FPL Gameweek 3 Free Hit: Pros, cons + best team

Price Change Predictions

	Player	Club	Factors
No Change	Haaland	MCI	B, Vs
No Change	Mateta	CRY	B
No Change	Thiago	BRE	A
No Change	Welbeck	BHA	B
No Change	Woltemade	NEW	B

Risers

Fallers

Player	Team	Price	Progress	Tonight
Woltemade	NEW	7.4m	107.8%	Very Likely
Van Hecke	BHA	4.4m	96.3%	Likely
Lammens	MUN	5.0m	99.7%	Likely
J.Timber	ARS	6.4m	85.9%	Maybe
Casemiro	MUN	5.5m	94.9%	Maybe
Raya	ARS	5.9m	73.4%	Unlikely
Guéhi	CRY	5.1m	65.9%	Unlikely
Truffert	BOU	4.5m	89.8%	Unlikely
Roefs	SUN	4.7m	84.4%	Unlikely
Cullen	BUR	5.0m	85.0%	Unlikely
Mitchell	CRY	5.0m	83.4%	Unlikely
Tavernier	BOU	5.5m	86.6%	Unlikely
Petrović	BOU	4.5m	81.9%	Unlikely
Szoboszlai	LIV	6.6m	84.8%	Unlikely
J.Palhinha	TOT	5.5m	78.8%	Unlikely
Neto	CHE	7.2m	55.7%	Unlikely
Matheus N.	MCI	5.3m	75.1%	Unlikely
Rogers	AVL	6.9m	79.4%	Unlikely
Dúbravka	BUR	4.0m	71.5%	Unlikely
Gvardiol	MCI	5.8m	68.3%	Unlikely
Saka	ARS	10.1m	59.7%	Unlikely
De Ligt	MUN	5.0m	75.5%	Unlikely
Amad	MUN	6.3m	65.5%	Unlikely
Sánchez	CHE	4.8m	62.6%	Unlikely
King	FUL	4.5m	62.8%	Unlikely
Foden	MCI	8.3m	39.7%	Unlikely
O.Dango	BRE	6.0m	55.3%	Unlikely
Ballard	SUN	4.6m	55.2%	Unlikely
Schade	BRE	7.0m	55.4%	Unlikely
Lacroix	CRY	5.1m	44.6%	Unlikely
Donnarumma	MCI	5.7m	55.0%	Unlikely
Chalobah	CHE	5.2m	47.6%	Unlikely
Burn	NEW	5.1m	32.3%	Unlikely
Sessegnon	FUL	5.4m	48.2%	Unlikely
Barnes	NEW	6.4m	34.2%	Unlikely
Gusto	CHE	4.9m	46.1%	Unlikely
Livramento	NEW	4.9m	36.2%	Unlikely
Verbruggen	BHA	4.4m	34.9%	Unlikely
Anderson	NFO	5.4m	41.0%	Unlikely
Kroupi.Jr	BOU	4.6m	44.3%	Unlikely

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Player	Team	Price	Progress	Tonight
Caicedo	CHE	5.9m	103.6%	Very Likely
Mbeumo	MUN	8.6m	83.7%	Likely
Rodney	CRY	4.5m	99.2%	Likely
Strand Larsen	WOL	6.3m	92.9%	Likely
Vicario	TOT	5.0m	95.2%	Likely
Coppola	BHA	4.3m	95.2%	Maybe
Lewis	MCI	4.8m	90.9%	Maybe
Dixon	EVE	3.9m	94.3%	Maybe
J.Araujo	BOU	3.9m	92.8%	Maybe
Tel	TOT	6.3m	93.0%	Unlikely
Maguire	MUN	4.4m	90.9%	Unlikely
Kerkez	LIV	5.7m	89.2%	Unlikely
Pinnock	BRE	4.3m	95.7%	Unlikely
Okafor	LEE	5.5m	94.3%	Unlikely
Welch	EVE	3.9m	91.7%	Unlikely
Travers	EVE	4.4m	90.6%	Unlikely
Mainoo	MUN	4.7m	90.1%	Unlikely
Ortega Moreno	MCI	4.8m	89.8%	Unlikely
Georginio	BHA	5.7m	76.0%	Unlikely
Kelleher	BRE	4.5m	88.8%	Unlikely
Darlow	LEE	4.0m	85.9%	Unlikely
Boateng	BUR	4.8m	89.2%	Unlikely
M.Bizot	AVL	4.3m	86.2%	Unlikely
Arrizabalaga	ARS	4.2m	83.4%	Unlikely
Abbott	NFO	3.9m	85.2%	Unlikely
Mac Allister	LIV	6.3m	83.1%	Unlikely
Cox	BRE	4.0m	83.6%	Unlikely
Matete	SUN	4.4m	80.9%	Unlikely
McGill	BHA	4.0m	82.8%	Unlikely
Baleba	BHA	4.7m	81.4%	Unlikely
Colwill	CHE	4.8m	83.0%	Unlikely
Sonne	BUR	3.9m	80.7%	Unlikely
George	CHE	4.9m	90.4%	Unlikely
Akinmboni	BOU	3.9m	80.5%	Unlikely
Neave	NEW	4.4m	82.0%	Unlikely
Knight	BHA	4.5m	83.1%	Unlikely
Young	AVL	4.4m	79.6%	Unlikely
Christie	BOU	5.0m	77.9%	Unlikely
Gannon-Doak	BOU	4.9m	79.8%	Unlikely
Obi	MUN	4.3m	76.3%	Unlikely

