As Gameweek 3 of Fantasy Premier League approaches, the honeymoon period is officially over. With early-season hype fading and unexpected performances rewriting expectations, managers are now facing their first real test: stick with underperforming assets or make aggressive changes? Whether you’re already chasing your mini-league rivals or just trying to avoid a disastrous wildcard, this is the week where decisions start to matter more. From budget bandwagons to premium disappointments, we break down the key dilemmas FPL managers are facing — and how to approach them wisely.
Palmer and Saka: Keep or Sell?
Cole Palmer was set to start in Chelsea’s Premier League clash with West Ham, but pulled out during the pre-match warm-up after feeling discomfort in his groin. Manager Enzo Maresca confirmed the withdrawal was a precautionary decision to avoid worsening the injury.
While Maresca emphasized caution, the groin issue is less serious, estimating Palmer could be sidelined for about 2-3 weeks.
Bukayo Saka sustained a hamstring injury during Arsenal’s 5–0 win over Leeds United and has been ruled out for approximately four weeks, confirmed to be sidelined for Arsenal’s upcoming match against Liverpool and England’s World Cup qualifiers.
Potential Replacements
Éstevao Willian (Chelsea - £6.5m)
A direct stand-in who impressed with an assist on his first Premier League start after Palmer's warm‑up injury. He offers continuity in Chelsea’s attacking setup and is likely to get extended minutes while Palmer remains sidelined.
Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth - £7.2m)
Top-scoring midfielder across the first two Gameweeks, involved in all of Bournemouth’s goals to date (2 goals, 1 assist, plus bonus returns).
Magic potential with strong opening form and a price point below that of Palmer and Saka.
Eberechi Eze (Arsenal - £7.5m)
Newly signed creative spark at Arsenal, expected to inherit more minutes and attacking influence in Saka's absence.
Cody Gakpo (Liverpool - £7.6m)
Liverpool's top-scoring midfielder after a run of consistent attacking returns over the opening weeks, including a goal and a couple of assists.
Brennan Johnson (Tottenham - £7.1m)
Another high-returning mid-priced alternative with early attacking returns. Johnson has faced Burnley and Manchester City, scoring in both games.
Captaincy Options
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Haaland remains the popular captain choice for GW3. He’s registered more shots on target and big chances than any other forward across the first two fixtures.
He consistently tops shots and big chances metrics, making him a high-ceiling pick.
Facing Brighton away—a fixture that's favourable, as Brighton have yet to win this season.
João Pedro (Chelsea)
Pedro stepped up impressively in Gameweek 2 with 1 goal and 2 assists, earning 15 points. That performance has made him extremely popular among managers this week.
With Cole Palmer likely still unavailable, Pedro is expected to remain pivotal for Chelsea, possibly even taking on penalty and creative duties.
Chelsea host Fulham—a juicy home match for Pedro to capitalize on.
Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest)
A consistent focal point of Forest's attack, Wood scored a brace in Gameweek 1 and tallied strong attacking returns. He also boasts a track record from last season, finishing with over 200 FPL points.
Forest host a struggling West Ham side, who have conceded heavily (3–0 and 5–1 losses so far), setting the stage for Wood to make an impact.
