Week two of the fantasy football season is in the books and roughly two-thirds of managers are genuinely considering playing their wildcard.
It's the same every year; rash calls result in a slow start and you're chasing the pack already. Now more than ever you need a bolt out of the blue to bandwagon your team to glory, and we have a nugget of inspiration for you if you're looking for a bargain and like an underdog.
Middlesbrough have one of the least expensive squads in terms of fantasy value, and yet after two games of the Premier League season (granted, it's still early days) look very much like they belong in the top flight.
After hosting Stoke on the opening day of the season and then travelling to Sunderland, Middlesbrough have proven to have an extremely stingy defence.
But the really enticing part is their next three fixtures:
-West Brom(A)
-Crystal Palace(H)
-Everton(A)
The time to buy is now, and here are the best five options for you to draft into your team this week.
George Friend - Defender - £4.5m
Oooooooohhh, Friend.
The Boro left-back has shone in both games so far this season, in particular against Sunderland where he was a constant attacking threat. By far the most attractive fantasy option for his ability to get forward, at £4.5 he represents great value for the coming month of fixtures.
Ben Gibson - Defender - £4.5m
If you would rather someone who will occasionally get his noggin on a set-piece and be a goal threat, sign Gareth McAuley from West Brom. If you've already got McAuley or already have 3 West Brom players in your team (if you do just close the laptop and give up to be honest), Gibson will start every game. Good defender, Boro could surprise a few people this season.
Gaston Ramirez - Midfielder - £5.5m
Premier League experience and a fantasy football track record, when Gaston Ramirez starts he tends to produce. A set-piece specialist who loves a pop, he's already bagged an assist and looks to be an important part of Karanka's side.
Cristhian Stuani - Forward - £4.9m (will rise to £5.0)
We are looking at a potentially legendary fantasy football bargain not seen since the infamous Michu breakout season. Stuani went into gameweek 2 costing just £4.9m... He earned the 0.8% of managers who picked him 13 points. That's astonishing. He didn't start the first game of the season but will now surely be given a chance to form a surprisingly tasty partnership with his compatriot up front.
Alvaro Negredo - Forward - £6.6m
Last but not least, the other half of the Spanish strikeforce that could yet prove to be this season's Tory Deeney and Odion Ighalo. Boro have bought well, and Negredo appears to have hit the ground running under Aitor Karanka by scoring in week one and assisting both of Stuani's goals. His record at Valencia and even at Man City suggest he will enjoy more success in front of goal now that he is the big cheese.
It's time to back Boro.