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FPL Fixture Ticker

Watchlists

	Player	Club	Factors
No Change	Raya Martin	ARS	C, Vs
No Change	Alisson	LIV	C, Vs
No Change	Donnarumma	MCI	C, Vs, Sus
Up	Ramsdale	NEW	C
No Change	Sels	NFO	C, Vs
No Change	Dubravka	BUR	C, £

Last updated: 2 Dec, 2025 3:14pm

	Player	Club	Factors
No Change	van Dijk	LIV	B, Vs
No Change	Muñoz	CRY	A, Sus
No Change	Jurriën Timber	ARS	C, Vs
No Change	O’Reilly	MCI	A, Vs
No Change	de Ligt	MUN	C, Vs
Up	Thiaw	NEW	A
No Change	Andersen	FUL	A
No Change	Milenkovic	NFO	C, Vs
No Change	van Hecke	BHA	B, £
No Change	Mukiele	SUN	C, £

Last updated: 2 Dec, 2025 2:34pm

	Player	Club	Factors
No Change	Saka	ARS	A, Vs
No Change	Bruno Fernandes	MUN	A, Vs
No Change	Foden	MCI	A, Vs
No Change	Semenyo	BOU	C
Up	Gakpo	LIV	A, Vs
No Change	Minteh	BHA	A
Up	Anderson	NFO	A, Vs, £
No Change	Fernández	CHE	B
Up	Bruno Guimarães	NEW	B

Last updated: 2 Dec, 2025 2:44pm

	Player	Club	Factors
No Change	Haaland	MCI	B, Vs
No Change	Mateta	CRY	B
No Change	Thiago	BRE	A
No Change	Welbeck	BHA	B
No Change	Woltemade	NEW	B

This season, Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers have been given twice as many chips, which includes two Free Hits.

Similar to the use of the first Wildcard in recent seasons, the first one must be used before the Gameweek 19 deadline.

The addition offers FPL managers extra opportunities, rather than simply waiting for a Blank or Double Gameweek in the second half of the season.

Consequently, Gameweek 3 is a possible opportunity to use it.

Many FPL managers will have already decided on their chip strategy, of course; however, for those who haven’t yet fully committed, we look at the potential pros and cons of a Gameweek 3 Free Hit below.

We’ve also put together a couple of team drafts to consider.

GAMEWEEK 3 FREE HIT: THE PROS

FPL managers have traditionally favoured using the Free Chip in a Blank or Double Gameweek, but it seems unlikely we will get either in the first half of the season, unless there is a postponement for bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

As a result, there isn’t really a standout time to play it, so why not use it in Gameweek 3?

AVOIDING LIVERPOOL V ARSENAL

It could help you navigate a Gameweek in which several key players encounter difficult matchups.

The standout fixture in the Premier League in Gameweek 3 is last season’s first versus second, Liverpool v Arsenal.

The Gunners are yet to concede a goal, or even a big chance, in the first two Gameweeks.

With Mohamed Salah (£14.5m) and Florian Wirtz (£8.4m) in the top five midfielders selected by teams in Gameweek 2, Gameweek 3 could be a good opportunity to give them a rest against Arsenal’s miserly defence.

