Fantasy Premier League 2018-19 Tips: 10 Defenders You Must Sign
9. Jamaal Lascelles (Newcastle)
On the one hand, adding Jamaal Lascelles to your starting squad might not seem like such a good idea as Newcastle have by far the hardest opening fixtures on paper. In the first five weeks of the season, they have to play Tottenhan, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Arsenal.
However, three of those four big games are at home, and Newcastle were actually very good at home against the big sides last season, beating Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United, as well as nabbing a draw with Liverpool and only losing to City by the narrow margin of 1-0.
Rafa Benitez is a shrewd tactician who can get the best out of his squad, especially in high-stakes games, and he'll want to negotiate these difficult early fixtures and come out with a few points in hand.
Jamaal Lascelles will have a big say in all of that, having been Newcastle's second best fantasy player last season with 116 points and finishing as one of the top defenders in the Premier League. He scored two goals in the first five games of last season too and will be hoping to hit the ground running once again this year. Priced at just £5m, he offers a whole lot of value.