Captain Messi? Get Mbappe, Kane and Haaland all in the team’s attack? If that’s the advice that you’re taking, it’s no wonder that you’re not winning your fantasy football leagues and contests.
Our goal today is to seek value where 95% of fantasy football managers miss it.
With surprises guaranteed for the Round of 32 of this World Cup, here are the budget picks that can give your team a massive boost.
The Heavyweight Premium Picks (Where to Spend Big)
Ok. There’s bound to be a few expensive players that are A. good and B. fly below the radar with most fantasy football managers.
Here are the ones that I do recommend for the Round of 32.
Erling Haaland & Martin Ødegaard (Norway vs. Ivory Coast)
It seems all set up for success for the Norwegians. This is a very strong team with a relatively easy fixture and a dream matchup in the Round of 16 against a shaky Brazil.
Haaland is extremely consistent, especially in games like this. The stats speak for themselves.
And, to maximise the onslaught, pair him with Odegaard, the recent Premier League champion. Both were rested against France and should be ready for the game against the Africans.
Kylian Mbappé & Ousmane Dembélé (France vs. Sweden)
There are two big reasons to consider Mbappe and Dembele for your fantasy football team in the Round of 32.
First of all, while most stars have disappointed at this World Cup, Mbappe and Dembele have been at the top of their form.
Secondly, Sweden’s defence is a worrying sight.
Christian Pulisic (USA vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina)
Pulisic was dazzling in USA’s first World Cup game. Manager Mauricio Pochettino has chosen to rest him in the next two games.
Pulisic will deliver the flair and the experience to this USA side. Bosnia, despite its bravery, appears like a team ready to lose this game.
The Budget Differentials & FootballCoin Free Picks
Look, if you’re going to get those absolute stars in your line-up, you need to balance out the selection with cheap differentials.
These are some of the players that you can get without draining your budget or salary cap. Most of these players are rated 1* in FootballCoin and are thus absolutely free. You won’t need to spend any money on the 2* players either.
The Free American Defence: Michael Freeman & Tim Ream
USA’s game against Bosnia is precisely the game in which the likes of Freeman and Ream, who’ve been very impressive in defence so far, can earn their team plenty of points.
The Liga MX Core: Roberto Alvarado, Luis Romo & Israel Reyes
With so much support from home crowds and morale at an all-time high, Mexico is looking to finally move into the final stages of the World Cup. The Liga MX youngsters chosen for the side have done most of the heavy lifting. Alvarado, Luis and Reyes look like ideal budget picks.
The African Sleeper Picks: Nicolas Jackson & Yoanne Wissa
Both Senegal and DR Congo have had, at least, one World Cup game where they impressed highly. N. Jackson and Wissa look like players at the top of their game and ready to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
High-Priced Traps: Player Cards to Avoid
- The French Defense (Dayot Upamecano, Jules Koundé, Theo Hernández)
- The Expensive Belgian Elite (Kevin De Bruyne, Jérémy Doku, Romelu Lukaku)
- The Swedish Star Trio (Viktor Gyökeres, Alexander Isak, Anthony Elanga)
Your Next Step for the Matchday
Are you ready to put all this knowledge to good use? The FootballCoin contest lobbies are open and waiting for your team selection. It’s time to secure your share of the XFC prizes.
