Fantasy Premier League, may people are feeling high right now, probably because they had a very good score in the first week and rank very high in their mini league. However, when they look at their players’ games in Gameweek 2, reality sets in.
This is one of the major mistakes many make—they focus more on the week rather than the early fixtures. You need to remember, every time you set up your team, that FPL is a marathon, not a sprint. Just like the game of chess, to win, you have to think three, five, or six steps ahead of your opponents.
If you’ve made the mistake of not doing the above, it’s not too late to start now and save your Fantasy Premier League. This doesn’t mean you should make unnecessary transfers, take hits, or use your chips. Just take a deep breath and make sure every player you bring in from now on is a thoughtful buy.
Going into Gameweek 2, these are the players you may consider buying or selling:
Jarell Quansah (Liverpool) £4.4m
From Gameweek 1, it seems Arne Slot is not confident in Quansah, as he was subbed in the 46th minute. This doesn’t look good, and you shouldn’t get caught up in it—you need a player who is sure to get minutes, and it’s obvious he won’t be getting many. Another thing to consider is the volume of managers getting rid of him, which determines his price. This saw him drop to £4.4m from £4.5m. It’s better to get rid of him now before it gets worse.
Valentin Barco (Brighton) £4.0m
It was a surprise to see him on the bench in Gameweek 1, but I think the reason is obvious now. He will not be with The Seagulls this season following the confirmation of his departure. However, now is not the time to waste a transfer on a £4.5m defender. My advice is to keep him and sell him later.
Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea) £6.5m
Following his pre-season performance, he was expected to be a very good buy for £6.5m, but his outing against City was nothing short of a disaster. Despite his good run of fixtures—Wolves, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, West Ham, Brighton, and Nottingham Forest over the next six Gameweeks—he remains a doubt for me because he was subbed before the 60th minute, which raises concerns.
I’ll advise you to keep him for the next two weeks and reassess after that. Nkunku starting in Chelsea’s Conference League game against Servette means two things: it’s bad because if he plays too many minutes, he may be rested at the weekend, or it’s good because he’s clearly building up fitness and is too important to drop, even in Europe. Whatever the case, I’ll advise you to keep him.
Cole Palmer (Chelsea) £10.5m
Another Chelsea player you may want to give another chance to prove himself is Palmer. My fear is the way Enzo Maresca has set up his team to play, which may not allow Palmer to show the flair he had last season. However, he’s got great fixtures ahead and is on penalty kicks. He’s a keep for me.
Smith Rowe (Fulham) £5.5m
His performance against Manchester United in Gameweek 1 was impressive for a £5.5m midfielder. He has a great run of fixtures ahead, and I would love to keep him. Another player in his range I would have loved to consider is Rogers of Aston Villa, but he’s got Arsenal in Gameweek 2. However, he has a good run of fixtures after that and is just £5.0m. You should keep him on your watchlist.
Diogo Jota (Liverpool) £7.5m
If you are looking to strengthen your team ahead of Gameweek 2, he’s probably the best option at that price range. He was listed as a midfielder but played upfront in their 2-0 win over Ipswich in the opening game, where he scored the opening goal. Liverpool have 3 home games in the next four, and they are very good fixtures. He’s worthy of taking a hit for.
