The fortunes of many Fantasy Football teams vary hugely week-to-week. One moment you’re miles above the weekly average and the next you’ve barely squeaked into double digits. What often holds a team together is one trusty powerhouse that coaches can count on to rake in the points every week, come rain or shine. But when the weekend’s results offer a mixed bag of attacking displays, what should Fantasy managers do when the star striker’s not performing?
Option 1: Bring in Back Line Reinforcements
When your forwards are struggling to add to the tally, it’s worth shoring up your defensive line so you’ve always got a source of bankable points.
Diversifying your defence with a mixture of big names and diamonds in the rough can really help to steady the ship when your star striker isn’t playing as well.
Slotting in faithful defensive performers such as Chelsea duo Ellie Carpenter and Lucy Bronze, who are currently sat at an impressive 41 and 34 points so far this season, could certainly help to boost any Fantasy team’s lineup.
But if you’ve hit your limit of players from some of the big clubs in the BWSL, Southampton’s Megan Collett has topped the chart of best performing defenders this season with 31 points and just this weekend, Newcastle’s Aoife Mannion, who helped maintain a clean sheet against Leicester (and put away a conclusive goal), took home points in the double figures.
Option 2: Chop and Change
Whilst patience can be a virtue, sometimes it’s time to try out something new up front before you spend too many weeks dropping below average.
Subbing in a striker who’s had a stronger start to the season can help your team get back to winning ways.
Khadija Shaw would be a natural choice for those seeking a clinical goal scorer with a history of immense point totals; last season alone Shaw tallied an eye-watering 199 points.
But with Khadija Shaw currently priced at £12.5m, if you’re a manager on a tight budget, you might be looking for more of a hidden gem. Newcastle’s Martha Thomas is also an excellent option as currently the striker with the most 2026/27 Fantasy points in the BWSL and BWSL2.
Along the same lines, Vivien Endemann’s recent eye-catching performances for Liverpool, clocking in 2 goals and 2 assists in 4 starts, make a compelling argument for under pressure Fantasy managers to bring her in.
Option 3: Strengthen the Midfield
Sometimes the key to unlocking a successful Fantasy team is building up a striker’s support system, so one bad game carries less impact. Bringing in dependable wingers, alongside key playmakers in the midfield can change a team’s fortunes overnight.
One such midfielder is Tottenham’s Victoria Pelova, who provided 2 goals just this weekend and 4 in total so far this season in the BWSL, following her transfer from Arsenal in the summer.
Another exciting midfield candidate could be Nottingham Forest’s Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, who alongside levelling the score against Southampton this weekend in the BWSL2, has played a key role in some of Forest’s best results so far this season, scoring 3 clutch goals in 4 starts.
For the managers in the enviable position of having a big budget, towards the pricier end of the market, Viviane Asseyi’s impressive performances up front for West Ham the past few weeks, scoring 3 goals including the winner against London City Lionesses in their only defeat of the season so far, would make her a top-shelf choice.
Most likely, your striker just needs a bit of time to get back to winning ways. But just in case, effectively finetuning your Fantasy squad can ensure that one poor individual performance can easily be weathered by an expert balance of dazzling and dependable players.
