Chelsea Season Preview

It's hard to believe that Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League just a season after winning the title. It's even harder to believe they were threatened by relegation early on, but in what surprised no one, they went through yet another coaching change mid-season. They haven't had a single manager to reach a three-year stint with the club since Mourinho's first time that ended in 2007. Since then, they've gone through nine managers in nine years, an incredible feat only possible at a club like Chelsea. Now it's Antonio Conte's turn, but if I was a betting man, my guess would be that he lasts less than three years.
 
Last Season in Brief

There wasn't much to enjoy at Chelsea last season outside of a few very entertaining Jose Mourinho pressers at the beginning of the season. The play on the pitch was horrific, the team didn't click, Diego Costa never found his form, and Eden Hazard looked more like Thorgan Hazard. In Hazard's defense, he just didn't look fully healthy nor fit for a while. He has been involved in international football year after year, and Chelsea looked to have overworked him to an extent.
 
The defense wasn't much better. Injuries affected goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and the starting back-line clearly lacked speed and youth. John Terry is past his prime and Branislav Ivanovic was continuously embarrassed by the likes of Jefferson Montero, who couldn't even keep a starting job for Swansea. There was no fantasy value across the entire defense, and even as a whole - outside of Willian, there weren't really any fantasy options on Chelsea's team.
 
Speaking of Willian, it's worth noting what a bright spot he was for Chelsea. The midfielder excelled in many different aspects, often working extremely hard on both sides of the ball and creating chances for his teammates. He was someone I had criticized in the past, but this past season was clearly his best ever. His free-kicks were always on point, and he was Chelsea's designated corner kick taker for the majority of the season. He was one of the best fantasy choices in the league, especially in leagues that rewarded points for crosses. Expect that to continue going forward.
 
The Summer So Far

The summer has been incredibly busy for the Blues so far. The biggest signing so far is N'Golo Kante, who became a defensive force at Leicester City last season as a defensive midfielder. Kante will be expected to enforce in front of Chelsea's back line, and that could open things up for Cesc Fabregas to be more involved with the attack. If Matic can regain form and play next to Kante, Chelsea could be the top defense in the Premier League this season.
 
On top of that, Chelsea also signed Michy Batshuayi. The Belgian striker is expected to be a backup for Chelsea, at least to start the season, but there is also an option where he partners Chelsea's main striker in the starting lineup. He has enough speed to be able to compliment a target man, and it wouldn't be a surprise if he were to start. We'll have to wait and see what Conte does with him, but I wouldn't be opposed to taking him with a mid-round fantasy pick. The Blues have also made a ￡38m bid for Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly, who would be a starter at center-back if he ends up in London.

Remaining Summer Business

The biggest job Chelsea have to do is reinforce the back-line. Koulibaly would be the best case scenario there, but if that transfer falls through, they will need to act soon to ensure there is a starting caliber center-back that comes in. There are also rumors that Baba Rahman is undergoing a medical at Schalke, and that would leave a huge hole for Chelsea. Branislav Ivanovic is not what he used to be and seriously lacks speed on the right-flank. Cesar Azpilicueta is solid, but behind those two, there would be zero cover. Ideally, Chelsea will replace Ivanovic and have him play off the bench, but they will at least need a backup if Baba Rahman leaves.
 
There are more rumors flying around Chelsea, including potential offers for big strikers such as Romelu Lukaku. Lukaku coming back to Chelsea will be an interesting plot twist, and that would likely mean the departure of Diego Costa. Lukaku would be an upgrade to Costa in terms of reliability but Costa is the better striker in terms of skill alone. This story is going to be by far the biggest one to follow for the rest of the summer, and with Chelsea always active on the market, don't be surprised to see big moves.
 
Salary Cap Superstars

Eden Hazard – I already spoke about the issue with Hazard last season, which led him to being benched towards the end of the season. The benching seemed to do wonders, as his play rebounded and he was much more active in the last few games. He then ended up playing well for Belgium in the Euros and has started pre-season well with two typical Hazard goals against Real Madrid. He looks healthy, and Conte is using him well. With Kante there to help defensively, Hazard will have a rebound season, and he's going way too cheap for the upside he provides.

Cesc Fabregas – I believe the biggest difference for Fabregas will be the fact that N'Golo Kante will be there to protect him on the defensive end. That should open up things for Fabregas and allow him to play a more advanced role. The midfielder also got on corner kick duty towards the end of last season, and if that continues, he can rack up points from there. At the price he's going at, there is upside to consider here.

Thibaut Courtois – Courtois is listed as the eight best goalkeeper in PlayTogga's draft guide, and that's where most people seem to have him on their boards. That's too low for him, and he will be a value play this season. I don't recommended spending a lot on goalkeepers, but at the right price, Courtois should be used.
 
Draft Detail

Eden Hazard – For the purposes listed above, Hazard is a great value play at this stage. Draft him comfortably.

Michy Batshuayi – Although not guaranteed to start, Batshuayi has immense upside. If Diego Costa stays at Chelsea, Batshuayi is extremely likely to get at least 5-10 starts when Costa inevitably gets injured, and he could potentially partner Costa in attack at times as well. With Willian, Hazard, and Fabregas creating chances, Batshuayi could be a force in fantasy if he gains a consistent role. With where he is going in most drafts, he is a value at the moment.

Kurt Zouma – You can likely have Zouma with one of the latest picks of the draft as he's likely going to be out until very late in the calendar year. He is going to be good enough to hold onto in an injury spot if your league has one.