Eleven goals from the three matches – a hat-trick from a midfield differential and another double-digit return from Romelu Lukaku – with Liverpool’s attack yet to feature, Gameweek 28 looks destined to punch well above its weight.
Brought in by more than 143,000 ahead of Gameweek 28, second only to Swansea City’s Gylfi Sigurdsson among midfielders, Bournemouth’s Josh King is clearly the headline act so far.
It all started disastrously for King’s legion of new owners, with the Norwegian calmly side-footing his early spot-kick wide to register a -2 deficit.
However, he was to recover spectacularly, notching only the second hat-trick by an FPL midfielder this season, only falling short of matching Alexis Sanchez’ Gameweek 14 tally of 23-points due to his early penalty miss.
Deployed in a central striker role in recent matches, King was again played in the No 10 position behind Benik Afobe but found his route to goal nonetheless.
Incredibly, he has now produced eight goals in his last seven Gameweeks and looks an assured starter and vital source of goals for the Cherries for the remainder of the season.
The fixture list may stiffen, but King’s potential to go on providing points for a price tag of just 5.5 will surely drive an instant boom in ownership.
Already more than 10,000 have made the move ahead of the Gameweek 29 home meeting with Swansea City – only Spurs’ Harry Kane has seen more transfers since today’s 2pm deadline.
The availability such a budget midfield option, potentially playing in a striker’s role, could now raise further doubts on relying on a three-man forward line.
Southampton’s Manolo Gabbiadini will be targeted by many once he returns to action but, arguably, with such value available in midfield, there remains a strong case for the 3-5-2.
Certainly, Lukaku looks destined to remain part of our strike force, regardless of formation. He also played a key role in ensuring that the Gameweek 28 tallies will be higher than perhaps expected.
The top captain pick, with 767,000 trusting the striker with the armband, he once again proved his new reassuring level of consistency, particularly at Goodison Park.
Scoring for the fifth consecutive home outing, Lukaku produced a seventh double-figure return and, regardless of the frenzied clamour for Kane ahead of Gameweek 29, his role in our squads surely cannot be questioned.
With three of the next five at home – against Hull City, Leicester City and Burnley – Lukaku will remain locked in and will likely challenge as a captaincy contender over those matches.
While there was disappointment, with Swansea City’s Fernando Llorente failing to provide for his 378,000 new owners having limped off with a dead leg, it seems likely that Gameweek 28 could yet supply some significant scores – particularly if the Liverpool midfield can sparkle at Anfield on Sunday.
Having been flattened by the paltry returns from Manchester City’s midweek failings, Gameweek 28 has already provided unexpected fireworks with Messrs Mane, Coutinho, and perhaps Firmino, yet to take the stage to follow King’s lead.
