Ahead of each Premier League gameweek, I'll take a look at sub-50 percent rostered players on Fantrax and Sleeper whose situations may have changed or improved, and assess whether or not they are worth a pickup in season-long leagues.
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Fantrax & Sleeper Rankings
GOALKEEPER
Altay Bayindir (7% Fantrax, 14% Sleeper)
It's been another slow start to a season for Manchester United, but Bayindir has seemingly taken over the starting keeper role after the opening two matches of the season. While United are still in search of their best form, a home clash against Burnley could be just what the doctor ordered in Gameweek 3 making Bayindir the best streaming option of the week. There's always the chance Andre Onana returns to the XI or United add a new option this week, but until that happens, Bayindir seems to be the guy.
DEFENDERS
Nathan Ake (3% Fantrax, 5% Sleeper)
Rayan Ait-Nouri left Saturday's loss to Spurs with an ankle injury, meaning Ake could be in line to takeover at left-back next week away to Brighton. Ake doesn't bring the same attacking threat that Ait-Nouri does, but any starter for City is worth using when in a pinch. There's also the chance Josko Gvardiol returns from injury, but prior to those updates, Ake is viewed as the healthiest aand most likely to start at left-back.
Use our Fixture Difficulty Ranker to spot easy or tough schedules for the rest of the season
Jackson Tchatchoua (2% Fantrax, 4% Sleeper)
If you're looking for more of a ceiling, Tchatchoua could be a boom-or-bust option in a home matchup against Everton. Tchatchoua scored 7.5 fantasy points in his debut with Wolves despite falling 1-0 to Bournemouth. The wing-back played just 56 minutes following the Toti Gomes red card, but he impressed with three crosses and a chance created over that stretch, entering the pitch after the Ki-Jana Hoever injury. Tchatchoua's time at Verona was lucrative from the flanks, as he created 34 chances and crossed 118 times in 36 appearances last campaign.
MIDFIELDERS
Max Dowman (2% Fantrax, 1% Sleeper)
I was going to talk about Mikel Merino (28% Fantrax, 20% Sleeper), but it's more fun to talk about the 15-year-old Dowman who impressed with 10.5 points in just 26 minutes without having a goal involvement against Leeds United. In a normal situation, Dowman would not be worth speculating on too much, but both Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka left Saturday's win with injuries that could keep them out next week against Liverpool. It's unlikely Dowman would start a match of that magnitude, but he's one to watch moving forward.
James Garner (8% Fantrax, 14% Sleeper)
Garner is on the radar after scoring 17 fantasy points in the 2-0 win over Brighton, as he scored a goal to go with two chances created. Garner is lining up at left-back, but he's eligible as a midfielder on Fantrax meaning he isn't hurt by goals conceded. Once Vitaliy Mykolenko returns from injury, Garner will return to his defensive midfield role, which shouldn't really change anything. For now, he has a minor role on sets and will get forward if the situation calls for it.
FORWARDS
Amine Adli (4% Fantrax, 8% Sleeper)
Adli made the swap from Bayer Leverkusen to Bournemouth last week and scored seven points in a 24-minute cameo while creating a chance and making three tackles during the 1-0 win over Wolves. Adli can play any role across the front three in attack, but he'll need to fight off Marcus Tavernier, Ben Gannon Doak, David Brooks and the returning Justin Kluivert for consistent playing time. Gameweek 3 isn't the right time to grab him with Spurs next up, but Adli has talent if he gets the call in the starting XI.
Omari Hutchinson (13% Fantrax, 10% Sleeper), Noah Okafor (3% Fantrax, 4% Sleeper), Arnaud Kalimuendo (10% Fantrax, 8% Sleeper)
Without much at the forward position, I'm lumping these three players together into a similar bucket as Adli above. None are expected to be immediate starter for their respective clubs, but all have upside if they can find their way into the starting XI following their transfers.
Hutchinson had five goal involvements with Ipswich Town last year, but he's a capable chance creator and crosser of the ball. Okafor has shown some modest success as a goal scorer in other countries, though he never really came to fruition at AC Milan and struggled for minutes.
Kalimuendo is the highest upside lottery ticket of the group after scoring 17 goals last season in Ligue 1 at Rennes. The issue is that Chris Wood has become essential for Nottingham Forest, meaning Kalimuendo is unlikely to see a ton of the pitch barring injury or complete lack of form.
