Vote: First Half Fantasy Premier League MVP

It’s been an absolute cracker these first 19 weeks, with plenty of the usual suspects performing at a very high level, but also several surprises. Whom do you pick as the best of the best so far for bringing fantasy glory to your FPL and/or Fantrax campaigns?

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Chelsea Attacker Eden Hazard

Eden Hazard got off to an absolutely scorching start to the season, then slowed down a bit after picking up an injury. Recently he’s back to form, notching a brace in today’s Week 19 win at Watford. Adding it up over the first half-season, the Belgian pivot/false-9 is enjoying his finest campaign since he won Player of the Year in 2014-15. For fantasy managers who decided not to pay up for Mo Salah (the most expensive player in Official FPL), and instead made the much more affordable Hazard the centerpiece (and often captain) of their teams, there are surely no complaints.

• 10 goals (4th-most in the league), 9 assists (#1), 50 shots (#6), 23 shots on target (#5), 12 big chances created (#2), 910 passes, 43 crosses
• September 2018 Player of the Month
• Selected by 36% of managers in Official FPL (#2 among midfielders)
• 133 points in Official FPL (#2 overall)
• 271 points in Fantrax (#1 overall)

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Liverpool Winger Mo Salah

Following last season’s meteoric exploits from the newcomer, some fans (and scores of fantasy managers) were disappointed by Salah’s “slow start”. But the left-footed Egyptian superstar has certainly perked up and gotten back into the thick of the discussion for MVP (or POY, if you prefer that parlance).

• 12 goals (tied for #2 in league), 6 assists (tied #5), 65 shots (#2), 31 shots on target (tied #1), 11 big chances created (#3), 36 crosses
• Zero yellow or red cards (!)
• Selected by 40% of managers in Official FPL (most among midfielders)
• 137 fantasy points in Official FPL (#1 overall)
• 256 points in Fantrax (#2 overall)

Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

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Arsenal Forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Coming over from Borussia Dortmund as a winter transfer last season, PEA took the Premier League by storm, scoring ten times and adding four assists in only 13 games. After a sluggish start to the season, Auba quickly kicked things into gear and proved that last spring was no fluke.

• 13 goals (#1 in league), 3 assists, 47 shots (#8), 22 shots on target (#6T)
• Zero yellow or red cards
• October 2018 Player of the Month
• Selected by 37% of FPL managers (most among strikers)
• 121 fantasy points in Official FPL (#3 overall, #1 among strikers)
• 216 fantasy points in Fantrax (#4 overall)

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Tottenham Striker Harry Kane

It wouldn’t be an MVP discussion without the Tottenham talisman, who is always a fantasy favorite because he simply produces.

• 12 goals (tied for #2 in the league), 3 assists, 63 shots (#3), 31 shots on target (#1T)
• Selected by 30% of FPL managers (3rd most among forwards)
• 112 points in Official FPL (#5 overall, #2 among forwards)
• 241 points in Fantrax (#3 overall)

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Manchester City Winger Raheem Sterling

Sterling endured a poor World Cup with England this past summer for a Three Lions’ team that finished fourth, but he has not skipped a beat on the domestic level, as his Sky Blue blur is repeating as one of the brightest lights of league and fantasy.

• 9 goals (tied for #5 in league), 6 assists (#5T), 34 shots, 18 shots on target (#9T), 621 passes, 45 crosses
• November 2018 Player of the Month
• 116 points in Official FPL (#4 overall, #3 among midfielders)
• 198 points in Fantrax (#6 overall)

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Bournemouth Midfielder Ryan Fraser

The problem with Fraser has never been production, it has been health. After waiting for him to break out, this season it has finally happened! Much like fellow Cherries’ star Callum Wilson, Fraser has not put up the biggest numbers in the league, as his tremendous value comes from very high production at an extremely affordable price tag. Fantasy managers who got in on Fraser early at low cost are surely singing his praises to the highest mountain tops!

• 4 goals, 8 assists (#2 in league), 22 shots, 10 SOT, 600 passes, 114 crosses (#3), 16 big chances created (#1)
• Selected by 26% of FPL managers (4th most for midfielders)
• 96 points in Official FPL (#4T among midfielders)
• 194 points in Fantrax (#8 overall)

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Liverpool Goalkeeper Alisson Becker

The Reds knew they were getting an upgrade from Loris Karius by buying Alisson from Roma in a big-money move over the summer, but even the Anfield faithful have to be shocked at just how brilliant the Brazilian #1 has been so far.

• 16 wins (#1 in league), 12 clean sheets (#1), 45 saves (#13T), 98 throw outs (#1), only 7 goals conceded
• Selected by 23% of FPL managers (#2 for keepers)
• 98 fantasy points in Official FPL (#1 at the position by a huge margin)
• 210 points in Fantrax (#5 overall, #1 among keepers again by an enormous margin)

Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

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Chelsea Defender Marcos Alonso

There hasn’t been a single defender who has completely separated himself from the crowd, but among several outstanding performers, Marcos Alonso has been consistently excellent across the Official and Fantrax platforms thanks to his contributions on both the offensive and defensive end. He’s the most popular player in the FPL game for a reason!

• 1 goal, 3 assists, 7 fantasy assists, 1,178 passes, 59 crosses, 27 shots, 7 clean sheets
• Selected by 43% of managers in Official FPL (most of any player)
• 104 points in Official (#2 among defenders)
• 155 points in Fantrax (#4 at the position)
• Denied by the Woodwork 6 times (#1 in league, by far — watch out world when he adjusts those inches)

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[Note: Statistics used in the article came via the official Premier League and Premier League fantasy websites as well as that of Fantrax fantasy.]

Be sure to vote in the poll below and then share your thoughts in the comments section!