We are here with our best FPL tips this week for Gameweek of the 26-27 Season. Gameweek 3 of the 2026/27 Fantasy Premier League season is already shaping up to be an important one for managers. With several tempting fixtures on the horizon, there are plenty of opportunities to make smart transfers, target differentials and avoid chasing points from the previous gameweek.
Here are our top five FPL tips for Gameweek 3.
1. Don't Transfer In Bruno Fernandes Just Because of His 23-Point Haul
Bruno Fernandes is coming off a historic performance for Manchester United, scoring three goals and assisting another in a huge 5-2 victory over Ipswich. It resulted in a massive 23-point FPL haul and naturally has many managers considering bringing him in.
However, we wouldn't recommend transferring Fernandes in purely because of that performance.
If you already wanted Fernandes as a long-term FPL asset, believe in him and were planning to own him regardless, then bringing him in is perfectly reasonable. But buying him solely because of his 23-pointer could be a mistake.
Manchester United now face Everton away, which is a much tougher fixture. United have also developed a reputation for producing an excellent performance one week before disappointing in the next. It is therefore dangerous to assume Fernandes will immediately repeat his enormous haul.
There is also a difficult fixture against Manchester City coming after Everton. For us, Fernandes is a player to own if you genuinely want him long-term, but we wouldn't be transferring him this week purely because of last week's points.
2. Avoid Pure Arsenal and Chelsea Defenders
Chelsea have arguably been the most exciting team to watch in the Premier League so far. Under Xabi Alonso, they have adopted an extremely aggressive approach, often allowing opponents to have possession before quickly turning defensive situations into dangerous attacking moves.
Their Gameweek 3 opponents, Arsenal, are almost the complete opposite. The Gunners have arguably been the best defensive team in the league, making this an intriguing battle between ultra-attacking football and elite defensive organisation.
Regardless of how the match develops, it looks like a fixture that could produce goals.
Therefore, if you're considering an Arsenal or Chelsea defender, we'd prefer one who has genuine attacking potential rather than a pure defender whose main route to FPL points is through a clean sheet.
Never say never, of course. Any defender can score, assist or keep a clean sheet. But if you're making a transfer specifically for this gameweek, an attacking full-back or set-piece threat is considerably more appealing than a defender who relies almost entirely on defensive returns.
3. Brighton and Aston Villa Are Excellent Differential Targets
If you're using a Wildcard or Free Hit and want to maximise your Gameweek 3 points while finding differential players, Brighton and Aston Villa are two teams worth targeting.
Aston Villa face Hull away, while Brighton take on Leeds. Both fixtures offer plenty of potential for attacking returns.
Leeds have historically shown a tendency to be involved in high-scoring matches, while Hull are one of the newly promoted sides and face a difficult test against Villa.
This makes players from both clubs particularly interesting for managers who want alternatives to the obvious premium picks.
Rather than simply filling your Wildcard or Free Hit team with the most popular players, targeting Brighton and Villa attackers could give you the upside needed to gain ground on your rivals.
4. Barcola Is Only for High-Risk FPL Managers This Week
Bradley Barcola's move from PSG to Liverpool just before the transfer deadline has been one of the most hyped deals of the window. The £106m signing is widely viewed as a potential future superstar and a possible successor to Mohamed Salah.
However, that doesn't necessarily mean he should immediately be in your FPL team.
The biggest issue is uncertainty. Barcola hasn't played a competitive match for PSG this season, meaning there are questions over his fitness and match sharpness. It is also unclear whether he will start against Ipswich or initially come off the bench.
There is always the possibility that he starts and produces a dream debut, but there is an equally realistic possibility that his minutes are limited.
That's why Barcola is a high-risk, high-reward FPL pick this week. If you enjoy taking wild gambles and don't mind uncertainty, he could be exciting. If maximising your expected points is the priority, however, skipping him for Gameweek 3 is the safer approach.
5. A Manchester City Triple-Up Looks Too Good to Ignore
Manchester City have looked excellent so far this season. Their attacking intensity, relentless mentality and ability to keep pushing for goals have been particularly impressive.
They have also strengthened their squad significantly, suggesting there could be even more quality to come as the season progresses.
For Gameweek 3, however, the biggest attraction is the fixture, Coventry at home.
It is difficult to imagine a better fixture for City attackers, and that makes a triple-up look extremely tempting. If you're using a Wildcard or Free Hit, or simply have enough free transfers to restructure your squad, owning three Manchester City players could be an excellent strategy.
The only major warning is rotation. Enzo Maresca can rotate his players every now & then, so don't simply select three City assets because they play Coventry. Prioritise players who are most likely to start.
Final Thoughts
Gameweek 3 is about balancing form with fixtures rather than blindly chasing last week's points. Avoid bringing in Bruno Fernandes purely because of his 23-pointer, be cautious with pure Arsenal and Chelsea defenders, explore Brighton and Villa differentials, treat Barcola as a high-risk gamble and seriously consider a Manchester City triple-up.
For managers looking to make smart moves rather than emotional ones, these five tips could prove crucial this week.
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