur can meet the expectations and prove a good choice for managers.

Breel Embolo (Schalke 04) – The Germans are in dire need of goals tonight. The question of how to avoid getting punished in defense will also be on Schalke’s mind. Out of all the squad, the player that looks most likely to trouble City’s defense is Embolo. The Swiss could take advantage of the not unfrequent defensive blunders made by the EPL champs. In fairness, not many see Schalke capable of a comeback. So, Embolo and his teammates are better off taking their chances while on the big stage.

Ederson (Manchester City) – Yes, believe it or not, the Brazilian gatekeeper is still a free player in FootballCoin. Fantasy managers should take advantage of this. Ederson has defied all expectations. No longer are fans weeping at the absence of Joe Hart. Ederson has come to represent Pep Guardiola’s ideal version of a ball playing, sweeper keeper. Sound choice!

Notable injuries and suspensions for tonight’s fantasy Champions League

Juventus: Sami Khedira, Juan Cuadrado, Douglas Costa, Alex Sandro

Atletico Madrid: Lucas Hernández, Filipe Luís, Thomas Partey, Diego Costa

Manchester City: Nicolás Otamendi, FernandinhoPossibly out through injury: Vincent Kompany, John Stones, Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Agüero

Schalke 04: Alessandro Schöpf, Daniel CaligiuriPossibly out through injury: Omar Mascarell

European teams’ realistic objectives are beginning to shape up. With many interesting derbies across Europe, we thought we’d share our tips. These are all players represented by free FootballCoin cards. All managers can choose them from their draft. Given their relative lack of fame, we decided these names needed to be brought up.

Troy Deeney (Watford) – Much has been made about Everton’s poor run of form. The root of much of their woes is their defensive weakness. Troy Deeney, consistently good this season and regularly underappreciated, could take advantage. Deeney has been responsible for 576 points in FootballCoin this season. The attacker is particularly efficient in the air. It’s aerial threats that Everton has a particular problem defending against. Consider including Deeney for your draft.

Gervinho (Parma Calcio) – By now Gervinho’s status is firmly established as that of a cult hero. His Asian excursion over, the Cote d’Ivoire striker has returned to Serie A. For Parma he has his place perfectly set up. Parma is making him a priority and this is reflected by his stats. He has scored 8 goals in 16 appearances. His performances have been top notch lately. And, we would not hesitate in recommending him for your draft.

Ruben Pena (Eibar) – Some would include Pena among La Liga’s team of the season. We would agree. The right back (occasionally, right midfielder) has had a great season, making 21 solid appearances for Eibar. His team travels to Sevilla and we are willing to bank on Pena to make an impact. WIll you do the same?

The complicated schedule of European football has once again gifted us with a midweek game. This time it’s Lazio vs. Empoli in the Serie A. The match is the exclusive choice for FootballCoin’s Thursday contest. Looking to create a winning team? Here’s who we think you cannot avoid for today’s contest.

Francesco Caputo (Empoli) – He’s not exactly a household name. And, yes, Caputo is playing for Serie A‘s current 17th placed team. But, the striker’s individual stats are impressive. The Italian has scored 11 goals in 22 games. He tends to get a good amount of shots on target per game. In tonight’s game, Caputo looks right in his natural element. We recommend choosing him for your team. He is set to start and Empoli are starved for points. Caputo could be the player to deliver the goods.

The midweek contains just one contest comprised of one match. But, it looks set to be an entertaining affair. It’s Everton vs. Manchester City. The match could have a significant impact on the Premier League title race. Here are three of the players to watch out for tonight.

Joshua Pickford (Everton) – Choosing Pickford could be a hit or miss, granted. England’s number one will be in the firing line of a very motivated City side. Pep Guardiola has encouraged his strikers to score as much as possible. The goal difference may be vital by the season’s end. After all, Liverpool and Manchester City are separated by only three points at the moment. On the other hand, Pickford may have the chance to save plenty of shots. This could earn him a handsome number of points.

Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) – As customary, both Silvas should take the field tonight. Bernardo is the one free choice of the two. His season so far has been outstanding. We expect an efficient display from the Portuguese. An assist or two could also be on the cards.

Richarlison (Everton) – The striker is one of Brazilian football’s biggest hopes for the future. This season he has netted 10 goals. A good performance against the champions would certainly help turn a few heads. Richarlison is a free choice for tonight and an interesting option across the season.

Recommended signings

Joshua King (Bournemouth) – King looked like a good choice against Chelsea. But, in Bournemouth vs. Cardiff City, he seems downright irresistible. Cardiff’s defensive record this season is dire. King is in top form and will be eager to carry on with his strong performances. We don’t see many other free forwards with as much potential in this weekend’s contests.

Miguel Almiron (Newcastle) – He’s being touted as one of the best players to come out of the MLS. And, he has just cost Newcastle a club record fee of $27 million. With this in mind, Almiron is likely to start against Tottenham in the Premier League. We expect that his enthusiasm will make up for his need to readjust to a new league. Expect Almiron to make a good first impression and bolster your squad for the weekend contests.

Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria) – As we previously reported, at 36 years-old Quagliarella continues to be one of the best forwards in the Serie A. The former Juventus striker has notched 16 goals in 20 appearances this season. Against Napoli, one of the league’s best sides, he will be depended on for something special. Last week, against, Udinese he scored a double, so we would not put anything outside his reach. Consider him for your team.

Mentioning injuries not included in the previous installment. Short term injuries include a degree of risk. These players could still make an appearance should physios have them ready in time for their teams’ matches.

Short term injuries

EPL updates: James Tomkins, Idrissa Gueye, Philip Billing, Eliaquim Mangala, Marouane Fellaini, Paul Pogba, Joselu, Maya Yoshida, Lukasz Fabianski, Andriy Yarmolenko

Serie A Short term injuries

Stefan de Vrij,Šime Vrsaljko, Luiz Felipe, Pepe Jose Reina, Lucas Biglia, Marco Varnier, Blerim Dzemaili, Filip Bradaric, Nenad Tomovic, Vitor Hugo, Paolo Ghiglione, Keita Baldé Diao, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, Mehdi Benatia, Mario Mandzukic, Adam Marusic, Bruno Jordão, Antonino Barillà, Luca Rigoni, Alberto Grassi, Cengiz Ünder, Diego Perotti, Juan Jesus, Gianluca Caprari, Stefano Sensi, Francesco Vicari, Pasquale Schiattarella,Vlad Chiriches

Long term injuries

Giacomo Bonaventura, Lucas Nahuel Castro, Andrea Seculin, Rade Krunic, Emil Hallfredsson, Esteban Rolon, Juan Cuadrado, Andrea Barzagli

Suspended

Federico Mattiello, Filip Helander, Nicolò Barella, João Pedro Geraldino, Marco Benassi, Francesco Cassata, Matteo Politano, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Emanuele Calaio, Bryan Cristante, Steven N’Zonzi, Dennis Praet, Andrea Petagna, Fabián Ruiz Peña

La Liga Short term injuries

Antonio Sivera, Adrian Marin, Rodrigo Ely, Aritz Aduriz, Raul Garcia, Alex Remiro, Mikel Rico, Diego Godin, Víctor Machín Pérez Vitolo, Koke, Gelson Martins, Stefan Savic, Filipe, Ousmane Dembélé, William Carvalho, Cristian Herrera Tello, Takashi Inui, Júnior Firpo, Okay Yokuslu, Robert Mazan, David Costas, Iago Aspas, Pedro Léon, Jordi Calavera, Fran Rico, Lei Wu, David Lopez, Oscar Duarte, Hernan Perez, Gaku Shibasaki, Seydou Doumbia, Borja Garcia, Patrick Roberts, Gonzalo Melero, Rajko Brezancic, Allan Nyom, Guido Carrillo, Javier Avilés, Toño, Sergio Postigo, Chema, Gael Kakuta, Gorka Elustondo, Jesús Vallejo, Mariano Diaz, Jon Bautista, Miguel Angel Moya, Héctor Moreno, Ruben Pardo, Aleix Vidal Parreu, Sergio Escudero, Jesus Navas, Ezequiel Garay, Francis Coquelin, Javier Jiménez

