Only Wayne Rooney (7.5) has earned more bonus points this season (with six) than this week’s headline pick, Eriksen (9.6), who has a mightily impressive five to his name. The next best is a cluster of players with a total of three. Eriksen has attempted five assists so far this season, which is more than Alli (9.5) and Mané (9.5) who have supplied three attempts each. Southampton’s, Tadic (6.5), is the only other player to have amassed as many penalty area actions as the Great Dane - Eriksen, has passed the ball into, or dribbled into the box a total of 28 times. De Bruyne (10.0) sits in second with a total of 25. Our Fix algorithm predicts a score in the region of 5.3 points for gameweek three, and given that Burnley are renowned for conceding heavily away from home (at an average of 1.85 a game since returning), Eriksen could return double figures for his owners again. Eriksen is worthy of the captains armband, if you wish to buck the heavy Lukaku trend.
Lukaku (11.5) is currently the league’s top goal scorer with three goals. The burly Belgian has a shots to goal conversion rate of 37.5% (eight shots, three goals). But, what is more impressive is the fact he has converted all three shots on target into goals. Kane (12.5), on the other hand, has been very wasteful having had 14 shots on goal, with no goals to show for it. Lukaku has also equalled Kane’s supply, with both players attempting four assists each. Man. United have started the season with a bang. Admittedly, and with respect to both West Ham and Swansea, neither are not the most challenging of opponents, so time will tell when Man. United face their first “top-six” club in gameweek eight. Lukaku’s efficiency so far this season has our Fix algorithm projecting a score of 5.8, and attacking returns should be a given in what should be a free-flowing encounter. Another safe bet for captaincy.
No player across the game has had as many shots on target than Mané (9.5) with a total of five. When looking at players to have had six shots or more, Mané has also weighed in with the best shot accuracy - 71.4% of the Senegalese international's attempts on goal have been on target. Mané appears to be winning the Liverpool midfield battle in these early gameweeks, armed with significantly better averages per game than teammate, Salah (9.1), when analysing goals (1.0), shots on target (2.5), penalty area actions (5.0), and successful final third passes (15.0), displayed in the info-graphic below. Our Fix algorithm suggests a score of 4.6 which will be based on the challenge Arsenal present. However, three goals and two assists in six games versus the Gunners highlights Mané as an Arsenal nemesis, and certainly one we believe can score 6+ points in gameweek three.
The big debate. Pogba (8.1) or Mkhitaryan (8.2)... Mkhi or Pog? Both have positive and negative aspects for Fantasy Premier League, but for gameweek three, Pogba gets the nod. The charismatic French midfielder is leading the race in several areas as it stands. Penalty area actions, successful long passes, touches, dribbles, shots and shots on target, as our info-graphic below displays. With the addition of Matic (5.0) to Man. United’s ranks, we are already seeing Pogba return to his natural position as a roaming central midfielder. The mercurial middle man has provided attacking returns every 2.09 games during his career, playing in this favoured position. Which is a stark contrast to every 5.33 games when playing deeper. Our Fix algorithm believes Pogba will score 4.4 points this gameweek, which is actually 0.5 less than the prediction for Mkhitaryan. However, Pogba’s selfishness around the 18-yard box could swing more points in his favour.
Jay Rodriguez (5.9) is one of many to suffer at the hands of ruthless price changes this early on in the season. But, who are we kidding, after all, we live in a generation where instant gratification is a must, so, heaven forbid a player who blanks two gameweeks in a row. It is early days, but Rodriguez’ confidence is building, having done everything he could to get on the scoresheet in gameweek one with five shots, three of which were on target. Only this week’s headline pick, Eriksen, managed the same amount of shots on target in gameweek one. His FPL record of 5.65 points per 90 minutes over the last three seasons is up there with the best the game has to offer, beating Lukaku and Rooney’s average of 5.23 and 4.30 points per 90, respectively. A goal and an assist in West Brom’s midweek Carabao Cup tie versus Accrington also bodes well coming into gameweek three. Stoke have only won two of their last 10 away games in the league, and although West Brom are not the most prolific going forward, J-Rod’s underlying numbers are impressive.
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