Heading into Round 9, Serie A teams are bound to be feeling the exhaustion of a highly compacted fixtures list. The top-rated clubs, in theory, should have the best resources to respond. However, surprises could be on the cards.
To make sure that you avoid some unwanted revelations for your fantasy football draft, here are a few tips and tricks to help guide you.
Players to Consider
Heroes of the Serie A
Here are some of the players that are well-known by most fans. Still, we’re choosing them not based on reputation alone. Their recent performances have been good, their fitness levels should be up, and they’ll likely make an impact in Round 9.
Romelu Lukaku should cost a hefty price to get on your side, just as it cost Inter to swoop him from Manchester United. However, his consistency cannot be overlooked. The match against Sassuolo, on paper, looks like the ideal opportunity for the Belgium forward to grab a few more goals.
Francesco Acerbi, at 32 years of age, is playing some of the best football of his career. The Italian international makes defending in one of the toughest leagues seem effortless. He’s been in good form, and we could see Lazio’s Pepe Reina keeping a clean sheet against Udinese which would help Lazio’s players earn more points. Acerbi is a good choice for your draft across the entire season.
Papu Gomez has had a trying start to the season and will want his downward slope to stop. We predict that he can do just that as Atalanta take on Verona. The Gialloblu‘s loss to Sassuolo last week has revealed major defensive vulnerabilities. Expect Gomez to get in and grab the game by the scruff of the neck.
Undervalued Gems
Roberto Soriano is what makes this Bologna side tick. His performances are understated. His control of the ball and his calm demeanor could prove vital. Against Crotone, who are still bottom of the league, the Rossoblu know that there’s no room for error. Failing to win the three points would prove costly.
Sampdoria’s younger players will be looking toward Antonio Candreva to guide them through what could be a difficult year. While the Blucerchiati lost against Bologna, Candreva did put in a good performance. Against Torino, we’re confident he’ll do the same.
There have been few positives about Fiorentina’s start to the campaign. Gaetano Castrovilli is the exception. His skill and determination make him one of the players to watch. He’ll have his work cut out for himself against leaders Milan. But, if there was ever a moment to announce himself to the world, this would be it.
Players to avoid
Overpriced Players
Luis Muriel has had quite a career. His reputation as one of Serie A’s elite strikers may be warranted, but there’s little to recommend him at the moment. He hasn’t scored for a month and Gian Piero Gasperini looks likely to bench him against Verona.
Poor Christian Eriksen left Tottenham in hopes of reaching superstar status at Inter. Instead, he seems to have fallen out with Antonio Conte and could be gone by next year. The busy schedule and fatigue of his colleagues could help him get in the team, but we doubt he’s in the right frame of mind for a great performance.
We’re not saying that Arturo Vidal can’t be an asset for Inter. What we believe is that, like Roy Keane for Manchester United, the Chilean is prone to losing his temper. Could this happen against Sassuolo? Would you really like to risk it?
Poor performers
We expect things to eventually work out for Atalanta. They’ve just won 2-0 against Premier League champions Liverpool. Pierluigi Gollini’s performances in goal have been shaky though and we’d give it a few more weeks until he’s earned back our trust.
Simone Zaza has just scored his first goal of the season. Still, while Torino has a few excellent players, their recent form doesn’t inspire much confidence that Zaza will find himself with too many
Josip Ilicic perfectly exemplifies Atalanta’s season so far. His performances have been sub-par, much like those of his teammates. He’s bound to recover, but it may be a while before he’ll be able to equal last year’s achievements.
opportunities against Sampdoria.
3 Simple Tips to Get Your Fantasy Draft Rocking
- Always look for good form
A player that just scored last week should be on your radar. However, make sure this is not a one-time occurrence. It’s advisable to check his past 4-5 performances for a better understanding of their abilities.
- Experience can signal consistency
This is especially true of Serie A. For many years some of the most consistent players in the league are ones that are in the autumn of their careers. Their intelligence and influence can, however, help them earn points in fantasy football contests on a weekly basis.
- Bet on the capocannoniere (“top-scorer”) early on in the season
While this is a risky move, it can pay dividends across a campaign. Certainly, many fantasy enthusiasts had Ciro Immobile in their draft for the final stages of last season. But, opting to back him from the start of the campaign is bound to have given you the edge.
Round 9 of Serie A begins with Sassuolo taking on Inter Milan on Saturday at 16.00 Eastern Time. Make Sure that you have your fantasy draft ready!