FIFA World Cup Fantasy Round 2 Tips: Best Players, Captaincy Picks And Wildcard Options
We have officially reached Round 2 of FIFA World Cup Fantasy, and after the opening round of matches, the picture is much clearer for fantasy managers.
Germany, the USA, France and England all produced eye-catching performances in Round 1, while several premium assets justified their price tags with goals, assists and strong underlying numbers.
This article aims to help you prepare for Round 2 as we discuss three standout fantasy assets, compare two premium forwards, take a look at the best captaincy options, and highlight a potential Wildcard squad.
FIFA World Cup Fantasy Round 2 Fixtures
Czech Republic face South Africa.
The United States face Australia.
Spain face Saudi Arabia.
Egypt face New Zealand.
Portugal face Uzbekistan.
Colombia face DR Congo.
England face Ghana.
FIFA World Cup Fantasy Players To Target
Let's start by looking at three of the most interesting fantasy options heading into Round 2.
Kylian Mbappé
France's 3-1 victory over Senegal was one of the standout performances of Round 1, and Kylian Mbappé was at the centre of it.
The French forward is priced at $10.5m and scored twice against Senegal, becoming France's all-time leading scorer.
France now face Iraq, who were beaten 4-1 by Norway in their opening match, making this one of the most attractive fixtures of the round.
Mbappé looks like he could be one of the standout premium options for Round 2 and will be firmly in the captaincy conversation for many managers.
Folarin Balogun
Folarin Balogun was one of the stars of Round 1 after scoring twice in the United States' victory over Paraguay.
The American forward is priced at just $6.0m and also recorded 10 touches in the opposition box, while coming close to completing a hat-trick.
The USA now face Australia after producing one of the most impressive performances of the opening round.
Balogun's combination of form, price and fixture makes him one of the most interesting forward options available heading into Matchday 2.
Nathaniel Brown
Few players made a bigger statement in Round 1 than Nathaniel Brown.
The Germany defender produced a goal and an assist against Curaçao, finishing with 14 fantasy points.
At $4.7m, Brown offers managers a relatively affordable route into the German side while also carrying attacking upside.
Germany's attack was one of the most dangerous in the tournament during the opening round, and Brown's ability to contribute at both ends of the pitch makes him one of the most appealing defenders ahead of Round 2.
Kylian Mbappé Or Harry Kane ?
Two of the most popular premium forwards heading into Round 2 will be Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane.
Mbappé scored twice during France's 3-1 victory over Senegal and now faces Iraq after they conceded four goals against Norway.
Kane also scored twice in Round 1, helping England secure a 4-2 victory over Croatia.
One of his goals came from the penalty spot, and he now has 10 World Cup goals, matching Gary Lineker's England record.
Both forwards enter Round 2 with strong fixtures and excellent form.
France face Iraq, while England take on Ghana after opening the tournament with one of the strongest attacking displays of Round 1.
Managers looking for a premium captaincy option will find it difficult to separate the two.
Best FIFA World Cup Fantasy Wildcard Team
Managers who are considering using the Wildcard chip ahead of Round 2 might find some value below:
Mike Maignan ($5.0m)
Nathaniel Brown ($4.7m)
Marc Cucurella ($5.1m)
Reece James ($5.2m)
Arda Güler ($7.0m)
Vinícius Júnior ($10.0m)
Ismail Saibari ($6.8m)
Bruno Fernandes ($8.5m)
Kai Havertz ($7.8m)
Harry Kane ($10.5m)
Folarin Balogun ($6.0m)
BENCH:
Raúl Rangel ($3.9m)
Ladislav Krejčí ($4.4m)
Gabriel Magalhães ($5.5m)
Michael Olise ($9.5m)
Top FIFA World Cup Fantasy Round 2 Captain Picks
Harry Kane vs Ghana
Kylian Mbappé vs Iraq
Bruno Fernandes vs Uzbekistan
Differential Captain Pick Of The Week
Mike Maignan
France enter Round 2 with the strongest defensive projection among all 48 nations, boasting an expected goals against figure of 0.55.
Mike Maignan stands out as a different type of captaincy option for managers looking beyond the obvious attacking picks.
France face Iraq after Iraq conceded four goals against Norway, and Maignan offers a route into a defence expected to perform strongly in Round 2.
Final Thoughts
Round 1 gave fantasy managers plenty to think about, with Germany, the United States, France and England all producing strong performances.
Several players rewarded owners immediately, including Mbappé, Kane, Balogun and Brown, while others, such as Vinícius Júnior, Bruno Fernandes and Kai Havertz, remain attractive options because of their upcoming fixtures.
Managers activating the Wildcard chip have a number of strong options available, particularly from France, Germany, England, Brazil and the United States.
With favourable fixtures ahead and form beginning to emerge, Round 2 presents another opportunity for fantasy managers to build momentum as the tournament continues.