Welcome, and thanks for being here! You've got until Friday at 5:30pm to lock in your Gameweek 3 squad - and there's a lot to digest. From a flying Man City midfielder who's already a must-own, to a jaw-dropping budget defender keeping clean sheets for fun, we've got all the intel you need. Let's get straight into it.
📰 Rapid-Fire News Roundup
Haaland
Elanga
Delap has completed his move to Nottingham Forest from Ipswich Town, priced at £5.5m. He bagged 12 Premier League goals for Ipswich last season. Forest host Spurs in GW3 - a solid debut fixture.
Marmoush has joined Spurs from Man City, but hold fire - Spurs have lost both opening games, conceding 5 goals in the process.
Villa news: Jackson made his debut in GW2 against Arsenal (who won 1-0), with Konsa dropping to the bench. Monitor Villa and Arsenal assets accordingly.
Fantasy Football Scout's early GW3 picks are piling onto Man City, who host Coventry City at home on Saturday. Coventry are yet to win and conceded against Hull in GW2.
✅ Transfers IN - Who to Bring In Before Friday
1. Rayan Cherki - Man City MID - £7.7m
The hottest property in FPL right now. Cherki has been absolutely electric in the opening two weeks and is rapidly becoming unmissable.
GW2 vs Crystal Palace: 2 goals, 3 bonus points, 14 fantasy points
Season totals: 2 goals, 2 assists, 22 total points
Ownership: 22% - and rising fast
942,000 transfers IN this week
Already risen 2 price points - act fast
GW3 fixture: Man City vs Coventry City (H) - a dream matchup
At 11 points per game and with a form rating of 11.0, Cherki is also your captain pick this week (more on that below). He has already gone up in price twice and more rises are coming. This is not a player you want to be chasing.
🟢 Verdict: ESSENTIAL - Get him in immediately.
2. Pascal Groß - Brighton MID - £5.5m
Incredible value at the price, and GW2 was a reminder of his ceiling.
GW2 vs Chelsea: 1 goal, 1 assist, 3 bonus points, 13 fantasy points
Season totals: 1 goal, 1 assist, 15 total points
Ownership: 13.8%
156,000 transfers IN this week
GW3 fixture: Brighton vs Leeds (H) - Leeds drew at Brentford in GW2, winnable for Brighton
At just £5.5m, Groß offers the kind of returns you'd usually pay £7m+ for. Brighton at home to Leeds is a fixture he can thrive in. If you're looking for budget-friendly options that still deliver premium returns, our bargain players tool highlights picks just like this one.
🟢 Verdict: GOOD - Excellent value at the price.
3. Ajayi - Hull City DEF - £4.1m
The ultimate budget defender and one of the best value picks in the entire game right now.
Hull have kept back-to-back clean sheets - 2 wins, 0 goals conceded in 2 games
Ajayi scored in GW1 and has contributed to both clean sheets
Ownership: 6.4% - massively under the radar
337,000 transfers IN this week
GW3 fixture: Aston Villa (A) - tough on paper, but Villa have lost both opening games
At £4.1m, he frees up serious budget to invest elsewhere in your squad
If Hull continue their form, Ajayi at £4.1m could be the differential that defines your season. Villa's poor start makes this fixture far less daunting than it looks.
🟢 Verdict: ESSENTIAL - One of the best budget defenders in FPL right now.
❌ Transfers OUT - Who to Consider Selling
1. Rogers - Chelsea MID - £7.5m
A growing concern. Chelsea have conceded 5 goals in 2 games and Rogers is failing to justify his premium price tag.
GW2 vs Brighton: Just 5 points despite Chelsea winning 4-3
Zero clean sheets this season
Ownership: 25.5% - still highly owned but shedding fast
138,000 transfers OUT this week
GW3 fixture: Arsenal (A) - a nightmare fixture for attacking returns and defensive security alike
At £7.5m you need more than 5 points in a game where your team scores 4 goals. The fixture against Arsenal away is brutal, and managers are already moving on.
