It was a nightmare GameWeek 2 for most Fantasy Premier League managers as popular captain choices Bruno Fernandes and Mo Salah each pulled blanks in a subtle welcome to the life and times of being a Fantasy manager.
Momentum can be regained in game week 3 and the lesser-owned gems are the best way to pile up differential points.
Hence, FootballCastle has evaluated the best bargain and captaincy choices in the market ahead of Game Week 3. Most of these choices will offer budget options ahead of the deadline on Saturday, 28 August at 11:00 am BST.
Goalkeepers
Hugo Lloris(£5.5m)
Tottenham are one of only four teams to have kept clean sheets in both games this season after 1-0 wins against Manchester City and Wolves. Hugo Lloris has been in inspired form, making 10 saves to emerge as the game’s top-scoring keeper.
Spurs next face Watford and will be confident of another shutout against the Hornets.
Defenders
Aaron Cresswell(£5.5m)
The left-back is part of an eye-catching West Ham triple-up against Crystal Palace in GW3. The high-flying Hammers are yet to keep a clean sheet but face a side that has attempted only 11 shots in the opening two games.
Cresswell is essential to their forward play having scored against Newcastle in game week 1 and belongs to a stingy rearguard which is set to be strengthened by the imminent arrival of Kurt Zouma.
Shane Duffy(£4.1m)
The big defender netted in Brighton’s GW2 win over Watford while also keeping a clean sheet, meaning a 14-point return for his few owners.
Duffy has essentially replaced Ben White and represents a huge bargain with decent looking fixtures with Brentford, Crystal Palace and Norwich to come in the next few weeks. His attacking prowess makes him all the more exciting given he has registered seven shots from set-pieces in only two games.
Midfielders
Saïd Benrahma(£6.1m)
The Algerian is the highest-scoring midfielder in the game having registered two goals and two assists in the first two matches.
Benrahma has developed a formidable partnership with Michail Antonio with whom he has combined for three goals with Antonio providing both assists for his goals. West Ham come up against a disappointing Crystal Palace in GW3 which should deliver another big haul for the pair.
Riyad Mahrez(£9.0m)
He scored City’s fifth goal in a cameo against Norwich and that should preceed a return to the starting line-up against out-of-sorts Arsenal.
Mahrez offers the dynamism that could easily unsettle a backline that is lacking in confidence.
Heung Min Son(£10.0m)
Tottenham have begun the season perfectly despite the now-concluded Harry Kane transfer saga throughout the summer. They possess maximum points after beating Man City and Wolves and will look forward to easier games with their star striker motivated.
Spurs have a very favourable fixture against Watford who have conceded four goals so far and look like they possess an imbalance despite sparkling attacking play. This will excite Son who is in good form and boasts a fine record against the newly-promoted side.
Raphinha(£6.5m)
The Brazilian got off the mark with a fantastic goal in an impressive GW2 display and comes up against Burnley which looks like another good fixture for the Leeds winger.
Raphinha now has eight shots this season and is primed for another good runout against the worst defence in the league so far.
Forwards
Romelu Lukaku(£11.5m)
Chelsea face Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City in three of their next four fixtures but Lukaku would be unfazed having managed to hit eight shots in the victory at Arsenal.
He could be that reliable frontman throughout the season and is fixture-proof given he boasts lots of attacking potential in goals and assists.
Michail Antonio(£7.7m)
West Ham’s Premier League record goalscorer is hard to ignore with three goals and two assists on his tally already.
Antonio has top-scored with 29 points in two games and with Crystal Palace up next in GW3, we can hope for another double-figure return. The Hammers number nine is in 39.2% of FPL squads and is set to be a strong captaincy option in GW3.
Jamie Vardy(£10.5m)
Leicester face Norwich in GW3 and it’s difficult to look past the Englishman getting a goal against a struggling Canaries defence.
Vardy remains the team’s undisputed starter at centre forward despite increased competition and would be looking to hit another to recover from the heavy loss at West Ham in GW2.
Harry Kane(£12.3m)
The striker announced that he will be remaining at Tottenham to end summer-long speculation about a move to Manchester City. Kane duly marked his first start of the season with a brace against Pacos Ferreira to qualify them for the UEFA Europa Conference League group stage.
Kane looks set to start in GW3 and would want to hit the ground running as his rivals for the Golden Boot race already got a head start.
