An XI of bargains to consider for your Fantasy team in 2022-23

The 2022-23 season is almost upon us and this is the time when you’re scrambling around your Fantasy Premier League team thinking how you can afford Mohamed Salah, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland. 

If you are to afford FPL’s most expensive assets, you’re going to have a headache and will need to fill the rest of your team with some cheaper options. Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.

Here’s an XI of Fantasy Premier League’s best budget options for 2022-23, arranged in a 4-3-3 formation.

Goalkeeper: David Raya – £4.5m

The Brentford No.1’s average of 4.0 points per match last term was bettered by only three goalkeepers last season.

Raya will definitely make it onto Thomas Frank’s teamsheet and the Bees have a relatively forgiving schedule in the opening weeks of 2022-23, only playing one of the ‘big six’ (Manchester United at home in week two) in their first seven fixtures.

Sam Johnstone is another good option. Only the top five registered more clean sheets than Crystal Palace last season, and their new signing made more saves than any other Premier League goalkeeper in West Brom’s relegation in 2020-21.

However, there’s every chance he won’t play with Patrick Vieira expected to keep faith in Vicente Guaita as his No.1 for now. Still, at £4.5million Johnstone is a solid bench option and may well work his way into Palace’s first XI.

Defence: Marc Cucurella – £5.0m

Get on this one early. A transfer to Chelsea looks imminent, and £5million is a fair price given Thomas Tuchel’s Blues kept the third-most clean sheets last season.

Cucurella only registered one goal and one assist last term but the stats show he was among the Premier League’s most creative defenders last term and he should thrive in a more dominant team.

The only question is whether he gets into Chelsea’s backline ahead of Ben Chilwell.

🥇 Tackles won
🥇 Ball recoveries
🥉 Possession won in final third
🥉 Passes ending final third
5️⃣ Chances created

Marc Cucurella Premier League defender rank 2021-22. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/JwpJPtEWNA

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) August 2, 2022

Defence: Neco Williams – £4.0m

The obvious and standout pick if you’re looking to plug a gap in defence with the cheapest-available option.

His IRL price tag of £17million suggests he’ll actually play for Nottingham Forest, which is more than can be said for the likes of Phil Jones, Paul Dummett and Kenedy, who cost as much in the game.

Not only that,…