Gameweek 3 captaincy options: Erling Haaland deservedly favourite but Bukayo Saka more than tempting

THE captaincy debate is an open-and-shut case for Gameweek 3… or is it?

Let’s run through the strongest contenders for Dream Team managers to mull over before the 7pm Friday deadline.

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PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF MATCHWEEK 3 – PLAYSTATION 5 UP FOR GRABS!

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ALAMY

Gaffers are backing Haaland to run riot this weekend[/caption]

Erling Haaland (£8.6m)

Manchester City’s imperious No9 is deservedly the obvious choice.

Pep Guardiola’s side travel to Bramall Lane on Sunday where they’ll come up against a Sheffield United outfit that have conceded 40 shots across their first two games this season.

Almost everyone expects heavy one-way traffic in the visitors’ favour and that’s likely to mean chances galore for Haaland.

It’s worth noting that we advised Dream Team gaffers to take on the Norwegian cyborg in Gameweek 2 and all the alternatives we put forward produced more points – those who strapped the armband to Pervis Estupinan (£3.6m) or Bryan Mbeumo (£3.7m) would have been handsomely rewarded.

However, while there are opportunities to go against Haaland, Gameweek 3 is probably not one of them.

Bukayo Saka (£6.1m)

DREAM TEAM

Star Boy[/caption]

For those who feel compelled to bet against Haaland, Arsenal’s No7 is a more than tempting alternative.

The Gunners host Fulham at the weekend and while Marco Silva’s men haven’t conceded as many shots as Sheffield United, they’re not far behind.

Not even a Bernd Leno (£3.3m) masterclass will be enough to deny the hosts at the Emirates if the Cottagers produce another toothless defensive display.

Saka averages a goal involvement every 129.7 minutes in the Premier League since the start of last season.

Ben Chilwell (£4.5m)

It’s worth acknowledging the fact that 12 of the 20 clubs will play twice in Gameweek 3.

From a Dream Team perspective, Chelsea and Tottenham are the most notable teams among those pulling double duty.

The Blues have the additional benefit of back-to-back home games against favourable opposition in the form of Luton and Wimbledon.

No Premier League defender has registered more touches in the final third than Chilwell in the opening exchanges of the new campaign – he’s essentially an extra attacker in Mauricio Pochettino’s system.

If the England left-back was guaranteed to start both fixtures then he would be a genuinely excellent alternative to Haaland but virtually every player is a rotation risk in the early rounds of the Carabao Cup.

Bruno Fernandes (£6.4m)

ALAMY

Will everything click for Manchester United in Gameweek 3?[/caption]

Only a truly brave soul would back a Manchester United player over Haaland this weekend given the nature of the Red Devils’ performances so far.

However, the underlying statistics suggest goal involvements are coming for the captain.

Fernandes couldn’t have asked for a more favourable match-up than Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford – Steve Cooper’s men have mustered just eight point on the road since promotion to the top flight.

MOST-POPULAR CAPTAINS FOR GAMEWEEK 3 AMONG ALL DREAM TEAM MANAGERS:

1. Ering Haaland (£8.6m)
2. Bukayo Saka (£6.1m)
3. Mohamed Salah (£6.8m)
4. Bruno Fernandes (£6.4m)
5. Martin Odegaard (£4.9m)