RADIO
Welcome to the Gameweek 2 FPL Staff Roundtable, RotoBallers! Gameweek 1 is over, and FPL managers worldwide are trying not to react too hastily to one week of information. It can be challenging to stay the course, but you have to trust your preseason research and work.
Fortunately, Gameweek 2 is right around the corner and players who blanked in Gameweek 1 can quickly make amends with an outstanding performance this weekend. One of the games of the weekend will be Aston Villa hosts Arsenal for the Saturday night match.
The Gameweek 2 deadline of the 2024/25 Fantasy Premier League season is Saturday, August 24 at 6:00 a.m. EDT, when Brighton faces Man United at home. Also, check out the rest of our excellent soccer coverage as the squad gets you all set for every EPL and UCL slate with our DFS lineup picks and betting picks.
Fantasy Premier League Staff Roundtable - Gameweek 2 Preview
The Staff Roundtable is an attempt to get you inside the minds of our FPL writers. Our top soccer writers will answer questions each gameweek to give you an idea of how they view the games. So, without further ado, let’s kick off Gameweek 2!
What is your biggest overreaction from Gameweek 1 in FPL?
- Euan Leith: Mohamed Salah (£12.5M) is the GOAT of FPL, and I'm an idiot for not having him in my team. Oh wait, that's all true. Regardless, the Egyptian King proved he's still got it with his record-breaking ninth opening-day goal against Ipswich.
- Jamie Steed: Erling Haaland (£15.0M) is the only safe striking option. Twelve forwards are on at least 5% of FPL teams. Only three scored in Gameweek 1, despite many favorable matchups.
- The FPL Manual (Wale): It was tough watching Bukayo Saka's (£10.0M) goal secure a win for Arsenal, but I missed out on 12 points after hoping the "StarBoy" would stay quiet. Another game that got me hyped was Brighton's 3-0 victory at Goodison Park. I never expected the Seagulls to start so strong. It was pretty amazing.
Mo Salah loves the opening weekend of the season 😍
He has 99 points in his 8 Gameweek 1s for Liverpool 💪 #FPL pic.twitter.com/IIwGqSD3wr
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) August 20, 2024
Is there a decision you immediately regret from your Gameweek 1 squad?
- Euan: If I can't double down on the Salah decision, it's probably the Anthony Gordon (£7.5M) vs. Eberechi Eze (£7.0M) decision. I was spooked by the Man City rumors surrounding the Crystal Palace man, but it sounds like he will stay now. Eze looked superb versus Brentford on Sunday, while Gordon was peripheral while Newcastle was playing with 10 men.
- Jamie: Taking a gamble on Gabriel Jesus (£7.0M) doesn’t look like it’ll pan out. Having Ivan Toney (£7.5) also leaves me with just one viable forward, so I have to burn a transfer after the first week of the season.
- Wale: I've already mentioned missing out on Bukayo Saka’s (£10m) 12 points. However, looking at the grand scheme of things, I'm pretty content with how my Gameweek 1 squad performed because 70 points is a good start in my books. I'm looking forward to the games ahead.
Did any player's abundance or lack of minutes surprise you?
- Euan: Jarell Quansah (£4.5M) was a halftime substitute against Ipswich after Liverpool manager Arne Slot said the team lost too many duels to the Tractor Boys. Quansah was the sacrificial lamb, but the Reds scored two goals after his substitution. It wasn't a great look for the English defender.
- Jamie: Christopher Nkunku (£6.5M) getting the hook after 57 minutes is a worry. The arrivals of Pedro Neto (£6.5M) and João Félix (£TBC) have muddied an already unclear attack. It doesn’t look like Nkunku will feature as prominently as many had hoped.
- Wale: Not exactly a shock, but it might have surprised some when Liverpool's defender Jarell Quansah (£4.5m) was subbed off at halftime after losing most of his duels against Ipswich. The tactical substitution by Arne Slot highlighted Quansah's struggles, something I noticed during the preseason when he often struggled with man-marking.
🔻 #FPL Price Fallers 🔻
🔴 Darwin - £7.4m
🐝 Toney - £7.4m
🔵 Rodri - £6.4m
🔴 Quansah - £4.4m pic.twitter.com/7JnpajzmeT— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) August 21, 2024
Which player caught your eye to begin the season?
