FPL 23/24 tips: Best players for Gameweek 2, complete fantasy football squad
Don’t get caught out by another Friday deadline as FPL Gameweek 2 fast approaches.
We spent all summer creating Squawka Score, our fantasy football ranking system, which gives each player a percentage score and is designed to help you identify the gems set to propel themselves onto the FPL main stage. And now after the first week of the season we’ve been given some ideas as to how the campaign could play out.
Fancy your chances against our Squawka Score super computer? We’re challenging you to beat us in our own mini-league. You can sign up here or use the league code 8ju9vx to join the Squawka Challenge League.
You can also find a full breakdown of what Squawka Score is, and how it works, via this link.
We’ve used Squawka Score to pick our squad for Gameweek 2, which has a few interesting fixtures. While we’re not expecting you to fully change your team, unless you’re an early Wildcard user, we’ve assembled a 15-man squad (within a budget of £100m) with players you should be considering — taking into account value, points, performances and fixtures — when looking at early transfers.
Gameweek 2 picks
Robert Sanchez, Chelsea
FPL price: 4.5m
Squawka Score: 48%
With Kepa Arrizabalaga now on loan at Real Madrid, Robert Sanchez has been thrust into the limelight as Chelsea’s No.1 and comes at a decent price ahead of what should be a favourable run of fixtures. After facing Liverpool in the first Gameweek, six of Chelsea’s next eight matches have been given a Fixture Difficulty Rating of 2, with the other two 3s.
Matt Turner, Nottingham Forest
FPL price: 4m
Squawka Score: N/A
Matt Turner made five saves in Forest’s defeat to his former club Arsenal last weekend, and was only really beaten by a deflected effort and a wonder strike. The American looks set to be busy between the sticks for Forest and at 4.0m is a very good cheap option.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool
FPL price: 8m
Squawka Score: 77%
According to last season’s Squawka Score numbers, Trent Alexander-Arnold is the highest-rated defender in FPL. And this season he looks set to be playing in a more advanced role, which will get him a bit closer to the opposition goal and hopefully boost his chances of assists from the already high level.
Pervis Estupinan, Brighton
FPL price: 5.1m
Squawka Score: 79%
Pervis Estupinan was one of the breakout FPL stars last season as Brighton securing Europa League football, scoring one goal and providing seven assists. The Ecuadorian is already at it this season with an assist in Brighton’s opening weekend win over Luton. He’s one not to miss out on.
Gabriel, Arsenal
FPL price: 5m
Squawka Score: 47%
Gabriel was a late substitute in Arsenal’s win over Nottingham Forest last weekend, which came as a surprise as many expected the Brazilian to start. But with the long-term injury to Jurrien Timber, there is a big chance that Gabriel could return to the starting XI to resume his impressive partnership with William Saliba that had Arsenal so close to the Premier League title last season.
Serge Aurier
FPL price: 4.5m
Squawka Score: 39%
Serge Aurier may not be people’s first picks for defenders in FPL, but it’s worth considering him if you need a cheaper option. The Ivorian looked decent against Arsenal and will look to get further up the pitch when not pegged back by world-class wingers.
Rico Henry, Brentford
FPL price: 4.5m
Squawka Score: 53%
Brentford’s tough opening fixture against Tottenham is out of the way, but Rico Henry still managed to get four points from the 2-2 draw thanks to an assist. The Bees now have three favourable fixtures on the bounce and even further than that there is a decent run which could see a couple of clean sheet points and more assists for Henry.
Bukayo Saka, Arsenal
FPL price: 8.6m
Squawka Score: 72%
Bukayo Saka scored 14 goals and provided 12 assists for Arsenal last season and also benefitted from the Gunners keeping 12 clean sheets. Need we say more?
Bryan Mbeumo, Brentford
FPL price: 6.5m
Squawka Score: 72%
With Ivan Toney unavailable, Bryan Mbeumo started as one of Brentford’s two strikers in their 2-2 draw against Tottenham. Playing further forward than his FPL position, players like Mbeumo are always a great pick as they’ll get more points for goals. And, perhaps more importantly, Mbeumo stepped up when Brentford were awarded a penalty, again looking to have temporarily replaced Toney there.
Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets with Bet365
Not signed up to bet365 yet? Here's how to claim one of the best bookmaker welcome offers around...
- Open an account (here's a link)
- Make a qualifying deposit of between £5* and £10*
- Claim the offer to receive three times your deposit in 'Free Bets'.
- To release your 'Free Bets', place qualifying bets to the value of your qualifying deposit and allow those bets to settle.
- Your 'Free Bets' will become available shortly after your qualifying bets have settled
- To use your 'Free Bets', select 'Use bet credits' in the bet slip.
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.
Mohamed Salah, Liverpool
FPL price: 12.5m
Squawka Score: 80%
Mohamed Salah thought he had continued his excellent run on opening weekends when he put the ball past Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, but his FPL owners were just as devastated to see it ruled out for offside. Nonetheless, Salah did have an attacking return with a beautiful assist to Luis Diaz and remains Liverpool’s main attacking outlet.
Solly March, Brighton
FPL price: 6.5m
Squawka Score: 83%
Solly March scored four goals in his first 148 Premier League appearances for Brighton but has now netted eight in 28 games since Roberto De Zerbi took over, more than any other Seagulls player. Although he is the lesser fancied of the Brighton midfielders when compared to Mitoma, March is worth a look at, especially at an equal price. In fact, his Squawka Score has jumped to 83% after a stellar year.
Morgan Gibbs-White, Nottingham Forest
FPL price: 6.0m
Squawka Score: 49%
In Nottingham Forest’s defeat to Arsenal last weekend, Morgan Gibbs-White had an Expected Goal Involvement of 0.28, and against a more open Sheffield United side, you can expect the Englishman to have more luck in front of goal.
Erling Haaland, Man City
FPL price: 14m
Squawka Score: 75%
Own up, who had Erling Haaland in their team and didn’t captain him last weekend? Or who went really bold and didn’t pick the Norwegian at all? It’s already looking to be a bad decision for those that did snub Haaland, who bagged a brace against Burnley, ending a six-game drought across all competitions. If you are among the 9.2% of players who haven’t selected Haaland, do it now.
Danny Welbeck, Brighton
FPL price: 6.0m
Squawka Score: 63%
He didn’t find the net for Brighton last week but it feels like the goals are bound to come for Danny Welbeck at the spearhead of an exciting attack. The Seagulls also have two favourable fixtures coming up that could see Welbeck among the scoring.
William Osula, Sheffield United
FPL price: 4.5m
Squawka Score: N/A
Sheffield United starting striker, William Osula, is a new face in the Premier League and really the Blades’ team, making just seven appearances for them before going out on loan to Derby in League One last season. For a 4.5m option, if you need one to spare budget elsewhere, Osula may be a decent shout.
Every week we’ll give you a full squad we recommend for that specific Gameweek, but it’s not feasible changing all 15 players on a regular basis if you want to stay competitive. These will merely be our favourite 15 picks within a 100M budget for that Gameweek, for if you’re considering using your Wildcard, or want to overhaul your squad at a cost.
We’re also playing along in the traditional style, tweaking our team one transfer at a time. And we’re challenging you to beat us in our own mini-league. You can sign up here or use the league code 8ju9vx to join the Squawka Challenge League.
Here’s our Squawka Challenge team for Gameweek 2.
