Well, matchweek six gave us goals aplenty in the BWSL! Chelsea put six past Tottenham, with Lauren James and Ellie Carpenter both getting two; Bunny Shaw continued her unstoppable form, finding the back of the net twice inside 16 minutes as Manchester City held off Brighton to win 3-2; and Eva Olid guided Manchester United to a 3-1 victory at Charlton to make it three league wins in a row for the Red Devils.
Now we turn our attention to matchweek seven, and this week the BWSL 2 sides are back in action, so we have the whole pool of players to pick from. Saturday brings us a North London derby, with Tottenham hosting Arsenal. Both teams will be looking to change their current fortunes, so it will be an exciting watch all-round.
On Sunday, Chelsea travel to newly-promoted Crystal Palace and Manchester United welcome city rivals and league leaders Manchester City in the pick of the weekend's fixtures. Meanwhile in BWSL 2, unbeaten Newcastle, who sit top, visit unbeaten Nottingham Forest in what could be a very entertaining match-up.
Here are our choices for this week. As always, keep an eye out on any last-minute injury updates so you can make your changes before the deadline.
The Back Line
Hannah Hampton (Chelsea) - £5.5m
The England number one is our pick in goal this week, and it's hard to look past what's in front of her. Chelsea have conceded just three goals in six games, the best defensive record in the league, and Hampton has kept four clean sheets in that time. She's also been reliable when she has been called on, saving 83% of the shots on target she's faced. In terms of fantasy, she's averaging 5.2 a game, and those numbers will keep climbing if the clean sheets keep coming.
Her points tend to come from clean sheets rather than saves so picking Hampton is mostly based on the fixtures, and this one looks a good one. Chelsea are up against Crystal Palace, who have only scored five goals in six games and lost 1-0 at home to West Ham last time out. With a really solid defence front of her, there could be a strong fantasy score on Sunday for Hannah Hampton.
Ellie Carpenter (Chelsea) - £7.0m
What a season Ellie Carpenter is having! She's the top-scoring defender in the game on 63 points (she's actually scored more points than any midfielder), averaging 10.5 a game, and she added two more goals against Tottenham, one of them was a real strikers finish as well. It's not often you see a full back score twice in a game like that, and Carpenter is starting to make it a habit.
At 39% ownership plenty of people already know how good she is, but given her current form, you simply can't leave her out. She's key to pretty much everything Chelsea do going forward. She's bagged three goals in six games, and she's averaging nearly six crosses per 90 minutes, so she's a threat every time she gets in the final third. That's what sets Carpenter apart from most defenders, she doesn't need a clean sheet to score big points.
Kaitlyn Torpey (Newcastle United) - £4.0m
Next up we have Kaitlyn Torpey. At £4m she's the cheapest player in our team, but she certainly offers big pointes returns. She is currently averaging 8.6 points a game, with a goal and an assist already to her name. She's a marauding left back for a Newcastle side who have conceded just once all season, and that's where most of her points come from, with the attacking returns a nice bonus when she gets forward.
Newcastle visit Nottingham Forest this week, and it's their toughest test of the season so far. Forest are unbeaten and have scored eight goals in five games, but Newcastle's defence has been very hard to break down so we're backing them to continue their excellent form.
Ruby Mace (Everton) - £5.5m
Ruby Mace has been one of the most consistent defenders in the game this season. She's averaging 7.2 points per game and has picked up six bonus points, which tells you she's making an impact in matches as well as helping her team to keep clean sheets. With only six goals conceded in six games, Everton have the second-best defensive record in the league behind Chelsea, and that solid base is what gets her into our team this week.
Aston Villa are the visitors to Goodison Park, and they've been struggling for form of late. Even though Villa managed to pick up all three points against Liverpool last time out, we're backing Everton at home. We fancy Mace to be in the points again, and at £5.5m, she's a reliable pick for very little outlay.
The Midfield
Lauren Hemp (Manchester City) - £8.0m
Where do we start with Lauren Hemp? She's been absolutely flying for City, so far this season she's scored four goals and contributed three assists in five appearances, and she's averaging 12.2 fantasy points per game. When she's in this kind of form, there's just no stopping her. The England international is averaging 6.11 dribbles with a 90% success rate, and 2.78 key passes per 90. In short, she's creating chances for everyone, and she's a goal threat herself.
Manchester City face Manchester United on Sunday evening with six wins from six. Eva Olid's United have won their last three, so it won't be easy, but in a game of this size you want your best players in your team, and Hemp is the one who makes things happen for City going forward.
Océane Hurtré (Birmingham City) - £6.0m
Next up we have a player who just can't stop scoring! Hurtré has netted six goals in six games for Birmingham city, only Shaw has scored more in the BWSL. The French international real handful for defenders too, averaging 5.04 dribbles and 3.41 progressive runs per 90 minutes, so she's more than just a finisher.
