POWER RANKINGS 2018/19: The Aftermath of FPL Gameweek 3
After the dust has settled in a round of Premier League fixtures, we here at The Hype Train provide a post-mortem in the shape of our Power Rankings. We highlight the five key performers for FPL players in each position (GK/DEF/MID/FOR), with our selections based off of our own opinion of in-game performance and the end result with Fantasy points on the board. All aboard.
Fantasy Premier League: Gameweek 4 Deadline
For the 2016/17 Premier League season, the FPL deadline will be one hour before the commencement of the week's first game. The Premier League website lists each FPL deadline, you can always ask on social media, and you can also view a real time countdown on our Weekly Hype page.
GW3 POWER RANKINGS: Goalkeeper Picks
New entries: None
Falling out: None
Gameweek 3 proved to be a slow week for Goalkeeper's, with 4 clean sheets from 10 games, which included a 0-0 between Huddersfield and Cardiff. Neil Etheridge endured a largely comfortable afternoon against David Wagner's side, and has seen his FPL ownership double in the space of the week, culminating in a price rise to $4.6 million.
Alisson was the only other shot stopper to keep a clean sheet, with Liverpool recording a third straight shut-out in a 1-0 home victory over Brighton. The Brazilian made a couple of impressive saves and keeps tight command over second space.
We keep faith with Ederson, McCarthy and Hennessey, despite Hugo Lloris (TOT) and Jonas Lossl (HUD) managing clean sheets. In comparison to McCarthy the Hennessey, Lossl appeared in only his first match, and that was due to an early Ben Hamer injury.
Ederson saw a price rise and is expected to have brighter days ahead with a pair of home fixtures against Newcastle and Fulham, so for now remains unchallenged in third position.
Ultimately, save points have come to the rescue of Palace and Southampton ahead of their Gameweek 4 meeting, with both Hennessey and McCarthy earning save points despite both teams losing at the weekend.
GW2 POWER RANKINGS: Defender Picks
New entries: Kieran Trippier (TOT)
Falling out: Steve Cook (BOU)
Jostling for position in the top three positions of our defensive Power Rankings are a 'Power 3' of left-backs, with Marcos Alonso's third consecutive 10+ point Gameweek putting him at the summit of contention ahead of two home games against Bournemouth and Cardiff. The Spaniard was instrumental in Chelsea's victory against Newcastle, earning a penalty and assisting the winning goal - an unfortunate DeAndre Yedlin own goal for Newcastle - in a 2-1 victory up north.
Liverpool's resilience in front of goal means that Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson find themselves comfortably on the list, with both players picking up bonus points in the 1-0 home win against Brighton (helped in part due to Salah's inability to gain substantial BPS in games due to big chances misses). Robertson edges Virgil on an attacking front, as well as in the BPS standings, meaning that consistency has been key in a charge up the table.
Sandwiched between two Liverpool players is Benjamin Mendy, who squeezed two bonus points out of the 1-1 draw at Wolves, a welcome bonus to weary FPL owners who are used to seeing the left-back tallying assist after assist.
Rounding off our selections is Kieran Trippier, who beat out competition from Jose Holebas (WAT). Trippier has essentially nullified Christian Eriksen as a legitimate FPL asset right now having assumed set-piece responsibility for Spurs. Trippier is already seeing the benefits of added responsibility in the squad, scoring a free-kick last week, whilst assisting Harry Kane from a set-piece at Old Trafford in Spurs's 3-0 win over Man United. The goal was a throwback to the World Cup in Russia this summer for England fans who were off their feet for every set-piece at the tournament.
GW2 POWER RANKINGS: Midfielder Picks
New entries: Theo Walcott (EVE), Eden Hazard (CHE), Roberto Pereyra (WAT)
Falling out: Richarlison (EVE), Pedro (CHE), Ryan Fraser (BOU)
After the first few Gameweek's of the season we weren't sure that the midfield selections in our Power Rankings would change, but we've found ourselves with three new additions and a slight power shift.