🔴 Verdict: SELL - Better options exist at that price point.
2. Mosquera - Arsenal DEF - £5.5m
GW2: 6 points with a clean sheet - decent but uninspiring
Ownership: 5.2%
40,000 transfers OUT this week
GW3 fixture: Arsenal vs Chelsea (H) - good for attacking returns, less certain for clean sheet odds given Chelsea's firepower
Not an urgent sell, but if you need to free up funds this window, Mosquera is one to trim. Keep a close eye on team news before Friday's deadline.
🟡 Verdict: HOLD for now - but monitor team news closely ahead of Friday.
3. M.Sangaré - Brentford MID - £5.6m
Started strongly with 14 total points across GW1, but GW2 brought just 4 points - no goals, no assists, no clean sheet
Brentford drew 1-1 with Leeds in GW2
Ownership: 11.6%
56,000 transfers OUT this week
GW3 fixture: Sunderland (A) - Sunderland have won both opening games, a tough away trip
The away trip to Sunderland is no easy ride. If budget is tight elsewhere, Sangaré is not a priority keep.
🟡 Verdict: HOLD if budget allows - but not a priority keep this week.
🎯 GW3 Differential Picks (Under 5% Ownership)
Want to gain ground on your mini-league rivals? These three options are flying under the radar and all have genuine GW3 upside. For more options like these, browse our differential players tool.
| Player | Team | Price | Ownership | GW3 Fixture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scott | Bournemouth | £6.0m | 1.8% | Newcastle (A) |
| Lewis-Potter | Brentford | £5.5m | 1.7% | Sunderland (A) |
| Xhaka | Sunderland | £5.5m | 4.6% | Brentford (H) |
Scott (Bournemouth, £6.0m, 1.8% ownership): 12 points in GW2 - a goal, a clean sheet, and 3 bonus points. Bournemouth travel to Newcastle on Saturday. The fixture is rated 3-3 so no banker, but at under 2% ownership he is the ultimate differential. A speculative punt with real upside.
Lewis-Potter (Brentford, £5.5m, 1.7% ownership): 16 total points across two gameweeks, including an assist in GW2. Brentford away at Sunderland is a tough ask, but at this price and ownership he only needs one moment to blow up mini-leagues.
Xhaka (Sunderland, £5.5m, 4.6% ownership): Now at Sunderland, and quietly building a compelling case. 15 total points in 2 games, 6 points in GW2 with a clean sheet and 3 bonus. Sunderland host Brentford at home in GW3 having won both opening games. Form of 7.5 and momentum behind them.
🏆 Captain Pick - Gameweek 3
Cherki is your captain for GW3. Man City at home to Coventry City. Two goals, two assists already this season, 14 points in GW2 alone. With form of 11.0 and a fixture that doesn't get much easier, the armband decision is straightforward this week.
If you don't own Cherki yet, that is your priority transfer before Friday's 5:30pm deadline. Not only is he your best captaincy option, his price is already rising and will continue to do so. Don't miss the boat.
Want to check the latest price change movements before the deadline? Keep an eye on the live price changes to make sure you're not caught out by a late rise.
📋 GW3 Quick-Reference Summary
✅ Transfer IN: Cherki (£7.7m) - Essential, captain pick, price rising
✅ Transfer IN: Groß (£5.5m) - Excellent value, good GW3 fixture
✅ Transfer IN: Ajayi (£4.1m) - Essential budget defender, 2 clean sheets
❌ Transfer OUT: Rogers (£7.5m) - Sell, nightmare GW3 fixture
🟡 Transfer OUT: Mosquera (£5.5m) - Monitor team news, hold for now
🟡 Transfer OUT: Sangaré (£5.6m) - Hold if budget allows, not priority keep
🎯 Differentials: Scott (1.8%), Lewis-Potter (1.7%), Xhaka (4.6%)
👀 Watch: Delap at Nottingham Forest - £5.5m, 12 PL goals last season, worth monitoring
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Get your transfers in before Friday at 5:30pm. Good luck in Gameweek 3! 🚀