Welcome to The Draft Society’s team-by-team previews, a vital part of the 23/24 Draft Kit! These articles will provide a one-stop-shop for all the important Fantasy EPL themes from a Fantrax perspective. With players to watch, players to avoid, points projections and early season fixtures analysis, we've got it all covered. Our Draft Premier League Team Previews will help set you up to dominate your draft! Without further ado, let's get stuck in to Fulham's fantasy football prospects for the upcoming season.
Check back often! Our team previews will be updated throughout the summer as any new transfer, injury, or rotation developments come to light.
Check out our 23/24 Draft Kit for all the pre-season information you could ever need. We've got a Live Draft Aide, Draft Rankings, Team Previews, Cheat Sheets, Strategy Articles, Draft 101, plus so much more!
Fulham Team Preview 23/24
Check out our in-depth look at Fulham's prospects for the new EPL season below. This information will form a key component to your draft prep and set you up to dominate your draft! Next up we have Marco Silva's Cottagers.
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Fantasy Flashback
Let's review how Fulham players fared in 22/23, with an emphasis on their Draft Premier League fantasy assets. But, we'll also discuss any pertinent info regarding managerial tactics, formation, injuries, etc. What can we learn from their performance in the last campaign?
Note: The following table is interactive. Desktop users can apply the Filter, Group, and Sort buttons to arrange the data to their preferences. Mobile users can tap on a player card to view all data points. The table can be reset to its default state by refreshing the page.
Fresh off yet another yo-yo season - bouncing from the Championship back to the EPL - many thought that Fulham would struggle to stay up. But they were a pleasant surprise, cracking the top ten and playing some great football whilst doing it. Fantasy-wise, there were also quite a few revelations. Given the way it went last time, many were put off Mitrovic, but he delivered amazing value (even with the suspension at the tail end of the season) to the believers, dropping over 11 PPS. Largely forgotten castoffs Andreas Pereira and Willian also proved the doubters wrong, providing MID2 and FWD2 value, respectively. Meanwhile, there was more value to be had on the defensive side. Kenny Tete morphed into a ghosting machine at RB and also pitched in with some attacking returns. Bernd Leno was a save machine and became a top 3 set and forget GK who many picked up off the waiver wire in the early part of the season. Others like Wilson & Solomon also made some productive cameos in the second half of the season. All in all, Fulham somehow turned out to be a fantasy goldmine. But with talisman Mitrovic seemingly on the outs, will their assets retain this value and level of production?
Overall Team Performance
A 10th place finish was a solid outing for a newly promoted team, and one that may have shocked a lot of neutrals. The 53 goals shipped was the concern of last year, and something that will need to be fixed if they are to crack into the top half of the table. Fulham scored 55 goals last year, which isn't too shabby but nothing special either. A positive goal difference will be the objective again this year, but the likely loss of Mitrovic may be felt in the goal scoring department. Overall, Silva had a great first season with Fulham, and fantasy managers should not pass over considering this lot top 10 contenders once again.
Fantasy Forecast
Past is prelude, as they say. So, turning to the 23/24 season, we've got Fulham player projections, 3 key players to keep an eye on, 3 players we're staying away from, 3 question marks surrounding the club at this moment, and an analysis of the Cottagers' early-season fixtures.
23/24 Player Projections
Below, you'll find our season projections for Fulham fantasy assets. Our projections are created using a number of contributing factors such as past performance, fixture difficulty ratings, anticipated minutes played, and more. PPS (Points Per Start) and ProjTotFPts (Projected Total Points) refer to Fantrax Default Scoring.
The projections for the upcoming season largely track what transpired last campaign but with a general let off for almost everyone. Mitrovic keeps ticking along but at a slightly lower clip while erstwhile revelations Andreas, Willian, and Tete have reduced PPS as well. Harry Wilson is one to watch if he can get some starts and exceed the expectations above. But the large Serbian elephant in the room is whether Mitrovic stays - as his departure could dramatically affect everyone's numbers (likely for ill but potentially for the better if folks step up and pitch in more G/A in his absence).
3 Players to Watch
We've highlighted 3 players (and some honorable mentions) from Fulham that we're keeping an eye on. Some players mentioned below may be sleepers. Some may be up-and-coming youngsters. Some may be vying for a spot in the XI. Whatever the case, we'll tell you why we're watching these 3 in EPL Draft Fantasy this year.
Willian
Position: Forward
22/23 Points: 271 points (13th best forward)
22/23 Points Per Start: 10.7 (25 starts)
Recommended Draft Pick: 46-56 (12 Team League: Round 4-5)
Analysis: Willian is back at Fulham, in what seems like a win-win move for everyone. Willian had a fantastic season for Fulham, and truly rolled back the years in his 25 starts. He was ranked 33rd in terms of PPS among all players, and I see no reason he can't be reasonably close to that. The Fulham star shared set pieces with Andreas, but made the most of his dribbling abilities, delivering a lot of open play points. With only 10 total returns throughout the season, and an average of 7.4 ghost points per start, there is still room for improvement. Five goals and five assists seems like a feat Willian can surpass this season. He will need to help Fulham carry the scoring load with Mitrovic out the door, and the likes of Jimenez and Vinicius lacking the same finishing as the Serbian. With a tall forward still expected to be the #9, I wouldn't worry about his points from set pieces.
