FPL Challenge Best Picks and Team Reveal – Gameweek 3
For this week’s fantasy twist, we’re diving into FPL Challenge Best Picks and Team Reveal – Gameweek 3. The challenge format adds a fresh layer of strategy, and finding the right players can make all the difference.
In this guide, we’ll highlight the best options for the round, explain the thinking behind the choices, and share a complete team reveal to help you prepare with confidence.
What is the Challenge for Gameweek 3?
This weeks Challenge is called ‘The Shield’.
Defensive contributions, otherwise known as defcons, are worth 10 points.
Challengers have an unlimited budget to pick six players, but one per club maximum.
Top Picks
Goalkeepers
Defensive contributions mean little to goalkeeper potential, so focusing on clean sheets could be wise. When doing so, several sides standout this week, including Chelsea who have a home fixture against Fulham. Outside of a low xg (expected goals) goal, the Blues have been pretty solid defensively, which in turn has helped Robert Sanchez become a good option.
Manchester United have a very appealing home match against Burnley this week. The newly promoted side failed to score against Tottenham in the opening round, which suggests Altay Bayindir could have potential this week.
Talking of Spurs, they have managed back-to-back Premier League clean sheets under new boss Thomas Frank. This could be a sign of things to come under his leadership. Taking that into account, a home clash with Bournemouth could see him add to that total, and Guglielmo Vicario is one player who could pick up points.
Brentford’ Caoimhin Kelleher v Sunderland, Jordan Pickford of Everton up against Wolves, and Nottingham Forest’ Matz Sels who meets with West Ham, are other viable goalkeeper selections.
Defenders
Hitting defensive contributions is the priority this week, so focusing on those players who also have clean sheet potential will be key. Arguably the best defender going into the new round based on that is James Tarkowski. The Everton centre-back has hit defcon points in each of his previous two matches, and faces Wolves this week, so could even bag a clean sheet.
Another defender who has managed back-to-back defcon returns is Maxence Lacroix. Crystal Palace will likely have it tough this week against Aston Villa. However, Unai Emery’ side are yet to score a single goal in the new campaign, which suggests Lacroix has multiple routes to points this week.
Pedro Porro is another player we should all have on our radars this week. As mentioned, Tottenham go into their home match against Bournemouth off the back of back-to-back clean sheets in Gameweek 1 and 2. Porro also has proven attacking threat, so along with clean sheet and defcon potential, the Spaniard could be tough to ignore.
Several options standout this week, including Brentford’ Sepp van den Berg who faces Sunderland, Virgil Van Dijk of Liverpool who meets with Arsenal, and Nottingham Forest centre-back Murillo for his clash with West Ham.
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Midfielders
Manchester United have been far from convincing from an attacking perspective, but they face newly promoted Burnley this week. Their 4-0 collapse against Tottenham makes Scott Parker’ men a team to target and one of several players we could do that with is Bruno Fernandes. Only two other midfielders have produced more defcons than Fernandes so far, so he has huge potential going into Gameweek 3.
Nottingham Forest face West Ham this week. The Hammers have already shipped a huge eight goals, so set-piece taker Elliot Anderson could have a successful week. As well as attacking potential – something he displayed with his assist in Gameweek 1, Anderson also tends to ease toward the defcon target most weeks. In fact, he has produced 11 in each of his previous two matches.
Outside of those two, there aren’t many options with both attacking threat and defcon potential. It could be a case of targeting the fixtures. With that in mind, and if in the starting line-up, then Chelsea’ Cole Palmer at home to Fulham could be a great pick.
Manchester United’ Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha v Burnley, Nottingham Forest’ Dan Ndoye against West Ham, and Mohammed Kudus of Tottenham versus Bournemouth at home could be brilliant alternatives.
Forwards
It’s very rare for a striker to hit defcon points, so expectations should be as low as possible in that respect. However, for those that still hold hope, then no forward has collected more defcons than Richarlison thus far. The Brazilian has also been in fantastic attacking form – scoring two goals and registering an assist in his first two matches.
Another player Challengers could take a chance with is Iliman Ndiaye. Ndiaye racked up more defcons than any other striker last season, and he goes into the next game against Wolves after scoring in his previous outing.
Disregarding defcons when picking your forward this week could be wise. For those with that attitude then Chelsea’ Joao Pedro v Fulham, Nottingham Forest’ Chris Wood against West Ham, and Manchester City’ Erling Haaland could be ideal candidates.
Team Reveal
- I wanted Matz Sels this week, but I think the standout Nottingham Forest player (only allowed one) is Elliot Anderson, just ahead of Chris Wood. For that reason I have gone with Sanchez who has a home match.
- Tarkowski is my captain. I’m not convinced Fernandes gets defcon against a weaker side, or that Anderson gets an attacking return. So, the Everton centre-back is the only player with a good chance of two returns.
- Pedro Porro could be another great pick for two returns, but I’m less convinced on him for captaincy.
- Haaland is in because I can’t fit Wood in.
- Overall I’m very happy with this team. Although, I also have my eye on Maxence Lacroix. However, I think he’ll concede against Aston Villa this week.
Gameweek 2 Review
- I collected 55 points and hit a global rank of 9k this week.
- Overall captaincy went well, swapping Palmer out for Joao Pedro worked wonders and my midfield performed.
- I couldn’t have really asked for a better round. Although, I was teetering with Gyokeres over Watkins for some time, but didn’t make the move.
