Fantasy Football: 16 players who should be on your radar ahead of the new Premier League season

Everything you need to know heading into the opening weekend of the new season

Millions of Fantasy football managers up and down the country are putting the finishing touches to their teams before the new Premier League season kicks off.

Topping the office mini-league should never be taken lightly. That's why we've drafted in the fantasy football experts to give you a helping hand.

The Independent have teamed up with stats obsessed, daily fantasy football game www.oulala.com and together we have identified 16 players who must be on your fantasy football radar this season.

From the players that simply must be in your fantasy football team, the Premier League's new signings that are worth considering, the stars you must avoid and the players that may have slipped under your radar, we explain why you should (or shouldn't) pick this lot, this season.

Goalkeepers

The Must-Have: Petr Cech (Arsenal)

The 34-year-old comes into the 2016/17 campaign following an excellent debut season at Arsenal. The Czech collected his fourth golden glove award in 13 years, recording 16 clean sheets from 34 league appearances, one more than any other goalkeeper in the Premier League. The 31 goals that Cech conceded, an average of less than a goal a game, was the fewest of any keeper to have played more than 3,000 minutes, including David de Gea (33), Hugo Lloris (34) and Joe Hart (36).

Petr Cech showed his talents during his debut year at the Emirates (Oulala)

New Kid on the Block: Steve Mandanda (Crystal Palace)

The four-time Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year arrives in the Premier League in top form having won the award for the second successive year. As Marseille's captain for the last three seasons, Crystal Palace's capture of the 31-year-old adds a wealth of experience to the squad having made over 400 appearances for the 2010 Ligue 1 winners over the last nine years.

Approach with Caution: Simon Mignolet (Liverpool)

As one of the most error prone players in the Premier League, recording six defensive errors with four leading to goals last season, Simon Mignolet may be at risk of losing his place in Liverpool's starting XI at the expense of new signing Loris Karius. Despite making 34 league appearances last term, 15 keepers registered more saves than Mignolet's 70. Jürgen Klopp will be expecting more from his current number one and with Karius waiting to jump in at the first opportunity when he returns from injury, the pressure will be on Mignolet to perform from the word go.

Under the Radar: Jack Butland (Stoke City)

Having missed the final two months of the season with Stoke following an ankle break, also ruling Butland out of England's squad for Euro 2016, the 23-year-old will be keen to return to the form he enjoyed before the injury. Butland recorded the most saves per game (3.3) of any keeper in the Premier League to register more than 30 appearances.

If you can't afford premium priced keepers like Petr Cech or David de Gea, Jack's the go to guy when working on a budget.

Defenders

The Must-Have: Luke Shaw (Manchester United)

Ok, maybe a risky pick following such a lengthy layoff through injury but a well thought-out one. Consider the facts, Manchester United registered 18 clean sheets under Louis van Gaal last season. In comes Jose Mourinho, famed for improving every defence he has ever managed. Then take into account Shaw's fantasy price-tag, a snip for a defender guaranteed to start at United. Now let's not forget his ability to get forward down the left. Plenty of clean sheets with a few cheeky assists, get him in!

New Kid on the Block: Joël Matip (Liverpool)

The free transfer from Schalke was arguably the star defender in the Bundesliga last season. Matip recorded the most blocks (33) of any player in German football's top flight. He also ranked fifth for both interceptions (101) and clearances (182). Talented aerially, the 24-year-old ranked 12th for aerial duels won (117) too. If Matip's defensive stats aren't enough, he also weighed in with three goals and three assists. Jürgen Klopp has a top player in his side, will you?

Vincent Kompany is an excellent choice - if the Belgium remains fit (Oulala)

Approach with Caution: Vincent Kompany (Manchester City)

In an injury stricken 12 months, the Manchester City and Belgium captain missed out on the European Championships this summer and is also expected to miss the start of the Premier League season after undergoing an operation on his thigh. Despite registering excellent stats in the Premier League last term, including a 100 per cent take-on success rate, a success rate of 85 per cent in the air and a pass completion of 84 per cent, the 30-year-old's 14 appearances following a spout of injuries (listed below) makes the defender a big fantasy football swerve until he is back playing regularly in City's first team.

15th September 2015: Calf/Shin Injury

8th November 2015: Calf Strain

26th December 2015: Calf Muscle Strain

15th March 2016: Calf Muscle Strain

4th May 2016: Thigh Muscle Strain

Under the Radar: Leighton Baines (Everton)

Two words, 'Ronald' 'Koeman'. The new Everton manager showed at Southampton that he has both the ability to sure up a defence, while also playing a direct brand of football. The two players that will benefit most from Koeman's arrival are full-backs Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines. While both are excellent picks, I only had one spot and I had to give it to Baines. While a niggling ankle injury restricted the left-back last season, a summers rest plus a new regime can only benefit the 31-year-old. Throw in set-pieces and the possibility of penalty duties and we could well see the Leighton Baines of old.

Midfielders

The Must-Have: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

With Manchester City's array of attacking talent in the final third behind Sergio Agüero, in the form of David Silva, Leroy Sané, Nolito and Raheem Sterling, it's a difficult task to identify which City star will hit the ground running at the start of the Premier League season. Step forward Kevin De Bruyne. If there's one attacking midfielder from City in your fantasy side, make it the Belgian. De Bruyne's seven goals and nine assists in the league averaged one every 125 minutes last season, bettering any other attacking midfielder at the Etihad. .

New United singing Henrikh Mkhitaryan could be the spark at Old Trafford (Oulala)

New Kid on the Block: Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Manchester United)

The £35 million, Borussia Dortmund midfielder was a signing of intent as new Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, looks to strengthen his squad for his first season at Old Trafford. Mkhitaryan netted 11 goals in the Bundesliga last year, and made a further 15, an attacking threat that United have lacked in midfield for the past few seasons. Big things are expected from the Armenian and by the look of his stats, it's easy to understand why. If there's one new face in the Premier League that must be in your side from day one, make it Mkhitaryan.

Approach with Caution: Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)

Pep Guardiola has been busy bringing in an array of talented attacking players this summer. The arrivals of Nolito, Leroy Sané and Gabriel Jesus will undoubtedly cause a stir within Manchester City's current crop of midfielders. One player that may be affected by the influx of quality arriving at the Etihad is Raheem Sterling. The 21-year-old suffered a disappointing debut season at City which saw him score just six goals and register two assists in 31 league appearances. Is Sterling part of Pep's dream team this season? Is he part of yours?

Under the Radar: Christian Eriksen (Tottenham)

As Harry Kane and Dele Alli made the headlines each week last season, there was one man who quietly went about his business, netting six goals and registering a further 13 assists, the second most in the Premier League. While Christian Eriksen is obviously a fantastic player, it's unlikely he's the first Spurs player the majority of fantasy football managers pick in their sides. The 24-year-old weighs in with a consistent stream of fantasy football points and is always priced lower than the premium batch of midfielders. If you're looking for a reliable points scorer that doesn't cost the world, pick Eriksen.

Forwards

The Must-Have: Harry Kane (Tottenham)

As the only striker to start every Premier League game last season, racking up 25 goals to collect the Golden Boot from under the noses of Jamie Vardy and Sergio Agüero, Harry Kane's consistency is unrivalled. Having netted 20+ goals in the last two seasons, there are not many forwards you'd pick ahead of the Tottenham hitman. Agüero? maybe? But with his injury problems and transfers at a premium, possibly not. It's worth noting that across Europe's top five leagues only Cristiano Ronaldo (227) and Gonzalo Higuain (182) recorded more shots last season.

New Kid on the Block: Ahmed Musa (Leicester City)

Two excellently taken goals against Barcelona in pre-season has attracted the attention of fantasy managers across the UK. Is Musa the real deal? As Leicester's record signing from CSKA Moscow, the Nigerian was the fifth top scorer in the Russian Premier League last season, netting 13 goals. The 23-year-old's abundance of energy and pace appears a perfect fit to Leicester's style of play and it wouldn't be surprising to see him give a few Premier League defenders a fright this season.

Approach with Caution: Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

Averaging 49 minutes of game-time in each of his 28 Premier League matches last season, which included 15 starts and 13 appearances from the bench, highlights just why Walcott must be avoided this time around. As a player capable of netting a brace in any given game, the 27-year-old's consistency frustrates any manager brave enough to pick him. Never guaranteed a starting XI spot for Arsenal counteracts the first rule in fantasy football - pick players that always play, pretty much ruling Theo out of any master plan you may have up your sleeve.

Andre Gray averaged a goal every 103 minutes last season (Oulala)

Under The Radar: Andre Gray (Burnley)

Strikers from promoted clubs have a tendency to do well in their first Premier League campaign. Watford duo Odion Ighlalo and Troy Deeney were both in the top ten scorers last season, registering 15 and 13 goals respectively. While the 2014/15 Premier League campaign saw Queens Park Rangers' Charlie Austin score 18 goals to finish as the fourth top scorer, despite QPR suffering relegation. Step forward Burnley's Andre Gray. The 25-year-old was the Championship's top scorer last season with 25 goals in 43 appearances. With a further nine assists under his belt, the stats point firmly in Gray's direction to be the next star to make the step up to the Premier League from English football's second tier.

Stats supplied by daily fantasy football game www.oulala.com.

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