FPL Top Picks for Gameweek 2
Here we provide you with the FPL top picks for Gameweek 2. With the help of the Fantasy Football Scout members area we pick out the best goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards to help you prepare for the new round ahead.
Checking out the FPL top picks for Gameweek 2 can be extremely beneficial for fantasy managers. Knowing which teams and assets to target can help you gain rank and an edge over your rivals in the game.
Fixtures
Below we can see the teams at the top with the easiest fixtures all of the way down to the bottom to teams with the toughest fixtures. This will help us pick out some of the best options for Gameweek 2.
Goalkeepers – Emi Martinez
Aston Villa sit third on the fixture ticker this week with a game against Everton. Villa made huge defensive improvements under new manager Unai Emery last season. In fact, amongst all teams in the league they ranked in the top six for clean sheets (12) and joint third best for goals conceded (46).
The stats above suggest investment in the Aston Villa backline a wise move this week, especially when considering their opponents. Everton were one of the worst attacks in the division last season and ranked second worst for goals scored (34). One player who could benefit from the Toffees poor frontline line is Emi Martinez (£5m). He may have suffered against an elite attack in Gameweek 1 but his fixture is too good to ignore in the round ahead.
Mark Flekken
Brentford sit fifth on the Fantasy Football Scout ticker for Gameweek 2. Last season ‘The Bees’ were home to the highest scoring goalkeeper in the league with David Raya who has now left the club. They also kept just one clean sheet less than Manchester City and ranked joint third best for goals conceded (46).
It could be wise to invest in the Brentford backline this week and Mark Flekken (£4.5m) could be a cheap route in. He faces a Fulham side who aren’t short of shots but could be short of quality up front if Alexander Mitrovic continues to lack gametime. Flekken could have a good chance at both a clean sheet and plenty of save points and for that reason makes the top picks for Gameweek 2.
Jason Steele
Brighton rank sixth on the ticker in Gameweek 2. They impressed hugely for most of last season and one of their biggest strengths was their backline. Amongst all teams in the league last campaign they ranked in the best six teams for shots in the box conceded, total shots conceded and shots on target conceded.
Early signs suggest Jason Steele (£4.5m) will be the number one goalkeeper for Brighton after starting in Gameweek 1. He comes up against a Wolves side who scored less goals than any other side in the division last season (31). Both Brighton’ strength in defence and Wolves’ poor attacking threat gives Steele bags of potential and because of that, he makes his way into the top picks for Gameweek 2.
Defenders – Trent Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool showed inconsistencies at the back last season but with new additions there is a good chance we start seeing improvements. The Reds rank second on the ticker which implies that they have the second easiest fixture in Gameweek 2.
Bournemouth lay ahead for Liverpool who maintained poor defensive and offensive data for large parts of the 22/23 campaign. One player who can benefit from that is Trent Alexander-Arnold (£8m). Last season amongst defenders Trent ranked the best for assists (nine), second best for chances created (71) and the best for big chances created (25). Taking all of this into account Trent eases his way into the top picks for Gameweek 2.
William Saliba
Arsenal sit fourth on the ticker for Gameweek 2. ‘The Gooners’ had a brilliant campaign last season and one which saw them finish second behind Manchester City. Along their way Arsenal managed to secure the joint second most clean sheets (14) and sat joint second best for goals conceded (43).
Crystal Palace could be an interesting opponent and although they improved under their new manager they still lacked offensively – ranking the fifth worst for expected goals last season (39.94). The standout Arsenal defender is William Saliba (£5.1m). He looks like the safest defender in terms of minutes and also picked up and assist in Gameweek 1 showing potential for attacking returns.
Pervis Estupinan
Another Brighton defensive option makes the cut this week. This is because Brighton were very convincing last season at the back and all of the stats suggest that they could be one of the best teams to invest in this season.
The game against Wolves is too hard to ignore. Not only did they score less goals than any other side last season but they have also lost their manager. Both factors suggest that Wolves could struggle to score which boosts the appeal of Pervis Estupinan (£5.1m). The full-back ranked joint fifth for attempts on goal (29) amongst defenders last season whilst also ranking in the top five for both chances created and big chances created. Estupinan bagged an assist in Gameweek 1 and could have massive potential for the round ahead and because of that breezes into the top picks for Gameweek 2.
Ben Chilwell
Chelsea sit around mid-table on the ticker in Gameweek 2. ‘The Blues’ looked fantastic in pre-season and look to have made major progress under new manager Mauricio Pochettino. West Ham lay ahead and they ranked amongst the worst seven teams in the league for big chances and shots on target last season.
There is a possibility of Chelsea clean sheet but Ben Chilwell (£5.6m) offers a lot more than that. The left-back looked back to his best during pre-season scoring and registering an assist. He also takes corners on both sides of the pitch which boosts his assist potential. Chilwell looked a major threat in Gameweek 1, coming close to scoring and although he failed to keep a clean sheet, still picked up an assist.
