One week down, and what a start it was. From electrifying debuts, Vivien Endemann at Liverpool chief among them, to the differentials who caught everyone napping, week one served up plenty for Fantasy managers to learn from.
Now that the dust has settled on the opening weekend, it’s time to turn our attention to matchweek two. This week’s team leans on some of the players who caught the eye last week, with a close look at the fixtures too. Finding a player who’s in good form and has a favourable matchup could mean big points in Fantasy.
As always, keep an eye on the team news before the deadline; one late change to the line-up can throw a spanner in the works, but on paper, this team looks good to go.
The Back Line
Ayaka Yamashita (Manchester City) - £5.5m
We’ve gone with the reigning champions for our number one this week. Manchester City are away at Aston Villa this weekend. Despite a well-earned draw against Chelsea, this one looks like a tough game for the hosts.
City will expect to dominate from the first whistle, and at £5.5m, Yamashita is a sensible, well-priced way to anchor your defence. If you're a set-and-forget manager, she's the one to start and forget about, safe in the knowledge that she's a solid, dependable pick to build the team around.
Kerstin Casparij (Manchester City) - £8.0m
The flying full back was one of the standout defenders in week one, and she's got the opportunity to do it all again. City’s style means she sees plenty of the ball and has licence to get forward whenever possible.
She racked up 11 points last time out and looks every bit the complete Fantasy defender. Yes, at £8m she's not cheap; she is a player, though, who guarantees returns at both ends of the pitch.
Ellie Carpenter (Chelsea) - £7.0m
Carpenter’s quality is hard to ignore. The Blues travel up to the red side of Manchester this weekend and given that United are a side still finding their feet under a new manager, Carpenter has the chance to shine.
The Australian picked up an assist last weekend, making her an appealing pick this time around. With her attacking output on top of any defensive returns, she offers a lovely dual threat from the back, and at £7m, she's well worth the outlay.
Ona Batlle (Arsenal) - £6.0m
Arsenal are at home to Crystal Palace this weekend, a game they will fully expect to win, and summer signing Ona Batlle is a great way into some points through the Arsenal defence. She picked up a solid six points last week, including a clean sheet, and she's clearly caught the eye of plenty of managers already, sitting at 38% ownership.
Batlle is a composed, ball-playing defender whose all-round game means she contributes at both ends, chipping in with the odd forward burst in addition to her defensive work.
The Midfield
Danielle van de Donk (London City Lionesses) - £4.5m
After an injury-hit first season at London City Lionesses, Danielle van de Donk looks like a woman reborn in Eder Maestre’s new-look side. The Dutch midfielder has been utilised in a much more attacking role, and it paid dividends straight away as she found the back of the net with an audacious flick in the opening game.
London City face West Ham this weekend and will fancy their chances once again, which sets van de Donk up nicely to add to her tally. A brilliant value pick by all accounts here.
Katy Watson (Sunderland) - £6.5m
A lot of Fantasy managers probably watched on with envy last weekend as the Sunderland midfielder racked up a sensational 20 points. Watson was almost unplayable as she bagged a brace and an assist in a 4-1 victory against Bristol City. Up next for Watson and the Black Cats is a trip to newly promoted Burnley, a game they will be favourites for.
At £6.5m and still under the radar, she remains a brilliant differential, the kind of pick that gives you a real edge on your mini-league rivals. A creative, goal-getting midfielder in a side that's flying and a fixture that suits, there's an awful lot to like here. One of the first names on our teamsheet this week.
Kirsty Hanson (Tottenham) - £8.0m
Hanson is a popular choice in Fantasy with 14% ownership, and based on last week’s performance, she’s certainly a strong pick for this week. Tottenham travel to Liverpool this weekend, a tougher test than some, but on the back of a two-goal haul that brought her 17 points, she’s earned the faith.
The former Villa player has settled in seamlessly and looks every bit the threat when Spurs go forward; she carries the kind of attacking threat that can win a matchweek on her own. At £8m, she’s a premium pick, but she’s already repaying the outlay. If Spurs can get her on the ball in dangerous areas, she’ll pick up points.
Lauren James (Chelsea) - £7.5m
Chelsea’s star player proved her class in week one, picking up 13 points even as her team were held to a draw. Even in quieter moments, a player of her quality is never really out of a game. James is so heavily involved in everything Chelsea do, the shots, dribbles, and chances created, that the points tend to pile up regardless of the scoreline.
She’s a proven match-winner and one of the most-owned midfielders in the game for very good reason. Sonia Bompastor will want her side to get back to winning ways against Manchester United, and Lauren James is the player to make that happen.
Delphine Cascarino (London City Lionesses) £5.5m
Cascarino was the best player on the pitch for London City against Manchester United, running the show from the right flank, causing all kinds of chaos. She’s an electric winger who loves running at her opponents, putting crosses in and pressing from the front. She’s the kind of attacker who keeps defenders awake at night.
Picking her alongside van de Donk means doubling up on an LCL side full of attacking threat. Cascarino contributed the assist to her teammate's goal against United, and the two of them could easily combine again as the Lionesses travel to West Ham this weekend.
The Forwards
Bunny Shaw (Manchester City) £12.5m
Some picks are just obvious, and this is one of them. The most expensive Fantasy player got her season off to a bright start with a brace against Birmingham. When City are in full flow, she’s the player you can rely on the most to find the back of the net.
She’s the most obvious to be captain too, so hand her the armband and watch your points double.
Ellie Brazil (Southampton) - £7.5m
Ellie Brazil announced herself in style in week one, scoring one and setting up another. She worked tirelessly all over the pitch for a superb 14 points. Now she's got a home fixture against Ipswich to keep the momentum going.
At £7.5m and owned by just 3% of Fantasy managers, she's a differential from the second tier who can quietly outscore the big-money names. With Southampton at home and if Brazil picks up where she left off, there's every chance she delivers again.
Subs
Anna Tamminen (Newcastle) - £5m
Here's where it gets tactical. Newcastle play on Saturday, a day before City, so there's a neat trick for the more active managers. You could start Tamminen, and if she doesn't return, you can swap Yamashita in from the bench for City's Sunday game and still bank your points. Tamminen kept a clean sheet last time out against Wolves and with Newcastle playing a Bristol side that shipped four goals and might be low on confidence, the Finnish ‘keeper could be a smart pick.
Megan Collett (Southampton) - £5.5m
Collett was excellent in week one, getting on the scoresheet for a defender's goal on her way to 10 points. At £5.5m, she offers plenty of points threat from the back with a real desire to get forward and influence the play. A really solid pick for this week.
Jessie Stapleton (Leicester) - £5m
Leicester are at home to Durham, a winnable-looking game that gives Stapleton a decent shot at a clean sheet should she come into your side. The Foxes will want to continue their good form after last week’s win at Sheffield United. She’s got the potential to be a dependable value option.
Holly McNamara (Everton) - £6m
Rounding off the bench, we have Holly McNamara. Everton are at home to Charlton, a game they'll fancy, and the forward has the quality to make an impact if she's called upon. At £6m, she's a really nice price should you want to put her in your team and have three forwards, and with Everton at home to a promoted side, there could be goals in it.
