Our Gameweek 2 Hot or Cold article is here to outline the current prospects of key Fantasy EPL players. Our 'Hot' or 'Cold' status will help take away your emotional attachment to certain Draft Premier League players and help you bring in the players that you need to help you dominate your Fantrax Draft League!
These Hot or Cold ratings are based on the data contained within the Weekly Rest-of-Season Rankings produced by Robbie P. The Draft Society's exclusive weekly refresh of Fantasy EPL prospect rankings!
Gameweek 2 Hot List
These are Fantasy EPL players that have risen in our Weekly ROS Rankings! Keep an eye on these Draft Premier League players, and bring them into your Fantrax squad if you can.
Oleksandr Zinchenko
Position: Defender
Team: Arsenal
Pre-Season Rank: 65
GW1 Rank: 40
What's Changed?: Zinchenko had the perfect Premier League debut for Arsenal, a clean sheet, an assist and 11.25 ghost points! He was involved in everything and the role he took on was almost Cancelo like at City, moving inside in advanced positions, with Martinelli ahead of him almost playing like a striker at times. If Arsenal continue to utilize him in this way, you could have picked up an absolute bargain in your draft! Given Villa's struggles, trading him in for someone like Cash could represent great value and I wouldn't be adverse to a swap with Digne.
Timothy Castagne
Position: Defender
Team: Leicester
Pre-Season Rank: 151
GW1 Rank: 127
What's Changed?: The injury to Ricardo Pereira in pre-season has opened up the door for Castagne to have regular playing time and he certainly grabbed the opportunity against Brentford, scoring a goal to go with his 11 ghost points. With Rodgers starting with 3 centre backs, the Castagne and Justin played in very advanced positions as wings backs with plenty of licence to get forward. While Leicester don't look to be the most sound defensively, the attacking output from Castagne and his ability to fill up the stat sheet nicely, could see him as a great asset for the coming season, get him in cheap while you still can!
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Position: Midfielder
Team: Leicester
Pre-Season Rank: 115
GW1 Rank: 83
What's Changed?: Sticking with Leicester, my final 'hot' player is someone that Totti has been raving about in pre-season (probably too much if you ask him, given he didn't manage to draft him), and that's Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. I admit I had my doubts given his deeper role and limited fantasy output last season, even if his 6-7 ghost points every week could be useful at times. However, the signs were there in pre-season and with Ndidi back fit and in the short term at least Barnes out injured, KDH will have a more advanced role in the Leicester midfield. We could see more returns and potentially an increase in his floor with more shots and key passes. He may not be as cheap as he was given his strong GW1 showing, so could be difficult to bring in for value, but in some league he may even remain on the waiver wire after GW1. If so, it would be an absolute no brainer to bring him in.
For the full list of Gameweek 2 risers, check out our Weekly ROS Rankings page!
Gameweek 2 Cold List
These are Fantasy EPL players that have fallen in our Weekly ROS Rankings. This may be due to poor form, they have been dropped from the best 11, they have suffered an injury, or received a suspension. It's time to consider trading out or dropping these Draft Premier League players from your rosters!
Roberto Firmino
Position: Forward
Team: Liverpool
Pre-Season Rank: 104
GW1 Rank: 130
What's Changed?: It pains me to put Bobby in the cold section, but given the optimism after he started over Darwin Nunez in the Community Shield, I was hoping for much more from him to be able to keep his place in the starting XI. Bobby's meagre fantasy output (1.5) against Fulham in GW1 and the transformation that Nunez made to the Liverpool side when he came on, make me pretty cold on his prospects. His role is effectively to facilitate the other wide forwards and full backs to attack and it just isn't producing any points or any attacking threat. I think Nunez could come into the starting XI as early as GW2. At this point the only possible redemption for Bobby could come with Thiago's injury, meaning we could see Klopp turn to a 4231 formation with Bobby in the hole behind Nunez, which I think could improve his fantasy output too.
