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Welcome to Gameweek 2, Rotoballers! Just like the previous campaign, we are continuing our soccer coverage to include the great game of Fantasy Premier League. So, even if you are a seasoned veteran or a rookie navigating your first 38 gameweeks, we will set you straight. We're here to provide the advice to help you snag those weekend-making green arrows and avoid the doom and gloom of a red arrow.
For Gameweek 2, we can look forward to some big clashes between Arsenal and Leicester on Saturday, then a London derby as Chelsea welcomes Spurs on Sunday evening. Finally, Liverpool and Crystal Palace wrap up the gameweek on Monday night as the Reds look to grab their first win of the 2022/23 season.
The Gameweek 2 deadline is 6:00 am Eastern on Saturday, August 13. Also, check out the rest of our excellent soccer coverage as the team gets you all set for every English Premier League and UEFA Champions League slate from a DFS and betting perspective.
RotoBaller FPL Staff Roundtable - Gameweek 2
The Staff Roundtable is an attempt to get you inside the mind of our FPL staff. 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!
How was the opening gameweek of the season for your squad?
- Euan Leith: 58 points all out. Not exactly how I wanted to start the season, but there are still 37 gameweeks to go. Mohamed Salah and Gabriel Martinelli were the only players to gain attacking returns for my team.
- Jamie Steed: Solid enough. It totaled 64 points, although I couldn't have captained a worse pick, and my highest-scoring midfielder was on the bench, so it could've been much better.
- Mark Kieffer: It was not too bad. I scored 78 points but accidentally played my Triple Captain. Fortunately, Mo Salah had an excellent game, so it wasn't a complete waste. If you take 12 away, it was 66 points, which was still higher than the average of 57 points in Week 1.
- Brandon Wampler:
What player or team surprised you the most?
- Euan Leith: Dejan Kulusevski from Spurs. He was the forgotten man in the £8 million price bracket, with Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, and Ivan Perisic dominating the Tottenham topic. However, the Swede looked fantastic, and he's immediately in my thoughts for a Free Transfer during the next couple of weeks.
- Jamie Steed: Fulham surprised me the most as although I backed them to stay up this season, I wasn't expecting them to get anything from the game against Liverpool. You could argue they were unlucky not to get all three points. I started Aleksandar Mitrović, so it wasn't a surprise from him, but it was nice to see him get good service, which will be crucial for him and Fulham.
- Mark Kieffer: I was surprised by Bournemouth getting the clean sheet vs. Aston Villa and also that Liverpool and Fulham was a draw. I was also surprised that Riyad Mahrez did not start and that Phil Foden took his position instead of Jack Grealish.
- Brandon Wampler:
What player or team disappointed you the most?
- Euan Leith: Manchester United. I didn't have any of their players on my team as I wanted to wait and see what the Erik ten Haag experience would bring to the Premier League. It was one of the few calls I got right, as it looked a lot like the Red Devils of last season. Over the coming weeks, I expect them to be busy in the transfer market.
- Jamie Steed: West Ham as a team disappointed me, given Manchester City were able to treat their encounter like a training game. While I was half expecting that sort of performance from Manchester United, I expected more from Jadon Sancho. After a good preseason, he's got a chance to play regularly and remind fans why Manchester United spent $90m on him. But he had the eighth fewest touches on his team, failed to register a shot, and didn't carry the type of goal threat I was hoping for.
- Mark Kieffer: In real life or fantasy? Ha ha. For fantasy, I was disappointed in the Liverpool defense. I had both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson in my lineup. They did not get the clean sheet, nor did they have any attacking returns. I expected a blowout! It was stated earlier but Riyad Mahrez not being in the Starting XI also was very disappointing, given he started in the Community Shield.
- Brandon Wampler:
Is the Harry Kane vs. Erling Haaland debate over after 90 minutes?
- Euan Leith: No, but maybe? Haaland looked incredible, and he's on penalties! I expect Man City to score far more goals than Spurs this season. So, as long as the big Viking is healthy, he's going straight into my team over the Englishman.
- Jamie Steed: No, although anyone doubting Haaland as being up to speed for the Premier League should probably now reconsider. He looked like a threat all game and is probably the favorite for the golden boot already. But Kane will still tally goals and assists, although he has the tougher game on paper this weekend.
- Mark Kieffer: No. Will Haaland score two goals in every game this season? The record for a debut season in the Premier League is 30 goals. If he ends up scoring 30 goals, hats off to him. Kane is vital for Tottenham, and I expect him to play more minutes overall than Haaland assuming he stays healthy all season. When I look at Haaland vs. Kane, I do think Haaland overall is a better player. However, I do think Kane will have some excellent games as well. Playing Chelsea, then Wolves are probably not the two weeks you want to take Kane over Haaland, though.
