RADIO
Perhaps the most viewed global sporting event, the World Cup brings more than a billion fans to their television screens to watch a month of the world's most popular sport. With this comes the inevitable fantasy variant of the sport - a month-long competition that pits you against the rest of the planet. The most popular site for world cup fantasy is the McDonalds sponsored World Cup Fantasy competition on FIFA's own website. Although it has some different rules to traditional fantasy soccer games (roll-on roll-off substitutions, unique formations, and different boosts), the basic premise of the game is the same: score as many points as you can and beat your opponents.
Here at RotoBaller, we will try to give you the best analysis possible so that you can beat your friends and take on the rest of the world by managing your team in the fantasy version of the beautiful game.
Here is the team analysis and lineup picks for fantasy drafts heading into Round 1. At the end of the day, remember to make the decision you feel is best for the team. Good luck, and enjoy!
Six Names To Look At - Fantasy World Cup
Neymar - F, Brazil (Price: 12M)
Although buying a $12M forward will likely set you back on building a premium defense and midfield and can hinder any formations with five defenders in the starting lineup, it's hard to pass up on Brazil's Golden Boy. Neymar scored four goals last world cup and looks to feature heavily for the Brazilian side this year. With Brazil favored to progress deep in the tournament, expect Neymar to be one of the players with the highest weekly floor and ceiling due to his penchant to score for his country and Brazil's high expected goal potential.
Sardar Azmoun - F, Iran (Price: 8M)
Although he is just shy of the $8.5M that you will have to spend on EPL top goalscorer Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Sardar Azmoun has the potential to be a big impact at a discount price in the Group Stage of this year's tournament. Azmoun has 23 goals in 33 games for his national side; you can expect at least a few goals in the first three rounds, particularly in Round 1 against Morocco. This makes him a premium play that you can transfer out after the first few weeks for a forward who will progress in the competition. However, don't discount Azmoun in the Group Stage - he could just be a week winner at a discount price.
Thomas Müller - M, Germany (Price: 9.5M)
Thomas Müller has been a machine in the last two World Cups. With ten goals in 13 appearances, it seems that you are almost guaranteed a goal a game from the German talisman. Despite not scoring a single goal in Germany's 2016 Euro campaign, Müller is still an elite option within one of the strongest sides of the entire tournament. Expect the German midfielder/striker to score early and often as his side have been gifted a relatively easy group; Müller could end up being in your lineup for the entire tournament, making him a must-have at a price of $9.5M.
Nahitan Nandez - M, Uruguay (5M)
If you spent heavily on your forwards and defenders and need a value play with offensive potential who is a starter on their team, there are few players to look at below the $7.5M threshold. However, one player who fits all of the criteria is Boca Juniors and Uruguay midfielder Nahitan Nandez. The 22 year old winger figures to start as part of the team's 4-4-2 across from Christian Rodriguez, making him an incredible value play who could end up scoring as much as the premium midfielders throughout the competition. With Uruguay favored to advance from their group, Nandez should see several positive game scripts and could end up scoring his first international goal at this tournament. Although their is the slight possibility that Nandez starts on the team's bench, it is more than likely that he will be a starter - at his price, you can't beat the value, making Nandez a must-have for your team.
Danilo - D, Brazil (5.5M)
While most players will go with left-back Marcelo ($6.5M), an almost equally attractive option is the Brazilian right back Danilo. The Manchester City man looks to start on the right side of Brazil's defense. Expect him to get down the pitch frequently and whip in crosses for the team's forwards. Brazil's high goal potential makes him a valuable play with a smaller dent to your budget than his compatriot Marcelo. If you can pair up Danilo with Neymar as your players from Brazil, you should be guaranteed some solid points throughout the group stage.
Henrik Dalsgaard - D, Denmark (4.5M)
Not a very familiar name to most within England, Dalsgaard actually plies his trade in the Championship with Brentford. The 28 year old fullback is expected to be the starter for the team on the right side of their defense, making him a cost-effective starter at just $4.5M. With Denmark expected to challenge for the second spot in their group, Dalsgaard should play a key part in both attack and defense and could end up having a high point potential given his spot as the team's starter and the game scripts that he should feature in.
RotoBaller Weekly XV
Team:
GK: Kasper Schmeichel (5M), Francis Uzoho (4M)
DF: Henrik Dalsgaard (4.5M), Luis Advincula (4.5M), Guillermo Varela (4.5M), Danilo (5.5M), Hiroki Sakai (4M)
MF: James Rodriguez (9M), Nahitan Nandez (5M), Thomas Müller (9.5M), Paulinho (8.5M), Carlos Sanchez (4.5)
FW: Antoine Griezmann (10M), Neymar (12M) , Robert Lewandowski (9.5M)
Analysis:
With firepower up top and through the midfield, Rotoballer's team is shying away from the conventional strategy of stocking up in defense and instead focusing on the midfield as a source for points (from goals rather than clean sheets). Because of the nature of substitutions in this version of fantasy soccer, Danilo will start on the bench in favor of Dalsgaard, Advincula, and Varela (although he will likely come on). Rodriguez, Muller, and Paulinho all have high goal rates for their national teams, making them good investments on the punt that there are not a lot of clean sheets in this year's tournament. Nandez is the wildcard in the midfield, with Sanchez ready to come on as a guaranteed starter for Colombia if one of our players doesn't play. With a front three of Griezmann, Neymar, and Lewandowski, you can expect to fly in Round 1 and throughout the group stage, making this team very potent up top and with high upside players in the back.
That's all for this week - good luck!
