Our weekly Chaps Choices article provides Fantrax managers with a Fantasy EPL Sleepers XI. These hints and tips will give you a better chance of picking up a victory each gameweek. Use our starting eleven of Premier League differential picks to find your golden ticket to a big score; a low ownership gem can easily make the difference in a Head-to-Head game!
We’ll be focusing on players that will bring us not only attacking returns or clean sheets, but also those players that score “ghost points” on the sophisticated and statistics based Togga scoring model!
For this article, we use the ownership statistics from Fantrax. Our only rule is that each player we highlight is required to have ownership of 60% or below at the time of writing. This way there’s a good chance these players will be free agents in your Draft League!
Fantasy EPL Gameweek 3 Sleepers XI
**60% ownership or below**
GK: Dean Henderson
Team: Sheffield United
Opponent: Leicester City (Home)
Ownership: 17%
Prospects: Last seasons leading shot-stopper in the Championship has taken to life in the Premier League with apparent ease. Henderson kept a clean sheet in Sheffield United’s GW2 victory over Crystal Palace making some impressive saves to blunt the Palace attack which included Wilf Zaha. GW3 will provide a tougher test than that of the opening two gameweeks against Bournemouth and Palace; but having averaged 9.62 points per game, we believe Henderson will be set for another good score. The clean sheet will not necessarily be essential for Henderson to score high, because of his shot-stopping ability, and the likelihood that Leicester will pepper the Sheffield United goal; Henderson will pick up plenty of ghost points for saves made; every save is worth two points!
GW3 Points Scored: -4
DEF: Erik Pieters
Team: Burnley
Opponent: Wolves (Away)
Ownership: 55%
Prospects: The Burnley left-back has got off to an absolute flyer this season, averaging 19.25 points per game; Pieters is the highest scoring defender on Fantrax with 38.5 points. With an ownership rating of only 55%, it is likely that Pieters will be available in most Fantrax leagues, a useful fourth or fifth choice defender to rotate within your squad. Playing at left-back, Pieters offers excellent attacking potential having picked up two assists already, but moreover reader; Pieters has scored well from defensive points. Of the 38.5 points scored, Pieters has picked up points from multiple sources, such as tackles won, aerials won and effective clearances. GW3 opponents Wolves will challenge Burnley defensively, and as such Pieters might be too much of a risk for you this GW; which is fair. However, don’t be surprised if Burnley and Pieters walk away with some points from this GW as Wolves will be coming off the back of a Thursday evening fixture in Torino for the Europa League.
GW3 Points Scored: 6.5
DEF: Dan Burn
Team: Brighton
Opponent: Southampton (Home)
Ownership: 35%
Prospects: This chap is getting a lot of air time this week having been featured in the FF Genie’s GW3 Waiver Wire and Trade Targets article! As our colleague, FF Genie points out “Burn is probably the least known center-back on that team after the big names of Duffy and Dunk” yet reader, Burn has registered a double scoring GW in both the opening GW’s of the season; 12.75 points in GW1 and 16.25 in GW2. Possibly the most accurate description I have come across of Dan Burn is that of the FF Genie, who astutely pointed out that Burn is “Shane Duffy 2.0.” If you are looking for a consistent defensive starter, then look no further than Burn. GW3 could be the ideal starting point, opponents Southampton have little firepower and if Redmond is nullified, will offer little in attack.
GW3 Points Scored: 4.25
DEF: Jack O’Connell
Team: Sheffield United
Opponent: Leicester City (Home)
Ownership: 13%
Prospects: Another chap to get a lot of air time this week, the Sheffield United defender features in Chap 1’s GW3 Hot or Cold Player Rankings article as one of the in-form players going into this GW! O’Connell was at the center of an impressive clean sheet victory in GW2 for the Blades; making 11 clearances, and winning six aerial challenges on route to a huge 16.25 points haul. With an eye on the short term fixtures (Leicester, Chelsea, Southampton, and Everton), there will be plenty of opportunities for more heroics from O’Connell who will score well in terms of Ghost points which are key to success in Fantrax. Like Burn, if you need a consistent defensive starter to occupy your third or fourth-ranked defensive slot in your squad then look no further than O’Connell.
GW3 Points Scored: 5.5
DEF: Arthur Masuaku
Team: West Ham
Opponent: Watford (Away)
Ownership: 4%
Prospects: Masuaku is, without doubt, a left-field pick for this GW. Something a little bit different to the standard selection of players that have excelled so far. Pre-season, we were all waxing lyrical about West Ham, yet two weeks into the season and we’ve completely written them off. GW1 is irrelevant, I mean, Manchester City in the opening game is literally the worst possible start; so let’s not go overboard in our criticism of the Hammers display. The draw away to a much improved Brighton gives us a much better reading of where West Ham is at. Defensively Masuaku looked solid and showed flashes of his ability going forward, certainly enough to retain his spot for GW3 against Watford. Watford is in a similar place to West Ham right now, arguably worse; having played ‘weaker’ Premier League opposition. Watford has failed to score a goal in the opening two GW’s so why not take a punt on Masuaku and West Ham picking up a win and a cleanie in the process?
