Ultimate FPL Gameweek 2 Guide: Transfers, Chips, Captains & Expert Trends

Gameweek 2 of Fantasy Premier League is officially upon us, and expert trends reveal a cautious yet calculated approach among top managers. With minimal chip usage and selective transfers, there’s plenty of strategic nuance to unpack. Let’s break down the biggest GW2 trends, top transfer targets, and captaincy decisions—all informed by expert behaviour and the latest data.

Expert Trends on Transfers & Chips

Most experts are playing it safe—84% made no transfer, 16% made one, and just 2% took a -4 point hit for two transfers. Chip usage is exceptionally low: 3% used Bench Boost, with only 1% each deploying Free Hit or Wildcard.

Top Transfer Targets & Player Trends

Players gaining popularity among experts include:

• Tijjani Reijnders is the transfers-in leader among general managers; experts echo the trend.
• Antoine Semenyo, Erling Haaland, Chris Wood, Richarlison, and Dan Ballard—all standout performers from GW1—are now primed for GW2 consideration.

Top-selling or benched assets include underperformers like Wirtz and Isak—caution is advised. 

Must-Buy & Hold Recommendations

Buy:

• Tijjani Reijnders (City)—brilliant GW1 with a goal + assist; many experts are bringing him in.
• Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth)—scored twice vs Liverpool; strong follow-up fixtures.

Hold:

• Cole Palmer—consistent form, widely captained by experts.
• Bukayo Saka and Ollie Watkins—trusted premium assets with season-long value.

Captaincy Trends & Insights

• Mohamed Salah remains the default, but less dominantly so this week: less than 50% of his owners captained him. 
• Bukayo Saka—17 of his 19 expert owners captained him, suggesting a huge confidence boost. 
• Erling Haaland—11 of 14 owners captained him, reflecting fixture appeal and form. 
• Cole Palmer and Watkins also earn captain votes, though at lower ownership percentages.

Takeaway:
If you own Saka or Haaland, captain them. If not, Salah remains the safest fallback.

Chip Strategy & Transfer Suggestions

Experts avoid early chip usage—most are saving Bench Boost, Wildcard, and Free Hit for later. Early usage can be risky.

Transfer ideas:

• Replace Conor (suspended) with budget defenders like Cash or Aït-Nouri.
• Invest in Reijnders by moving on from underperformers such as Anderson or Rogers.
• Move on João Pedro if there are minutes or fixture concerns: Chris Wood offers viable cover.
• Consider Semenyo, Haaland, Wood, or Kudus as attacking upgrades.

For more ideas, watch:

This GW2 is all about strategic restraint—smart transfers, savvy captain decisions, and saving chips for later. Got different plans? Let us know in the comments! Share this guide with your FPL squad to rally the troops for victory.