FPL best forward picks: Gameweek 3 Budget, differential and premium tips
Picking the right forwards to play alongside Erling Haaland could prove to be the difference ahead of Gameweek 3.
Using our new FPL rating system — Squawka Score — we are providing you with our top recommendations for selection heading into Gameweek 3.
What is Squawka Score? You can learn more about how we devised our fantasy football ranking system here.
Best FPL forwards
Top forward pick for Gameweek 3
Best cheap forwards for Gameweek 3
Best forwards with easy fixtures
Best FPL Forwards
Here are the top 10 Premier League forwards based on their FPL Squawka Score from the 2023 calendar year.
| Player | FPL Squawka Score | 23/24 Team | 23/24 FPL Price |
| Erling Haaland | 75% | Man City | 14.0 |
| Julian Alvarez | 73% | Man City | 6.5 |
| Callum Wilson | 70% | Newcastle | 8.0 |
| Darwin Nunez | 65% | Liverpool | 7.4 |
| Alexander Isak | 63% | Newcastle | 7.7 |
| Cody Gakpo | 63% | Liverpool | 7.5 |
| Danny Welbeck | 62% | Brighton | 5.9 |
| Eddie Nketiah | 61% | Arsenal | 5.5 |
| Ollie Watkins | 61% | Aston Villa | 8.0 |
| Yoane Wissa | 54% | Brentford | 6.1 |
For the FPL forwards Squawka Score, the per 90 output of each player is compared to all strikers across the past three top-five European league seasons.
Top forward pick for Gameweek 3
In our Differential Duel feature, we look for a player who scores well on our system but is not being selected by most FPL managers.
We will then pit that player against a comparable asset who is being widely selected and it’s on you to make the all-important final decision.
Ahead of Gameweek 3, we take a closer look at Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah (6.1% ownership) and Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa (24.8%)
There is no difference between the two when it comes to Squawka Score, with both sitting on 61%. The two English strikers are separated by a price difference of 2.5m, but that isn’t truly reflective of their FPL points haul so far this season, with Nketiah claiming 13 points and Watkins picking up 10.
Here’s how their per 90 stats compare on our Comparison Matrix.
Best cheap forwards for Gameweek 3
We have run the numbers from 2023 through our Squawka Score super computer to find some budget forwards ahead of Gameweek 3.
Here are our recommendations.
The best 5.5 picks for 23/24 FPL
- Eddie Nketiah, Arsenal (61%)
- Odsonne Edouard, Crystal Palace (37%)
- Neal Maupay, Everton (33%)
The best 6.0 picks for 23/24 FPL
- Danny Welbeck, Brighton (62%)
- Yoane Wissa, Brentford (54%)
- Evan Ferguson, Brighton (53%)
Best forwards with easy fixtures
You more than likely have a pretty good idea of who you want leading your line this weekend, but we have one more factor for you to take into consideration.
Combining the numbers on the FPL’s official Fixture Difficulty Rating (FDR) with our Squawka Score system, we have determined below the best forwards to pick from each club with what is considered an ‘easy’ match this Gameweek.
| Team | Top pick | FPL Squawka Score | 23/24 FPL Price |
| Arsenal | Eddie Nketiah | 60% | 5.5 |
| Aston Villa | Ollie Watkins | 58% | 8.0 |
| Brentford | Yoane Wissa | 51% | 6.1 |
| Brighton | Danny Welbeck | 63% | 5.9 |
| Chelsea | Nicolas Jackson* | N/A | 7.0 |
| Everton | Dominic Calvert-Lewin | 36% | 5.9 |
| Man City | Erling Haaland | 80% | 14.0 |
| Man United | Anthony Martial | 67% | 6.5 |
| Spurs | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Wolves | Matheus Cunha | 28% | 5.5 |
*Does not qualify for a Squawka Score because he has not yet met the minimum Premier League minutes played threshold for 2023.