- Euan: I'm biased because he's in my team, but Antonee Robinson (£4.5M) was flying down the left wing for Fulham against Man United on Friday night. If the American keeps that pace up, there will be a lot of attacking returns in the future.
- Jamie: I was at the game so that may have helped with my picking of Kai Havertz (£8.5M). It wasn’t just his goal and assist but his movement and all-around performance that stood out.
There were parts of his game he clearly worked on this preseason, and he looked better than he did during last campaign’s breakout. He looked like a complete forward and will ultimately be why Arsenal doesn’t sign a striker during this transfer window.
- Wale: Reminiscing on James Maddison's (£7.5M) deadly assist in the Monday night game has me eager to bring the Englishman into my team. Maddison was the key creator for Tottenham and played a crucial role in their attack. Another standout player was Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo (£7.0M), whose stunning strike secured a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace.
Kai Havertz’s record as a striker for Arsenal in the Premier League:
🏟️ 13 games
⚽️🅰️ 15 goal contributionsThe Gunner's first goalscorer of the campaign 🫡 pic.twitter.com/2g4i84FZ8B
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 17, 2024
How early is too early for a Wildcard in FPL?
- Euan: Gameweek 2 is too early to Wildcard, but I could be persuaded to do it in Gameweek 3. It's only one week of information, so you're gaining 50 percent more info this weekend than last weekend. I would take a deep breath and play one more week with the 15 players you chose before smashing that big, red button.
- Jamie: I wouldn’t use it before the transfer window closes. Not so much to allow you to bring in some newly signed players. But more to protect you from bringing in fresh faces only to have them either sold by their club or lose their starting role to a new arrival.
- Wale: I’m not one to critique an FPL manager’s choice on when to play your chip, but with the option to roll your free transfers, playing your Wildcard chip in Gameweeks 1-3 might be too soon. Depending on your initial squad selection, Gameweeks 4 or 6 could be the perfect time to wildcard if a manager wants to catch up on a swing of fixtures. Still, anything earlier is something I’d advise against.
Who is keeping a clean sheet in Gameweek 2?
- Euan: Man City went on the road against Chelsea and came away with a clean sheet. The blue side of Manchester should be able to stop the Tractor Boys of Ipswich from scoring their first Premier League goal since April 2002.
- Jamie: It’s tough to see Ipswich finding the net against Manchester City. City had the joint-best defensive record at home last season, conceding just 16 goals. They kept six clean sheets at home and should get their first of this season on Saturday.
- Wale: I’m backing Manchester City to keep a clean sheet in Gameweek 2 against Ipswich Town. Although the Tractor Boys showed aggression in their previous matchup against Liverpool, once their energy levels dropped, Liverpool almost scored three goals against them. Manchester City should have no trouble securing a clean sheet this upcoming weekend.
💹 PL GW2 matchups
First look at projected goals and clean sheet odds for the second round of Premier League games via spread betting markets pic.twitter.com/7UCj1YxYdW
— Rob T (@robtFPL) August 21, 2024
What defensive player is providing attacking returns?
- Euan: Tyrick Mitchell (£5.0M) went under the radar in the preseason as his Crystal Palace teammate, Daniel Munoz (£5.0M), got all the hype. Mitchell produced 0.15 xGI in the opening game versus Brentford and should've had a huge opportunity, but Eberechi Eze decided to go along. In a home game against West Ham, I'm backing Mitchell to bring home the points.
- Jamie: Rayan Aït-Nouri (£4.5M) found himself in advanced positions against Arsenal last week and narrowly missed the target from a long-range effort. Aït-Nouri was also involved in some set-pieces, so don’t be surprised if he pops up with a goal involvement against a Chelsea defense yet to build any continuity.
- Wale: Manchester City left-back Josko Gvardiol (£6m) will turn provider or goalscorer in the next matchup against Ipswich. The fixture is too good to overlook for the Cityzens, and I might be slightly biased since I have the Croatian international in my team.
Who's a midfielder or forward rostered on less than 10 percent of teams that will grab us those FPL points?
- Euan: Dominic Solanke (£7.5M) had plenty of chances against Leicester on Monday night. However, it was his first game with Spurs, and he was shaking some rust off. That same excuse cannot be used for Rodrigo Muniz (£6.0M). The Fulham forward has been with the club for a couple of years and should be in tune with the flow of the attack.
The Brazilian's rostered in 7 percent of FPL sides, and I'm expecting an attacking return versus the Foxes.
- Jamie: Jérémy Doku (£6.5M) is something of an afterthought in FPL at 4.2 percent ownership. While Manchester City slowly brings back those who had lengthy Euro campaigns, Doku should continue to start out wide. Savinho (£6.5M) picked up an injury last weekend, too, so his minutes should be fairly secure.
He could terrorize an Ipswich team that’s getting a baptism of fire on their EPL return after facing Liverpool last weekend.
- Wale: Fulham’s pacey forward Adama Traoré (£5m) seems poised for a strong performance this week. The Spaniard had three shot attempts, completed four dribbles, and won 10 duels in just 78 minutes against Manchester United. Owned by less than 1% of FPL managers,
Gameweek 2 could be the ideal time to bet on Fulham’s attack, especially against a Leicester defense that conceded 15 shots on Monday.
Who is one player you want to have but can’t for the Gameweek 2 fixtures in Fantasy Premier League?
- Euan: Liverpool turned up the heat in the second half of their game against Ipswich, and Diogo Jota (£7.5M) was at the center of the action. The Portuguese striker squandered a header from a Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.0M) cross but made amends moments later with his first goal of the campaign. If Jota stays healthy and in the starting XI, he will punish the non-believers early in the year.
- Jamie: Because I’ve had to make sure I have two starting forwards this week, I can’t bring in any midfielders, which means I'm missing out on Kevin De Bruyne (£9.5M). I suspect City put four or five past Ipswich this week, and De Bruyne will certainly be involved in at least two of the goals if they do.
- Wale: Crystal Palace's talisman, Eberechi Eze (£7.0M). While I'm a fan of Martin Ødegaard's (£8.5m) creativity and want to give him a few games to shine, I can't justify transferring the Norwegian out for Eze just yet. However, Crystal Palace tends to play strongly at home.
After losing one London Derby to Brentford last weekend and facing another London side, West Ham should be a challenge that Oliver Glasner's team will relish.
Sublime team move 🤩 pic.twitter.com/mAtlwpU2Ce
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 17, 2024
Who’s getting the Captain’s armband?
- Euan: Death, taxes, and Erling Haaland versus promoted sides at home. The Norwegian will farm FPL points against the Tractor Boys from Ipswich.
- Jamie: Erling Haaland at home to a newly promoted team. There’s no need to overthink this week or try to be too clever.
- Wale: Marking his 91st goal in 100 appearances for Manchester City against Chelsea and set to take on Ipswich Town. No other player deserves the armband than the 24-year-old Norwegian international – Braut Erling Haaland. To be candid, I believe he's worth considering for the Triple Captaincy this week.
Erling Haaland kicked off his season with a goal away to Chelsea 💪
With Ipswich at home next, Lee Bonfield, from @FPLFamily, believes it's going to be a tough weekend for those FPL managers without him 😬#FPL #OffTheBench
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) August 20, 2024
What’s your bold prediction for Gameweek 2?
- Euan: Bruno Fernandes (£8.5M) and Trent Alexander-Arnold were two of five players who generated more than 1.00 xGI in Gameweek 1. The other three got their returns and FPL points, while Fernandes and TAA had to settle for clean sheet points. That'll change this weekend when the Portuguese midfielder scores a goal and the English defender provides an assist versus Brentford.
- Jamie: FPL forgotten man Kaoru Mitoma (£6.5) makes it two goals in two games, helping Brighton beat Manchester United. Five of the six teams to have blanked in Gameweek 1 scored their first goal of the season this weekend.
- Wale: At the expense of Chelsea trying to gain momentum for the new season, I anticipate a surprise 2-1 victory in favor of Wolves. The lack of team cohesion and clear structure at Chelsea doesn't look promising, and I fear it could only get worse. I expect Wolves to edge out the Blues.
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— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) July 18, 2024
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