- Brandon Wampler:
Is there anything you need to immediately correct in your team before the Gameweek 2 deadline?
- Euan Leith: It's done. Erling Haaland is in, and Harry Kane is out.
- Jamie Steed: Picking the wrong captain springs to mind! But all my squad started their games, and I don't see anything drastic I need to fix for this weekend.
- Mark Kieffer: I need to replace Riyad Mahrez. I cannot pay £8 million for someone who may not be starting. I have £1 million in the bank, so I will have some decisions to make.
- Brandon Wampler:
Who's keeping a clean sheet in Gameweek 2?
- Euan Leith: Robert Sanchez and Brighton will stimmy the Newcastle hype in Gameweek 2. In their previous five trips to the AMEX, the Toon Army has totaled two goals, two losses, and three draws.
- Jamie Steed: Manchester City at home to Bournemouth looks like the best bet for a clean sheet. Liverpool at home to Crystal Palace is the other most likely clean sheet as the home team will want to bounce back from their opening day 2-2 draw. Finally, my under-the-radar pick is Aston Villa, as I struggle to see where Everton will find goals from right now.
- Mark Kieffer: Man City. They will be at home against Bournemouth. That game should be a complete blowout
- Brandon Wampler:
Which defensive player is providing an attacking return?
- Euan Leith: Everyone's favorite £4 million playing sub Neco Williams will get an attacking return versus West Ham. It's Nottingham Forest's first home game in the Premier League since 1999, and The City Ground will be rocking.
- Jamie Steed: Tottenham's defense combined for two goals and two assists against Southampton, who looked incredibly shaky (even before Mohammed Salisu scored one of the more ridiculous own goals you'll see all season). So, the Leeds full-back duo of Rasmus Kristensen and Robin Koch are value plays outside the usual big-name full-backs.
- Mark Kieffer: Matt Targett - He had six crosses and was tied for the lead among defencemen with three chances. Newcastle has the potential to be a good offensive team, and Targett should be involved in the attack.
- Brandon Wampler:
- Euan Leith: Erling Haaland scored two goals on the road versus West Ham. Now, he gets to face the newly-promoted Bournemouth at home. It could be a 15-point game for the Norwegian.
- Jamie Steed: It’s hard to look beyond Haaland or Kevin de Bruyne. During Bournemouth's previous five-year spell in the Premier League, City had a 10-0-0 record against them with an aggregate score of 30-5. At home, it's 18-3 (five games). Current Bournemouth manager Scott Parker has faced City three times in the Premier League when he's the manager of Fulham, losing all three games with an aggregate score of 7-0. I can see both finding the net this week, and de Bruyne gets the added bonus of a likely clean sheet.
- Mark Kieffer: Salah - Crystal Palace is not the easiest team to play, but this team plays through Salah.
- Brandon Wampler:
If you could bring in any player you don't have on your team for this gameweek, who would it be and why?
- Euan Leith: Darwin Nunez looked electric against Fulham. He had three big chances in 30 minutes on Saturday. If I couldn't get to Haaland, the Uruguayan forward would've been next on my transfer wish list.
- Jamie Steed: Given how bad Manchester United looked on Sunday, Ivan Toney is a great play this weekend, but I don't see me being able to fit him into the squad as I'd need to drop either Haaland or Jesus to do so.
- Mark Kieffer: Gabriel Martinelli. Arsenal play Leicester City, Bournemouth, Fulham, Aston Villa, Manchester United, and Everton in their next game weeks. At only 6.1 million, if I replace Martinelli for Mahrez, I have $2.9M to play with on next week's transfer.
- Brandon Wampler:
Who's getting the Captain's armband?
- Euan Leith: It's coming down to the Egyptian King versus the Norwegian Viking. Salah still looked good in Gameweek 1, but I'm going to be a sheep and give the armband to Haaland against Bournemouth.
- Jamie Steed: It’s between Haaland and Bukayo Saka for me this week. I prefer captaining a midfielder for the possible clean sheet points, too, but it's hard not to give the armband to Haaland this weekend.
- Mark Kieffer: Salah per usual
- Brandon Wampler:
Finally, what's your bold prediction for this weekend's slate of games?
- Euan Leith: Zero of the 10 road teams will get a win. Plus, Nottingham Forest beat West Ham to give their fans hope in their first Premier League home game in 23 years.
- Jamie Steed: Manchester United could easily find themselves in the bottom three by the end of the slate, and although not a bold prediction, I see Tottenham adding even more question marks to Chelsea's top four credentials and beating the Blues at Stamford Bridge for only the second time in their last 20 visits in all competitions.
- Mark Kieffer: Chelsea beat Spurs in one of the most boring games on the slate.
- Brandon Wampler:
Is there a question you would like to have answered every week? Hit us up on Twitter @RotoBaller. We would love to hear your feedback and ideas!
