Another Fantasy Premier League game week rolls on and managers are beginning to have a feel for the season, as new premium and differential picks arise.
Mohamed Salah was the biggest FPL disappointment with his blank in game week 2 while Gabriel Jesus grabbed 19 points for an all-action display in Arsenal’s 4-2 win over Leicester City
The FootballCastle has the best advice on how to prepare your team ahead of the GW3 deadline on Saturday 20 August at 11:00 BST
Goalkeeper
Vicente Guaita (£4.5m)
The Spaniard kept seven home clean sheets last season, the third-best record in the league, and looks primed for returns when Aston Villa visit.
Crystal Palace showed defensive resilience in the draw at Liverpool and could secure their first shut-out of the season in GW3.
Hugo Lloris (£5.5m)
Antonio Conte will expect Spurs to tighten up at the back after conceding thrice in the two games so far. A first clean sheet of the season could well suffice against Wolves who have been short of firepower having only scored once in the absence of the injured Raul Jimenez.
Defenders
Gabriel (£5.0m)
Arsenal could be in for another good result against Bournemouth who have registered the fewest shots (10) in their first two matches.
Gabriel finished last season with the joint-highest goals among defenders in Fantasy with five goals and therefore offers a potential to return at both ends of the pitch.
Reece James (£6.0m)
The Chelsea man has demonstrated his many routes to returns having produced seven points each with a goal, clean sheet and three bonus points in the opening two Gameweeks
Given his versatility, James will continue to produce points with a trip to Leeds up next having thrived there last season. James produced double-figure hauls in five of his 11 away starts in 2021/22.
Ivan Perisic (£5.4m)
The Croatian is primed for his first Premier League start after providing the assist for Tottenham’s controversial late equaliser at Chelsea.
Perisic displayed his ambipedal ability at set-pieces hence his deliveries are set to delight his FPL owners.
Neco Williams (£4.0m)
The Welshman justified his eye-watering price tag with a brilliant performance in Nottingham Forest’s 1-0 win against West Ham.
Williams had four shots (joint-top among defenders) and created two chances while he got seven points in GW2, he next faces Everton who have attacking problems.
Joao Cancelo (£7.0m)
The Portuguese is back to his trademark ways on FPL with two clean sheets and an assist so far. Cancelo leads the way for bonus points (four) in the game this season and could add more against Newcastle.
Midfielders
Josh Dasilva (£4.6m)
The midfielder is a brilliant alternative to Leon Bailey whose price has dropped after another benching in game week 2. Dasilva has scored twice this season from an expected goals (xG) tally of just 0.07 and offers huge value for his fantastic bargain price.
Pascal Gross (£5.6m)
The German is on penalties, has taken seven of Brighton’s nine corners and has the highest entries into the box of any midfielder.
Gross shows a high potential for FPL points with his role this season and huge returns may be incoming for the midfielder who faces a favourable run of fixtures over the next six game weeks at a bargain price.
Mason Mount (£8.0m)
The Chelsea midfielder totalled 18 points for scoring in both his meetings with Leeds last season and has blanked in just one of his four appearances against them, averaging 7.5 points per match.
Mount was lively in GW2 against Tottenham and might haul big against his favourite opponents.
Gabriel Martinelli (£6.3m)
The Brazilian is enjoying a fast start to the season and has scored in both games while boasting an exciting link-up play with Gabriel Jesus.
The young attacker looks primed for a big return against Bournemouth in GW3.
Mohamed Salah (£13.0m)
Liverpool’s marksman produced a massive 43 points in his two meetings with Man Utd last season and is heavily backed to deliver returns at Old Trafford.
Salah scored five and assisted two of the NINE they scored against their rivals last season, David de Gea’s errors in GW2 will have the Egyptian licking his lips.
Forwards
Jamie Vardy (£9.5m)
The Leicester City striker has assisted one of the four goals scored by his team so far and faces Southampton hoping to open his season goal account.
Vardy has never failed to net in his opening three games in a Premier League campaign and might well return points at the King Power Stadium against the Saints who have already conceded six goals.
The 35-year-old is on penalties and has both goals and assists in his locker.
Gabriel Jesus (£8.0m)
A 19-point haul in GW2 was the highest individual FPL return of the season so far and his seven shots in the box, three big chances, 15 penalty box touches and 1.91 expected goals (xG) were unmatched by anyone else in game week 2
Jesus looks likely to be involved in any goals Arsenal score ahead of a visit to Bournemouth, making him capable of some big hauls.
Ivan Toney (£7.1m)
The Brentford striker has kept up his form at the tail end of last season with a goal, two assists and three bonus points in the two game weeks.
Toney was unplayable in the historic 4-0 win over Man Utd and now looks a cheaper alternative to the suspended Darwin Nuñez. He faces Fulham in GW3 and his penalty-taking duties make him an eye-catching option for a long-term stay in your team
