Florian Wirtz, Michael Olise and the best OOP players in Fantasy
When drafting your Fantasy XIs for the new Bundesliga season, it’s always worth finding an edge through selecting players out of position (OOP). bundesliga.com picks out five names to consider.
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A standard Bundesliga Fantasy squad is usually composed of a few standout big-money picks, your reliable 8/10 every week players. However, it is the out-of-position players who could ultimately make the difference between your team being good or great.
There are a few names that immediately pop out in this regard – Bayern Munich's duo of Jamal Musiala (listed as a midfielder) and Raphaël Guerreiro (listed as a defender) are one such pair. Still, there are a few others still worth thinking about, ahead of the new season.
Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
Position: Midfielder
Value: 20M
Wirtz featured on our OOP list last year as well, and despite his significant increase in price, we think this is a no-brainer pick for your Fantasy team. Though listed as a midfielder, the Leverkusen man is almost always fielded as an advanced attacker as part of a front three alongside the likes of Victor Boniface and Amine Adli - guaranteeing goals.
Watch: The best of Florian Wirtz
Ranking 19th in the league last season for shots attempted (70), the 21-year-old also led the league for shots against post and bar (5), ahead of his Leverkusen teammate Alejandro Grimaldo and Bayern's Harry Kane. Expect him to continue producing the goods for your Fantasy team this upcoming season.
Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
Position: Midfielder
Value: 16M
Olympic silver medalist Olise arrives in Bavaria with big expectations after joining from Crystal Palace in the English Premier League. On the right wing, the 22-year-old brings consistency and a long-term solution to Bayern's problems on that side. Favouring his left foot to make the decisive final pass or take a shot himself, Olise scored 10 goals in the Premier League last term, dispatching nine with his left.
Watch: Michael Olise joins Bayern Munich
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That is not to mention his assists tally of six, which came from nine big chances created. At Bayern, expect that figure to grow significantly with the uptick in player quality around him. He's already produced a debut assist from the bench in the DFB Cup first round.
A right-sided winger blessed with skill and composure, favouring his left foot and now playing at Bayern? All of the above are good omens for your Fantasy side. Despite being listed as a midfielder, expect Olise to be heavily involved in Vincent Kompany's efforts to bring back dominant attacking football to the club.
Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen)
Position: Defender
Value: 18M
The nominal defender was once again at his attacking best last season, forming a deadly wing-back pairing for Xabi Alonso's Werkself in their double-winning campaign. The Dutchman produced nine goals and seven assists last term - similar to his output during the 2022/23 season. Those numbers have become possible due to Alonso figuring out the best role for Frimpong to thrive within his system.
Watch: Jeremie Frimpong's lung-busting runs
Listed in Fantasy as a defender, the offensive gains to be had with Frimpong in Fantasy teams are there for all to see. Expect the 23-year-old to continue blazing down the right flank and getting shots away, speeding away from opposition defenders time after time. With 1006 sprints in the league last term, Frimpong was able to use his pace to take Leverkusen to glory - he might do the same to your Fantasy team this time!
Roland Sallai (Freiburg)
Position: Midfielder
Value: 10M
Sallai will look forward to bouncing back from a disappointing UEFA Euro 2024 with Hungary when he dons Freiburg colours once again. Last season, the versatile Hungarian made 12 goal contributions across all competitions, scoring three in the Bundesliga and four in the UEFA Europa League.
Watch: The best of Roland Sallai
Though nominally a midfielder, Sallai aided Freiburg with his versatility in forward areas on many a occasion last season, often playing just behind striker Michael Gregoritsch. With 52 shots attempted, he accumulated the second-highest tally of any Freiburg player during the 2023/24 season. Should he remain an active starter under new boss Julian Schuster, he is a veritable OOP bargain for Fantasy teams.
Mitchell Weiser (Werder Bremen)
Position: Defender
Value: 13M
Weiser is a similar, albeit cheaper, proposition to Frimpong. Listed as a defender, the Bremen man is a very attack-minded right-back, with seven assists to show for his efforts last season - 10 the campaign before that.
Watch: Weiser's winner against former club Bayern last season
Weiser does chip in with the odd goal, but it's his propensity to get balls into the opposition penalty area that makes him such a worthwhile signing. Under the new scoring rules, one assist garners defenders 70 points, while successful passes into the box and crosses are worth seven apiece. He can also be expected to score well for passes to a shot (10 points for each one).
Check out our 5 budget-busting suggestions for the new season
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