GW3 Points Scored: 9
MID: Leander Dendoncker
Team: Wolves
Opponent: Burnley (Home)
Ownership: 30%
Prospects: Everyone’s favorite second team, Wolves, have got off to an average start in terms of results with two draws; but have impressed in terms of performances. Dendoncker is always at the heart of Wolves midfield, and given his illustrious company often gets overlooked. Averaging 5.75 points per game Dendoncker is likely to pick up ghost points rather than attacking returns; this being said, Dendoncker will pop up with a couple of goals and assists to complement his defensive midfield duties. The GW3 fixture with Burnley has the potential to be won and lost by a single goal either way. We fully expect a tight and cagey game; so Dendoncker should come into his own picking up points from the alternate ‘ghost’ scoring ways. A selection for GW3, yeah. But also a worthwhile addition as a fifth or sixth choice midfielder for your Fantrax draft squad for the season.
GW3 Points Scored: 1.5
MID: Leandro Trossard
Team: Brighton
Opponent: Southampton (Home)
Ownership: 53%
Prospects: We’ve been desperate for the introduction of Trossard and were gutted when he featured only from the bench in GW1, but a goal on his starting debut was as expected. Trossard will be a standout performer this season for Brighton, who looks to be a much-improved football team this season. It wasn’t just the goal, which of course will have caught the attention, it was also the four shots that Trossard took; suggesting that he is not afraid to take a pop at goal. Trossard will be hot property chaps, so look to Solly March (54% ownership) who is a great alternative selection to Trossard if he isn’t available in your league! Southampton has conceded five goals in their opening two GW’s, so we fully expect goals in this game. Both Trossard and March will be at the forefront of the Brighton attacking play, so all aboard the Brighton bus!
GW3 Points Scored: 16.5
MID: Todd Cantwell
Team: Norwich City
Opponent: Chelsea (Home)
Ownership: 47%
Prospects: What a start to the season for the young Canary! Cantwell was a bit-part player for Norwich City in their successful Championship winning season last year, but has come out of the traps absolutely flying! The Fantasy Football Chaps saw Cantwell in a pre-season friendly against Atalanta in which Cantwell scored, so his blistering start to the Premier League was not entirely a surprise. However, no-one could have predicted the start that Cantwell has had. With two assists and eight key passes in the opening two GW’s, Cantwell has had a greater impact in terms of Fantrax points scoring than our pre-season favorite Emi Buendia. GW3 opponents Chelsea, on paper should be no match for Norwich and Cantwell. But as we have seen, the Canaries have the quality to go toe-to-toe with any Premier League defence. Manager Daniel Farke rarely makes changes to his starting 11, so Cantwell is a certainty to start. As for the result, we predict a Norwich win; and as for goals – there will be plenty!
GW3 Points Scored: 12
FWD: Ismaila Sarr
Team: Watford
Opponent: West Ham (Home)
Ownership: 30%
Prospects: A bit like Masuaku, Sarr is a roll of the dice when it comes to our Forward picks this GW. The draft fantasy community eagerly awaits the introduction of Sarr to Premier League football, and we fully expect the electric Watford forward to finally get some game time against West Ham this GW. Watford is struggling going forward at present, with the likes of Deeney, Deulofeu, and Pereyra all struggling to find the back of the net in the opening GW’s. This will surely mean that Watford will turn to Sarr sooner rather than later. So reader, whilst this pick will not necessarily guarantee you points this GW, what it does mean is that you will have locked in potentially one of the gems of the season.
GW3 Points Scored: -0.5
FWD: Wesley
Team: Aston Villa
Opponent: Everton (Home)
Ownership: 50%
Prospects: Wesley has got off to a slow start, but the record signing will have Everton firmly in his sights for this GW as we have a gut feeling the Brazilian will get off the mark! Villa has shown in the opening two GW’s that they are full of creative and attacking potential; with the likes of Grealish finding his feet in the Premier League, we expect the volume and quality of service to Wesley to remain high. Everton are a tricky team to breakdown as last year’s defensive record would suggest, but we think this game will have goals in it.
GW3 Points Scored: 15.5
FWD: David McGoldrick
Team: Sheffield United
Opponent: Leicester City (Home)
Ownership: 6%
Prospects: The Sheffield United front man has started both the opening GW’s and is keeping talisman and club legend Billy Sharp out of the side. We fully expect that the Blades will keep the same winning side from GW2 for GW3 against Leicester. Whilst McGoldrick has yet to get off the mark, 17 goals in the Championship last season would suggest that he has the capability to score in Premier League. We think that with the mounting pressure to pick Sharp, there will be a reaction from McGoldrick; like Wesley we have a gut feeling that McGoldrick will open his account this weekend!
GW3 Points Scored: 6
Gameweek 3 Sleepers XI:
Team Points – GW3: 72.25
Team Average Score – GW3: 6.6 points per player
Average Ownership – GW3: 27% Fantrax ownership
Previous Sleepers XI Editions: GW1 | GW2 |
Looking for a better way to play Fantasy Soccer? Our Fantasy EPL 101 looks into the world of ‘Draft’ Fantasy EPL, providing details of how it works, and why it is the best version of the game!
Follow The Fantasy Football Chaps on Twitter @TheFFChaps for all the latest!
The Fantasy Football Chaps specialize in EPL Fantasy Soccer. They have been playing the draft format of the game for many years, and are our resident soccer experts! The English duo is obsessed with everything English Premier League, after falling in love with soccer as children growing up in the 90s. Icons such as Shearer, Beckham, Zola, and Bergkamp introduced them to the game… current stars such as Kane, Aguero, Salah, and Vaz Te are keeping the obsession going! The Chaps joined Fantrax HQ in June 2019, taking over as EPL Content Leads. The Norwich City fans will bring weekly articles analyzing several aspects of Fantasy EPL! Find The Chaps on Twitter @TheFFChaps for all the latest.
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