The 2018-19 Premier League season is just two weeks old, but fantasy football leagues are already taking shape.
Inevitably, either through shrewd selections or just sheer luck, one or two players will have surged into strong leads, leaving those trailing behind to panic about their teams.
Indeed, as patterns begin to emerge in terms of which players are performing best, it can be tempting to invoke the Wildcard option and make wholesale changes. However, that is a risky decision at such an early stage of the season.
Each week, minor alterations - which don't need to cost you any points - can make all the difference and you can mould your team into a point-earning machine.
In case you're considering a few transfers ahead of Gameweek Three, Goal takes a look at some strikers, midfielders, defenders and goalkeepers worth picking.
Fantasy football strikers to pick in Gameweek Three
Sergio Aguero - Man City - £11.1m
After drawing a blank against Arsenal in Man City's opening game, Sergio Aguero hit a hat-trick against Huddersfield Town in Gameweek Two to earn 20 points and his performance led Alan Shearer to declare the Argentine the Premier League's best ever foreign import. His price has gone up as a result of that display, but Aguero is a must-have for fantasy football. City are away to recently promoted Wolves in Gameweek Three and, while they may be tough to break down, the 30-year-old can certainly punish any lapses.
Danny Ings - Southampton - £5.5m
A loan signing from Liverpool, Danny Ings could prove to be a serious bargain in fantasy football if he keeps up the level of performance he has delivered for Southampton thus far. The 26-year-old scored in his first start for the Saints last week and he will be hoping to continue rewarding Mark Hughes' faith in him when they host Leicester City in Gameweek Three.
Troy Deeney - Watford - £6m
Watford striker Troy Deeney endured a difficult season in 2017-18, but he has hit the ground running this term and appears to be enjoying his football once again. He contributed a goal and an assist in Gameweek Two against Burnley and, while he didn't get on the scoresheet in Gameweek One against Brighton, he was incredibly influential. Deeney will be aiming to reach double figures for the Hornets this season.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - Arsenal - £11m
Arsenal have had a desperately tough start to the 2018-19 campaign and have yet to put points on the board after losing to Man City and Chelsea. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang endured a disastrous game against Chelsea, spurning a number of glorious chances, and he has not managed to find the net in the league so far. The Gunners host local rivals West Ham in Gameweek Three and, though it is a gamble at £11m, Aubameyang's luck should soon change.
Cenk Tosun - Everton - £7m
Everton look like a team that will rack up goals this season and it's only a matter of time before Cenk Tosun gets off the mark for the Toffees. The Turkey international has a solid goalscoring history, tallying 24 strikes for Besiktas in the 2016-17 season, so there is no question about his ability. Everton are away to Bournemouth, who have started well, and the game is virtually guaranteed goals.
Fantasy football midfielders to pick in Gameweek Three
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Eden Hazard - Chelsea - £10.5m
Having returned to Chelsea late after starring for Belgium at the World Cup, Eden Hazard has been playing catch-up this season, but he is primed to start in Gameweek Three away to Newcastle United. He came off the bench to set up Marcos Alonso's decisive goal in the 3-2 win over Arsenal last week and can have an even greater impact with more minutes on the pitch.
Theo Walcott - Everton - £6.5m
As mentioned, Everton have looked dangerous going forward this season, with the front three of Richarlison (a Gameweek Two pick), Theo Walcott and Tosun showing great promise. Walcott scored his first goal of the season against Southampton last week and provided the assist for Richarlison in a strong display, which saw him finish the gameweek as the top scoring midfielder in fantasy football.
Sadio Mane - Liverpool - £9.8m
When it comes to Liverpool midfielders to pick in fantasy football Mohamed Salah is a given, but Sadio Mane is not far behind in terms of his ability to pick up points. The Senegal international has surged to the top of the scoring charts in the game and there is no reason to think that is going to change as Liverpool get ready to host Brighton in Gameweek Three.