This week Birmingham host Charlton, who are still without a point after conceding 18 in six games. Birmingham are still waiting for their first win, but with a forward as sharp as Hurtré, we think the Blues have a good chance of bagging all three points, hopefully thanks to another Océane Hurtré goal!
Alexia Putellas (London City) - £8.5m
The star name in our midfield. Alexia has been in some excellent form of late. Three goals, an assist and seven bonus points show how she picks up points in plenty of different ways. She's found her feet in the BWSL and has already shown just how important she is to London City's attacking play. LCL have won four of their last five and scored 17 goals this season, so there's plenty of firepower around her.
Putellas came off the bench for a 30 minute cameo against Everton, but we expect her back in the starting eleven this week. Eder Maestre's side travel to Liverpool, who have looked a little shaky defensively. The Reds have conceded eight in six, and we fancy LCL's attack to be too much for them. At £8.5m she's a premium pick, but she's one we trust to deliver.
Lauren James (Chelsea) - £7.5m
Another player who is on fire right now. Lauren James is yet another player who is impossible to overlook for this team. She's fresh off two goals against Tottenham, and she's taking more than six shots per 90 minutes, the most in the league. James can hurt teams in so many ways. She's comfortable shooting with either foot and just as happy setting up a chance for someone else, which makes her a threat from anywhere in the final third.
Chelsea travel to a Crystal Palace side who have conceded 12 goals in six games, which is exactly the kind of defence she can punish. At £7.5m, she's a must have in your team based on current form.
Lisa Baum (Arsenal) - £6.5m
Lisa Baum might seem like a risk given Arsenal's season so far, but they travel to a Tottenham side who have conceded 12 goals in their last two games. Baum has been one of Arsenal's most dynamic players this season; she's a direct winger who loves to run at defenders, averaging 6.5 dribbles per 90 minutes with an 81% success rate. She has two of Arsenal's five league goals and takes 3.3 shots per 90 minutes, so she's always looking to make something happen.
With Spurs coming off 6-1 and 6-2 defeats, there should be plenty of space for Baum to run into. Arsenal need a win, and we think Baum could be right in the middle of it.
The Forwards
Bunny Shaw (Manchester City) - £12.5m
The Manchester City forward is just in top form, and that's why she's in our team again. She's on seven goals for the season, the most in the BWSL, averaging 9.3 points a game with ten bonus points, and she's 14 points clear of the next best forward in the game. We could write the same thing about her every week, but when a player is this good, you want her in your team.
This week's opponent is a Manchester United side who have conceded ten goals in six games, and we're expecting Shaw to be right in the thick of it once again. At £12.5m she's the most expensive player in the game, but right now, she's worth every penny.
Martha Thomas (Newcastle United) - £5.0m
Our next choice is certainly a player who knows where the goal is! The Newcastle forward has five goals in five BWSL 2 games, more than anyone in the league, and she's averaging 8.4 points a game at just £5m. She's taking 3.6 shots per game and just always seems to be in the right place at the right time.
Newcastle have scored 14 goals so far this season and sit top of the table with a perfect record. They face a Forest side who are unbeaten and have conceded just five in five, so it won't be easy, but Thomas has been scoring regardless of the opposition. At 13% ownership she's one who could be a very shrewd choice this week.
Subs
Misa Rodríguez (Arsenal) - £5.0m
If you're not sure about Hampton, Misa is a good shout. While Arsenal have struggled of late, they will want to put in a big performance against Tottenham and their game is on Saturday, so you could start Misa and see how she does before Sunday's games. If she blanks, you can swap Hampton in.
Megan Collett (Southampton) - £5.5m
Collett is a differential from BWSL 2; only 5% of managers own her. The Southampton defender is averaging 6.6 points a game with four bonus points, and they're at Leicester, who have conceded ten goals in five. If you're not sure about Torpey against an unbeaten Forest side, then Collett is one to look at.
Natalia Ramos (Liverpool) - £5.0m
Ramos is another strong option in defence. She already has a goal and an assist this season, and she's averaging 6.1 passes into the final third per 90 minutes, so she gets involved going forward. London City will be a tough test, but Liverpool are at home, but at just 1% ownership she's one to keep an eye on.
Kiko Seike (Brighton) - £7.0m
If you fancy playing three up top, Seike is one to consider. She has three goals and 31 points in six games, and she's averaging 5.2 touches in the box per 90 minutes, so she's regularly in the right areas to score. Brighton are at home to West Ham on Saturday, who have lost four of their six games, so she could find herself in the goals this week.
