Fantasy football scout tips gameweek 2: Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Anthony Martial, Luke Ayling and more
How many of our picks are in your team?
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Fantasy Premier League is back for gameweek two, so here are our tips on who you need to sign.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Now fully signed up until 2023, contractual matters are no longer a potential distraction for Aubameyang. The Arsenal captain opened his campaign with a goal away to Fulham last week and was unlucky to only score the one, seeing another shot cleared off the line.
Mikel Arteta’s side follow that victory with another enticing fixture as a troubled West Ham outfit visit the Emirates. Newcastle struggled to create quality chances last season but had no issues at the London Stadium last week, which does not bode well for David Moyes’ men.
Anthony Martial
Manchester United finally get their new season underway at Old Trafford on Saturday against Crystal Palace, meaning that their quartet of Martial, Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood and Bruno Fernandes finally come into play.
Martial is the pick of the bunch, as both the focal point of United’s attack and the one with the most impressive underlying numbers at the tail end of last season. Palace will likely park the bus but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side should still find a way through.
James Rodriguez
If there was one Everton player who stood out above the rest in the win away at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, it was James. The marquee signing from Real Madrid may not have scored or assisted but was at the heart of everything for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
James has every chance of converting that promising build-up play into points this weekend when newly-promoted West Bromwich Albion travel to Goodison Park, having been expertly taken apart by Leicester City last time out.
Luke Ayling
Elland Road plays host to Premier League football for the first time in 16 years on Saturday and Leeds face a fellow newly-promoted side. Fulham scored just 24 goals away from home in the Championship last season, fewer than bottom-of-the-league Hull City.
Leeds, by contrast, had the Championship’s best defensive record and conceded just 14 times at home. Of their backline, full-backs Ayling and Stuart Dallas offer the most potential for attacking returns.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Calvert-Lewin’s poor form during the restart dampened expectations ahead of the new season but also kept his price tag down to a modest £7.0m and the Everton striker repaid his fantasy owners with a goal away at Tottenham last week.
West Bromwich’s visit kicks off a promising run of fixtures for Ancelotti’s side that is only interrupted by a Merseyside derby at Goodison in gameweek 5. Calvert-Lewin will hope to build a run of early season scoring form between now and then.
Honourable mentions: Ilan Meslier, Lucas Digne, James Justin, Jack Harrison, Ollie Watkins
Captain: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments