Not every player is worth holding onto as the season progresses, and knowing who to avoid or sell can be just as important as picking the right buys, writes FPL expert Blake Hurst. This week’s list highlights five players who currently pose risks – whether due to poor form, tough fixtures, or rotation threats. Offloading these assets or steering clear of them can help free up valuable funds and transfer slots to strengthen your squad elsewhere. Read on to see which players to keep an eye on and possibly move on before their value dips as we head into Gameweek Three in Fantasy Premier League.
Cole Palmer (10.5m)
Palmer is a classic FPL troll. If you own him, he blanks. If you don’t, he somehow manages to haul big points. His recent injury in the warm up at West Ham looks concerning. For those holding him, it’s an unlucky injury but he could be back this weekend. But with Chelsea’s fixtures looking mixed and Palmer priced at 10.5m without a guaranteed start at this stage, keeping him long term feels risky at his price. Managers could consider moving him on to free funds for more reliable options or to restructure their teams.
Jack Grealish (6.5m)
Everton’s new signing burst onto the scene with two assists in his first start for the club, grabbing attention fast. But diving deeper, one assist came from a decent cross, and the other from a brilliant long range strike – not exactly the kind of returns to expect weekly. Everton’s overall struggles in front of goal don’t help his case either. While he may come into form later this season, at 6.5m he feels too risky right now. For managers weighing up their options, he’s firmly an avoid until more consistent attacking returns show up.
Eberechi Eze (7.5m)
Arsenal’s new signing Eberechi Eze has instantly caught the eye as a vital piece of their attacking setup. While many managers are keen to bring him in, his first four fixtures – Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City, and Newcastle – are anything but inviting for a new arrival. These tough matches suggest patience might pay off, with Gameweek 7 looking like a better time to make the move. Waiting until then allows managers to assess his form and settle into Mikel Arteta’s system before taking the plunge, rather than rushing in too early on a high-priced gamble.
Jurriën Timber (5.6m)
Wow. That 24-point haul from Timber against Leeds was truly something special – two goals, an assist, and a clean sheet is a rare feat. But despite the fireworks, this isn’t the week to rush in and bring him into your squad. Arsenal face a tough run of four challenging fixtures in a row, which makes clean sheets hard to come by. Plus, with Ben White still around to compete for minutes, Timber’s starting spot isn’t guaranteed every week. Chasing last week’s points could backfire, so it’s better to hold off and watch how the situation develops before making transfers.
Jordan Pickford (5.5m)
At the time of writing, over 100,000 transfers have been made for Jordan Pickford following his 15-point haul against Brighton, but such a performance is unlikely to be a weekly occurrence. While Pickford is a reliable and proven goalkeeper for Everton and in FPL, making transfers just to chase big scores rarely proves worthwhile in the long run. Keeper moves based solely on one standout game often backfire, especially early in the season. It’s usually better to stick with your current goalkeeper unless there’s a clear form or fixture advantage. At this stage, making a goalkeeper transfer just because of last week’s points is not recommended.