David Silva - Man City £8.4m
The loss of Kevin De Bruyne to a knee injury will be a blow to fantasy football managers, but another Man City star is just as adept at picking up points - and he's quite a bit cheaper. David Silva has been one of the greatest playmakers in the world over the course of the past decade and, now that he has retired from international duty, he will be eager to invest all of his energy into City's bid to retain the title.
James Maddison - Leicester City - £6.5m
Leicester City's big-money signing from Norwich City, James Maddison, got off the mark for 2018-19 with a goal against Wolves in Gameweek Two and the 21-year-old can continue that form when the Foxes take on Southampton in Gameweek Two. Maddison has an eye for the net and bagged 14 goals from midfield last season.
Fantasy football defenders to pick in Gameweek Three
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Trent Alexander-Arnold - Liverpool - £5m
Liverpool are at home to Brighton in Gameweek Three and they will be a good bet to keep a clean sheet, despite the fact that the Seagulls put three goals past Manchester United last week. Trent Alexander-Arnold should line up at right-back for Jurgen Klopp's side and is £1m cheaper than Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson. The England international has grown into his role at the club and is chipping in with set-pieces, which is an added attraction.
Ricardo Pereira - Leicester City - £5m
Portugal international Ricardo Pereira has impressed in his first two league outings for Leicester City since signing from Porto, providing assists against Man United and Wolves. The full-back likes to get forward and can be a serious threat for the Foxes when they face Southampton away from home in Gameweek Three.
Marcos Alonso - Chelsea - £6.6m
There were some concerns over where Marcos Alonso would fit into the Chelsea team under Maurizio Sarri's new tactical approach, but the Spaniard has adapted with ease. He provided an assist in the opening game against Huddersfield Town before setting one up and scoring one himself against Arsenal. Alonso is the most expensive defender in fantasy football, but with good reason.
James Tarkowski - Burnley - £5m
Burnley's success has been built on a rock-solid defence and James Tarkowski has been a key member thereof. A game against Fulham away from home is in store in Gameweek Three and you can be sure that Sean Dyche will be demanding a strong resistance.
Steve Cook - Bournemouth - £4.6m
Bournemouth have kicked off the 2018-19 season in impressive fashion and one player who has shone for the Cherries in the opening games is Steve Cook. The 27-year-old was the top scoring defender in Gameweek Two thanks to a goals and an assist in his side's 2-1 win over West Ham. Cook is a certainty to start for Bournemouth and gets his fair share of goals through the season.
Fantasy football goalkeepers to pick in Gameweek Three
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Ederson - Man City - £5.5m
How many goalkeepers in the Premier League are likely to get points for assists? Not many, but Man City shotstopper Ederson is certainly one of them. The Brazilian has been lauded for his passing ability and he showcased it perfectly with a wonderfully weighted ball to Aguero for a goal against Huddersfield Town in Gameweek Two.
Neil Etheridge - Cardiff City - £4.5m
Cardiff City's Neil Etheridge is the highest scoring goalkeeper in fantasy football after Gameweek Two, thanks to a clean sheet against Newcastle United and, remarkably, penalty saves in consecutive games. Etheridge will be key to Cardiff's bid for survival this season and if he continues how he has started off, he could prove to be a huge bargain.
Alisson - Liverpool - £5.5m
Heading into Gameweek Three, Liverpool are the only team in the league who haven't conceded a single goal and the influence of new signing Alisson cannot be dismissed. The Reds backline looks much stronger with the Brazil number one behind them and a clean sheet could well be on the cards this weekend against Brighton at home.
Alex McCarthy - Southampton - £4.5m
Southampton boast a preponderance of goalkeeping talent and Alex McCarthy is currently top of the pile, ahead of Fraser Forster and Angus Gunn. After the second week he is level on points with Alisson and Ederson, despite keeping just one clean sheet, which means that his shot-stopping ability is being rewarded.
Ben Foster - Watford - £4.5m
Watford will have a good chance of keeping a clean sheet at home to Crystal Palace in Gameweek Three, meaning Ben Foster is a decent option. The former West Brom man is an experienced and reliable goalkeeper, as well as being cheaper than some of his counterparts at the top six clubs.
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