Willian to me is the perfect FWD2, week in and week out he should offer you a solid floor, and when he adds in an attacking return or two he can give you the upside needed ton win important matchups. Based on mocks he should be around near the end of the 4th round, and that is the perfect spot to draft him. He offers more upside than other forwards you may consider in that area - such as Kai Havertz.
Andreas Pereira
Position: Midfielder
22/23 Points: 293 points (28th best midfielder)
22/23 Points Per Start: 8.9 (33 starts)
Recommended Draft Pick: 58-70 (12 Team League: Late Round 5 - Round 6)
Analysis: Andreas showed he belonged in the EPL last season with Fulham. The midfielder was rejected at United, but made a name for himself under Marco Silva. Pereira was one of the chief creators for Fulham and got his fair share of set pieces. Similar to Willian, he got himself 10 returns (4 goals and 6 assists), and I do expect his goals to increase slightly. A second consecutive season in the EPL should allow him to become even more comfortable and keep improving. Unfortunately, he had a season ending injury that required surgery, but should be ready to go by gameweek 1.
With 6.2 ghost points/start, his floor is only just average, which is certainly a concern. He showed he was a very streaky player, and a lack of serious upside + floor should make you slightly cautious regarding when you select him. He is a good option as a lower end MID3 or MID4 if you can get him around there. I think Fulham will cope fine without Mitrovic, but be sure to monitor Andreas's preseason minutes to see just how fit he is to start the season.
Harry Wilson
Position: Midfielder
22/23 Points: 112.5 points (77th best midfielder)
22/23 Points Per Start: N/A
Recommended Draft Pick: 109-125 (12 Team League: Round 10-11)
Analysis: Wilson was the guy for Fulham in their promotion campaign a few years ago, but faced an injury riddled and poor form campaign last time out. While that will surely allow him to go at least slightly under the radar, his current production in pre-season may be catching the eyes of some. I expect Wilson to properly contend to make that RW spot his own this season, and could even sneak a few set plays off Andreas and Willian. There are rumours of Hudson-Odoi joining the ranks, but even then Wilson should be given the opportunity to win that RW role.
There is no reason that Wilson can't offer at least similar upside to either of Andreas and Willian, but is someone you can get much much later in the draft. I have seen Wilson go as late as round 13 in serious mock drafts, but not usually earlier than round 9. While preseason may bump him slightly up in draft boards, I really have confidence you can grab him as your MID4. He could be one of the sleepers of the draft this year, and should be a player you prioritize in your upside punts, especially after round 8.
Honorable Mention(s):
Raul Jimenez is worth a mention here. I do expect him to get the chance to be Fulham's starting forward, but he just hasn't been the same player since his horrible skull injury a few years back. Jimenez is one to watch, but also one I wouldn't mind drafting for value. If he falls after round 8/9, he could be worth a punt, especially if you already have 2-3 steady forwards. We all know he is capable of being among the best in the EPL, and if Silva can help him rediscover even half of that form, he could be an absolute steal there, offering higher end FWD2 value.
3 Players to Avoid
It's not all sunshine and rainbows at Craven Cottage At least, not as far as Draft Fantasy Football is concerned. Below, we will also highlight 3 fantasy assets that we're not so thrilled about. These are the 3 Fulham players you might want to avoid come draft day.
Kenny Tete
Position: Defender
22/23 Points: 253.25 (14th best defender)
22/23 Points Per Start: 8.5 (29 starts)
Recommended Draft Pick: 145-156 (12 Team League: Round 13)
Analysis: Tete was a decent asset last season, especially in regards to ghost points. His 8.5 ghost points per start put him 19th overall, and was only ruined by a lack of clean sheets. He managed 1 goal and 5 assists, as well, which added to his overall upside. Tete only managed 7 clean sheets last season, but my fear is that number is even lower this season. As teams are more used to Fulham's all out attack strategy, they may change the way they approach games, which could hurt Tete in a few ways. Less of a license to get forward and the need to stay back would surely hurt his upside and KP numbers, while Fulham shipping more goals this season will hurt his overall production.
A recent injury in pre-season to Palhinha has me very concerned for the Fulham defence. While Leno is a star, that defence hasn't made any serious new signings and looks fragile week in and week out. Tete is going quite high in drafts right now, and is one I would only take as a DEF3 type player. I would rather pass on him, especially with Fulham's mixed early season fixtures. There is every chance he ends up on the waiver wire, or you can get him for dirt cheap after the first few weeks.
Carlos Vinicius
Position: Forward
22/23 Points: 100 (45th best forward)
22/23 Points Per Start: 7.2 (11 starts)
Recommended Draft Pick: DND
Analysis: Vinicius will probably see more minutes now that Mitrovic is gone, but that doesn't mean you should draft him. In fact, I am recommending you completely avoid this player even as a FWD4 type punt. Fulham just signed Jimenez, and may add another attacking option to their depth, and I can't see Vinicius being anything more than an off the bench rotation piece. There are a lot better punts to take in the late rounds, and drafting a Fulham rotation forward is not the route to take to win your league. Even with good preseason performances, the instant signing of Jimenez shows the lack of trust in Vinicius to be the man to lead the line for Fulham. Avoid.
