Fantasy football is growing in popularity across the UK and more and more companies are trying to muscle in by offering tempting free bets offers, so it pays to stay ahead of the game. Many fantasy football managers will have built their teams around the league’s deadliest striker, Sergio Aguero, and will have been dismayed to see him sent off in Man City’s 3-1 defeat at the hands of Chelsea last weekend. As fantasy football is by far the UK’s most popular fantasy game, this could cost many players and some will be racking their brains in a bid to replace him. Your main striker is probably the most important position to fill as he is often your captain, so we have analysed some options available to you:

Diego Costa

Costa is the most obvious choice as a direct replacement for Aguero to ensure that any free bets offers you take advantage of have the best chance of paying off. He is a cheaper option than Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Harry Kane, and leads the charts this season in terms of points thanks to an impressive haul of goals and assists. Chelsea are the league’s form team, having recorded eight wins on the bounce, and Costa has been at the heart of their resurgence. He is playing with freedom and desire in the new system and is helped by Eden Hazard being freed from defensive duties to buzz around and create space for him. A solid choice who should guarantee points, as long as he doesn’t get sent off.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

The second most expensive striker has endured a torrid season and many that put him in teams after cashing in free bets offers to bet on fantasy football will have wished they hadn’t. He suffered a miserable goal drought, and while he has finally found his shooting boots once more, he is not getting great service and is not looking particularly sharp. His points return has not been great, considering his price, and Man Utd’s poor form and lack of goals counts against him. Just like the injury plagued and out of favour Daniel Sturridge and the misfiring Jamie Vardy, he looks a good one to avoid.

Harry Kane

Kane could be a fantastic option. He was many managers’ darling two seasons ago as you could pick him up for a cheap price and his return was phenomenal. He struggled at the start of last season but found his shooting boots pretty quickly and enjoyed a huge points haul. He spent a large part of the start of this season injured and Tottenham suffered in his absence, but he is back now and Spurs look a different side. He has scored eight goals in his last eight games, is the focal point of Tottenham’s attacking play and is looking razor sharp in front of goal, so he could be a great option as Tottenham look forward to home games against the likes of Hull and Burnley.

Other options

Now may be an opportunity to balance your fantasy team out a bit more and not rely on one superstar striker. If you are looking for some good strikers that won’t break the bank, look no further than Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe and Charlie Austin of Southampton. Sunderland look a team reborn after Victor Anichebe came into the side, and that has freed up Defoe to bang in goals, while Austin is the main striker for a very good Saints side. Another option could be Salomon Rondon of high-flying West Brom, or Troy Deeney of Watford, who takes penalties and also gets plenty of assists.