From a BWSL Champion who opened her account during gameweek 2 to an exciting summer arrival for the Seagulls, here are five low-owned picks who could transform your team as we turn our attention to matchweek 3.
Are you already debating your fantasy picks and worried about falling behind your friends? Perhaps it’s time to think outside of the box and consider players owned by less than 3% of our Fantasy players to take a leap of faith and climb to the top of the leaderboard.
Rachel McLauchlan: £5m - 1% ownership
Rachel McLauchlan could be one of the best budget differentials in BWSL2, with the Newcastle United captain helping the Magpies make a perfect start to the new campaign.
Wins against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bristol City mean the side sit in third, behind Leicester and Sunderland on goal difference. However, as a defender, we don’t typically consider goals when making our fantasy picks, instead we favour clean sheets.
Now the Scotland international is no stranger to clean sheets as her side are the only side in BWSL2 to have kept a clean sheet in both of their opening games, giving McLauchlan and the Newcastle defence an impressive early record.
Up against Sheffield United who have one goal to their name this campaign, McLauchlan’s defensive stability offers Fantasy managers an inexpensive route into the league's only perfect defensive record so far.
Olivia Garcia: £4m - 1% ownership
Olivia Garcia could be a tempting differential for Gameweek 3 after making an immediate impact off the bench for Brighton last time out.
The forward was brought in by the Seagulls in January before being loaned out to AIK, where she scored seven goals in 11 league appearances. She returned to Brighton this summer and has already shown why she could be worth a Fantasy gamble.
Garcia came off the bench against Birmingham City to score Brighton's first goal in their 2-2 comeback, giving Arturo Ruiz's side the momentum they needed to rescue a point. Her goal, combined with her lively cameo against Arsenal on the opening weekend, could be enough to earn Garcia her first start of the season.
There is of course an element of risk involved with Garcia’s starting place unknown, but that is exactly what makes a differential so appealing. Fantasy is about taking calculated risks, and Brighton's free-flowing attacking style under Ruiz should create plenty of opportunities for Garcia if she is given the nod.
Elise Hughes: £7m - 2% ownership
Elise Hughes is another player who could be worth taking a chance on despite her higher price of £7m.
The Sunderland forward made a huge impact in Gameweek 2, scoring twice in the Black Cats' 2-1 victory over Burnley. Hughes was involved in all of the drama, including a late winner in the 98th minute, after an unfortunate own goal levelled the scoring.
Her price could push some Fantasy managers towards more popular attacking options, but Hughes' performance last time out makes her difficult to ignore. Sunderland have also started the season with two wins from two, putting them at the top of the early BWSL2 table.
Jade Rose: £5.5m - 3% ownership
An ever-present in Manchester City’s backline who powered to BWSL glory last season. So, to know that just 3% of Fantasy users have selected her, it’s extremely shocking. Especially with just a £5.5m price tag to her name.
City conceded 19 goals last season, the second-fewest in the league, and Rose played in all bar two of the Cityzen’s clashes. Now the Champions haven’t kept a clean sheet so far this season but with Rebecca Knaak absent, Rose is having to build a new partnership with Gracie Prior. And it seems that their understanding is growing with each game.
Beyond her new partnership, I’d urge Fantasy users to consider City’s dominance from set-pieces. They scored a BWSL-high 13 goals from corners last season, and have already found the net from three set-pieces across their opening two games this campaign.
That makes Rose an interesting option for Fantasy managers willing to look beyond City's more popular defensive picks. Her goal against Villa in Gameweek 2 only adds to the appeal, with the Canadian offering both clean sheet potential and attacking returns.
Misa Rodriguez: £5m - 3% ownership
Misa Rodriguez rounds off the list and could be an appealing option between the posts after making an impressive start to life at Arsenal.
With Daphne van Domselaar absent, the former Real Madrid star has stepped into the starting XI and immediately made her mark, keeping a clean sheet against Brighton on her BWSL debut. She also produced a crucial early save to deny Kiko Seike one-on-one, helping Arsenal to secure all three points.
There’s plenty of reason to believe more clean sheets could follow when we consider Arsenal’s proven defensive record. The Gunners conceded just 14 goals across the BWSL last season - the fewest in the division - and have already shown their defensive resilience this campaign.
Next up is Manchester United, who are without a win this campaign and have struggled to find the back of the net in the opening couple of weeks. They managed one shot on target in their 5-0 defeat to Chelsea last time out, making Misa and Arsenal's defence an intriguing Fantasy option heading into Gameweek 3.
