Whose FPL prospects have improved after Gameweek 3?

The Scout pinpoints players in Fantasy Premier League whose prospects have improved after Gameweek 3. 

Defenders

Matty Cash (£4.6m) and Lucas Digne (£4.5m) both profited from a change of tactics in Aston Villa’s 3-1 win at Burnley.

Unai Emery’s switch to a wing-back formation helped Cash score twice to collect his season-high haul of 17 points at Turf Moor on Sunday. 

Cash's first goal v Burnley

Digne, meanwhile, supplied his fifth assist in his last three matches in all competitions.

Despite their weekend showings, Villa’s short-term schedule means managers should wait until Gameweek 8 before bringing in their defenders.

Unai Emery’s side face Liverpool, Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion in their next four matches.

Walker the best City defender?

Kyle Walker (£5.1m) is the only Manchester City defender to start each of their first three matches after Manuel Akanji (£5.1m) missed their 2-1 win at Sheffield United through illness.

Right-back Walker has already created five chances, just one fewer than he managed in all of 2022/23.

He looks their standout pick at the pick against Fulham, West Ham United, Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the next four Gameweeks. 

New arrival Josko Gvardiol (£5.1m) has started each of Man City’s last two matches and offers an identically priced alternative.

Man Utd struggling defensively 

Elsewhere, Diogo Dalot (£4.9m) earned his first start of the season after Luke Shaw (£5.4m) was sidelined through injury.

The Portuguese played at left-back in Manchester United’s 3-2 home win over Nott'm Forest, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£4.6m) retaining the right-back role.

Nonetheless, the unconvincing display in defence should be enough to deter managers from investing ahead of tough matches against Arsenal and Brighton.

Midfielders

Marcus Rashford (£9.0m) delivered his first attacking returns of the campaign after moving to his favoured role on the left flank against Nott’m Forest.

The Man Utd star had played as a centre-forward in the Red Devils’ first two outings, blanking on both occasions.

But Rashford thrived in his preferred wide position, supplying two assists to collect seven points.

Saka and Odegaard sharing penalties

Bukayo Saka’s (£8.7m) converted penalty against Fulham has eased fears he has been overtaken for spot-kick duties by Martin Odegaard (£8.5m).

Odegaard had taken and scored the Gunners’ penalty against Crystal Palace in Gameweek 2, prompting over 92,000 sales of Saka.

The weekend turn of events now indicates the midfield duo will share spot-kick duties over 2023/24.

Advanced role for Fernandez

Elsewhere, Enzo Fernandez (£5.0m) played in an advanced central role in Chelsea’s win over Luton Town on Friday.

Although the Argentinian recorded a third successive blank, his statistics look very promising for a budget midfielder in Fantasy.

Fernandez’s eight chances created is a team-leading total for Chelsea, while his seven shots are second only to the 11 of forward Nicolas Jackson (£7.1m). 

Schade securing a starting role?

Brentford’s Kevin Schade (£5.4m) and AFC Bournemouth’s Justin Kluivert (£4.9m) could offer further options in the cut-price bracket after appearing to secure starting roles.

Schade has been named in the Bees’ first XI in each of the last two Gameweeks. He scored and earned nine points against Crystal Palace to overshadow his more popular team-mates Bryan Mbeumo (£6.8m) and Yoane Wissa (£6.2m). 

Schade's goal v Crystal Palace

Kluivert, meanwhile, made his first start since joining Bournemouth in the 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. 

Now down to £4.9m, the Dutchman could profit from a favourable turn in fixtures in Gameweek 8.

Forwards 

Cameron Archer’s (£4.5m) move from Aston Villa to Sheff Utd is set to hand managers in Fantasy an ultra-cheap option up front.

While the transfer was confirmed too late for Archer to make his Blades debut against Man City last weekend, he can immediately mark his mark in Gameweek 4 in a kind home encounter with Everton.

More questions over Joao Pedro

Evan Ferguson’s (£5.9m) return to the Brighton XI against West Ham spells more bad news for Joao Pedro (£5.5m) owners.

Joao Pedro was expected to be recalled after his rival for the Seagulls’ No 10 role, Julio Enciso (£5.4m), was ruled out for a significant period through injury.

However, Robert De Zerbi’s decision to hand Ferguson his first start of 2023/24 and move Danny Welbeck (£5.9m) to the No 10 position suggests the young Irishman’s minutes are set to improve.

Nunez stakes his claim

Finally, Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez (£7.3m) is pushing for his first start of the new campaign, after emerging from the bench to score both their goals in a 2-1 comeback win at Newcastle United. 

Nonetheless, the Uruguayan still has strong competition to claim a spot in Jurgen Klopp’s side to face Aston Villa this weekend.

Nunez's second goal v Newcastle

Diogo Jota (£8.0m) started as up front in the first two Gameweeks but only featured as a substitute at St James’ Park due to illness.

This allowed Cody Gakpo (£7.4m) to play as the centre-forward, underlining the variety of options at Klopp’s disposal for the lone striker role. 

Also in this series

Part 1: Maddison or Sterling: Who is the better FPL pick?
Part 2: FPL Lessons: Why five-man midfields are the way to go for managers
Part 4: The Scout’s FPL Gameweek 4 Ones to watch
Part 5: The Scout’s FPL Gameweek 4 Differentials
Part 6: FPL experts: Keep or sell Arsenal and Man Utd midfielders?
Part 7: FPL long view: Time to consider Newcastle in Gameweek 5?
Part 8: Scout Selection: Best FPL team for Gameweek 4
Part 9: Best alternatives to Haaland as FPL captain in Gameweek 4