West Ham fans and fantasy football managers alike will be hoping for a strong season from Javier Hernandez.
The Mexican striker joined Slaven Bilic’s side for £16million last month, returning to the familiar stomping-ground of the Premier League.
Dream Team 2017/18
How does the game work?
- This year’s fantasy football game will be absolutely FREE for all players to play
- The total prize pot is an approximated £750,000
- Game Weeks will run from Friday to Thursday
- £50m budget on 11 eligible players
But can Chicharito be just as devastating for the Hammers as he was for Manchester United back in the day?
NOT PICKED YOUR FANTASY FOOTBALL TEAM YET? WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
The 29-year-old is well remembered for his time at Old Trafford, making his debut for the Red Devils during the 2010–11 campaign and going on to score 20 goals that season.
In fact, his minutes-per-goal ratio during his time with United remains one of the most prolific in the history of the top-flight.
So for £16m, Hernandez could really be the bargain signing of the summer.
After falling out of favour at United, Hernandez moved to Bundesliga also-rans Leverkusen and continued his fine goal scoring form at the club, notching 17 league goals in his first season.
But Leverkusen struggled last term, which reflected in Hernandez’s goal-tally – managing only 14 in all competitions.
What could Hernandez bring to your fantasy football team?
It’s time to get down to business.
The new Premier League season is only days away, with Arsenal and Leicester kicking things off (literally) on August 11, ahead of what many expect to be one of the most exciting seasons yet.
And we think Hernandez could be a serious hit on Dream Team.
There’s no doubt that signing ‘the Little Pea’ for the price they did represents a huge coup for the Hammers.
For starters, the striker should be at the very peak of his abilities at 29.
He’s also a proven threat in front of goal in the Premier League from his years at United.
However, Bilic may have to adapt his tactics this season to accommodate Hernandez’s style of play.
The forward has all the ability of the quintessential “goal-poacher”, with his movement, pace, and ability inside the box.
Former manager Sir Alex Ferguson once compared him to United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with his pace and eye for goal a regular cause for concern for opposition defenders in and around the six-yard box.
According to Dream Team’s ratings provider WhoScored, Hernandez managed a respectable 6.89 rating in the Bundesliga last season.
His 11 goals edged him into top 10 scorers in the German top-flight, beating the likes of Leipzig’s Emil Forsberg, Dortmund’s Marcos Reus and Hertha Berlin’s Salomon Kalou.
Need more convincing?
He’s priced at just £3.5m on Dream Team this season, which makes him an absolute bargain in our eyes.
To give that some context, he’s cheaper than likes of Marcus Rashford and Olivier Giroud (both £4.0m), but is likely to be a regular first-team starter for West Ham.
How does fantasy football work?
The setup for Dream Team is quite simple – as a manger you get a budget of £50m to spend on your team of 11 players.
Game Weeks will run from Friday to Thursday this season and you’ll be allowed to transfer out players who have already played in that Game Week.
What could Morata bring to fantasy football?
- 15 goals and four assists from just 14 La Liga starts last season
- 20 goals in all competitions
- WhoScored rating of 7.17 – better than Sergio Ramos and and Karim Benzema
- Fancy him to shine this season? Sign up to get him in your Dream Team now
Each manager gets a maximum of three transfers a month – so it’s important to pay attention to upcoming fixtures.
And if the incentive of beating your mates in our Mini-League system isn’t enough, there’s a whopping £750,000 prizepot at stake too.
Which fantasy football team names are the most popular?
Team names have become almost as important as picking winning sides in recent years, with the punnier the name the better.
So whether it’s Lallana in Pyjamas, Giroud Sandstorm or Teenage Mutant Ninja Skrtel, take a look at our foolproof list to help you decide.
Keep up to date with all the latest fantasy football news ahead of next season with our fantasy football live blog and sign up to play below: