FPL GW3 Free Hit Team: Best Squad for Gameweek 3
Using the Free Hit chip in FPL Gameweek 3 is all about maximising one-week upside. With Manchester City at home to Coventry and several strong fixture spots elsewhere on the board, this is a natural week to build an aggressive short-term squad. This FPL GW3 Free Hit team is built around clean-sheet odds, secure minutes, set-piece roles and the highest-upside attacking picks for Gameweek 3 only.
For more on when to use the chip, see our FPL chip strategy guide.
For the broader fixture picture, see our FPL GW3: Best Teams and Fixtures to Target article.
Recommended FPL GW3 Free Hit Team
XI: Kelleher; Collins, Ajer, De Cuyper; Saka, Cherki, Foden, Szoboszlai; Haaland (C), Isak, Wissa
- Captain: Erling Haaland
- Vice-Captain: Bukayo Saka
- Formation: 3-4-3
For the full player order rather than a one-week chip squad, see our FPL Gameweek 3 Rankings.
Goalkeeper Pick
In goal, Caoimhin Kelleher (£5.0m) is the pick. Brentford carry the second-highest clean sheet odds of any side this week behind Manchester City, and with Kelleher owned by just 7% of managers, there is real differential upside here beyond the clean sheet itself. A historically solid shot stopper, he should rack up save points regardless of the result.
Best Defenders for the FPL GW3 Free Hit
The defensive unit leans heavily into Brentford, and intentionally so. Tripling up on the Brentford defence might sound aggressive, but maximising co-variance on a Free Hit is exactly the right approach when chasing a big week rather than managing risk over a full season.
Nathan Collins (£5.5m) and Kristoffer Ajer (£4.5m) both bring aerial goal threat from set pieces alongside their defensive contribution potential. Maxim De Cuyper (£4.5m) has been operating on the left wing this season, giving him a better chance of attacking returns on top of any clean sheet bonus. Three Brentford defenders (Kelleher included) against this Sunderland side is the structural backbone of this Free Hit.
Best Midfielders for the FPL GW3 Free Hit
Bukayo Saka (£9.5m) played 90 minutes in Gameweek 2 and looks back to full fitness. Potentially on penalties and carrying upside against a Chelsea defence that has looked leaky, he is the vice-captain option if Arsenal are making you nervous about the Haaland captaincy.
Rayan Cherki (£7.7m) and Phil Foden (£7.0m) are the two highest-ceiling picks in the entire squad, both operating at home against Coventry with immense points potential. Neither is ideal as a long-term hold given minutes concerns, but they are tailor-made as one-week Free Hit punts for a fixture as soft as Coventry home.
Dominik Szoboszlai (£7.0m) rounds out the midfield. He's nailed for minutes, on set pieces and now facing an Ipswich side that just conceded five to Manchester United. A set-and-forget inclusion even on a chip week.
Best Forwards for the FPL GW3 Free Hit
Erling Haaland (£15.5m) is the obvious captain choice at home to Coventry, a fixture that could not be more perfectly set up for a big haul. The Free Hit exists for weeks like this.
Alexander Isak (£9.0m) is the focal point of the Liverpool attack and should see plenty of chances against an Ipswich side with limited Premier League experience at this level.
Yoane Wissa (£6.0m) completes the forward line as one of the most exciting picks of the week. Expected to be on penalties with Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Nick Woltemade gone, playing 90 minutes consistently with Will Osula injured and facing Bournemouth at home, Wissa looks rejuvenated and very well set up for a strong return.
Check RotoWire's predicted lineups and injury report in the days before the deadline to confirm all starters, and keep an eye on any late fitness news that could affect the picks above.
Best Free Hit Team for Gameweek 3 Pictured
Final Thoughts
This Free Hit draft leans into the strongest combination of captaincy upside, attacking ceiling and concentrated defensive exposure available in Gameweek 3. Brentford provide the defensive stack, Haaland is the obvious captain in the standout fixture of the week, and Cherki and Foden add the kind of one-week upside that makes the Free Hit chip so appealing. As always, confirm starting lineups and late injury news before finalising the team.