Long term injuries

Iñigo Lekue, Naldo Gomes, Markel Bergara, Amath Ndiaye Diedhiou, Johan Mojica, Nolito, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Franchu, Bruno Soriano

Suspended

Oscar De Marcos, Diego Costa, Sergio Busquets, Samuel Umtiti, Rafinha, Wesley Hoedt, Marc Roca, Naldo Gomes, Leandro Cabrera, Djené Dakonam, Bernardo Espinosa, Ezequiel Ávila, Róber, Raphael Varane, Daniel Carvajal, Míchel, Víctor Ruiz Torre

Philip Billing – Fantasy football rankings is what is making us include Billing on our list. The Huddersfield town midfielder has had a strong season clearly reflected by his overall stats. The FootballCoin notation system takes into account all the major events that occur on the football pitch. Billing, with 705 points, is one of the top midfielders in the game, ahead of much talked about players like Joao Moutinho or Declan Rice. Clearly, the 22-year-old Danish midfielder is enjoying his time in England and we would not be surprised if important Premier League teams come calling. Our fantasy league scout reccomends considering Billing for your draft.

Jordan Pickford – Pickford enjoyed a fairytale summer. First, he earned the starting place in England’s squad. Then, his performances helped guide the Three Lions to the semi-finals. Back at Everton, his performances are some of the best in the league. Somehow, in our fantasy football rankings of most selected players, he is still not among the top choices. But, a midweek match against Huddersfield Town could be the perfect opportunity for Everton’s keeper to earn fantasy managers a good deal of points. Those willing to give him a chance do so in this free Tuesday contest.

Robinho – For those following the Super Lig, as well as Monday’s fantasy football contests, we would like to draw their attention to someone who was once one of football’s brightest stars. The 35-year-old Robinho now plays for Turkish side Basaksehir. This may look like a far way from his days of wearing the Real Madrid shirt. But, the Brazilian has used his ample set of skills to great effect. He is currently the fourth best scorer in the league, averaging one goal per every two games. Robinho is certainly helping boost the reputation of the Super Lig and could warrant inclusion in your draft for Monday’s contest.

Here are some of the most reputable players out through injury. Fantasy football managers would best avoid them for their upcoming draft selections.

Long term injuries

Héctor Bellerín, Laurent Koscielny, Aaron Lennon, Wayne Hennessey, Joseph Gomez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jonjo Shelvey, Harry Kane,

Short term injuries

Laurent Koscielny, Danny Welbeck, Joshua King, Callum Wilson, Sean Morrison, Phil Jagielka, Dejan Lovren, Dominic Solanke, Georginio Wijnaldum, Vincent Kompany, Marouane Fellaini, Chris Smalling, Mohamed Diamé, Ki Sung-Yueng, Bertrand Ryan, Matt Targett, Dele Alli, Ben Davies, Moussa Sissoko, Sebastian Prödl, Jack Wilshere

Suspensions

James Milner

Football from Europe’s biggest leagues resumes early this week and carries on until the weekend. For those using our fantasy football scout, we recommend you use our choices and the information that you possess and assemble great drafts. Don’t forget to register those teams for the FootballCoin contests. While the majority of contests are free, the best managers are certain to be repaid with XFC cryptocurrency. Does that sound like a good deal? Yes? We will see you there.

For an updated list of our choices for the worst and best transfers in the Premier League for the 2019/20 season please visit the link mentioned previously.

Eduard Bănulescu