The first two Gameweeks of the 2026/27 Fantasy Premier League season have already given managers plenty to think about.
Some popular preseason picks have disappointed. A few unexpected names have exploded into life. Prices are beginning to move, injuries and transfers are changing squad dynamics, and the temptation to chase last weekend’s points is getting stronger by the day.
That makes Gameweek 3 an important decision point. With two rounds of Premier League football now behind us, we have more information than we did before the season started. We can begin to identify genuine attacking patterns, players with strong underlying involvement, and teams whose fixtures are worth targeting.
But there is still one major warning: two Gameweeks is not enough to completely rewrite your FPL team. The best transfers this week are not necessarily the players who scored the most points last weekend. They are the players who combine form, minutes, attacking potential, fixtures, and long-term value.
So, who should FPL managers be buying ahead of Gameweek 3?
Here are the top transfer targets:
1. Erling Haaland (£15.5m) – Manchester City
Fixture: Coventry City (H)
There is only one place to start. Erling Haaland and Manchester City have one of the standout fixtures of Gameweek 3 when Coventry City visit the Etihad Stadium.
The matchup is particularly appealing because Coventry are a newly promoted side, while Haaland remains the most explosive individual asset in the game. Manchester City should dominate possession and create a significant number of opportunities, which immediately puts Haaland at the center of the Gameweek’s captaincy conversation.
The Norwegian is expensive, of course. At £15.5m, owning Haaland requires sacrifices elsewhere. Managers cannot simply build a squad around him without compromising on other premium options.
But this is exactly why fixture timing matters. You do not spend £15.5m on a player simply because he is capable of scoring. You spend it because there are Gameweeks where his potential is significantly higher than everyone else’s. Gameweek 3 is one of those weeks.
Haaland is not only arguably the best transfer target for managers who do not own him. He is also one of the strongest captaincy candidates of the season so far, with Coventry’s visit to the Etihad, he offers a potentially explosive opportunity. The possibility of using the Triple Captain chip has even become a major Gameweek 3 talking point.
If you do not own Haaland and can bring him in without completely destroying your squad structure, this is the week to seriously consider it.
2. Rayan Cherki (£7.7m) – Manchester City
Fixture: Coventry City (H)
Rayan Cherki is currently one of the hottest names in the FPL transfer market. And unlike some early-season bandwagons, there is a strong argument that the excitement is justified.
The Manchester City midfielder has quickly established himself as one of the most productive attacking players in the opening weeks, combining goal involvement with creative responsibility in one of the league’s strongest attacks. He is also the most transferred-in player ahead of Gameweek 3, with hundreds of thousands of managers already moving for him. His rapid rise in popularity has been accompanied by price increases, taking him to £7.7m.
The attraction is obvious. At £7.7m, Cherki gives managers access to Manchester City’s attack without requiring a premium-level investment. That makes him significantly easier to fit alongside players such as Haaland, Cole Palmer, or Bruno Fernandes.
The Coventry fixture only increases his appeal. If City dominate as expected, Cherki could benefit from both his creative involvement and his ability to arrive in dangerous attacking positions.
The biggest concern is Manchester City rotation. However, if Cherki continues to receive regular starts and maintain his current role, his price could still represent excellent value.
Cherki is arguably the best midfield transfer of Gameweek 3 when price, form, and fixture are considered together.
3. Yoane Wissa (£6.1m) – Newcastle United
Fixture: Bournemouth (H)
Yoane Wissa is another player whose FPL stock has risen sharply. The Newcastle forward has emerged as one of the key attacking names to watch following the opening two Gameweeks, and the official FPL analysis has specifically highlighted his growing appeal. He has also been among the most popular transfers in ahead of Gameweek 3.
At £6.1m, Wissa’s biggest advantage is value. FPL managers are always searching for players who can provide attacking returns without consuming too much of the budget, and Wissa has the potential to become one of those assets.
Newcastle also have a home fixture against Bournemouth in Gameweek 3. It is the type of fixture where Newcastle should expect to create opportunities, especially at St. James’ Park. If Wissa continues to play in an advanced role and remains heavily involved in the attack, he could offer a very useful alternative to more expensive forwards.
His price is particularly important. A £6.1m forward who consistently starts for Newcastle and contributes regularly to their attack can significantly improve overall squad structure.
