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Gameweek 3 briefing

FPL Gameweek 3: the transfer, the armband and the outliers

Saka (ARS) leads the Gameweek 3 projections on 5.5 expected points, with Haaland on 5.0 as the safer runner-up. Below: the strongest buys in each position, the players whose underlying numbers say a return is overdue, the fixture runs turning kind, and where the market is heading. Deadline: Friday 4 September at 17:30 UTC.

Captain shortlist for Gameweek 3

Ranked by expected points for this gameweek alone: fixture difficulty, expected goals and assists, clean-sheet odds and how likely each player is to start.

  • SakaARS · MID · £9.5m · 12.0% ownedCHE (H) · SUN (A) · BHA (A)5.5 xPts
  • HaalandMCI · FWD · £15.5m · 72.2% ownedCOV (H) · MUN (A) · SUN (H)5.0 xPts
  • CherkiMCI · MID · £7.8m · 28.6% ownedCOV (H) · MUN (A) · SUN (H)4.8 xPts
  • ØdegaardARS · MID · £6.7m · 19.1% ownedCHE (H) · SUN (A) · BHA (A)4.6 xPts
  • IsakLIV · FWD · £9.1m · 22.2% ownedIPS (A) · FUL (H) · BOU (A)4.3 xPts
  • Gibbs-WhiteNFO · MID · £7.9m · 11.2% ownedTOT (H) · AVL (A) · COV (H)4.3 xPts

Best GKP picks

Highest projected return over the next five gameweeks. Injured, suspended and doubtful players are left out.

  • RayaARS · GKP · £6.0m · 40.2% ownedCHE (H) · SUN (A) · BHA (A)20.6 xPts
  • SelsNFO · GKP · £5.0m · 1.5% ownedTOT (H) · AVL (A) · COV (H)19.9 xPts
  • TzolakisHUL · GKP · £4.6m · 10.7% ownedAVL (H) · CHE (A) · NEW (A)19.5 xPts
  • DonnarummaMCI · GKP · £5.5m · 7.6% ownedCOV (H) · MUN (A) · SUN (H)18.8 xPts

Best DEF picks

Highest projected return over the next five gameweeks. Injured, suspended and doubtful players are left out.

  • GuéhiMCI · DEF · £6.0m · 18.5% ownedCOV (H) · MUN (A) · SUN (H)21.1 xPts
  • MurilloNFO · DEF · £5.5m · 1.8% ownedTOT (H) · AVL (A) · COV (H)21.0 xPts
  • CalafioriARS · DEF · £5.8m · 50.0% ownedCHE (H) · SUN (A) · BHA (A)20.8 xPts
  • GabrielARS · DEF · £8.0m · 23.5% ownedCHE (H) · SUN (A) · BHA (A)19.5 xPts

Best MID picks

Highest projected return over the next five gameweeks. Injured, suspended and doubtful players are left out.

  • SakaARS · MID · £9.5m · 12.0% ownedCHE (H) · SUN (A) · BHA (A)22.8 xPts
  • CherkiMCI · MID · £7.8m · 28.6% ownedCOV (H) · MUN (A) · SUN (H)21.6 xPts
  • B.FernandesMUN · MID · £12.0m · 42.0% ownedEVE (A) · MCI (H) · FUL (A)20.6 xPts
  • ØdegaardARS · MID · £6.7m · 19.1% ownedCHE (H) · SUN (A) · BHA (A)20.1 xPts

Best FWD picks

Highest projected return over the next five gameweeks. Injured, suspended and doubtful players are left out.

  • HaalandMCI · FWD · £15.5m · 72.2% ownedCOV (H) · MUN (A) · SUN (H)23.1 xPts
  • BarryEVE · FWD · £5.6m · 6.5% ownedMUN (H) · TOT (A) · IPS (H)19.8 xPts
  • IsakLIV · FWD · £9.1m · 22.2% ownedIPS (A) · FUL (H) · BOU (A)18.8 xPts
  • EmersonnIPS · FWD · £5.5m · 2.5% ownedLIV (H) · CRY (A) · EVE (A)18.2 xPts

Outliers: due a return

These players have created far more than they have scored or assisted. That gap usually closes, and the price often has not caught up yet.

  • ThiagoBRE · FWD · £7.9m · 9.8% ownedSUN (H) · BOU (A) · CHE (H)+2.5
  • BarryEVE · FWD · £5.6m · 6.5% ownedMUN (H) · TOT (A) · IPS (H)+2.1
  • E.Le FéeSUN · MID · £5.8m · 4.1% ownedBRE (A) · ARS (H) · MCI (A)+1.9
  • RudoniCOV · MID · £5.0m · 0.1% ownedMCI (A) · BHA (H) · NFO (A)+1.7
  • BobbFUL · MID · £5.5m · 0.3% ownedCRY (H) · LIV (A) · MUN (H)+1.4
  • SilvaBOU · DEF · £5.0m · 0.4% ownedNEW (A) · BRE (H) · LIV (H)+1.1

Outliers: running hot

Scoring well above their underlying numbers. Not a sell on its own, but be careful paying a premium for a run that the chances do not support.

  • João PedroCHE · FWD · £7.8m · 75.1% ownedARS (A) · HUL (H) · BRE (A)-3.6
  • GroßBHA · MID · £5.6m · 18.0% ownedLEE (H) · COV (A) · ARS (H)-2.7
  • GvardiolMCI · DEF · £5.7m · 22.4% ownedCOV (H) · MUN (A) · SUN (H)-2.7
  • GakpoLIV · MID · £7.2m · 12.2% ownedIPS (A) · FUL (H) · BOU (A)-2.3
  • PalmerCHE · MID · £9.7m · 26.8% ownedARS (A) · HUL (H) · BRE (A)-2.2
  • De CuyperBHA · DEF · £4.8m · 23.3% ownedLEE (H) · COV (A) · ARS (H)-2.0

Differentials under 8% owned

Where the rank is won. Strong five-gameweek projections that most of your mini-league does not own.

