Gameweek 2 of Fantasy Premier League is a wrap, and there is plenty to reflect on ahead of the next deadline.
In a new weekly feature, we will touch on some of the biggest takeaways from the weekend in FPL and what it can tell us about future transfers.
Fantasy Premier League GW2 deadline: Saturday, 31 August, 11:00 BST
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Fantasy Premier League: Seven takeaways from FPL Gameweek 2
Chelsea have goals in them after all
I feel obliged to kick this off with an I Told You So. In last week’s tips column I warned against selling Cole Palmer (£10.5m), who was abandoned by over 356,000 managers after he blanked against Manchester City in GW1. They were punished unmercifully on Sunday, with the playmaker registering a goal and three assists in Chelsea’s 6-2 demolition of Wolves.
Cole just keeps on adding to his highlight reel. 🤩#CFC | #WOLCHE pic.twitter.com/9PTgF75mIq
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 26, 2024
Given last season’s horrendous underperformance in front of goal, it was a truly remarkable result. Where in 2023/24 they squandered an abundance of chances, here everything went in. Even Nicolas Jackson (£7.5m) scored.
It would not surprise anyone if this was a false dawn for Chelsea and not the start of some bright new era, but it does provide some much needed good vibes at Stamford Bridge amid the mess behind the scenes with regards to their squad building. And it suggested they may not be a basket case when it comes to FPL.
That said, if you are going to invest in Chelsea, then Palmer is the only player to which I would give serious consideration. Noni Madueke (£6.5m) and Jackson offer good value, but there are so many options in attack for Enzo Maresca as well as the prospect of a new striker signing before deadline day, making them minute risks. Christopher Nkunku (£6.4m) is a no-go after he was dropped, and the fact the side played so well without him doesn’t bode well for his chances of reclaiming his spot.
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Can’t have them all
We’re two weeks in and every premium player has at least one attacking return. Those who went without Mo Salah (£12.5m) in GW1 were able to make up ground thanks to Erling Haaland (£15.1m), Son Heung-min (£10m) and/or Cole Palmer (£10.5m).
The variety of options for the top tier assets is a nice change from last season, when it felt like everyone was following a template. But it also means you have to make compromises in your squad and will be liable to miss out on hauls here and there.
Personally, I feel somewhat fortunate to have been rewarded with 17 points from Son. The Korean winger reprised the role of centre-forward due to an injury to Dominic Solanke (£7.5m) against a ragtag collection of Everton defenders. Had Solanke been fit to start, Son likely wouldn’t have been the one pressing from the front to win the ball off Jordan Pickford (£5m) for his first goal.
Not that I’m complaining, but it does factor into my analysis of Son as an FPL asset. Spurs’ next two fixtures are much tougher and I need to carefully consider whether I should swap to another premium midfielder or hold him.
The most important thing to remember is you should never make a knee jerk decision on premium players because of what happens in just one gameweek. Form is a consideration, but so are fixtures. For instance, Son for Bukayo Saka (£10m) is a straight swap, but Arsenal’s next three games are difficult, culminating in a trip to Man City in September. I could hold out until GW6 before bringing him in. Or I could make the move to Palmer now as Chelsea have very attractive fixtures over the next five gameweeks.
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Rogers is the real deal
After two weeks Morgan Rogers (£5m) has no attacking returns and just 0.24 expected goal involvements (xGI). And yet I am convinced he could be one of the best picks in FPL this season.
The 22-year-old was arguably the best player on the pitch during Aston Villa’s 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, causing the opposition defence all kinds of trouble. He took three shots and created two chances, one which should have been turned into an assist only for Ollie Watkins to feebly screw his shot wide.
Rogers’ place in the starting lineup looks secure and Villa’s fixtures look really good for the next two months.
How FPL managers see Morgan Rogers this weekpic.twitter.com/Z1A7ZmsRNb
— FPL Marcin (@FPLMarcin) August 26, 2024
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Eze and Fernandes are elite points dodgers
It has been an immensely frustrating opening two gameweeks for FPL managers who own either Eberechi Eze (£7m) or Bruno Fernandes (£8.5m) – or, God love you, both.
