Gameweek 3 is a good time to be more selective with transfers.
Two rounds of Premier League matches have given us a clearer picture of minutes, roles and early form, but there is still no need to sell a player just because they disappointed once.
The FPL players worth moving away from are the ones carrying a combination of poor fixtures, uncertain minutes, injury concerns or a better alternative at the same price point.
These are five players I would be looking to sell or avoid ahead of the Gameweek 3 deadline.
1. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United)
Price: 6.0m
Ownership: 26.4%
Position: Forward
Opponents: BHA (A), NEW (H), CRY (H)
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has made a solid start and was a sensible template forward for the opening two Gameweeks.
But this feels like the right point to consider moving on. Leeds travel to Brighton in Gameweek 3 before facing Newcastle, and those are two much tougher fixtures than the opponents that made him attractive in the first place.
He should still get chances, so this is not a panic sell. It is more about opportunity cost.
Yoane Wissa and Thierno Barry offer appealing alternatives, while managers with money available can move into the next price bracket for Alexander Isak, who has a much more attractive fixture against Ipswich.
Calvert-Lewin remains playable and will continue to get chances, but there are better places to invest your forward spot now.
2. Christos Tzolis (Arsenal)
Price: 6.5m
Ownership: 21.7%
Position: Midfielder
Opponents: CHE (H), SUN (A), BHA (A)
Christos Tzolis was the FPL story of the opening week. Following an electric pre-season and an encouraging Gameweek 1, Arsenal’s new winger quickly became one of the most popular midfielders in the game.
Gameweek 2 changed the picture. Tzolis endured a difficult first half against Aston Villa, picked up a booking and was substituted at half-time for a zero-point return.
One bad half does not make him a bad player, but Arsenal now face Chelsea, and it would not be a surprise if his starting spot comes under pressure.
Midfield places are too valuable to carry a player with an uncertain role in a difficult fixture. He is a sell if you need the spot, and a clear avoid for new buyers until his minutes look secure again.
3. Brian Brobbey (Sunderland)
Price: 5.9m
Ownership: 10.1%
Position: Forward
Opponents: BRE (A), ARS (H), MCI (A)
Brian Brobbey is becoming increasingly difficult to justify. The next three fixtures are brutal: Brentford, Arsenal and Manchester City.
Sunderland will be outsiders in each match, and the fixture run sharply limits the chances of attacking returns.
The bigger issue is minutes. Brobbey has already been substituted early, and a forward who regularly comes off around the hour mark needs to be incredibly clinical to remain an attractive FPL option.
He simply does not have enough security or attacking output to make that risk worthwhile.
With so many stronger options available up front, Brobbey is a straightforward sell for the 10.1% of managers who still own him.
He has low expected goals, difficult opponents and uncertain minutes – the exact combination you want to avoid.
4. Harry Maguire (Manchester United)
Price: 5.0m
Ownership: 14.9%
Position: Defender
Opponents: EVE (A), MCI (H), FUL (A)
Harry Maguire owners will have been pleased to see the Gameweek 2 assist, even if it was a controversial one.
However, Manchester United’s broader defensive performance remains a concern. They have conceded four goals across their first two matches against newly promoted opposition, which is not an encouraging start for anyone investing in their back line.
Everton away in Gameweek 3 is not a terrible fixture, and Maguire still carries set-piece threat. But if you are looking to make a defensive transfer, this is one area I would be willing to move away from.
There are now more exciting options with better clean-sheet prospects, stronger attacking roles or reliable DEFCON potential.
Maguire is not an urgent sell if your team has bigger problems. But he has done his job as an opening-fixture punt, and this is a sensible time to reassess.
5. Amar Dedic (Newcastle United)
Price: 4.5m
Ownership: 2.3%
Position: Defender
Opponent: BOU (H), LEE (A), HUL (H)
Amar Dedic is attracting plenty of transfers this week, with more than 185,000 managers bringing him in. I would be careful.
At 4.5m, the appeal is obvious, but the return of Tino Livramento threatens to make Dedic a short-term punt rather than a secure long-term starter.
Livramento has returned to training, although he is still following an individual programme and is not expected to feature immediately against Bournemouth.
That makes Dedic viable for this week, but it also means his starting role could come under pressure very soon.
A transfer should ideally buy you several weeks of security. Dedic may offer value in the short term, but bringing him in now could leave managers with another transfer problem as soon as Livramento is fully fit.
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