This article is part of our Mondogoal Fantasy Soccer series.
Fitting in top-tier talent is always the goal for fantasy rosters, but you can't get it done without some bargain plays that will outproduce their lower salaries. Here are a few top value plays for Gameweek 14:
Odion Ighalo, FWD (£10.4M)
Currently verging on a top 10 place in the standings, Watford's recent surge has been fueled by their magnificent strike partnership of Ighalo and Troy Deeney (£9.3M). Over the Hornets' past five league matches – a stretch that includes three wins – Ighalo has posted three goals and four assists, while Deeney boasts four goals and one helper. As a result, either player would be a fine selection ahead of this weekend's visit from 16th-place Norwich, but Ighalo gets the edge due to his consistency over the whole of this season. With 130.01 Mondogoal points, the Nigerian ranks fourth among strikers available this weekend.
Joel Campbell, FWD (£5.2M)
Although Campbell's fantasy stock obviously pales in comparison to teammates Mesut Ozil (£16.0M) and Olivier Giroud (£8.3M), Arsenal's current injury crisis makes him a nice sleeper selection. With Alexis Sanchez (hamstring) and Santi Cazorla (knee) the latest Gunners sidelined by injury, manager Arsene Wenger is left with few options up front, meaning Campbell should start Saturday at home against Sunderland, the league's fourth-worst defense. Besides Arsenal's thrashing at Bayern Munich, Campbell has averaged 8.82 Mondogoal points per game over his last three starts, which represents great value for a player with Campbell's small salary.
Virgil van Dijk, DEF (£7.2M)
Despite Southampton's three goals allowed at Manchester City last weekend, van Dijk's 7.29 points per game on Mondogoal still place fourth among defenders available in Saturday contests. That's when he and the Saints are presented with a ripe rebound opportunity, as they'll host last-place Aston Villa. In addition to having lost their past six away Premiership matches, the Villains have scored the second-fewest goals overall this season. That certainly bodes well for van Dijk, who has also scored two goals through his first 10 games in England.
Willian, MID (£11.7M)
With seven goals and two assists across all competitions, Willian has emerged as Chelsea's best offensive player this season. In his 19 games included in Mondogoal contests, the Brazilian has averaged 8.22 points per match, thus justifying his double-digit price tag. Despite Chelsea's struggles this season, the Blues will be keen to capitalize on Saturday's home matchup against Bournemouth, which could kick-start manager Jose Mourinho's mid-table attack. No team has surrendered more goals than the Cherries this season, so look for Willian to come forth with another fruitful performance.
Alberto Moreno, DEF (£8.8M)
After losing his spot to now-injured 18-year-old Joe Gomez to begin this season, Moreno has responded well in his return to Liverpool's starting lineup, especially lately. The Spaniard has started every Premier League match since manager Jurgen Klopp took over, averaging 7.63 Mondogoal points per match during that six-game stretch. Most recently, Moreno produced his first double-figure performance in league play, a 10.02-point, clean sheet outing against Swansea City last Sunday. That puts him in good standing heading into this Sunday's game at Newcastle, whose 14 goals scored this season best only three teams at the moment.
Romelu Lukaku, FWD (£11.1M)
If it weren't for Jamie Vardy's (£11.7M) weekly heroics for Leicester City, Lukaku would surely be heralded as the Premiership's best striker this season. To that point, Lukaku's 10 goals only trail Vardy, and he's also doled out four assists. The Belgian has been particularly hot lately too, scoring in four straight games, while accumulating eight goals and three assists over Everton's past eight league encounters. Overall, Lukaku has been good for a whopping 156.66 points on Mondogoal, making him a strong choice this weekend despite being matched up against a Crystal Palace team that has fared better on the road this season.
