Imaginary Report: Week 3

With two weeks of Bundesliga play behind us, one thing is certain: there has been a lot of goals! It’s definitely been a season dictated by scoring, and in some cases a lack thereof.

Last week’s top scoring player was none other than SC Freiburg’s Maximilian Philipp, bagging 17 points in Week 2. Philipp scored twice in a full, 90-minute effort last weekend.

It was an underwhelming week from many of the highly touted players in the Bundesliga. Meanwhile, some surprises are really starting to emerge as superstars this season. And it’s about time they get their recognition in fantasy as well.

Here are this week’s three must-adds, again with a common theme: little players from big clubs.

• FOR - Joel Pohjanpalo, Bayer Leverkusen, 6M, 19pts, >1% popularity

The fabulous, Finnish phenom netted his first hat-trick and raised his season tally to four. With so few owners in the game, it’s definitely a way to distinguish yourself from your opponents. With Bellarabi possibly missing some time, we could be seeing a lot more of “Pohjanpalo.”

• MID - Genki Haraguchi, Hertha BSC, 9.3M, 21pts, 1% popularity

The Berlin club has found a stud in midfield, as Haraguchi leads all Bundesliga midfielders in fantasy points this season. With a striker like Vedad Ibisevic to feed through balls to, Haraguchi will keep racking up points. Now is the time to buy.

• DEF - Robin Knoche, Wolfsburg, 7.3M, 20pts, 5% popularity

Wolfsburg was expected to perform badly this season and have so far proven pundits wrong. Four points in six games is not bad form, but no goals allowed so far is pleasantly surprising. Knoche has been a denizen in the Wolves back-line as they continue to look like a strong defensive team.

How do we make room for these three players?

Remember when I said that there are some highly-touted players who haven’t been up to standards? That’s how. Here’s three cuts:

• FOR - Kevin Volland, Bayer Leverkusen, 13.9M, 3pts, 1% popularity

Looks like many have already caught on to this but Volland is overpriced and underused. He didn’t see action in Week 2 and barely contributed on match-day 1. With players like Chicharito, Admir Mehmedi, Hakan Calhanoglu, and even Pohjanpalo ahead of him on the depth chart, Volland isn’t worth the space right now.

• MID - Fabian Johnson, Borussia Monchengladbach, 11.9M, 2pts, 1% popularity

The American was merely a substitute on opening day and didn’t play in Week 2. Even though he was impressive last season, lightning has yet to strike for Johnson in 2016/17. Drop him. I did, and his replacement Julian Draxler is doing just fine.

• DEF - Benedikt Howedes, FC Schalke, 10.9M, 6pts, 8% popularity

The German international has not been solid at all this season. Although Schalke’s defense is one of the top in the Bundesliga, Howedes has not been impressive at all this season. I’d say drop him, but only for now at least.

Still nothing terribly impressive for goalkeepers yet, but next week could be the first juggling we see.

Until then, play fantasy and prosper.