GW2 was slim pickings & seen most of the top FPL players blank! But when one door closes, another opens, & GW3 has massive opportunity to reset our teams & get you back to the top spot. Here is all the essential weekly FPL info you need to ensure you top those mini leagues!

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⚔️ Gameweek 2 Review - 38 Points (51 Average)

A tough GW indeed. With not much to shout about, playing Pedro Porro was the best move I made this week. Unfortunately, with Palmer pulling out in the warmup, many others also got his points from the bench, so it wasn’t much of a differential.

Thankfully, Gakpo delivered two assists in the Monday night game v Newcastle to save my blushes further, it could have been even more pain if not. The majority of managers found it tough also, so it was a good week to have a bad week. Only one way up from here, and it’s up!

💎 Gameweek 3 Gem Pick

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Erling Haaland – Man City (£14.1m, 30%)

• Fantastic recent goalscoring record

• Plays a tired Brighton from midweek cup game

• No Brighton clean sheet in four of the last five

A rare blank at home v a tough Spurs this GW, but I see him putting that behind him away to Brighton. Nine goals and one assist in the last 10 matches(in all competitions) reminds us just how lethal Haaland can be & though recent history has shown us Man City have struggled away to Brighton, I cant see past a win for the Citizens.

After the defeat to Spurs at home, Pep will demand a reaction & I think that’s exactly what we will see. Brighton are fresh off a poor performance v Everton and also play in the EFL cup, great news for a fully recovered Man City. In a GW where there aren’t too many stand outs, for me Erling Haaland should be top of the list. Possibly, even put the armband on him!

✅ The Best 2 Transfers IN for Gameweek 3

🇸🇪 Anthony Elanga - Newcastle (£7m, 7.7%)

• Could play as the main striker

• Plays a newly promoted side

• Is key in attacking moves

The tale of the two Anthony’s. This was Anthony Gordon’s section, but after the red card on Monday night, it required changing. With no other current number nine playing for Newcastle, the attacking focus will be mostly on their wingers.

Step forward Anthony Elanga. Having watched the last two games I have noticed he is involved in everything positive, especially in counter attacking moves. This sets up nicely for the next game v Leeds, fresh off a hammering at the hands of Arsenal (5-0). Leeds are at home, so Elland Road will demand them to attack, falling into the hands of the speed of Elanga.

In truth, he should already be on the scoresheet this season, as he had a great one on one chance v Liverpool, but the keeper did brilliantly to stop him. At under 10% owned he is at differential level but feels like a quality player to get in. With having two free transfers, I’m strongly considering him myself as he could boost our ranks because he is so under the radar. Though most likely not your first thought, give him a chance.

🇳🇿 Chris Wood – Nottingham Forest (£7.6m, 22%)

• Hit the ground running

• May represent new City style

Despite a blank in GW2 against the solid palace, Chris Wood is back in our thoughts and back in the points, currently the 4th highest scoring forward. I said to myself, there’s no way I get him, last season was a fluke! Now here I am singing his praises. As good as Chris Wood has been(2 goals & 13pts in GW1) West Ham have been as good at conceding goals. 8 goals conceded in only 2 matches and with monumental pressure already on, an away game to Nottingham Forest is definitely not what Graham Potter had wished for. Factor in a midweek cup game and the fact they concede often from the opposition number 9, I cant recommend the Kiwi Haaland any higher. There are already rumblings of Potter being replaced and this could be the final spell he casts at West Ham. It wasn’t good what I seen from the Hammers in the first two games and I think they have already given up. Wood is strong, robust, willing, and unrelenting & I think he grabs more than one goal. Trouble is, I’ve already earmarked my two free transfers but there’s so much evidence to bring him in that I would even consider a hit. I feel that strongly about him.

❌ The Best 2 Transfers OUT for Gameweek 3

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Cole Palmer – Chelsea (£10.5m, 53%)

• Missed GW2 & might miss GW3

• Poor performances so far this season

• Tough London derby next up (v Fulham)

Its often funny how FPL changes so quickly. Last GW Palmer was a transfer in for me and now he’s a transfer out. Usually I don’t react so drastically, but my patience has run out & sometimes that visceral reaction is required. Maybe we were tricked by the Club World Cup performances or the fact that he is highly owned (51.6%), but whatever the reason I started him in my team, there’s virtually no reason that would stop me transferring him out now.

