FPL GW3 Tips- Nkunku Problem, Budget Options, WC Plans, etc

Welcome to StatsmanFPL’s Weekly Tips & Preview for FPL GW3 of the FPL 2024/25 season. This blog will provide FPL GW3 Tips and advice to address key dilemmas and maximize your FPL points.

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Link to all our FPL GW3 blogs including buy, hold, sell analysis, differentials, captaincy metrics, transfer targets, and more. Completely free to access as well!

FPL GW3 Tips – Key Tips & Questions Answered

1. Is Haaland essential? 

After Haaland’s dominant display against newly promoted Ipswich on the weekend, many managers will be asking themselves if Haaland is in fact essential at this point in the 24/25 season. 

Haaland has definitely started the season with a bang. A tidy finish for his goal against Chelsea in GW1 followed by a hattrick in GW2 is hard to argue against. City’s style of play seems to suit Haaland even more this season with the wingers drawing the defence wider. He has also expressed how the off-season helped him feel great physically again. 

If you don’t have Haaland in your team currently, it may not be the best decision to rip up your team or take hits to bring him in this week. With West Ham, Brentford, Arsenal & Newcastle coming up, these are not the easiest fixtures for the Norwegian. He will almost definitely be on the scoresheet in this period, but it won’t be a hattrick every week.

A wildcard around the GW6 or GW7 mark could be a better choice to re-shape your team all in one hit while taking advantage of fixture swings across multiple teams. 

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2. Nkunku plan

To the disappointment of many, Christopher Nkunku could only manage a seven minute substitute appearance while his Chelsea teammates put six goals past Jose Sa and the Wolves backline.

With Palmer excelling in a central position, this will likely move Nkunku to either wing where he is not only less productive, but faces stiff competition for spots from the likes of Pedro Neto, Noni Madueke, Joao Felix and Mykhailo Mudryk. 

Nkunku featured in Chelsea’s mid-week Conference League qualification match last week and looks likely to feature in it once again. This puts a further dampener on his GW3 outlook. 

I would recommend you look to downgrade Nkunku to the likes of Smith-Rowe or Rogers as they provide greater value currently at a lesser price point.

Further Read: FPL GW3 Transfer Targets & Watchlist Based on Eye Test & Stats

3. Best Budget Options

We are only two weeks in to the 24/25 season and many budget choices have put their hand up as fantasy candidates. 

Emile Smith-Rowe, Morgan Rogers, Joao Pedro and Antoine Semenyo have all looked heavily involved in strong attacking teams. Most importantly, they all look to be nailed on for big minutes every week. 

Morgan Rogers is the only asset in this list that hasn’t registered an attacking return this season. However, his outlook over the next run of games looks the best of the bunch. 

Leicester, Everton, Wolves, Ipswich & Man United in the next five Gameweeks is one of the best fixture lists possible for an attacker. 

Rogers has looked great in tough opening fixtures against West Ham & Arsenal. He was unlucky to not register an assist on the weekend as Watkins missed a huge chance. He has a track record of contributing with goals & assists in recent seasons and this looks likely to continue.

Some Key Stats of Budget Assets from GW2:

• Rogers(5.0)– Good on the eye test with 3 Shots, 2 Chances created(1 BCC) and 0.21 xGI
• Semenyo(5.5) had 7 Shots, 0.27 xG, Created 2 Big Chances with 1.23 xA. Top in the league for xGI(1.96) and Joint Top for Shots(12) across first 2 GWs. Should be on the watchlist- Good fixtures as well except for GW5
• Aina(4.4) created one Big chance but no Shots. Williams(4.5) had 5 Shots, 0.28 xG and 1 Big Chance
• Milenkovic(4.5 DEF) had 3 Shots inside the Box, 2 Big Chances and 1.0 xG. Should have got an attacking return
• ESR(5.5) had 2 Shots, 0.53 xG, 1 Big chance. Played 69 minutes & Took good positions centrally. Got a Goal and 3 Bonus
• Soucek(5.0) returned once again- Got a goal & had 3 Shots inside the Box. In fact Soucek has 8 Shots inside the box from 2 games- 2nd Highest in the League. 1.36 xGI, 2 Big Chances, 3 Chances created are good numbers for a £5.0 MID- On the Watchlist

All Stats used above are from Fantasy Football Hub. For more OPTA Stats, Player Comparisons, AI Projected Transfers, Heatmaps, FPL Planners, etc– Subscribe now with a 50% discount here.

Further Read: FPL GW2 Stats Summary with Key Notes

4. Wildcard Plans

It is natural to start looking at the wildcard button at this stage of the season; especially if your start has not gone to plan.

If you can see 4+ changes you would like to make immediately that will hold your team in good stead in the long term, then wildcarding could be the right decision for you.

If your team has been performing okay or better and have good upcoming fixture runs for the most part, I would recommend holding your wildcard until at least GW6. There is a positive fixture swing for Arsenal and Man City while Chelsea and Brighton fixtures turn more difficult.  

If you are planning to play the Wildcard Chip in GW3, do check out our detailed GW3 Wildcard Guide covering the Pros and Cons of GW3 Wildcard, Player to Target and Best Drafts with Key notes.

FPL GW3 Wildcard Team & Drafts to Consider | Wildcard Guide

Further reads from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL GW3

Premier League Penalty & Set Piece Takers | 2024/25 PL Season
FPL Gameweek 2 Stats Summary & Key Notes
FPL GW3 Wildcard Guide- Pros, Cons, Players to Target and Best Drafts
FPL GW3 Scout Selection Based on Stats, Analysis and Matchups
FPL GW3 Transfer Targets & Watchlist Based on Eye Test & Stats
FPL GW3 Tips- Haaland, Nkunku Problem, Best Budget Assets, Wildcard Planning, etc
FPL GW3 Ultimate Guide: Tips, Differentials, Captaincy & More

Link to all our FPL GW3 blogs including buy, hold, sell analysis, differentials, captaincy metrics, transfer targets, and more. Completely free to access as well!

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