The Egyptian King is back at his rightful summit having managed FPL returns in each of his 3 fixtures, though Salah owners will be reeling after a brace of goals and assists hasn't been rewarded with a single bonus point (yet).
Sadio Mane was also a point of contention this week as we argued the value of Lucas Moura (TOT) after a two-goal performance against Man United, though we felt that Mane, as well as Pereyra, did enough to retain their places this week, especially given that Spurs do have a few more tricky fixtures on the horizon. Despite not returning against Brighton, Mane is still leads the charts for midfielder's and is still on par with Salah heading into Gameweek 4's visit to Leicester.
It's also 1 in and 1 out for Chelsea and Everton this week. Richarlison's red card in Everton's 2-2 draw at Watford opened the door for Theo Walcott to walk in Richarlison's position, and that's what has happened here, with the transfer favourite for a home tie against Huddersfield proving to be a like-for-like replacement.
After returning to Chelsea's starting lineup, Eden Hazard also takes Pedro's spot in our Power Rankings. Hazard is the lowest points scorer, though he has favourable fixtures and has returned in all three of his fixtures this season, and is the perfect captaincy alternative this weekend against Bournemouth at home. The Belgian play-maker also ended the hoodoo of defeats at Newcastle, scoring a pivotal penalty (and effectively putting the brakes on Jorginho's FPL potential).
Roberto Pereyra rounds off the list, fighting out competition from Moura after scoring in back-to-back home games for Watford. With Spurs visiting this weekend, harder tests await Pereyra and his 11.0% of FPL owners.
GW2 POWER RANKINGS: Forward Picks
New entries: Alexsander Mitrovic (FUL), Marko Arnautovic (WHU)
Falling out: Troy Deeney (WAT), Danny Ings (SOU)
Standing head and shoulders above the competition in attack is Bournemouth's Callum Wilson. A perfect start to the season continued for the attacker, with Wilson assisting both goals in the 2-2 home draw against Everton.
Jumping straight on to the podium is the best player from Gameweek 3, Fulham's Alexsander Mitrovic. As a Newcastle fan writing these words, it is with much heartbreak that these words of praise for Mitrovic are being used for another team other than Newcastle. Mitro is proving a handful, and was too much to bare for a stretched Burnley side, with the Serbian dominating in the air against Ben Mee and James Tarkowski, to score a brace, and manage an assist in a 4-2 win at Craven Cottage. Mitrovic has a few tricky fixtures on the horizon but is the focal point of Fulham's team, and as of writing, might be fixture-proof if he's given the right service.
Harry Kane also jumps up one place after continuing his goal-spree in August. Kane scored his first goal in the Premier League's maiden month against Fulham last week, and Kieran Trippier's pin-point delivery for Kane from a corner set Spurs on their way to a big win against a 'Top 6' rival.
Despite sitting at the foot of the Premier League table, Marko Arnautovic is also showing his credentials after he scored in a second game of the season against Arsenal. Arnie was blighted by an injury on the 58th minute in the 3-1 loss at Arsenal, so saw his points capped. Depending on fitness, the Austrian is one to watch in the coming weeks.
Rounding off our selections is Sergio Aguero, Man City's main goal-threat this season. In truth, Aguero was unfortunate not to score against the Wolves, finding the post on several occasions, but the reality is that the Argentine has blanked in 2/3 games this season, and had it not been for a stellar performance against Huddersfield in Gameweek 2, would be nowhere our Power Rankings. That said, Aguero is prime captaincy material this week against a struggling Newcastle side.
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The Hype Train is an entertainment website founded in 2015, specialising in the Fantasy Premier League (#FPL), providing beautiful graphics and weekly insight for hopeful players attempting to climb ranking tables. We are also occasional media reviewers, with a keen interest to review movies, live sport, and professional wrestling.
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All aboard.