  • MurilloNFO · DEF · £5.5m · 1.8% ownedTOT (H) · AVL (A) · COV (H)21.0 xPts
  • SelsNFO · GKP · £5.0m · 1.5% ownedTOT (H) · AVL (A) · COV (H)19.9 xPts
  • BarryEVE · FWD · £5.6m · 6.5% ownedMUN (H) · TOT (A) · IPS (H)19.8 xPts
  • TavernierBOU · MID · £6.1m · 5.0% ownedNEW (A) · BRE (H) · LIV (H)19.4 xPts
  • EganHUL · DEF · £4.1m · 6.7% ownedAVL (H) · CHE (A) · NEW (A)19.2 xPts
  • WhiteARS · DEF · £5.5m · 6.8% ownedCHE (H) · SUN (A) · BHA (A)19.1 xPts

Best value under £6.0m

Most projected points per million spent — the picks that free up money elsewhere in your squad.

  • EganHUL · DEF · £4.1m · 6.7% ownedAVL (H) · CHE (A) · NEW (A)4.7 /£m
  • TzolakisHUL · GKP · £4.6m · 10.7% ownedAVL (H) · CHE (A) · NEW (A)4.2 /£m
  • AinaNFO · DEF · £4.5m · 2.6% ownedTOT (H) · AVL (A) · COV (H)4.2 /£m
  • AjayiHUL · DEF · £4.2m · 13.6% ownedAVL (H) · CHE (A) · NEW (A)4.1 /£m
  • YalcouyéBHA · MID · £4.5m · 3.6% ownedLEE (H) · COV (A) · ARS (H)4.1 /£m
  • GilesHUL · DEF · £4.0m · 2.3% ownedAVL (H) · CHE (A) · NEW (A)4.1 /£m

Defensive contribution engines

Players clearing the defensive contribution threshold most regularly, so the two bonus points land more often than not.

  • EganHUL · DEF · £4.1m · 6.7% ownedAVL (H) · CHE (A) · NEW (A)2.29x
  • MukieleSUN · DEF · £5.4m · 2.1% ownedBRE (A) · ARS (H) · MCI (A)2.17x
  • MuharemovićLEE · DEF · £5.0m · 3.9% ownedBHA (A) · NEW (H) · CRY (H)2.08x
  • KhalailiCRY · DEF · £5.0m · 0.3% ownedFUL (A) · IPS (H) · LEE (A)1.97x
  • LacroixCHE · DEF · £6.0m · 7.5% ownedARS (A) · HUL (H) · BRE (A)1.92x
  • RichardsCRY · DEF · £5.0m · 0.6% ownedFUL (A) · IPS (H) · LEE (A)1.83x

Fixture swings over the next five

Kindest runs

  • NewcastleBOU (H) · LEE (A) · HUL (H) · COV (A) · AVL (H)2.60
  • Aston VillaHUL (A) · NFO (H) · TOT (A) · BRE (H) · NEW (A)2.80
  • BrightonLEE (H) · COV (A) · ARS (H) · SUN (A) · CRY (H)2.80
  • Crystal PalaceFUL (A) · IPS (H) · LEE (A) · NFO (H) · BHA (A)2.80
  • LiverpoolIPS (A) · FUL (H) · BOU (A) · MCI (H) · BRE (A)2.80

Toughest runs

  • BrentfordSUN (H) · BOU (A) · CHE (H) · AVL (A) · LIV (H)3.40
  • Ipswich TownLIV (H) · CRY (A) · EVE (A) · FUL (H) · MCI (A)3.40
  • LeedsBHA (A) · NEW (H) · CRY (H) · ARS (A) · MUN (H)3.40
  • SunderlandBRE (A) · ARS (H) · MCI (A) · BHA (H) · BOU (A)3.40
  • BournemouthNEW (A) · BRE (H) · LIV (H) · CHE (A) · SUN (H)3.20

Lower is easier. Scores are the official fixture difficulty ratings averaged over the next five games.

What the market is doing this week

Most bought

  • Rogers CHE+304k
  • Gvardiol MCI+195k
  • Groß BHA+180k
  • Gibbs-White NFO+166k
  • Schade BRE+164k

Most sold

  • Szoboszlai LIV-188k
  • Shaw MUN-124k
  • Pedro Porro TOT-114k
  • Tzolis ARS-106k
  • Thiago BRE-92k

Net transfers this gameweek. Heavy buying usually means a price rise is close. See price changes.

Availability watch

Widely owned players carrying an injury, suspension or rotation flag. These are already discounted in the projections and never suggested as a buy.

  • ElangaNEW · 10.7% owned · InjuredUnspecified injury - Unknown return date
  • ShawMUN · 10.6% owned · 75% chance to playUnspecified injury - 75% chance of playing
  • Pedro PorroTOT · 9.5% owned · 75% chance to playUnspecified injury - 75% chance of playing
  • MendyHUL · 7.5% owned · 50% chance to playConcussion - 50% chance of playing
  • CashAVL · 5.5% owned · 75% chance to playMuscular injury - 75% chance of playing

More for Gameweek 3

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Projections are built from public Fantasy Premier League data and refresh every gameweek. We never ask for your FPL login.