It’s certainly no shock to see Diego Costa, Sergio Aguero and Alexis Sanchez ranked among the top Premier League goal scorers as they are each world-class strikers. That has come to be expected of them and that’s why they were among the first players selected in most English Premier League fantasy drafts.
However, not every player ranked among the top scorers in the EPL was expected to produce at such a high level this season. If you took a shot with these value plays further down your draft board, you’ve done well as they’ve been among the surprise scorers in the EPL this season.
Harry Kane – Tottenham Spurs (16)
There are some that will argue that Kane’s remarkable rise to prominence should not be a surprise to anybody that has followed his development over the years. However, those same people would have a hard time making a case as to why they would have Kane the Spurs striker ranked behind only Costa and Aguero in league scoring this year. The 21 year old has developed in the Tottenham system for years and it was the fact that the Spurs staff was willing to take a chance on a young, unproven commodity that has allowed for him to reach this level.
Kane has scored a ridiculous 35 percent of his team’s league goals this season and it’s clear a young prospect once doubted has now reached the top of his game. While he was a great value pickup for you in fantasy leagues this year, obviously he’s going to be a hot commodity come draft-day for next season.
Charlie Austin – QPR (15)
The only player responsible for a greater percentage of his team’s goals this season than Kane is Austin, who has scored 15 of QPR’s 30 goals for a ridiculous 50-percent contribution. While most fans wouldn’t have him pegged as a top-five league scorer as we enter the weekend, he ranks second in the league in shots per game behind only Aguero. Austin’s dominance has resulted in QPR teammate Bobby Zamora pushing for the young striker to get his opportunity with the English national team. While it might not happen this week he should be a lock to make the team soon.
Austin is likely to be a hot commodity in the transfer window this summer and QPR isn’t likely to keep him. He was great value in fantasy leagues this year but his situation is going to be very different come next season.
Saldo Berahino – WBA (12)
Berahino is another young striker that has turned heads this season with 12 goals to rank sixth in the Premier League scoring race ahead of familiar names like Olivier Giroud, Wayne Rooney and Eden Hazard. If you drafted any of that former three, you’re probably a bit sour knowing that Berahino has outscored them.
The fact that the 21 year old has thrived with West Bromwich makes his accomplishments even more impressive and his play has caught the attention of both England national team manager Roy Hodgson and his native Burundi creating quite the dilemma. The more he produces, the more he will continue to become a household name.
Danny Ings – Burnley (9)
Burnley’s leading striker has scored nine times in the Premier League this season and while there weren’t many that expected him to produce at such a high level, his numbers have caught the attention of a number of teams including Manchester City and Liverpool. It was Brendan Rodgers’ side that reportedly first made their interest in the young star and after Real Sociedad boss David Moyes flew him in to Spain to talk about his future, it is now City that is the latest to make their intent to sign him known. That is a lot of attention for a player that few projected to rank among the top Premier League scorers this year. While it is certainly a surprise to see his numbers, Ings certainly deserves the attention he has received in recent weeks.
