FPL managers have spotted two ‘trap’ transfers that over 3 million players have already made before GW5.
Many Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers might be caught out after picking two players who scored big in Gameweek 4.
Right before the international break, some budget-friendly players kept shining. Jayden Bogle (£4.5m) was the top-scoring defender with 15 points, scoring a goal and earning three bonus points as Leeds United beat Newcastle 4-1. Only 2.7% of managers own him, but they also got four extra clean-sheet points when he was subbed off late, before Newcastle scored a late goal. Over 67,000 managers have already brought Bogle in for Gameweek 5, as Leeds face Crystal Palace at home. Meanwhile, many others have looked elsewhere for a budget defender.
Leeds weren’t the only team to win big in Gameweek 4. Brighton & Hove Albion smashed Coventry City 5-1 at the CBS Arena. Four Brighton players scored double-digit points: defenders Lewis Dunk (12) and Maxim De Cuyper (11), midfielder Pascal Gross (17), and forward Charalampos Kostoulas (10). Gross, in particular, stood out with a goal, two assists, and three bonus points—making him the highest-scoring player that week and a great value pick this season. Starting at £5.5m, the 35-year-old leads midfielders with 33 points, ahead of Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Brentford’s Kevin Schade.
Defender De Cuyper has also been impressive, playing as a left winger due to Koaru Mitoma’s absence, and earning 32 points so far—just behind Josko Gvardiol (33) and Bogle (37). No wonder over 2.2 million managers have transferred in De Cuyper and more than 1 million have brought in Gross ahead of Gameweek 5, hoping their good form continues.
But here’s the catch: many managers might be falling into a trap. Those less focused on fixtures often miss that Brighton is about to face a tough run. They play Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City in three of their next five games, making it harder for De Cuyper and Gross to keep scoring well.
The chance to buy De Cuyper and Gross at a good time might be gone, at least for the matches right after the break. Managers could look for alternatives instead. For just £0.2m more than De Cuyper, Nottingham Forest’s defender Neco Williams looks promising. He has 17 points from four games, including an assist against Liverpool, and faces teams like Coventry City and Crystal Palace in his next matches. As an attacking left wing-back in an organized team, Williams might be a great pick before the break.
As for Gross, managers might consider Fulham’s young striker Josh King, who costs £0.1m less. Although Fulham has only one point from four games, King has scored goals against Chelsea and Crystal Palace and could shine in their easier fixtures after the break. The 19-year-old might be a budget pick with big potential.
So, while some players had fantastic Gameweek 4s, it’s smart to think ahead about upcoming fixtures to make the best choices!