Gameweek 3 has delivered the kind of FPL chaos that makes you question every transfer you made — and every decision you thought was “template”.
After Gameweek 2, several popular assets looked close to essential. The official FPL Scout was already highlighting Cherki as the No.1 transfer target, while Wissa and Elanga were among Newcastle’s most popular targets after strong opening returns.
And then… football happened.
1. Rayan Cherki — blank.
After two assists in GW1 and a brace against Crystal Palace in GW2, Cherki had become one of the biggest FPL names around. The hype was enormous, but the points simply didn’t arrive this time.
2. Malick Thiaw — the cruelest kind of blank.
A promising defensive pick turned into an own-goal nightmare, wiping away what looked like a potential clean-sheet return. This is peak FPL: sometimes your defender can do everything right and still leave you staring at a red arrow.
3. Anthony Elanga & Yoane Wissa — Newcastle pain.
Both had become highly attractive assets ahead of Newcastle’s favourable run. Wissa had already produced a goal and an assist across the opening two Gameweeks, while Elanga had scored twice.
This week? The returns dried up, with Wissa also picking up a yellow card.
4. Pascal Groß — blank + yellow.
Another popular midfield option managed to turn a potentially productive fixture into another frustrating FPL return.
5. Ibrahim Sangaré — the ultimate FPL troll.
After delivering a huge opening-week haul through defensive contributions, Sangaré was hooked at half-time with a yellow card attached to his name. The defensive-contribution system had made him an intriguing low-cost option, but minutes remain the eternal FPL enemy. The official FPL site specifically highlights defensive contributions as an additional source of points for players such as Sangaré.
6. Kayode — 45 minutes and out.
Another popular defensive pick who couldn’t even make it through the first half. For an FPL defender, there are few things more frustrating than watching the substitute board appear before half-time.
7. Dominic Calvert-Lewin — back to earth.
After an eight-point haul against Brentford, including a goal and bonus points, expectations were understandably high. Leeds’ own FPL coverage had highlighted his excellent start and consecutive 90-minute appearances.
Against Brighton, however, Leeds’ attack couldn’t convert their chances and the game ended 1-1.
8. Leeds defence — clean-sheet heartbreak.
Leeds led for most of the match at Brighton, only for Luka Vušković to equalise in the 71st minute. A defensive return that looked increasingly likely disappeared in the blink of an eye.
9. Thiago & Schade — the final boss.
With Brentford’s attacking assets threatening to blank, owners were left desperately hoping for something late. That’s the emotional torture of owning popular FPL forwards: 85 minutes of nothing and suddenly you’re begging for a deflection, penalty or jammy rebound.
The FPL lesson?
This is exactly why FPL ownership is both a blessing and a curse.
When popular assets return, you climb with the crowd. When they fail, at least you’re suffering together. But when almost the entire template blanks in the same Gameweek, suddenly the managers who trusted a random differential from nowhere are looking like geniuses.
The important thing is not to overreact.
Cherki’s underlying appeal hasn’t disappeared because of one blank. Wissa and Elanga still have the favourable Newcastle run that made them popular in the first place. And Calvert-Lewin’s eight-point haul in GW2 doesn’t become irrelevant because Brighton held Leeds to a draw.
Sometimes FPL isn’t about being right.
Sometimes it’s simply about surviving FPL heritage at its peak.
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