A year ago, a young striker named Harry Kane broke on to the scene and took the Premier League by storm with 21 goals in 28 games as one of the most surprising fantasy performers of the year. Fast-forward to this season and there is no denying the Premier League has had its share of surprising fantasy performances once again beginning of course with the team that has shocked the world with their rise to the top of the table. Here is a look at the four most surprising Premier League fantasy performances so far this season.
Jamie Vardy, Leicester City
Leicester City’s shocking run to the top of the table has been one of the stories of the year in the Premier League. They are currently sitting in second place in the EPL table with 40 points in 20 games. They have also scored an impressive 37 goals this season, which is the second-most in the league. It wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for Vardy as the veteran striker that has taken his game to another level this season. He has absolutely thrived as one of the biggest surprise fantasy performers. Vardy set a new Premier League record with goals in 11 straight games and he leads all scorers with 15 goals this season. Few would have predicted that Vardy would break through at 28-years-old and playing at the highest level for the first time but he has taken the Premier League by storm as one of the biggest surprise fantasy performers this year.
Riyad Mahrez, Leicester City
Vardy has undoubtedly been the biggest surprise in the Premier League this season but in terms of fantasy performances, it will come as a shock to most that Vardy’s teammate and Leicester’s star striker Mahrez has actually registered the most fantasy points among all Premier League players regardless of position. Mahrez has registered 13 goals and seven assists in 19 games this season and at just 24-years-old there is no doubt that he has the potential to dominate England’s top flight for years to come. Mahrez has been absolutely outstanding and the fact that he leads all Premier League players in fantasy points this season should come as a major shock.
Romelu Lukaku, Everton
Almost nobody would have predicted Vardy would be at the top of the list in terms of Premier League goal scoring at this point of the season but he is tied with Lukaku for the league lead with 15 goals. His overall fantasy total is actually the highest among all Premier League strikers this season, which is a pleasant surprise for those that own him. Lukaku has been an absolute monster up front for Everton and with Vardy dealing with injuries there is a very real chance that Lukaku challenges for the goal scoring title this season. What’s more impressive about Lukaku’s output is that he’s done it for an Everton team that’s ranked 11th in the EPL standings table this season. He’s not surrounded with as much talent as Vardy. Everton has been good at the offensive end, though, scoring 36 goals in 20 games. That’s good for the third-most in the EPL and that’s been one of the main aspects that has powered their success this season.
Odion Ighalo, Watford
Vardy isn’t the only surprise striker that has taken the Premier League by storm as his 14 goals through 19 games is good enough to rank third in scoring this season. Watford has stumble recently with back-to-back losses but they still rank ninth in the table with 29 points and Ighalo has been among the biggest reasons for it as a surprise fantasy performer. What’s impressive is that Watford has scored just 25 goals this season yet Ighalo has more than half of them.
Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne and Stoke’s Marko Arnautovic deserve a ton of credit and have both surprised this season but Ighalo’s rise towards the top of the list among Premier League strikers for fantasy purposes gives him the slight edge ahead of both of those players on our list.
