EPL Game-Week 5 FPL Player Picks

Welcome back to FPL player picks! The Premier League resumes on Saturday after almost two weeks away to an international break loaded with injuries and positive SARS-Cov-2 results. This meant we still had a good amount of football games to keep us entertained, however it’s also a period where us Fantasy Managers are on tenterhooks as we hope to see our assets make it through unscathed.

It’s worth noting that even though the summer international transfer window has closed (with late deals for Thomas Partey to Arsenal and Edison Cavani to Manchester United), the domestic window remains open until the October 16th @ 17:00 BST. This means that Premier League clubs can make deals with EFL sides to buy exciting young players and blow holes in your roster! That said, here are our FPL picks for game-week 5:

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Goalkeepers

Aaron Ramsdale - £5.0Mil vs Fulham (H)

Sheffield United certainly haven’t shown much of their defensive prowess that impressed last season and are yet to pick up a single point. However, they have good opportunity at home against floundering Fulham. Aside from the Blades themselves, Fulham have the fewest goals in the league with three.

Emiliano Martinez - £4.7Mil at Leicester (A)

Martinez is looking to be a great addition for Aston Villa, having proven himself to be a reliable and calming feature between the sticks for the Villains who have conceded only two goals in three games. Martinez already has two of the EPL’s scarce clean-sheets this season, and even though he conceded both his goals against Liverpool, he still managed to recover a point for saves.

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Defenders

Reece James - £5.1Mil vs Southampton (H)

Teammate Ben Chilwell was my go-to Defensive pick for this game-week, but he is now a doubt after aggravating a foot injury whilst on international duty with England. Reece James is a solid choice after showing returns at the business side of the pitch with a goal and assist apiece so far this season.

George Baldock - £5.4Mil vs Fulham (H)

As mentioned for Ramsdale, a promising home fixture against fellow strugglers Fulham should give Baldock a decent opportunity for a clean sheet. Not only have Fulham struggled to score, but they have also leaked goals in at the back. Baldock may have a chance to add to the assist he picked up in game-week 4.

Stuart Dallas - £4.5Mil vs Wolves (H)

Dallas faces Wolves who haven’t exactly been scoring for fun. However, Dallas isn’t here just for clean-sheet potential; he is an attack-minded player who has recently been deployed in the Leeds midfield. His performances have been promising, and he always looks keen to get forward. Dallas has returned one assist so far this season and has a decent run of fixtures coming up.

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Midfielders

Heung-Min Son - £9.1Mil vs West Ham (H)

Son has been in absolutely scintillating form so far this season with six goals and an assist to his name already. Spurs have proven how explosive they can be, pumping an historic six goals past Man Utd at Old Trafford in game-week 3, and that was on top of the five goals against Southampton in game-week 2. Son managed to get some well-needed rest during the international break, so he should be raring to go, even a captain contender in this exciting London darby.

Mo Salah - £12.2Mil at Everton (A)

Mo Salah also benefited from a period of rest during the international break. Liverpool looks to bounce back from their 7-2 humiliation at the hands of Aston Villa, though Salah still managed strong returns in picking up a brace. Salah has five goals and an assist so far this season. This is an exciting darby fixture with goals expected.

Jack Grealish - £7.1Mil at Leicester (A)

Grealish is the epitome of Aston Villa’s unexpected strong form this season, with the Villans captain scoring three goals plus assisting three so far this season. Villa have won all three of their games so far this season and are full of confidence. In additon to strong league form, Grealish also assisted a goal in England’s 3-0 victory over Wales during the international break.

Jorginho - £5.2Mil vs Southampton (H)

This season has really benefited those who are penalty duty. Jorginho may not be the best points prospect in open play (one assist so far) but he has cooley dispatched three penalties already, including two in the last game-week. Chelsea’s speedy and tricky attackers mixed with broken VAR and handball doctrine bodes well for Jorginho.

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Forwards

Ollie Watkins - £5.9Mil at Leicester (A)

Ollie picked up a mammoth 19 FPL points in the last game-week, bagging a hat-trick and an assist in the 7-2 evisceration of Liverpool. This may have been a freak result, but Aston Villa will still be full of confidence since. Watkins is a great (and cheap) differential, with a mere 3.4% ownership currently. Watkins is an exciting option who faces an inconsistent Leicester defense that has shipped seven in its last two league outings.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin vs £7.6Mil - Liverpool (H)

Quite simply, how can we not select Calvert-Lewin? The man of the moment and the most potent striker the league currently. DCL has scored six goals in four games this season, showing off his explosive potential. During the international break, DCL scored in his first senior England appearance with a towering header. Everton face a disarrayed Liverpool defense that shipped seven goals last time out. Get him in!

Patrick Bamford - £5.8Mil vs Wolves (H)

What an impressive season Bamford is having so far! The former Chelsea man has scored three goals in four appearances so far while also providing two assists. Both Bamford and Leeds are brimming with confidence and are not shy in front of goal. Wolves are hard to predict currently; it wasn’t long ago they conceded four goals to the Hammers in game-week 3.

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What do you think of our picks this week? Have you been influenced by the recent international games? Are you stocking up on penalty takers? Who else looks good to you? Please let us know in the comments section below!

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