Season Preview: West Brom

Overall Outlook - As Jeremy just called them in our IM stream about the last few teams in our season preview series, they are "the Darren Huckerby of teams" and sadly that isn't a compliment despite Huckerby's status as both an EPL fantasy favorite when he was with Norwich and more recently an MLS fantasy favorite in his first year at San Jose.  That said, the reference is to a player, or in this case team, who just treads water.  The players are largely the same as the last time we saw WBA in the Prem.  They are mostly veterans and there is little reason to think they're suddenly going to step up their level after being cast off from bigger clubs and finding their level at the top of the Championship and the bottom of the Prem.  Guys like Nicky Shorey, Luke Moore, James Morrison, Roman Bednar, and the like just aren't going to take you anywhere and sadly for fantasy managers, they also aren't likely to put up many exciting numbers for you.  Despite their veteran presence, you have to think this group is bound directly back from whence they came.


Projected Starters - Carson, Shorey, Olsson, Meite, Zuiverloon, Cech. Brunt, Dorrans, Mulunbu, Cox, Bednar

In the Rotation - Jara, Tamas, Mattock, Moore, Reid, Barnes, Morrison, Ibanez

Kicks - Brunt and Dorrans are the big names here and my suspicion is that they'll pretty well split the kicks for West Brom but I'm working at a bit of a deficit since I don't really get many chances to watch the Championship here in the States.

 
Newcomers

• Lots of defenders on the way in between Shorey, Tamas, and Ibanez on a roster that was already somewhat heavy with defenders in Olsson, Meite, Jara, Zuiverloon, Mattock, and Cech.  The guess here is that Cech or Mattock moves up to the left of midfield and if that is the case there is some potential value there.  

Rising Youth

• Dorrans, M - Described as something of a poor man's Frank Lampard, the 23 year old attracted bids from established Premier League clubs over the summer only to stick with the Baggies.  The big question now is whether he is capable of "making the leap" and replicating his exceptional season in the Championship (13 goals and 19 assists) after moving up a level.  If he can, he'll be one of the bargains of the year.  If not, he'll be another in a long line of players who showed promise in the Championship and couldn't make the grade at the highest level;
• Brunt, M - The 25 year old midfielder who plays both centrally and on the wing also had an excellent season in the Championship with 13 goals and 4 assists but questions remain about whether that will translate to the Premier League when the Baggies aren't whipping up on inferior opponents.  Still, in a squad with little promise, he should be watched for the first month to see how he adapts;

Fantasy Breakdown

• Best - Dorrans figures to challenge Charlie Adam for the best promoted player this season;
• Best Value (non-newcomer) - Dorrans is the most likely candidate with Brunt close behind;
• Best Projected Value - Since these are all projections with WBA moving up from the Championship I'll add in Mattock as being potentially interesting value if he gets some time on the left side of midfield while being listed as a defender.  He is young and this could be a stage where he can rise above the veterans - Shorey and Cech - in front of him and make an impression;
• Worth Considering With Good Match-ups - Brunt, Dorrans;
• Worth Knowing If He's Starting -Mattock