You’d then get them back for an unmissable run of three games which sees the Reds face Burnley, Everton and Crystal Palace in Gameweeks 4-6.

While owners of Viktor Gyökeres (£9.0m) could be licking their lips at Liverpool’s porous defence, their attack remains the most effective in the league, scoring the most goals over Gameweeks 1-2.

So, owners of Gabriel Magalhães (£6.1m) and David Raya (£5.5m) could keep them in their squads and bring them back for a home game against Notts Forest.

TARGETING THE FAVOURABLE FIXTURES

Targeting West Ham fixtures looks like a viable strategy after the Hammers conceded a whopping eight goals, including three against newly promoted Sunderland, in their first two games.

For those who like reliability, Chris Wood (£7.7m) has to be an option against the Premier League’s worst defence, likewise for Matz Sels (£5.0m) and the Forest backline, with the Hammers only creating one big chance in two games.

Gambling on Forest assets for one week looks to be an enticing option, with the Tricky Trees visiting The Emirates in Gameweek 4.

Matheus Cunha (£8.1m) has had the second most shots of all midfielders in the first two Gameweeks, less than only OOP Anthony Gordon (£7.5m), who is going to miss the next three Gameweeks due to suspension. Newly promoted Burnley are next up for the Red Devils.

THE PALMER BAND-AID

FPL notes: Palmer injury latest, Pedro haul + West Ham wide open

Cole Palmer (£10.4m) is out of Gameweek 3.

It might leave you short of players for this weekend but, at the same time, you might want to keep the England international longer term.

So, a Gameweek 3 Free Hit satisfies both needs. This allows a punt on a Forest or Man Utd midfielder (who have tricky Gameweek 4 tests) for one week, with Palmer returning thereafter.

GAMEWEEK 3 FREE HIT: THE CONS

ALWAYS HANDY TO HAVE A CHIP FOR EMERGENCIES

It obviously leaves you without a very handy chip for the rest of 2025.

Could it be beneficial to have the Free Hit in your back pocket for the hectic festive period, when injuries and suspensions frequently occur?

OTHER TOUGH FIXTURES YOU CAN NAVIGATE WITH A FREE HIT IN THE FUTURE

There could be better opportunities to use it further down the line, too.

If you want to use the Free Hit chip to help you navigate a Gameweek in which a number of your key players have tough fixtures, here are a few dates to look out for:

Arsenal v Man City (GW5)
Chelsea v Liverpool (GW7)
Man City v Liverpool (GW11)
Chelsea v Arsenal (GW13)

MAN CITY V BURNLEY IN GAMEWEEK 6?

Alternatively, you may wish to target a specific fixture and create a triple-up that wouldn’t typically be accessible to you.

The match between Man City v Burnley in Gameweek 6 instantly stands out. Pep Guardiola’s side face Manchester United and Arsenal leading up to it, making a Free Hit potentially advantageous.

In addition to City, Nottingham Forest (SUN), Bournemouth (lee) and Tottenham (WOL) are other teams you might want to target on a Gameweek 6 Free Hit.

GAMEWEEK 3: FREE HIT TEAM DRAFTS

Draft 1: Playing it safe

This draft features triple-ups for Notts Forest, Spurs and Man United, who host West Ham, Bournemouth and Burnley respectively.

Sels and Nikola Milenković (£5.5m) face a West Ham side that has created just one big chance in two games.

Despite their clean sheet against Wolves, Bournemouth have allowed only one less shot in the box than West Ham, so Pedro Porro (£5.6m) and Richarlison (£6.7m) could continue their good form.

If Cunha, Bruno Fernandes (£9.0m) and their teammates start taking their chances, then big hauls could be just around the corner with newly-promoted Burnley visiting Old Trafford next.

Despite blanking in the last Gameweek, Erling Haaland is captained after he missed a sitter and could have finished the game with two assists.

Draft 2: A little bit different

This differential draft favours DEFCON monsters James Tarkowski (£5.5m), Murillo (£5.5m) and Matthis De Ligt (£5.0m).

New signings Dan Ndoye (£6.0m) and OOP Dango Ouattara (£6.0m) are selected after impressive starts.

An expensive attack sees Haaland feature alongside Joao Pedro (£7.6m), fresh from his 15-point haul against West Ham, and Gyokeres, due to Liverpool conceding four goals in two games, including two against 10-man and strikerless Newcastle