We've once again enlisted the help of FPL expert AbuBakar Siddiq to help you out with tips and learnings from Gameweek 2.
It was a dramatic week, with plenty of questions raised about how to approach the coming weeks in the game. Read on for @BigManBakar's five FPL tips from Gameweek 2, to help you with your team selections.
FPL: Learnings from GW1 and tips for GW2
1. Leon Bailey is no longer a playable option
A lot of us FPL managers who banked on Leon Bailey's pre-season form have now been hit with the reality that he is no longer first choice.
Despite the fact that Gerrard talked him up in the pre-match press conference, Bailey fell victim to a tactical tweak which resulted in Gerrard opting to play two strikers up top in a diamond formation. Unfortunately for Bailey's owners, both Watkins and Ings combined for Villa's first goal which would mean that both have probably secured starts in Villa's next fixture despite the fact that Gerrard claimed that he opted for two strikers in this game specifically to counter Everton's five at the back formation. This now means that fantasy managers will now either have to bench Bailey or else look at selling him if they don't have a playable option from the bench.
READ HERE: FPL Tips: The Best Fantasy Football Names For Your Team In The 2022-23 Season
2. It's too risky to go without Gabriel Jesus
Seven shots in the box, four big chance involvements, 15 penalty area touches with an expected goal involvement (xGi) of 2+ were league leading totals from Gabriel Jesus this Gameweek.
250,000 FPL managers have transferred him in already and his ownership of 73% is only rising. Such incredible underlying statistics coupled with an astronomical FPL ownership before he plays two promoted sides in succession means that he has to be a priority transfer if you don't own him already.
3. Saka is not worth the £2m over Martinelli
This pre-season debate has been put to rest with Martinelli's performances of late. Martinelli has scored double the number of FPL points (16 v 8) as compared to Saka so far and it's fair to say that the difference in points is in accordance with the difference in their underlying numbers.
Martinelli has had more big chance involvements than Saka (3 v 1) in the first two fixtures and also boasts a superior xGi. Despite the fact that Saka is on penalties, I don't think he is worth the premium over Martinelli at the moment. If you own Saka over Martinelli, I would make the swap and use the spare cash to upgrade the rest of your team.
READ HERE: Twitter Debate Sparks Over Who'd Win Premier League Manager's Royal Rumble
4. Rodrigo and Pascal Groß are staking a claim
Apart from Martinelli, both Rodrigo and Pascal Groß are putting their hands up for the budget midfielder slots in our teams - especially with a favorable run of fixtures for both coming up.
Rodrigo was second only to Jesus for shots in the box, big chances & xG this weekend and has been playing in more of an advanced position under Jesse Marsch as compared to the traditional number eight position under predecessor Marcelo Bielsa. It's also worth noting that Patrick Bamford sustained an injury and in his absence, Rodrigo could be on penalties too.
Groß is becoming a genuinely good option as well. He is joint top with Jesus for shots in the six yard box and second among midfielders for xG in the first two Gameweeks. He could even potentially be on penalties with Neal Maupay rumoured to leave. He is playing just behind Danny Welbeck which allows him to get into promising positions time and again.
IT'S TWO!! Pascal Groß is there again!! 2️⃣
Brighton are currently blowing Man Utd away!! 😲 pic.twitter.com/HoHn9pxyVL— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 7, 2022
5. The Wildcard can wait
I feel as if most talks of an early Wildcard are premature.
Most teams have a solid core - with the obvious picks doing really well. Any fires can be sorted with a hit or two. I don't think that a Wildcard team would look much different from your original team so for most teams I believe there is little value addition to Wildcarding right now!
The template is very strong at the minute and we need more information to go differently. Examples are the Chelsea and Spurs wing backs we have little clarity on. I love an early Wildcard myself but I don't see enough opportunities available right now.
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