One of the biggest frustrations in Fantasy this season has been the ineffectiveness of many high profile forwards. For example, only two of last year’s five highest scoring forwards (Kane and Lukaku) currently sit in the top five in the Goal game this season.
Even Kane, with his ridiculous 21 goals, has more blanked in more matches (13) than he has scored (11). So where can owners turn? Who can save us from the frustration of watching our Fantasy strikers go goalless week after week?
Fortunately, a lot of forwards changed clubs on Deadline Day. There are now six strikers who have either been added to the game or have changed clubs, and with those new clubs come new Fantasy opportunities. Below I rank the new, incoming forwards in order of ownability, and discuss the impact they could have in your team.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - Arsenal, £8.5m
The Gabonese forward stole all the headlines on Deadline Day when he made his move from Borussia Dortmund. His goalscoring record is ridiculous, having come first or second in the Golden Boot race every season he played in the Bundesliga.
He should get plenty of opportunities to put the ball in the net for Arsenal as well, considering they sit top five in both assists (36) and chances created (313) this season. How Aubameyang and Lacazette will both fit on the pitch remains to be seen, but it’s hard to imagine Wenger sitting either considering their profile and cost.
Olivier Giroud - Chelsea, £6.7m
This move still seems a bit strange but, considering the phenomenally poor form of Alvaro Morata, Chelsea had to do something. In fact, all of Chelsea’s strikers combined for just one goal in the last 10 matches.
Giroud has always had an air of consistency about him, scoring more than 10 goals in every Premier League season, but he is yet to hit more than 16 in a campaign. It’s hard to buy the Frenchman without knowing the role he’ll fill at his new club, but he could be involved as soon as this weekend considering the injury to Morata, departure of Batshuayi, and the growing pressure facing manager Antonio Conte
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Islam Slimani - Newcastle, £6.0m
His move was obviously overshadowed by those at the bigger clubs, but Slimani is the sleeper choice for the rest of the season. He managed seven goals and four assists last season for Leicester despite starting just 13 matches which is not exactly a poor return.
He does come into Newcastle with a thigh injury, but he should easily lock down the striker spot in Rafa Benitez’s starting eleven the second he’s fit.
Andre Ayew - Swansea, £6.0m
Ayew, like Slimani, should have no problem quickly establishing himself as a starter at his new club. Swansea would be best served playing him up front considering they have scored the fewest goals (18) in the Premier League this season.
There is a chance that he may be pushed out onto the wing but, at such a cheap price, he should have plenty of Fantasy value regardless.
Alexander Sorloth - Crystal Palace, £5.5m
Sorloth comes into Palace as a bit of an unknown, but physically seems to have the requisite size to handle Premier League defenders.
He boasted excellent stats in the Danish league where he sat top five in both goals and assists this season, and second in combined goals. However, whilst he is an intriguing talent, it’s hard to see him beating Benteke to the starting striker role.
Jordan Hugill - West Ham, £5.8m
Hugill feels like a depth purchase to make up for the amount of injuries to West Ham’s front line right now.
It’s possible that the former Preston man could get some substitute appearances this month but, unless he does something dramatic, it’s likely he will fall down the pecking order when the Hammers get back to full strength.
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