Joao Palhinha
Position: Midfielder
22/23 Points: 205 points (50th best midfielder)
22/23 Points Per Start: 5.9 (35 starts)
Recommended Draft Pick: DND
Analysis: Back to back players to avoid in the draft! Palhinha was a decent streamer over double gameweeks last year due to his defensive midfield nature. But he shouldn't be drafted at all this season, only streamed when needed. Palhinha just suffered a semi-serious shoulder injury that could see him miss the start of the season, further adding to the reasons not to draft him. Right now his ADP puts him in the round 12-14 range, which is where you should be looking for upside punts, not low upside CDMs like the Brazilian. Similar to Vinicius, you are better off looking elsewhere to finish off your draft.
Honorable Mention(s):
Fulham center backs are players to avoid as well. With a tough schedule to start the season, and Palhinha likley out for a few games, their clean sheet chance only decreases. The Fulham CBs have never offered solid value, and should really not even be in your draft queue. They will present decent streaming options at some point this season, but not now.
3 Question Marks
Not everything is crystal clear and predictable at Fulham. These are 3 questions surrounding the Cottagers that we’re grappling with this preseason. We’ll try to note whether or not (and how much) these questions are affecting our perceptions of Fulham's fantasy assets.
Life Without Mitrovic - Fulham losing their top scorer and penalty taker will be a huge blow, but I have faith in Silva to figure things out. While Jimenez is coming in as a replacement to hopefully find his feet again, the likes of Andreas, Willian, Wilson, and even Vinicius will all need to fill the giant void. I expect the first few weeks to be a bit of a transition period as Fulham adjusts to life without Mitro. But there is no reason that the other players can't get the job done. This may dent their fantasy prospects ever so slightly, but it seems Fulham will be looking for target men to replace Mitrovic, hence the signing of Jimenez from Wolves. If he finds form, I believe Fulham will be just fine over the course of the season.
If you do miss out on any of the attacking assets from Fulham, you may be able to get them slightly cheaper after the first month while Fulham figure things out. I don't believe this should deter you from drafting any of their assets, but it's more so one you may need some extra patience with them.
Second Season Syndrome - As we know, Marco Silva's Fulham took the EPL by storm last season, playing some scintillating stuff at times. But staying up again will be a huge test, particularly if Mitro departs, and teams have start to have their number. Silva can no longer surprise the rest of the league and like all managers will need to try to show some tactical flexibility. He has proven to be an adept manager so they should persevere. We shall see.
Attacking Rotation - The Cottagers spread around some fantasy points despite being Mitro-focused last season, with most of the attack (Willian & Andreas) getting in on the action. But with Andeas coming off a bad injury and Willian getting even older and leggier, and the added depth of a fit Wilson, who will fill these slots on a consistent basis?
Early-Season Fixture Difficulty
The way that teams come out the gate has big implications in EPL Draft. A red hot start creates red hot trade targets. A dismal start means plummeting player values and losses for your fantasy team. Check out our thoughts on Fulham's early-season fixtures and our analysis of the fantasy implications they will have.
The Cottagers have such feast or famine fixtures to begin the season. Two good matchups on paper - Everton & Luton - are mixed in with the two most difficult in the league, Arsenal and Man City away. And a decent matchup, Brentford at home, to round it out. While it will be frustrating to likely have to sit most of your Fulham assets for GWs 3 & 4, it shouldn't deter you from punting on any of these assets. If anything, it might be a good time to buy low after GW4.
23/24 Fulham Predicted Lineup
The following lineup represents our prediction for the most likely line-up for the long-term for Fulham in the upcoming season. We can't account for injuries or new transfers, but this should provide a reasonable guide for who will be the preferred starters for the majority of Premier League matches this season. After scares that both main attackers Willian and Mitrovic would be moving to Saudi Arabia, it now looks like both are staying put at Fulham. Demarai Gray might still join to complicate the forward line after Raul Jimenez has already signed. Calvin Bassey walks into the defence to upgrade last season's unit, while Palhinha's potential long-term injury could see some makeshift lineups in the middle of the park.
More Team Previews: Arsenal | Aston Villa | Bournemouth | Brentford | Brighton | Burnley | Chelsea | Crystal Palace | Everton | Fulham | Luton | Liverpool | Man City | Man United | Newcastle | Nottingham Forest | Sheffield United | Tottenham | West Ham | Wolves
Check out our 23/24 Draft Kit for all the pre-season information you could ever need. We've got a Live Draft Aide, Draft Rankings, Team Previews, Cheat Sheets, Strategy Articles, Draft 101, plus so much more. Dominate your draft!
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More Team Previews: Arsenal | Aston Villa | Bournemouth | Brentford | Brighton | Burnley | Chelsea | Crystal Palace | Everton | Fulham | Luton | Liverpool | Man City | Man United | Newcastle | Nottingham Forest | Sheffield United | Tottenham | West Ham | Wolves
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