Fantasy Expert Gianni Buttice Runs Through Three ESSENTIAL FPL Gameweek 5 Picks

Taking you through his FPL Gameweek 5 picks, Gianni Buttice provides us with the low-down, selecting three essential players.

Gianni Buttice FPL Gameweek 5 Picks

Excluding Erling Haaland – because we don’t even need to tell you why he’s a must have – there are three players (all are 24-32% owned) who I think should be a lock in every team.

Ollie Watkins

Ollie Watkins has been nursing an injury and his reduced minutes, lack of sharpness and absence of FPL points in the first couple of rounds wasn’t a surprise to many given that he himself said he wasn’t 100%. 

After having a long rest in the international break however, he returned with a bang against Everton with 13 FPL points. Watkins said himself he was disappointed he missed two of his four big chances and was disappointed not to get the hat-trick. 

FPL managers should be licking their lips at the prospect of a much fitter Watkins, with excellent fixtures and now a couple of goals under his belt. What do they say about forwards going on goalscoring hot streak runs?

After all, Aston Villa are functioning well, and Watkins played 60 mins against Young Boys on Tuesday night in the Champions League and was seen with ice on his ankle. However, assuming it’s just a knock and he’s available for the weekend, his rest will come in the EFL Cup against Wycombe next week and a start against Wolves is still likely. 

The following Premier League fixtures after that read Ipswich, Manchester United, Fulham and Bournemouth – it’s a great next five for a player who outscored Erling Haaland in FPL last season don’t forget.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Trent Alexander-Arnold may have clocked three clean sheets but he’s somehow failed to earn an attacking return all season despite a huge amount of promise in his first four performances which have produced around two expected assists. 

His average position under Arne Slot has been encouraging and big points feel very close. When (not if) he gets them managers can expect bonus points aplenty, which is what makes Trent the best defensive pick in the game.

In previous years we’ve had to pay in excess of 8 million for the full-back but after a big price reduction I encourage those that don’t own him to jump on him ASAP.

Under Slot we see a little more control and less end-to-end rockstar football that Klopp was known for. With that we can expect more clean sheets and whilst Trent’s upside is the star attraction, the regular 6-point returns should not be sniffed at.

David Raya

David Raya is already the game’s most owned goalkeeper but he’s only in around one in every four teams. His early season form indicates he should be much higher owned and I myself can’t wait to wildcard him in next week in what will be the easiest decision of my 15 (alongside Haaland of course).

The new bonus points system is rewarding goalkeepers who keep a clean sheet and Raya has more bonus points (6) than any defender in FPL so far this season.

He’s also an affordable route to the Arsenal back line, 1 million cheaper than Benjamin White and 0.5 cheaper than the centre back pairing. 

Arsenal look set to continue as the league’s best defence and the popular 4.5 goalkeeper choices like Dean Henderson and Mark Flekken have failed to deliver the returns we had hoped for. Finding that extra 1 million to spend on Raya feels like the obvious play.