Wissa is one of the best value transfers available this week and deserves serious consideration for managers looking to strengthen their forward line without spending premium money.
4. Alexander Isak – Liverpool
Fixture: Ipswich Town (A)
Liverpool’s trip to Ipswich is another fixture that immediately catches the eye. Ipswich are still adapting to life in the Premier League, and Liverpool’s attacking quality means their key forwards will naturally be among the most attractive options for the Gameweek.
Alexander Isak has the ability to provide the kind of premium-level returns that can transform an FPL Gameweek. What makes him particularly interesting is the fixture.
Away matches against promoted teams can sometimes look more difficult on paper than they are in reality, but Liverpool will still expect to control large periods of this match and create chances.
For FPL managers, Isak offers a different type of premium forward option. Isak can potentially provide elite attacking returns while leaving significantly more money available for the rest of the squad. That flexibility could become increasingly important as managers try to fit multiple premium midfielders into their teams.
If you want a premium forward but cannot stretch to Haaland, Isak is one of the most appealing alternatives for Gameweek 3.
5. Anthony Elanga (£6.1m) – Newcastle United
Fixture: Bournemouth (H)
Newcastle have two attacking assets worth serious attention this week.
Anthony Elanga has joined Wissa among the most popular Gameweek 3 transfers, and his £6.1m price makes him particularly interesting for managers searching for midfield value.
Elanga’s appeal is different from Cherki’s. Cherki is now becoming a premium mid-priced asset in one of the league’s most dominant teams. Elanga, meanwhile, offers the potential for attacking returns at a significantly lower price. That could be extremely useful.
With Haaland costing £15.5m and premium midfielders such as Bruno Fernandes and Cole Palmer demanding major investment, managers need affordable starters who can still contribute points. Elanga has the potential to fill that role.
Newcastle’s home fixture against Bournemouth makes this an attractive week to consider him, particularly if you are looking for a midfielder who can improve your squad’s balance without weakening your starting XI.
He may not have Cherki’s ceiling, but his price and fixture make him a very interesting budget-friendly midfield transfer.
6. Maxim De Cuyper (£4.7m) – Brighton
Fixture: Leeds United (H)
The best FPL transfers are not always the most glamorous. Sometimes a £4.7m defender can improve your team more than an expensive attacker.
Maxim De Cuyper has quickly become one of the most popular defensive options in the game, with his price rising as managers continue to move for him ahead of Gameweek 3. Brighton welcome Leeds United this weekend, giving De Cuyper a reasonable opportunity to deliver both defensive and attacking returns. That combination is important.
At this price, managers are looking for a defender who can start regularly, contribute to clean-sheet potential, and occasionally provide attacking returns. More importantly, De Cuyper can help solve a squad-building problem.
Saving £1m or £2m in defense can make it much easier to own Haaland and another premium midfielder. That is why value defenders are often more important than they initially appear.
If your defense needs a reliable budget upgrade, De Cuyper is one of the standout options.
7. Bukayo Saka – Arsenal
Fixture: Chelsea (A)
Bukayo Saka may not have the easiest fixture on paper, but Gameweek 2 has pushed him firmly back into the premium FPL conversation. The official FPL Scout analysis identified Saka as one of the major takeaways from the previous Gameweek, with his performances reinforcing his importance to Arsenal’s attack.
Chelsea away is clearly not a fixture to target in the same way as Manchester City against Coventry. However, elite FPL players are capable of delivering in difficult matches.
Saka offers goals, assists, set-piece involvement, and bonus-point potential. More importantly, he is one of the players capable of becoming a long-term hold rather than simply a one-week transfer. That matters.
If you are using a transfer to improve your team for the next five or six Gameweeks rather than chasing one fixture, Saka could be worth the investment.
Not the best one-week punt, but an excellent option for managers looking beyond Gameweek 3.
Be careful, don’t Chase Every Gameweek 2 Haul. The biggest mistake many managers make at this stage of the season is reacting too aggressively.
In summary, the most important advice, though, is not to overreact. Gameweek 3 is still early. Do not take unnecessary hits simply because another manager’s player scored more points than yours last weekend. Look at the fixtures, watch the players, consider their roles, and make transfers that can improve your team beyond one Gameweek.
The best FPL transfer is not always the player who scored last weekend. It is the player most likely to keep scoring after you buy him.