Well, what a weekend of football matchweek three gave us! If we can take anything from last week’s fixtures, it’s that we should always expect the unexpected. Tottenham put seven past a Crystal Palace side that held Arsenal to a 0-0 draw the previous week. Bristol City found their form again with a 5-1 victory over newly promoted Watford, and Newcastle continued their impressive start to the season with a 4-1 victory over Sheffield United.
It’s time for our team of the week ahead of matchweek four. As always, we've picked with one eye on form and the other on the fixtures. There is a nice mix of nailed-on picks and one or two calculated risks. Keep an eye on team news before the deadline, but on paper, this team has the potential to deliver big points.
The Back Line
Ayaka Yamashita (Manchester City) - £5.5m
This one is all about the fixture. Yamashita has conceded a few goals in the early-season fixtures, but Manchester City's trip to promoted Charlton is an inviting opportunity for a clean sheet. City will undoubtedly look to dominate the game from the first whistle. Sometimes you pick the situation rather than the form, and this is one of those weeks. At £5.5m, she's a sensible way to tap into what could be a strong afternoon for the champions as they look to continue their winning run.
Kaitlyn Torpey (Newcastle United) - £4.0m
The value pick of the season so far, and she just keeps delivering. Torpey has racked up 28 points so far, chipping in with a goal, an assist and two clean sheets already, remarkable value from a defender. Newcastle are at home to Leicester this week, a tough game on paper but given their current form, it makes sense to back them. Torpey loves to get forward and influence play, which means there could be both attacking and defensive involvement points on offer.
Ellie Carpenter (Chelsea) - £7.0m
Given the fixture, this is perhaps a risky choice, but Ellie Carpenter is too good to leave out. Chelsea host Arsenal in the pick of the weekend's fixtures, so a clean sheet isn’t guaranteed. However, Carpenter is in here for what she offers going forward. She's the top-scoring defender in the game with 31 points, a goal, an assist, and plenty of attacking involvement to her name already. Even in a tough game like this, her willingness to constantly get forward and join the attack gives her a route to points that most defenders simply don't have. Definitely a risk, but a calculated one.
Grace Fisk (Liverpool) - £5.0m
Liverpool are enjoying an impressive start to their campaign, and Grace Fisk has been one of the season's surprise packages. The Reds captain netted two goals on the opening day, and at £5m she offers great value. Liverpool are at home to Everton this week. The Merseyside derby will certainly be a tough game, but given Everton’s struggles in front of goal recently, Liverpool will fancy their chances, and with Fisk marshalling the defence there’s every chance of a clean sheet.
The Midfield
Lauren Hemp (Manchester City) - £8.0m
Just too good to leave out. Lauren Hemp has been electric this season, with 33 points already, including two goals, an assist, and a stack of attacking involvement points. Manchester City's trip to Charlton should give her the perfect platform to add to that. The reigning champions are in some excellent attacking form, having netted 11 goals in their opening three games, so we can expect Hemp to create plenty of goalscoring opportunities. At £8m, she's a premium option, but in this kind of fixture, she's got every chance of a big score.
Signe Gaupset (Tottenham) - £6.0m
Gaupset has been superb for a Spurs side who have started the season flying. With three assists in her 28 points, the young Norwegian could shine once again in the upcoming game against Aston Villa. This is a Tottenham team that put seven past Palace last time out, so the goals are flowing and Gaupset is right in the thick of it. At £6m, she's tremendous value for a player this involved in a side that’s scoring for fun at the minute.
Lily Crosthwaite (Birmingham) - £7.0m
Our differential of the week. Owned by just 2%, Crothswaite is a tricky winger who loves to run at her opponents as well as consistently getting herself into goalscoring positions. She’s picked up 13 points so far and is one to watch as the season develops. This week, Birmingham are at home to a Crystal Palace side who could still be reeling from that 7-0 loss to Spurs, so the timing could hardly be better. The Blues have enjoyed a solid start to life in the topflight, and Crothswaite will be looking to add to her goals tally here. She's a smart, under-the-radar player who could hand you a real edge on your rivals this week. Get her in your team before anyone notices.
Katy Watson (Sunderland) - £6.5m
One of the standout midfielders in the game, Katy Watson is proving to be a points machine. She has 29 points already, with two goals and an assist; she's the driving force behind a Sunderland side who are really finding their rhythm this season. The Black Cats travel to Watford this week in a winnable game that should give her plenty of chances to add to her tally. She’s a strong pick this week, offering real value for the level of output, and she rounds out a midfield brimming with goals and creativity.
The Forwards
Bunny Shaw (Manchester City) - £12.5m
Some players are just obvious choices, and Bunny Shaw just has to be in your team. The Manchester City forward is the runaway top points scorer in the game on 34 points, with four goals already, and she's got another inviting fixture at promoted Charlton to add to that haul. At this point, Shaw is arguably the most consistent goalscorer the BWSL has ever seen, which makes her a reliable source of fantasy points. The price tag means she's a huge chunk of your budget, but she more than justifies it.
Vivien Endemann (Liverpool) - £6.0m
Next, we have a player in red-hot form and superb value at £6m. Vivien Endemann has already racked up 26 points, with two goals and two assists, showing she's involved in pretty much every aspect of Liverpool's attack. They're at home to Everton this week, and while it may not read like a goal-fest on paper, Endemann's all-round game means she's always got a route to points. She’s proving to be a clever choice up front, and one who keeps on returning, exactly the kind of forward you need alongside Shaw.
Rio Hardy (Bristol City) - £8.0m
Hardy tore Watford apart last week with three goals, taking her to 22 points, and she's the focal point of a Bristol City side who are coming into some good form after a slow start. They travel to Burnley this week, a game they'll fancy, and Hardy will be eager to continue her goalscoring antics. At £8m, she's a solid choice for a striker coming into form, and she completes a front three with serious goal threat.
Subs
Anna Tamminen (Newcastle United) - £5.0m
The top-scoring goalkeeper in the game, Tamminen has banked 24 points already, more than any other keeper, and Newcastle are at home to Leicester this week in a tough but certainly winnable fixture. If you're not sold on Yamashita for this week, Tamminen is your ideal swap. She also pairs nicely with Torpey, so if Newcastle shut Leicester out, you could be cashing in twice.
Beth Roe (Ipswich) - £4.0m
Beth Roe has quietly banked 22 points at just £4m, with a goal and two clean sheets already, and she's owned by almost nobody. Ipswich are at home to Wolves this week, giving her a strong chance of another high points return. She is one to look at and potentially sub in if any of your Saturday performers draw blanks.
Megan Collett (Southampton) - £5.5m
Another defender who has been in phenomenal form. Collett has 28 points, a goal and two clean sheets to her name. Southampton are at home to Nottingham Forest this week, where the Saints will be looking to pick up all three points. She's a defender who gets forward and likes to influence the attacking play. Potentially one to opt for if you think Carpenter is too much of a risk this week.
Alana Murphy (Nottingham Forest) - £5.0m
To complete a very strong bench, we have Alana Murphy. The Forest midfielder offers excellent value, having already shown her eye for goal, relentless work rate, and all-round involvement in recent fixtures. She's already racked up 27 points, and with just 4% ownership, if you fancy reshuffling your midfield, she's a shrewd choice for the price.