We are all aware of Palmer’s drop off last season and get this... He hasn’t scored an open play goal since January 15th. For such a top class player at a premium price we hold in such high regard, he isn’t repaying our faith and if were honest, he hasn’t for a while. Midfield will be the engine room of our FPL points this season, and we can’t afford passengers.

Another tough London derby v Fulham, then Brentford & Man Utd (both away), doesn’t scream goals and points for Palmer to me. Pulling out with an injury in the warmup for GW2 was very frustrating and it’s a race against time to see if he is ready for GW3. For me, regardless if he is fit I’ve already made the decision, he’s gone for me.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Bukayo Saka  – Arsenal (£10m, 15.5%)

• Injured, so won’t play until at least GW5

• Expensive, so reinvest into squad

• Easy downgrade to Eze saves £2.5m but keeps arsenal attack

Owners can count themselves hugely unlucky. Scoring Arsenal’s second goal on the stroke of half time v Leeds, he had myself and plenty other non-owner managers extremely worried he would inflict further damage. Having been injured for a significant period last season, the hope was to manage him to keep him fresh, but already its happened.

He pulled up not even 10 minutes into the second half and had to be substituted. Writing this on Monday morning, news has broke that he will miss international duty with England and more then likely not play until GW5. A £10m midfielder is just too much to have sitting on your bench when he might not be ready for GW5 and even if he is; it’s a tough game against Man City.

Look for a tried and tested performer to replace him and make the move early so you don’t lose any value. Good alternatives are Gordon and Gibbs-White but for me there’s only one clear switch,  Eberechi Eze. With Saka out a new main man is required & I think that’s Eze.

🦸 Gameweek 3 Captaincy Calls

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Morgan Gibbs-White, Nottingham Forest (£7.5m, 5%)

• Plays a West Ham team that have conceded eight goals in two games

• Low owned with a high points ceiling

• Scored against them last season

• Nottingham Forest are solid at home

• West Ham have an extra game midweek, they will be fatigued

🎯 Target Game

Nottingham Forest V West Ham

A home fixture for a defensively solid unit that plays a team that has given up, yes please! I don’t see anything other than complete domination from Forest. The three o’clock KO’s often seem the best to watch and rely on, so this is why I’ve selected this fixture.

Football is always better when there is more riding on it & this is crucial for Graham Potters future but is it too late. The first two games have shown that the Hammers have stopped playing, running, jumping, even trying; and Forest will more than likely put them to the sword. I see multiple goals, plenty of bookings, possibly even a red and much excitement for our Saturday afternoon. 

🎰 FPL Bet Builder

There are so many bets I would like to cover in this fixture and currently many of my build a bets are lines long, but sometimes the best option is the simplest. I had to check this bet quite a few times as I thought my eyes had deceived me.

17/10 for Forest to score in both halves against a team that have conceded eight goals in two games, sign me up! £10 gets you almost £30! If you want to make it spicier, add in a Chris Wood goal for an almost 4/1 price. Unless West Ham have the performance of their season, I don’t see a different result.

🪙 Chip Update?

After a low scoring GW2 for most, an early chip could be required. Personally, I am considering a Free hit although my team is set up well for GW3. Some of you may be in a worse position and require a new strategy, even just for one GW.

If you are, this is why we have chips, so use them. Weigh up your current team with your ideal GW3 team, and if you would change over half of your players, then I would strongly consider the use of Free hit or Wildcard. Having researched the next 5 GW’s, I would lean towards the Wildcard.

Just be conscious that we still only have 2Gw’s worth of data, so it is risky. Currently I’m 50/50 on my free hit.

Conclusion

For my final GW3 team and football insights/analysis throughout the 25-26 season. Look out for my special articles and follow me on X @FplVeteran_ for daily fantasy football content.