The Hard Tackle lists the five best options to consider to bring into your team heading into FPL Gameweek 3 of the 2026/27 season.
The start of any FPL season is always a balancing act between holding onto your pre-season assumptions and reacting quickly to early-season data. As we approach Gameweek 3 of the 2026/27 season, managers are finding themselves at a critical crossroads. The first two matchdays have provided a wealth of information, quickly demonstrating which players are thriving under their current setups and which teams are struggling defensively.
At this early stage, acting decisively in the transfer market can separate you from your mini-league rivals. Waiting too long to bring in in-form talent can mean missing out on significant price changes and early-season point hauls. When planning your route into the third matchday, the focus should be heavily targeted toward explosive differentials, reliable premium assets coming off big weeks, and identifying favourable fixture match-ups.
To help you navigate your transfer planning before the deadline, we have crunched the underlying numbers and assessed the defensive vulnerabilities of the opposition. Targeting these opportunities can maximise your squad’s ceiling. Whether you are using your free transfers or aggressively shaping your squad, these five players stand out as the top choices to buy for the upcoming slate.
Josko Gvardiol
The resurgent Manchester City defender is proving to be one of the template-busting assets at the start of the season. Operating with tactical freedom under Enzo Maresca, he has consistently found himself in advanced positions inside the opposition box.
Gvardiol is in top form at the start of the season with 15 points so far, making him an incredibly safe route into a Manchester City defensive unit that looks as robust as ever. Heading into a highly favourable fixture against Coventry City, his unique blend of high clean-sheet potential and elite attacking threat makes him a premier defensive buy.
Lewis Hall
Finding value among defenders is crucial for funding explosive premium midfielders, and Lewis Hall represents an ideal solution. A dynamic full-back showing impressive form in Gameweek 2 against Tottenham with 11 points, the Englishman’s defensive output combined with his active overlapping runs and cross delivery provides multiple routes to points.
With Newcastle United showcasing strong tactical cohesion on their flanks, targeting Hall ahead of their next fixture gives you an economical starter with an incredibly high statistical ceiling in FPL.
Morgan Gibbs-White
Midfielders with guaranteed minutes and talismanic roles are gold dust in FPL. The Nottingham Forest skipper has taken his game to another level. Fresh off an explosive 13-point haul against Liverpool in Gameweek 2, he is full of confidence and controlling his team’s attacking transitions.
Gibbs-White is now facing arguably the worst team in the Premier League after two games. Tottenham have looked completely disjointed defensively and conceded heavily out of the gate. This match-up offers a massive opportunity for another double-digit return.
Bruno Fernandes
If you are looking for an explosive premium option who can easily captain your side this week, the Manchester United maestro is the obvious target. He delivered a blockbuster performance in Gameweek 2 against Ipswich Town with a hat-trick and an assist that yielded 23 points against Ipswich.
Showing incredible underlying creativity while being on penalty duties, the Manchester United skipper is now facing a vulnerable Everton defender line that has struggled heavily to track late runners in the box. Do not miss out on his current momentum.
Alexander Isak
Premium forwards are essential cornerstones of any successful FPL squad, and Alexander Isak is quickly reminding managers why he is so highly valued. The Swede is showing resurgent form against Nottingham Forest with a goal, asserting himself back into top clinical condition.
The Liverpool striker is now set to face a vulnerable Ipswich Town defence that has shown immense difficulty adapting to the relentless pace of top-flight attacks. Given his promising underlying numbers, he may be primed for a massive haul against a backline that crumbled against Manchester United in Gameweek 2.
Honourable Mentions
While the core five players demand immediate transfer attention, several other assets are worth monitoring for your long-term transfer planning or as cheaper enablers. In the defensive lines, Semi Ajayi, Ben White, and James Tarkowski have all displayed strong underlying metric baselines.
For managers looking to tweak their midfield picks, Bryan Mbeumo, Bukayo Saka, Cody Gakpo, Morgan Rogers, and Marcus Tavernier are showcasing high creative threat. Finally, forward options like Joao Pedro, Thierno Barry, and Gonzalo Garcia remain fantastic differential considerations if you need to restructure your frontline parameters ahead of Gameweek 3.
