Goalkeepers 🧤
What we've learned from the first two gameweeks is that things can and will change rapidly in the opening weeks. Teams that did well in GW1 can do the opposite in GW2, players that blanked in GW1 hauled in GW2, and so on.
Martinez sits top of the goalkeepers table this week, or joint top with Sels and Sanchez. So, looking at the fixtures: Villa have Palace at home, Sels has West Ham at home, and Chelsea have Fulham at home. The goalkeepers are neck and neck this week, so don't spend a transfer there. However, if you're on a GW3 free hit or wildcard then this table is especially important. Martinez is top of all keepers for the next five games; they've got Sunderland in GW5 and Burnley in GW7 which helps, plus Palace, Everton, and Fulham.
Arsenal are away to Liverpool in GW3 which means Raya drops off the table. They and Spurs are the only team yet to concede this season. Raya's on 18 points for the next five. We're a bit spoiled with the quality of the promoted team assets for 4m this season. All three of Sunderland, Burnley, and Leeds have kept a clean sheet and they all have 4m defenders, and in Burnley's case also a 4m keeper who is extremely handy to have as a backup. Just in case our first-choice keeper misses a game, there's always that backup there.
Defenders 🛡️
So let's discuss defenders. Porro is back on top this week with 5.1 points. As I said, they and Arsenal are the only teams yet to concede this season. Tottenham are organized, plus they've got a fantastic fixture run ahead: Bournemouth, West Ham, Brighton, Wolves, Leeds, Villa, Everton. Should be a good few clean sheets in there. I thought I'd gone slightly too all in with a double Spurs defense myself with Romero, but not feeling too discouraged now after the immediate impact of Frank, particularly the Etihad clean sheet.
Porro should be great value if that trend continues; the inswinging corners and the odd free kick mean it's a matter of time until he gets an attacking return too. Murillo, Williams, and Milenkovic are all on the table for West Ham home. They have been disappointing with no clean sheets so far, however, in GW5 and GW6 it's Burnley and Sunderland so staying patient could be the answer. Then get rid before Newcastle and Chelsea following that.
Dorgu looks a handy pick for 4.5m playing at left wing back with Burnley at home next. They should have the best clean sheet odds or thereabouts next gameweek. No reason to go for De Ligt for 0.5m extra, really. Tarkowski has now hit defcon points for the second game in a row. Could he be a sleeper set and forget pick? He hit the threshold in two-thirds of games last season which was way more than anyone else. The fixtures are a little bit mixed but it may not matter with him: Wolves, Villa, Liverpool, West Ham, Palace.
One thing to keep at the back of your head is Arsenal's fixture swing in GW7. In the interim, it's Liverpool, Forest, City, Newcastle, which is horrendous. Thereafter, it's West Ham, Fulham, Palace, Burnley, Sunderland. If I can, I'll even go double defense there.
The Newcastle defenders just miss out on making the table but deserve a mention with perhaps the best back-to-back fixtures next: Leeds away, Wolves home. Bournemouth away after that as well. Burn is my favorite for 5m, Livramento for 5m is also great. Schar is unlikely to be worth the additional 0.5m.