After a Gameweek 3 that proved very difficult for FPL managers, Gameweek 4 represents a new opportunity to recover some lost ground.
Last week’s men to watch included Romain Saiss who shipped four goals away at West Ham and Heung Min Son, who picked up a hamstring injury. Hopefully, this week’s choices provide more fruitful results.
Kyle Walker-Peters – Southampton – Defender – 4.5m
Point-scoring 4.5m defenders are a real asset in FPL since they can free up cash to spend on other areas of the team.
Kyle Walker-Peters appears to be a good option for players in this price bracket. The £12m signing from Tottenham has registered one assist in the opening three games. Just as importantly, he has played 90 minutes on each occasion.
Walker-Peters appears to be a regular starter in a team improving under Ralph Hasenhuttl. Cheap defenders aren’t the most glamorous transfer but the former England Under-21 international is likely to be a useful asset in any squad.
Harvey Barnes – Leicester – Midfielder – 7.0m
Leicester’s 5-2 win at Manchester City was the most eye-catching result in Gameweek 3.
While Jamie Vardy’s hat-trick was clearly the most noticeable contribution, Harvey Barnes really caught the eye and was unfortunate to pick up no goal nor assist.
Barnes is averaging four shots per game and does have a goal and assist in three completed 90-minute appearances so far. At £7.0m, Barnes is good value especially if his conversion rate suddenly improves.
He is impactful and just needs to convert this into goals and assists to be a valuable FPL player.
Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United – Midfielder – 10.5m
Players such as N’Golo Kante and Fernandinho are often vital to a team’s success but, such is their role, are low-scoring FPL players. On the other end of this spectrum, a player like Bruno Fernandes is a points machine.
He put in a fairly average display in Manchester United’s win over Brighton, losing possession 14 times during the game. Despite this, Fernandes registered a goal and an assist, coming in with 12 FPL points.
With Manchester United’s tendency to win penalties and with Fernandes taking most set pieces, it is almost impossible to leave him out of any FPL side. He is as reliable a points scorer as they come, even if he can frustrate on the eye.
Daniel Podence – Wolves – Midfielder – 5.6m
While expensive players such as Fernandes are often the exciting picks, every team needs its unsung heroes. Daniel Podence impressed in Wolves’ opening two outings and missed the appalling 4-0 defeat to West Ham. Therefore, he is highly likely to return for Wolves in a favourable fixture at home to Fulham. As mentioned last week, Wolves’ upcoming fixtures look kind on paper. Podence should get ample opportunity to add to his two assists this season.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin – Everton – Forward – 7.4m
Calvert-Lewin featured in last week’s players to watch.
With four goals in a week since then, the Everton #9 has gone from a player to keep an eye on, to one who is a must-have.
His price has already increased by £0.4m after three games following his five goals.
Averaging four shots per game, Calvert-Lewin is being supplied with opportunities. At £7.4m, he represents fantastic FPL value compared with similar striking options. Everton’s upcoming fixtures are reasonable, so it is time to get Everton’s main-man into FPL teams.
