There are a few things more satisfying in Fantasy EPL than a late-round draft pick paying off or you being the first of any manager in your league to recognize and pick up a rising star. I'm here to give you some insight into who some of those players might be this season, and even some you may want to draft! For more incredible analysis and draft help check out our 23/24 Draft Kit and our Pricing Plans.
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EPL Wonderkids: Potential Young Breakout Stars & Deep Sleepers to Draft
Some of these guys are amidst pre-season hype. Others you may have only heard mentioned if you are yourself or follow any hardcore fans of a particular mentioned club. They're all U-21 players who we think could make a real impact this season. Some you may want to draft, others you may want to add to your watchlist and be ready to jump on as quickly as you can. Let the record show that I had 90% of this article drafted before the Athletic dropped this excellent, similar (but not Fantrax fantasy-tailored) piece. My evidence is mentioning four of them previously at the bottom of transfers part 1 within potential relevant loan returnees.
Destiny Udogie | TOT | DEF | 20 years old | ADP 115
Udogie is an attacking full-back who has a real chance to get serious minutes for Ange's Spurs this year. He has excellent goal involvement numbers, is a high-volume dribbler, and a decent volume defender. Opportunity is the big question, but competition is scarce: Reguilon, a former Spurs outcast, is more likely to leave the club than get consistent starts and Ben Davies is an ageing CB/FB hybrid who's far from an attacking option. Tactically, whether Spurs can start both Porro and Udogie is the next big question. Ange loves high possession, high volume attacking which suits Udogie, but tends to invert one (or both) of his full-backs and play 3-2-5 (or 2-3-5) in possession. Spurs need new, better, faster CBs (and maybe a more defensive DM than Bissouma) to be able to withstand having two such attacking full-backs when they lose the ball. Signing Micky van de Ven should help. Not many high-upside defenders are available late in drafts but Udogie fits the bill and I'm comfortable taking him in the 8th round or later.
Simon Adingra | BHA | FWD | 21 years old | ADP 283
A Mitoma-esque winger with a Mitoma-esque path to the Brighton first team. Adingra had a successful loan spell in Belgium last season and is a prolific dribbler, a direct, goal-involved RDZ-style winger, and has shone brightly in pre-season, like a true EPL Wonderkid. But he is joining a potent attack with lots of competition for places. Mitoma, March, and Enciso are likely ahead in the winger pecking order, plus Buonanotte perhaps as well. However, Europe beckons for Brighton and one or two attacker injuries (March may already miss the first game) and Adingra is primed for a breakout, just like Mitoma last season. Impress your league mates and take a last-round punt or snag him off waivers as soon as he has a cameo off the bench. He could be a serious gem in the second half of the season.