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Budget forwards are a valuable asset in the FPL- There is usually one in every team and seldom do we see a trio made up by high priced strike force. This is due to the fact that strikers are significantly higher priced than the rest of their compatriots.
In recent seasons, high scoring midfielders have bridged that gap but since the fantasy game is one for the goals; the forward options will always end up high on the price front.
This doesn't mean that you cannot find ones that are cheap yet are regular goal grabbers. Every season regularly throws up a number of underrated forwards who perform above expectations.
Due to the brilliance of Salah last season, midfielders finished above forwards on points scored last term. This has led to an expected shift to midfield heavy teams this season and has given us many potential overlooked bargains when it comes to the strikers.
Here are the 7 of the best budget strikers to choose for your teams.
#7 Josh King (£6.5) - Bournemouth
The breakout budget option from the 16/17 season. Can Joshua King repeat his goalscoring heroics again this season?
Fantasy players will certainly hope so. His fierce form in front of goal saw him score 16 goals in the 16/17 season, making him a fantasy football favourite. He couldn't quite reach the same heights in the next season and scored only half that number while providing another 4 assists. As a result, his price has fallen slightly this season making him a decent budget option and possibly a great bargain.
The Norwegian striker has had an impressive pre-season where he has played most number of minutes of all the striker at the club while scoring 4 goals.
His form looks to be ripe going into the season. With a well laid out set of fixtures for Bournemouth coming up, King would be expected a goalscoring run and might become a fantasy football favourite again.
#6 Kelechi Iheanacho (£6) - Leicester City
Remember him? The young striker who came up through the Manchester City ranks as an exciting prospect but made his way to Leicester in search of first-team football. City fans did not mind as they had more than capable Gabriel Jesus in line. Iheanacho however, found it difficult to get going at his new club.
Having an underwhelming 17/18 season, the Nigerian did not get many starts and could manage only 3 goals all campaign. He ended up being the third choice striker at the club.
Still only 21, Iheanacho, however, has plenty of time to grow up into the quality striker that he was expected up to be. And after playing for Nigeria at the World Cup, the striker has now had a resounding pre-season. In the absence of club's primary striker, Jamie Vardy, the Nigerian scored 4 goals in 3 matches.
If he can carry this form forward into the new season, he might very well turn out to be a great budget deal. With Vardy having only just returned to training, Iheanacho is expected to start the first couple of matches. Leicester are also known to play with two strikers so if he manages to impress, Iheanacho could become an assured starter at the club.
#5 Marko Arnautovic (£7) - West Ham
The Austrian striker exploded with goals last season after being advanced on to the striker's position in the latter half of the season. Arnautovic scored 11 and provided 7 giving a total off 144 points. He has been as a result of that, listed as a striker this year in the FPL.
With a price that leans the mid-price segment but would be a great deal if the Hammers' striker continues his rich goalscoring form. Judging by the pre-season he looks to be well on his way to be doing just that. He has scored 5 goals while continuing to play in the centre-forward position.
New manager Manuel Pellegrini is a fan of attacking football and this is all the more optimistic for the striker and his current 23% ownership.
The only area of worry is West Ham' opening set of tough fixtures which loo. If Arnautovic can indeed get through these with a positive goalscoring return, expect his price and ownership to grow even further as the season wears on.
#4 Bobby Reid (£5.5) - Cardiff City
Promoted sides usually bring with them a host of budget options to chose from. Bobby Reid looks to be a good bet this season when it comes to delivering goals at a really cheap price.
Brought from Bristol city, where he scored 19 and assisted 7 in the championship last season. Reid is a Premier League first timer and will definitely have a drop in these stats.
Cardiff are not expected to do wonders this season and are a very defensive side. They will be relying heavily on Reid to grab the goals and the Englishman may prove to be a decent budget option if he is up to the task.
Having had a good pre-season where he has played most of the minutes, Reid looks to be an assured starter. Coming at only £5.5 he will also free up significant funds to be utilized in the rest of the squad.
#3 Cenk Tosun (£7) - Everton
Everton's January acquisition who gave up Champions League football to join them couldn't quite make the impression he would have wanted on the Premier League last season. Showing only glimpses of his quality, Cenk Tosun managed 5 goals in 14 appearances.
The Turkish striker will be hoping for a better show of his abilities this time around. With new manager Marco Silva, known for his preference of attacking football, Tosun will be looking to significantly better his goal tally.
A goal machine at his best, Tosun is Turkey's first choice striker. He brings significant quality to his team and FPL players would be hoping to see him deliver this season. His price tag of £7 will look like a bargain if he does perform and Everton's opening run of fixtures give him a chance to do just that.
#2 Alexander Mitrovic (£6.5) - Fulham
Mitrovic spent the second half of last season at Fulham where he scored 12 goals in 17 appearances, helping them earn promotion to the EPL. The Serbian striker has now made his move permanent and looks raring to go as the season begins.
Having already scored at the World Cup, Mitrovic is a classic number 9 who offers a physical presence up top. He is especially good at scoring headed goals from set pieces. Fulham is a side which relies on effective wing play and Mitrovic will be getting ample deliveries into the box to make his mark.
He already looks well settled in the side and was very impressive in the final offseason game scoring and assisting once. Fantasy managers will be hoping the Serbian goes on a decent goalscoring run and if kept fit, there is every chance that this could be Mitrovic's breakout season.
#1 Wilfried Zaha (£7) - Crystal Palace
Another midfielder who was pushed into the striking role last season and has, as a result, been listed as a forward this year. Zaha was instrumental in helping Crystal Palace avoid the drop last season after they had a wretched start, losing the first 7 games.
He managed to score 9 goals and assisted 7 offering a total points return of 136. This has led the Palace man to be selected by a staggering 31% in the FPL currently. This could also be attributed to the Club's favourable run of opening fixtures.
While still not averse to being played on the wings, Zaha is Palace's chief creative and goalscoring threat. He is highly expected to raise his tally of attacking returns this season, and could very well make his price look like a bargain as the season progresses.
