Marco Reus setting the pace in Fantasy Bundesliga Team of the Hinrunde
Borussia Dortmund top the proverbial Bundesliga Christmas tree at the halfway stage of 2018/19, Paco Alcacer and Luka Jovic head the scoring charts, and Sebastien Haller leads the way for assists - but who's been doing the business week in, week out in Fantasy Bundesliga land?
Get your wish lists at the ready as bundesliga.com proudly presents the Fantasy Team of the Hinrunde, collectively worth an eye-watering 1,840 points after 17 match days...
Goalkeeper
Yann Sommer (Borussia Mönchengladbach, 119pts, 11.6M)
There's more to third-placed Gladbach's title push than the goals of Thorgan Hazard. Yann Sommer has played a blinder between the posts, underpinning the joint-meanest defence in the Bundesliga behind RB Leipzig.
The Switzerland goalkeeper has played every minute for the Foals this season, conceding just 18 goals in 17 appearances and keeping seven clean sheets along the way. He's also picked up 78 points for shots saved, and comes in at a few pennies cheaper than the likes of Peter Gulasci, Roman Bürki and Manuel Neuer.
Defenders
Theodor Gebre Selassie (Werder Bremen, 137pts, 12.9M)
Another ever-present, Bremen right-back Theo Gebre Selassie remains a real Fantasy asset.
Although he's dropped points for playing in a Bremen side that's shipped 29 goals, his influence at both ends cannot be underestimated. Sixty-two points for won duels, combined with - among others - goals (12pts), goal attempts (24pts) and passes to a shot (21pts) more than make up for any leaky days at the office.
Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich, 195pts, 16.6M)
Joshua Kimmich doesn't come cheap, but then he is arguably the best defender in the business.
A converted right-back by trade, the 23-year-old has also been used in a central midfield role this term. He's scored one and assisted seven, but it's his penchant to bomb forward and create chances which make him such an attractive proposition - regardless of whether Robert Lewandowski and Co. finish them off. Kimmich has garnered 63 points for passes to a shot alone.
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William (Wolfsburg, 138pts, 10.6M)
The bargain of the bunch, William is another full-back with the skills to pay the bills at both ends of the field
The Brazilian has picked up almost half his total points haul for challenges won, whilst bringing in a combined tally of 50 points for goal attempts and passes to a shot. He has been docked points for conceding a penalty, but the pros tend to outweigh the cons, even if he ends up on the losing side.
Midfielders
Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund, 147pts, 11.2M)
Speaking of bargains, how about Jadon Sancho for 11.2 million?
Even when he wasn't starting games, the England international was raking in the points, having scored once and assisted five from the bench in Dortmund's first five matches of the season.
Unsurprisingly, he's started all but one of Dortmund's 11 outings since, and goes in at the winter break pushing the 30-point mark for assists, goal attempts and passes to a shot.
Oh, and he's only been on the losing team once.
Michael Gregoritsch (Augsburg, 139pts, 15.4M)
Despite only making 11 starts for a struggling Augsburg team, Michael Gregoritsch ranks fourth among midfielders for total points.
The Austrian is yet to assist and has only scored three - he was Augsburg's top scorer last term with 13 - but is worth his weight in gold for effort. Check this: 60 points for goal attempts.
Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen, 161pts, 15.5M)
Leverkusen's best player by a mile so far this season, Kai Havertz is the third-highest scoring player on the game that isn't a forward.
The 19-year-old has started every game, registering three assists and scoring six, including a brace against Hertha Berlin on Matchday 17, worth two bonus points.
You can always rely on him to have a go (45 points or goal attempts), while the only blot to his Fantasy copybook has been the seven defeats suffered by hot-and-cold employers Leverkusen.
Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund, 226pts, 18.9M)
In case you've been hiding in a bear cave, Dortmund captain Marco Reus is in the form of his life.
Not only has he started every BVB game, winning 13 of them, he's also registered 11 goals and seven assists. That's more goals than Lewandowski!
He's up there with Gregoritsch for goal attempts (57 points), and has picked up 22 points for challenges won.
Put simply, Reus is the must-have Fantasy player and a lead candidate for star man, no matter who Dortmund line up against.
Watch: Marco Reus picked up his second Bundesliga Player of the Month award in November
Forwards
Sebastien Haller (Eintracht Frankfurt, 188pts, 15.1M)
Haller doesn't just take chances - he makes them. Nine goals and eight assists to be precise: that's a direct hand in a joint-league high 17 goals - as many as Reus.
Interestingly, the Frenchman is without a goal or assist in his last five and two respectively, but he's still a valuable addition to any side for his love of a challenge. Fifty-one points for won duels - more than twice what he's accumulated for goals scored. Let's get physical!
Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich, 195pts, 20.9M)
Ahead of Haller in the scoring charts on 10, Lewandowski is classic star-man fodder, with 40 points for goals scored and 48 for goal attempts.
The Pole's selfless streak has also brought in 45 points for assists and passes to a shot, while his chances of missing a game are about as unlikely as a white Christmas in Death Valley.
If he plays, you can almost always expect double figures. If he scores, you could easily be looking at 20-plus as star man.
Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Mönchengladbach, 195pts, 16.7M)
Hazard's value just keeps on rising in what is shaping up to be his most productive season yet in a Gladbach shirt.
The Belgium international is on 54 points for goals and assists (eight and nine respectively), and comes with the added bonus of being the Foals' designated penalty taker. He's already struck five times from 12 yards, although he has missed two of his attempted spot-kicks (-10 points).
Solid end product is supplemented by endeavour, with 46 points earned for passes to a shot. Snap him up while you still can!
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