Forwards: Haaland leads, Semenyo shines, Bowen brings value

Player | Team | Points | Price (FanBux) | Goals

E. Haaland | Man City | 97.8 | 31.4 | 9
 A. Semenyo | Bournemouth | 104.3 | 8.4 | 6
 M. Salah | Liverpool | 49.7 | 1.96 | 2
 C. Gakpo | Liverpool | 89.5 | 9.2 | 2
 J. Bowen | West Ham | 71.3 | 4.0 | 3

Insights:

• Haaland (0.81 goal odds) remains the No. 1 captain pick — elite form, elite fixture.
• Semenyo is the most productive forward so far (6 goals / 7 matches), though Bournemouth face a tough trip to Palace.
• Salah + Gakpo combine for over 70 % of Liverpool’s goals this season.
• Bowen vs Brentford is the ideal value.

Recommended stacks:

• Haaland + Foden / Doku (Man City stack)
• Salah + Gakpo (Liverpool stack)
• Bowen + Paquetá (budget alternative)

Midfielders: Caicedo’s surge and the data-driven rebound

Player | Team | Points | Price (FanBux) | Goals

M. Caicedo | Chelsea | 94.0 | 5.5 | 3
 B. Fernandes | Man United | 78.0 | 12.9 | 2
 L. Paquetá | West Ham | 71.1 | 2.9 | 2
 D. Szoboszlai | Liverpool | 61.1 | 5.9 | 1
 E. Fernández | Chelsea | 57.1 | 4.2 | 3

Insights:

• Caicedo (3 G) has evolved from defensive anchor to attacking threat — a perfect cheap complement to premium stacks.
• Paquetá + Bowen are perfectly correlated through goals and set pieces.
• Szoboszlai adds stability to the Salah combo and provides consistent shot volume.
• Enzo Fernández could deliver again; Chelsea’s expected goals sit at 1.73 vs Nottingham Forest.

Defender: one slot, big impact

Player | Team | Points | Price (FanBux) | Goals

J. Timber | Arsenal | 79.2 | 6.8 | 2
 D. Muñoz | Crystal Palace | 60.7 | 5.0 | 1
 M. Cucurella | Chelsea | 59.1 | 7.1 | 0
 N. Williams | Nott’m Forest | 60.1 | 1.74 | 1

Insights:

• Timber (ARS) – elite two-way profile, combining clean-sheet potential with attacking threat.
• Muñoz (CRY) – the top value defender this week; Palace offer both xG and CS upside.
• Cucurella (CHE) – assist potential as Chelsea build through the left channel.
• Neco Williams (NFO) – differential budget pick with attacking involvement.

🚫 Avoid Picks

• Bruno Fernandes (MUN) – facing Liverpool; poor xG / xA and low tempo.
• Matheus Cunha (MUN) – 0 goals and declining minutes.
• Ollie Watkins (AVL) – only 1 goal; away form concerns.
• Brennan Johnson (TOT) – fewer than three shots in three matches.
• James Tarkowski / Everton defense – up against City’s top-projected attack.
• Martin Ødegaard (ARS) – limited ceiling so far and possibly injured.

Strategy Tips

✅ Stack goal-heavy teams — City, Liverpool, Arsenal.
✅ One defender = one differential — Timber or Muñoz are the best but will probably not separate you from the field.
✅ Haaland remains essential, but pairing him with creative mids maximizes returns.
✅ For high-risk players: the Semenyo + Bowen + Paquetá trio gives strong upside