Last week’s picks were a mixed bag, with Aurier’s double assist points saving my blushes after my Everton double-up failed miserably against Aston Villa. It’s perhaps not surprising then, that Villa appears twice in this week’s picks. If you’re seeking to improve your squad for Gameweek 3, here are a few names to keep an eye out for on Friday’s waiver wire and open market.

 

Lucas Digne (AVL) DEF     Ownership: 12.1%     Next Fixture: BUR (A)

Following an assist and a clean sheet in Gameweek 2, Digne provided a further hat-trick of assists in Hibs’ midweek European fixture, reminding us all that this is a left-back thought by some to be a premium asset only a few seasons ago. If you successfully draft Digne, keep an eye on transfer news as well as Alex Moreno’s return from injury. Emery has stated that Digne might still leave the club this summer, and last season saw a preference for Moreno when fit, so keep an eye out for news on both fronts!

 

Douglas Luiz (AVL) MID     Ownership: 49.9%     Next Fixture: BUR (A)

There has been a right penalty merry-go-round recently with Salah owners rueing another miss from the spot as Saka owners were left crying into their Twitter feeds as Martin Odegaard slotted home from 12 yards to earn the Gunners a slender 1-0 win v Palace. Meanwhile, less attacking midfielders in Enzo Fernandez and Douglas Luiz stepped up for Chelsea and Villa respectively, with the latter actually managing to find the net. The value of a penalty taker in an attacking side is something not to be sniffed at and if you can grab yourself Douglas Luiz, you’re getting a player that has often flirted with fantasy teams even prior to being handed penalty duties.

 

Pape Matar Sarr (TOT) MID     Ownership: 0.4%     Next Fixture: BOU (A)

There’s a a renewed optimism among the Spurs fanbase and rightly so having put in more attacking nouse in the last two gameweeks than I can remember seeing in the last two seasons. One player who has been lavished w ith praise by Postecoglou has been Pape Sarr. Another player to be more traditionally seen mopping up in midfield than terrorising defences, Sarr registered 5 shots and scored the opening goal from close range in the 2-0 victory over Man Utd. With Bentancur still out and Spurs looking to build momentum, Sarr should be on your radar if looking for a 5th midfielder this week.

 

Conor Gallagher (CHE) MID     Ownership: 18%     Next Fixture: LUT (H)

Since my first pick of Timo Werner a few years back, I’ve felt highly uncomfortable returning to Chelsea to seek out fantasy points. Perpetually threatening to go berserk, yet continually delivering underwhelming returns to say the least, I’m plucking up the courage here to go back in for a Chelsea player that I have previously put faith in whilst on loan at Crystal Palace. On the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline at the weekend, Gallagher was arguably Chelsea’s best player and with injury troubles rife in the squad, I expect to see Gallagher claim a spot in the midfield and points surely look on the cards vs a Luton that didn’t exactly explode out of the blocks in week 1.

 

Rayan Ait-Nouri (WOL) DEF     Ownership: 1.7%     Next Fixture: EVE (A)

My Wolves pick of Cunha let me down last week, but I’m going back in for another Wolves player whom the term Wanderer has never been more appropriate. That player is Rayan Ait-Nouri. There is some rotation risk here with Hugo Bueno sometimes preferred about 5 managers and 3 months back, but against a very lacklustre Everton side, I can see Ait-Nouri carrying opportunity for points at both ends of the pitch this week. Owned in fewer than 2% of leagues, go and grab yourself a bargain of a one-week punt.

 

That will do it for this week. Best of luck on the waiver wire!