Emerging Players to Consider for Matchday 18 of the Bundesliga

After an exciting series of midweek matches in the Bundesliga, we now shift our focus to the Rückrunde, the second half of the season.

In this article focused on Fantasy Bundesliga, we will highlight ten players to think about adding to your team prior to Matchday 18.

Player Recommendations

As a guideline, we aim to avoid the most obvious selections, instead concentrating on players who have the potential to provide excellent value as differential picks.

1. Daniel Svensson, Borussia Dortmund (Defender, 4.65M, 10%)

Although not enjoying the same level of influence as in the 2024-25 season, Svensson was sidelined during BVB’s comfortable 3-0 victory against Bremen. The Swedish wing-back is expected to be a starter against St. Pauli, a team that has been struggling to score away from home.

2. Miro Muheim, Hamburger SV (Defender, 12.67M, 19%)

Despite HSV’s defeat in their opening match of the year, Muheim continues to provide a reliable attacking option, accumulating 282 points. With their midweek fixture called off, the Swiss full-back should be well prepared to face Gladbach, who recently conceded five goals to Hoffenheim.

3. Rasmus Kristensen, Eintracht Frankfurt (Defender, 13.62M, 8%)

Despite disappointing outcomes against Dortmund and Stuttgart, Kristensen has maintained an average of around 193 points. His duel performance remains strong, and he scored a goal in the recent match that ended 3-2 at the MHP Arena on Tuesday.

4. Maximilian Mittelstädt, VfB Stuttgart (Defender, 20.11M, 11%)

Mittelstädt has started 2026 positively, achieving back-to-back scores exceeding 300 points against Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt. He is expected to take penalties for Stuttgart, although the return of Ermedin Demirovic may alter that dynamic.

5. Chris Führich, VfB Stuttgart (Midfielder, 4.02M, 2%)

Given that VfB Stuttgart is currently one of the most formate teams in the Bundesliga, Chris Führich emerges as a cost-effective option. The 27-year-old has shown resurgence in his form, providing a notable 245 points in recent matches.

6. Johan Manzambi, SC Freiburg (Midfielder, 8.97M, 24%)

The Swiss international serves as both an attacking force and a defensive asset for Julian Schuster’s squad. Despite a slight drop in performance against Leipzig, Manzambi has accumulated over 200 points in four of his last six games.

7. Ritsu Dōan, Eintracht Frankfurt (Midfielder, 14.9M, 31%)

Coming into 2026, Frankfurt’s schedule has become more challenging, yet Dōan has still managed to earn around 170 points in his last two games. He is set to face Werder Bremen, a team reportedly experiencing internal unrest as they search for their first win of the year.

8. Dženan Pejčinović, VfL Wolfsburg (Forward, 4.52M, 3%)

Pejčinović, a Munich native, scored his fifth goal in just three Bundesliga matches during Wolfsburg’s heavy defeat to Bayern and netted the winning goal against FC St. Pauli on Wednesday. The 20-year-old is in excellent form, averaging approximately 0.57 expected goals per game lately.

9. Jamie Leweling, VfB Stuttgart (Forward, 9.5M, 13%)

Leweling has been a standout performer for Stuttgart, quietly contributing with two goals and two assists across his last four Bundesliga matches. His performance makes him a more economical alternative to Deniz Undav, averaging 269 points in his recent outings.

10. Luis Díaz, FC Bayern (Forward, 25.99M, 25%)

Díaz celebrated his 29th birthday recently with impressive attacking contributions, including one goal and three assists in his initial games of 2026. His point hauls of 425 and 320 against Wolfsburg and FC Köln, respectively, have even surpassed the achievements of teammate Harry Kane.

By considering these players, you can potentially strengthen your Fantasy Bundesliga lineup as we head into Matchday 18.