Midfielders – Mohamed Salah
Liverpool’ fixture against Bournemouth could be one best to invest in this week. ‘The Cherries’ were awful defensively last campaign – when compared to all teams they ranked the worst for shots in the box conceded, the worst for attempts on goal conceded and the worst for shots on target conceded.
The Bournemouth fixture looks there to attack and there can be no doubt that Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) is the standout option. The Egyptian managed a huge 19 goals and 12 assists last season whilst also ranking top amongst midfielders for attempts on goal (125) and shots in the box (104). Taking the above into account Salah walks into the top picks for Gameweek 2.
Diogo Jota
Investment in the Liverpool frontline could be massively rewarding in Gameweek 2 for their match against Bournemouth. The Reds maintained some strong offensive stats last campaign – amongst all teams they ranked third best for goals, second for total attempts on goal, first for shots in the box and second for big chances total.
For those looking to double up on the Liverpool attack or for managers who can’t get to Salah they could opt for Diogo Jota (£8m). The Portuguese looked fantastic in pre-season – he scored four goals and created two assists in five matches. If Jota starts against Bournemouth he could be one of the best assets to own in Gameweek 2 and because of that makes the top picks for Gameweek 2.
Bukayo Saka
Arsenal have a game against Crystal Palace this week. ‘The Gooners’ were excellent last season and a huge factor towards that was their brilliant frontline. Amongst all teams they ranked second for goals (88) and second for goals scored in the box (75).
The standout Arsenal attacker is of course Bukayo Saka (£8.6m). Saka has progressed into one of the best wingers in world football – racking up 14 goals and 11 assists last season. He also takes penalties which is a huge appeal when considering assets and scored a brilliant goal in Gameweek 1 resulting in a 10-point return.
Bryan Mbeumo
Brentford sit fifth on the fixture ticker for the round ahead. They had a very good season last campaign although just short of European football. ‘The Bees’ also maintained a very efficient frontline – they netted 58 goals – levelling Manchester United’s record.
Brentford may be missing star striker Ivan Toney but they still managed to net six times in pre-season. One player in particular could be a great asset against a Fulham side who conceded the joint most big chances in the league last season, Bryan Mbeumo (£6.5m). Mbeumo bagged nine goals and eight assists last season and he is also taking penalties which increases his appeal. Taking everything into account, Bryan Mbeumo is an easy addition to the top picks for Gameweek 2.
Kaoru Mitoma
Finding a stable route into the transitioning Brighton attack could be wise this week. In terms of their 22/23 campaign stats, amongst all teams in the division they ranked first for attempts on goal, third for big chances total and first for shots on target.
Brighton face a Wolves side who recently lost their manager and one player who could take advantage of that is Kaoru Mitoma (£6.5m). The Japanese international looks like a safe bet in terms of minutes and last season managed a spell of eight returns in a 10-match period. Mitoma plays in an efficient attack with a great fixture ahead and because of that makes his way into the top picks for Gameweek 2.
Forwards – Erling Haaland
Manchester City face an interesting game against Newcastle next. Although they had a fantastic campaign last season and maintained some of the best defensive stats in the league they struggled towards keep clean sheets in the latter stages of 22/23. Manchester City also maintained some of the best offensive stats in the league.
The focal point to their attack and penalty attack is none other than Erlling Haaland (£14m). Going without Haaland could be extremely dangerous in terms of rank and mini-league position. For those who didn’t think the Norwegian would start the season as well as last think again – he managed a brace in Gameweek 1 and looked as sharp as ever.
Darwin Nunez
Liverpool have one of the best fixtures on paper this week as they face Bournemouth. The Cherries were very poor defensively last season – ranking as one of the top two worst teams for key defensive data points. This makes them a team to target for the round ahead.
We have already seen that Liverpool produced some elite attacking data last campaign and if managers are lucky enough to land a Darwin Nunez (£7.5m) start, the rewards could be huge. Nunez also impressed during pre-season – he picked up four goals and one assist from five matches. With the perfect fixture and playing for a relentless attacking side Darwin Nunez could be a fantastic asset in Gameweek 2.
Ollie Watkins
Aston really struggled to maintain form at the start of their 22/23 league campaign. However, that changed when manager Unai Emery took over and the resurgence within the team was absolutely clear as they secured European football.
It could be a great week for Aston Villa assets as they come up against an Everton side who last season ranked the second worst in the league for shots in the box conceded, second worst for total attempts conceded and second worst for headed attempts on goal conceded. One player who can take advantage of that is Ollie Watkins (£8m). Not only does he lead the frontline and take penalties but last season he also ranked amongst the top four forwards for shots in the box, big chances total and headed attempts on goal.
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