Recommendation: I think the best course of action is to attempt to trade him out to someone who rosters a Liverpool forward, particularly Nunez or Jota. If not I wouldn't be afraid of dropping him to the waiver wire, at this point in the season an open roster spot is so valuable for pick ups and new transfers.
Riyad Mahrez
Position: Forward
Team: Manchester City
Pre-Season Rank: 20
GW1 Rank: 35
What's Changed?: I've never been particularly high on Mahrez in drafts given his huge rotation risk, that is unless you manage to handcuff with the other City forwards. However, I'm even lower on him now with the introduction of Haaland. With a more traditional no.9, Mahrez's lack of work rate in pressing and tracking back just can't be carried in the same way. His performance in the Community Shield was abject and Foden starting at right wing against West Ham in GW1 could be the final nail in the coffin for those that thought Mahrez had no competition for his spot after Jesus and Sterling left. We could see a few starts from Mahrez against weaker sides and used more extensively in the Champions League as we have seen in previous seasons, but for now I just don't see how he fits into Pep's preferred XI.
Recommendation: I would look to trade Mahrez out for anyone with Round 3 value, particularly look to target anyone with City midfielders and forwards on their roster. You could also look to bring in one of those City players for a handcuff but they may be difficult to prize away for decent value, but personally I'd prefer not to have the Mahrez headache on my team.
Ibrahima Konate
Position: Defender
Team: Liverpool
Pre-Season Rank: 84
GW1 Rank: 147
What's Changed?: Konate rose to 84 in my ranks towards the end of pre-season after seeing him paired with Van Dijk. However, he didn't make the starting XI in the Community Shield and started the season with a injury, so the 2nd centre back spot looks to be Matip's. I expect a very similar situation to last season with Matip preferred in the Premier League and Konate in the cup games, at least until the World Cup.
Recommendation: Konate's injury will keep him out for a little while and he has no guarantee of a starting place upon his return so he is definitely in drop territory for me. I would first try to see you can move him on to someone who rosters Matip or Van Dijk, but don't be afraid to just get rid if you don't have any luck.
Honourable Mentions
With our last set of ranks being published on the 28th July, I thought it was worth noting a few players that will have large drops in my ranks based mostly on injuries or risk of transfer.
Harry Wilson - Wilson picked up an injury before the start of the season putting out for at least 8 weeks, frustrating many managers who drafted him. I have moved him down from 81 to 136 in my ranks, he does still hold some value so you can either be patient with him, but personally I would recommend trying to ship him out and wouldn't be afraid to drop him if something more interesting is available on the waiver wire.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin - Another injury for the centre forward, apparently unrelated to what put him out last season, so we have hope that the 6 weeks diagnosis will be just that. With the first 5 gameweeks nicely spread out, we could see him miss just the next 5/6 games. It's a long season and for an asset drafted in Round 4, with potential for Round 2 upside, you've got to hold for now.
Thiago - Deja vu for Thiago rosterers, another injury and this one looks like 6 weeks out, but I think given his injury record we're looking at more like 8 weeks with a slow re-introduction. The diagnosis for his injury came out after I had published my ranks, so i would look to put him much further down in the 120-130 region. This puts him in drop territory for me, especially if you begin to become desperate for starters and/or want to go after a new transfer.
Raul Jimenez - Jimenez's great pre-season was enticing managers to take him as early as round 5 or 6 in drafts given he was once a Round 1/2 talent. However, news of his injury putting him out at least until the end of the month has dampened that enthusiasm. I have dropped him to 108 in my ranks, similar to DCL the value he could possess means you will likely need to hold given you're only looking at a month out of action.
Bernardo Silva - Silva's drop from 29 to 61 in my ranks reflects the ever increasing rumours of a move to Barcelona, with his benching against West Ham causing rosterers serious headaches. If he remains at City, he moves right back up to that 3rd round value, it all depends on your appetite for risk. If you think he stays, it could be worth targeting the manager who rosters him with some low ball offers, personally I wouldn't take the risk, but it's the kind of move that could really make or break your season.
For the full list of Gameweek 2 fallers, check out our Weekly ROS Rankings page!
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