Goalkeeper & Defence

David Raya (Arsenal, £5.5m)
Arsenal's shot-stopper remains a top choice after securing 13 clean sheets last season. Facing newly-promoted Leeds at home, Raya’s command of the box and distribution skills make him a safe bet for points.

Gabriel (Arsenal, £6m)
Aerial dominance meets defensive solidity. Gabriel’s threat from set-pieces (4 goals last season) pairs perfectly with Arsenal’s improved backline. Leeds conceded 30% of Championship goals from dead balls – a weakness Gabriel is primed to exploit.

Marc Cucurella (Chelsea, £6m)
The Spanish wing-back delivered 0.2 xGI (expected goal involvement) against Crystal Palace. With West Ham reeling from a 3-0 loss to Sunderland, Cucurella’s overlapping runs could unlock their shaky defense.

Patrick Dorgu (Man Utd, £4.5m)
This budget gem played as a de facto winger in United’s 3-4-3 system. His 7 crosses vs Arsenal (1 woodwork strike) suggest major upside for a defender-priced midfielder.

Midfield Maestros

Bukayo Saka (Arsenal, £10m)
The England star contributed to 25% of Arsenal’s goals last season. Leeds’ high line plays into his explosive counter-attacking style – back him for returns.

Cole Palmer (Chelsea, £10.5m)
Chelsea’s talisman leads set-pieces and penalties. Despite blanking in GW1, his 18 final-third passes and 4 shots signal imminent returns against West Ham’s leaky defense.

Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth, £7.1m)
Two clinical finishes against Liverpool (0.91 xG) showcased his poacher’s instinct. Wolves’ defense – breached 4 times by Man City – looks vulnerable to his pace.

David Brooks (Bournemouth, £5m)
A budget enabler with creative flair. Brooks notched 1 assist and 3 chances created vs Liverpool – exceptional value at £5m.

Attacking Threats

Erling Haaland (Man City, £14m) ©
The Norwegian cyborg has 5 goal contributions in 6 games against Spurs. After dismantling Wolves with 2 goals, he’s the ultimate armband candidate.

Evanilson (Bournemouth, £7m)
With penalty duties likely and just 2.1% ownership, this differential could punish non-believers. His 10-goal Championship campaign proves he knows where the net is.

Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace, £7.5m)
The French target man faces Forest’s error-prone defense. His 14 goals last season and aerial dominance (4.1 duels won/game) make him a home-game specialist.

Bench Strategy

• Dubravka (Burnley, £4m): Ideal backup vs Championship-level Sunderland
• Esteve/Hartman (Burnley, £4m): Budget defenders with clean sheet potential
• Josh King (Fulham, £4.5m): Emergency midfield cover

Total Cost: £99.6m

Key Tactical Notes

• Triple Arsenal defense leverages Leeds’ set-piece vulnerabilities
• Bournemouth double-up exploits Wolves’ defensive frailty
• Dorgu’s OOP role provides midfield production at defender pricing
• Palmer’s underlying stats (4 shots, 18 final-third passes) suggest regression to mean

Pro Tip: Use Free Hit chips cautiously – fixture swings in GW3-5 could offer better value.