Neither player has registered a goal or assist, with both men being involved in goals that were disallowed in unusual circumstances. After Eze had his brilliant free-kick incorrectly chalked off in GW1, this week saw Fernandes miss out on an assist after Alejandro Garnacho (£6.5m) had a goal ruled offside thanks to the errant knee of Joshua Zirkzee (£7.1m).
The Manchester United playmaker has had seven shots in two games, including two big chances, and created one big chance from three key passes in two games.
Meanwhile, Eze has put up numbers in even greater volume for Crystal Palace, taking 12 shots, six of which were in the box and one was a big chance, and completing four key passes. He even had one effort smack off the crossbar at the weekend.
They are doing all the right things, but have nothing to show for it due to variance and pure bad luck. I’d be more inclined to sell Fernandes than Eze, but those who own can feel hard done by nonetheless.
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Jota is becoming essential
When there are so many expensive attackers from which to choose, it becomes so important to nail down the right mid-priced assets. Who are the players that won’t break the bank while providing a steady stream of FPL points?
Diogo Jota (£7.6m) falls neatly into that category. The Portugal international has been involved in half of Liverpool’s four goals so far this term (one goal and one assist), he’s playing up front while being categorised as a ‘midfielder’, he’s decently priced and his place in the starting XI feels pretty secure.
The 27-year-old makes non-owners nervous when he takes to the field, because although he doesn’t bag hauls like Salah it feels like he could do something in any given game. Liverpool’s fixtures for the next six gameweeks are nice too, so it’s a good time to get him in.
It’s too early in the season to start using the E-word, but Jota is reaching essential territory already.
How to score on the counter, brought to you by Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz ⚡️
🎥: @LFC pic.twitter.com/GPmYITtMcj
— Premier League (@premierleague) August 26, 2024
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Defenders providing great value
The previous two seasons were as dry as the desert when it came to high-scoring options in defence; Arsenal were the only sure bet, and attacking full-backs just seemed to drop off massively.
The new campaign feels like a shift back to how it was a few years ago when you could find excellent defenders at great value who would rack up points with regularity.
We’ve seen £4.5m players like Antonee Robinson, Noussair Mazraoui, Micky van de Ven and even Max Kilman provide attacking returns. Pedro Porro, with his ability to get forward and attack, looks like a season keeper at £5.5m.
Even Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is the most expensive defender in FPL at £7m, feels like a bit of a bargain. He’s essentially another attacker for Liverpool who’s cheaper than Mo Salah, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota, and has the added benefit of potential clean sheets.
Many managers would have started the season with a bare bones backline to accommodate premium midfielders and forwards, but a little bit of extra investment in defence and a sprinkling of the right low-cost picks could prove profitable.
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Newcastle fail to deliver
Newcastle United have opened the season in underwhelming fashion. They struggled to create much of anything for the majority of their 1-1 draw with Bournemouth, and they really should have lost that one.
Alexander Isak (£8.5m) and Anthony Gordon (£7.5m) were popular picks in pre-season, but have returned an assist and a goal between them.
The Magpies did at least improve in the final half hour of Sunday’s game, after the introduction of Kieran Trippier (£5.9m) and Harvey Barnes (£6.4m) from the bench. I think if we see both of those men start every game going forward, there’s more reason to be optimistic about the team’s attack.
Meanwhile, Antoine Semenyo (£5.5m) followed up his opening day goal for the Cherries with an assist here. I thought he looked really good in this match; he took seven shots, five of which were in the box, and completed three key passes, two of which resulted in big chances. New signing Evanilson came agonisingly close to converting one of his low crosses in the second half.
Back home and @_MarcusTavv back amongst the goals 🤩 pic.twitter.com/YP5zD07Qun
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) August 25, 2024
Semenyo is on my radar and could be a great cheap option this season.
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