Wirtz, Guerreiro and Simons (l-r.) are some potential OOP players in this year's Fantasy. - © DFL

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Wirtz, Guerreiro and the best OOP players in Fantasy

02.08.2023

Picking players listed out of position for your Fantasy squad is one of the best ways to get ahead. bundesliga.com picks out five early candidates.

OOP players score proportionately more points than their competitors. For example, a defender or midfielder in the game might actually spend most of their playing time in the final third, where they are more richly rewarded for their attacking contributions.

Whilst the vast majority of Fantasy assets are now listed in positions they occupy in real life - Jamal Musiala and Dani Olmo as midfielders this season has already caught the eye - there are still some who could provide an opportunity.

Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
Position: Midfielder
Value: 14M

Watch: All of Wirt'z Bundesliga goals and assists

Wirtz might not be the most out of position player on this list, but the Leverkusen prodigy is listed as a midfielder and started 10 games last season at the point of Die Werkself's attack.

A groin injury to striker Patrick Schick - which he is still recovering from - was part of the reason why, and although Bayer have since signed Victor Boniface from Union SG, Wirtz figures to be the first alternative in attack if the Nigerian needs rested. And until then, he's an effective attacking midfielder anyway.

Raphael Guerreiro (Bayern Munich)
Position: Defender
Value: 15M

Watch: The best of Guerreiro at Dortmund

Raphael Guerreiro was one of the highest-scoring players in Fantasy last season with four goals and 12 - yes, TWELVE - assists despite starting the majority of his Borussia Dortmund games at left-back.

He has since joined Bayern Munich, to be reunited with former Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel, and with Alphonso Davies the incumbent in the Portuguese's position at the Allianz Arena, he is likely to be used in midfield once he returns from a calf injury in September.

Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig)
Position: Midfielder
Value: 14M

"Play me up there!" - Xavi Simons won't want to be stuck in midfield this season. - IMAGO/Picture Point LE

Xavi Simons is listed as a midfielder - but then so is his new Leipzig teammate Xaver Schlager - and the Paris Saint-Germain-owned youngster will play significantly higher up the pitch.

On loan from PSG at PSV Eindhoven last season, Simons plundered 19 goals and eight Eredivisie assists, and he started up front in support of Benjamin Sesko in the recent pre-season friendly with Udinese…

Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen)
Position: Defender
Value: 14M

Watch: All of Frimpong's goals and assists

Whilst Frimpong is listed as a defender and does indeed tend to start games at right-back, his average position last season was more befitting of a right-winger, from where he tallied eight goals and seven assists.

Should the Dutchman be unavailable, new arrival Alex Grimaldo will be expected to do the same job on the opposite flank, with head coach Xabi Alonso most fond of system that has a back three with wing-backs.

Christian Groß (Werder Bremen)
Position: Defender
Value: 3M

Christian Groß (r.) might not score as many Fantasy points as Werder Bremen teammate Niclas Füllkrug (r.) but could still be worth a punt. - IMAGO/Nordphoto

Christian Groß is another player likely to line up further forward than his Fantasy listing might suggest, with all but one of his 23 starts last season coming at the base of midfield.

One goal and one assist last season might not fill Fantasy managers with too much excitement, but at 3M he is also a budget-busting differential who could be worth the punt.