There’s always a nagging voice in the back of your head when it comes to Fantasy football: do you stick or do you twist?
Do you trust the goalscorer you backed last week to eventually find the back of the net, or is it time to cut your losses and bring in the player everyone else is rushing to pick?
It’s one of the biggest dilemmas Fantasy managers face each week, particularly when a highly-owned player fails to deliver. Patience can be rewarded with high returns in the long-run, but there’s always the temptation to chase form, fixtures and momentum elsewhere.
With Matchweek 3 approaching, here are five of the most high-owned players leaving managers with some difficult decisions to make.
Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw: £12.5m - 63% ownership
Shaw is currently the most-owned player in the game, underlining the faith Fantasy managers have in the Manchester City striker.
That faith has only grown ahead of Gameweek 3, with 22,349 managers bringing her in - more than any other player.
The Jamaican international has scored in both of City's opening two games, helping them maintain their 100% record.
For those who already own her, there’s little reason to consider a move away while she is delivering consistently in front of goal. Meanwhile, managers without Shaw face the dilemma of whether to join the crowd before her ownership rises even further.
I know in Fantasy there is sometimes an attractiveness to think outside the box and select less so-called ‘popular players’. However, you just need to look at Shaw’s goalscoring pedigree across her time in the BWSL and although she comes with a hefty price tag, she’s too good to miss out on.
Lauren James: £7.5m - 30% ownership
The Chelsea midfielder is another player attracting plenty of attention ahead of Gameweek 3, with 10,709 managers bringing her in despite her already being owned by 30% of Fantasy managers.
James has made a strong start to the season at the heart of the Blues’ attacking threat, giving Fantasy managers plenty of reason to back her. She has scored in both of their fixtures this season including against her former club Manchester United.
Her ability to score and create makes her capable of picking up points in more than one way, while Chelsea's attacking strength should continue to provide opportunities for attacking returns.
With the newly-promoted Birmingham City next up next - who have failed to win in their opening two games - James looks like a tempting pick for Fantasy users as Chelsea will be hoping to build on their five-goal display against United.
Maya Le Tissier: £6m - 33% ownership
While several high-owned players are attracting plenty of new owners, Maya Le Tissier is heading in the opposite direction, with 886 managers transferring her out ahead of Gameweek 3.
United have lost both of their opening games under new manager Eva Olid, including a 5-0 defeat to Chelsea last time out, and managed just one shot on target in that heavy loss. Next up, they travel to the capital to face Arsenal from the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners feel comfortable in their stomping ground and are without defeat there since November 2021 when they lost 2-1 against the Reds. That makes Le Tissier a tougher Fantasy pick on paper, particularly with Arsenal having dominated Crystal Palace despite being held to a goalless draw.
Arsenal had 30 shots and was just shy of 80% possession in that match, although their lack of finishing could offer United's defence some hope.
However, transferring Le Tissier out could prove to be a case of reacting too quickly. The United skipper remains a regular starter having participated in the 90 consecutive BWSL matches.
With 886 managers choosing to twist, the question is whether you follow the trend or trust Le Tissier to help United weather a difficult start to the season.
Jordan Nobbs: £7.5m - 7% ownership
We now move to look at the highest-owned BWSL2 player and that is none other than Jordan Nobbs. Ahead of Gameweek 3, the Newcastle midfielder is priced at £7.5m and a further 2,368 managers have transferred her in.
The biggest dilemma for Nobbs owners is that she hasn’t featured this season, despite Newcastle making a perfect start with two wins from two. That could leave some Fantasy managers questioning whether it is worth continuing to hold a significant chunk of their budget on a player who is yet to take to the pitch.
However, Nobbs' Fantasy appeal is clear. When she returns, her experience and attacking quality give her the potential to contribute goals and assists, while she’s also capable of taking set pieces.
The question is whether you trust Nobbs’ experience or pivot to a cheaper BWSL2 alternative already producing attacking returns. At £7.5m, sticking could pay off handsomely if she returns and delivers, but that budget could also be used on a player who’s already getting minutes and finding ways to contribute.
Alexia Putellas: £8.5m - 53% ownership
For me, Alexia Putellas is the biggest Fantasy dilemma heading into Gameweek 3.
The London City Lionesses midfielder is the fourth-most transferred-out player, with 504 managers choosing to move her on, but there are still 18,904 Fantasy managers putting their faith in her.
And it’s easy to understand why. Putellas is a two-time Ballon d'Or winner, a Champions League winner and one of the most decorated players in women's football. Her move to the BWSL was one of the biggest transfers of the summer, so backing her feels like an obvious decision on paper.
However, Fantasy football is about judging what happens next, rather than what a player has achieved previously. Putellas is looking stronger with each game, but the question remains whether her transition to the BWSL will take longer than expected before the attacking returns start to arrive.
That creates a difficult choice for the thousands of managers who still own her. Do you place your trust with a two-time Ballon d'Or winner and wait for Putellas to find her feet, which seems like a no-brainer. Or do you switch to a player with greater BWSL experience who’s already serving attacking returns?
There’s a real threat that moving Putellas on could come back to haunt Fantasy managers if she clicks into gear. But with £8.5m tied up in a player still adapting to a new league, there’s also an argument for using that budget on someone already delivering.
Stick or twist? Of all the decisions ahead of Gameweek 3, Putellas could be the one that defines the week for Fantasy managers.
Play our Stick or Twist game on which players you would keep or sell ahead of Matchweek 3.
