FPL Game-Week 3 Player Picks

Premier League game-week 2 delivered a whooping goal-fest, 44 balls going into the net. That turns out to be the highest-scoring week in the EPL era. Defenders and keepers had a difficult time, with only three teams able to keep clean sheets. Interesting side note: Average FPL squad earned 59 points. Our expectations will be high for this round after being spoiled with so many goals last week!

Of course, the highlight was Tottenham’s Son scoring four for fun, so we should also feel for those who removed him and congratulate those who do had him.

However, game-week 3 is almost here, and much needs to be considered. Let’s have a look at those players who can up their game to deliver the maximum points possible:

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Goalkeepers

Emiliano Martínez - £4.5m – at Fulham (A)

Martinez is the best £4.5m GK at the moment. He made a fantastic debut against Sheffield United by saving a penalty, keeping a clean sheet, and securing two bonus points for a total of 13. During his run of form for Arsenal in the nine-game ‘Restart’ campaign, he managed to record 28 saves. Villa should look for a clean sheet after improving their back line, but even if Fulham’s attackers do strike, Martinez is likely to pick up save points.

Hugo Lloris - £5.5Mil - vs Newcastle (H)

Lloris conceded three goals in two matches as Jose Mourinho is still looking for defensive stability. That’s despite adding Matt Doherty and Sergio Reguilón (the latter lacking match fitness, making him unlikely to start). However, with this Newcastle side facing difficulties in attack, this match could give Spurs’ defenders the chance to find their cohesion at the back and secure a clean sheet for the French goalkeeper.

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Defenders

Tariq Lamptey - £4.5m - vs Manchester United (H)

Lamptey has been running fire so far in the world of fantasy football, with his excellent overlapping into the opposition box, giving him plenty of opportunities to hunt for an assist or two. Despite a knock from his previous match, the former Chelsea youngster is likely to start since his boss Graham Potter rested him after the 57^th minute against Newcastle. However, for a such a cheap price, it’s still worth putting him in the squad, as he’s likely to create trouble for Manchester United defenders who just lack confidence at the back.

Reece James - £5.1m - at West Brom (A)

James displayed his quality against Liverpool with a goal and an assist that showcased his vital runs forward on the wing. Chelsea’s next few matches are against West Brom, Crystal Palace and Southampton, so they have a few games to balance their defensive line-up with Thiago Silva looking nearly-perfect in the Carabao Cup fixture. With the addition of Edouard Mendy who should replace Kepa, Frank Lampard’s men will aim to grab a couple of clean sheets before Manchester United follows.

Lucas Digne - £6.1m - at Crystal Palace (A)

One can still debate about the price-tag on Digne, but one can’t debate about his importance for Everton when providing attacking threats. The Toffees are a much-improved team, and the left-back continues to take charge on set-pieces, which makes him a favorite to grab a goal or some helpers against a Crystal Palace side that have been struggling on the right-hand side of the pitch.

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Midfielders

Daniel Podence - £5.5m - at West Ham (A)

Now that Diogo Jota has gone to Liverpool, Podence has a chance to start more frequently. His displays against Sheffield United and Manchester City looked deadly, especially running behind opposition defenders when Raul Jimenez turned to the wing for the ball. Podence will need to work on his finishing touch, but his attacking mind-set of taking shots, providing key-passes and creating space for his teammates makes him a special player (and at an attractive price). Surely, he will cause damage to West Ham who have been not-so-great thus far.

Phil Foden - £6.5m - vs Leicester (H)

Pep Guardiola has been handing plenty of game-time to Phil Foden Lately, and the young man has delivered by scoring five goals and one assist since Project Restart launched. With Sergio Aguero still out due to injury, Raheem Sterling looks set to join Gabriel Jesus upfront, and that gives Foden enough room to attack. Plus, at £6.5M, he’s an economical route into the goal-scoring machine that is Manchester City.

James Rodríguez - £7.6 - at Crystal Palace (A)

Rodríguez has proven the phrase “form is temporary, class is permanent” with his quality of vision, deadly key passes, and ability to hit the ball from outside of the box. Such a combination of skills does not require one to have pace, but his intelligent vision to look for Richarlison or Calvert-Lewin can prove to be vital when facing Palace who also have been in decent form. But the Toffees have been electric in the forward department, which will give the former Real Madrid man chances to break the deadlock.

Bruno Fernandes - £10.5m - at Brighton (A)

Bruno was outstanding the last time he faced Brighton, scoring two goals from open play. Fernandes has proven that he has the potential to strike the final pass, and he always looks to put the ball into the net somehow.

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Forwards

Mason Greenwood - £7.5m – at Brighton (A)

Greenwood has proven his goal-scoring talents to us, coming from the bench to score and provide an assist against Luton United in the Carabao Cup fixture. Since the beginning of the ‘Restart’, the youngster has scored five and assisted one with a good amount of game time to his name. With a good rest midweek, he should start against Brighton and look to cause problems after a terrible start of the campaign against Palace. And of course, he has no preferred foot because both are strong enough to do the job.

Raul Jimenez - £8.5m – at West Ham (A)

Despite having an ownership of just 21%, Jimenez is about to have fixtures against West Ham, Fulham, Leeds, Newcastle and Crystal Palace. The Mexican international has been a proven goal-scoring machine who also offers creative link-up play with his teammates. Along with the rest of the improved Wolves team, the striker will likely hunt for goals during the upcoming run of fixtures.

Timo Werner - £9.5m – at West Brom (A)

Werner has not started by banging in a few goals like he would have hoped, but his display of taking chances inside the box is good enough for us to keep the faith with him. The German striker’s performance against Liverpool registered six shots, with five coming from inside the box. That shows that his goal is coming sooner rather than later, and with West Brom shaky at the back, this seems like the perfect match for him to break his duck in the Premier League.

Harry Kane - £10.5m - vs Newcastle (H)

Despite teammate Son capturing all the headlines last week with four goals, it was Harry Kane that provided him with all those four assists. Kane looks fit and ready to start the kind of goal-scoring rush that he’s known for, which puts him in a comfortable spot to kick-start his hunt for the golden boot against the shaky defensive back-line of Newcastle. And this time, the Englishmen will make sure his name registers on the score sheet at the final whistle.

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What do you think of our picks this week? Whom are you adding or dropping? What are your predictions for this week? Any strategy you are planning to use? Please let us know in the comments section below!

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