Gameweek 3 Waiver Wire: Claims, Holds and One Player to Avoid
Anthony Elanga is the best Gameweek 3 waiver claim. Lewis Hall is the priority defender, while Eddie Nketiah is the forward to add before his points catch up with his chances. Pascal Groß offers a safer midfield role; Dan Ndoye and Amar Dedić are deeper-league alternatives.
This is advice for draft leagues, where each player has one owner. The roster rate measures how often a player is already owned across completed private Draft Fantasy leagues, so first check who is actually free in your Draft Fantasy Premier League transfer market.
Scoring note: the order uses Draft Fantasy regular scoring, which matches official FPL scoring. Custom-scoring leagues calculate points from the commissioner's values, so extra rewards for shots, chances created or defensive actions can change the order.
The Gameweek 3 claim order
| Priority | Player | Pos | Rostered | GW1–2 | GW3–5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Anthony ElangaNEW | Midfielder | 39.1% | 17 pts · 156 min |
|
| 2 | Lewis HallNEW | Defender | 47.2% | 14 pts · 180 min |
|
| 3 |  Pascal GroßBHA | Midfielder | 32.4% | 15 pts · 180 min |
|
| 4 |  Eddie NketiahCRY | Forward | 7.7% | 3 pts · 122 min |
|
| 5 |  Dan NdoyeNFO | Midfielder | 4.7% | 12 pts · 126 min |
|
| 6 | Amar DedićNEW | Defender | 8.7% | 12 pts · 180 min |
|
Draft Fantasy regular-scoring totals and private-league roster rates, 1 September 2026; fixture difficulty runs from 1 (easiest) to 5 (hardest).
All ten Gameweek 2 matches had finished on the pitch when this snapshot was taken, but the official post-Gameweek review had not locked the round. Small scoring corrections remain possible. The ranking is built on roles, underlying involvement, roster availability and three fixtures rather than one provisional bonus point.
Create a Premier League draft league to play with unique squads, configurable waivers and a live transfer market.
Why Elanga leads the order
Elanga has started both matches, scored in both and played 156 minutes. The two goals came from 0.42 expected goals, so the finishing rate will not continue unchanged. His role is still more useful than the headline: he registered three shots on target and Newcastle's run improves from Bournemouth at home to Leeds away and Hull at home.
A 39.1% roster rate makes him available often enough to justify an aggressive claim. Use 8–14% of remaining FAAB as an editorial starting range when he would enter your lineup. Spend less when he would only replace bench depth; these are bid guides, not fixed player prices.
Hall is the defender to claim; Dedić is the fallback
Hall has completed 180 minutes and followed an 11-action defensive game in Gameweek 1 with 13 defensive contributions, a clean sheet and maximum bonus in Gameweek 2. His 0.66 expected assists across two matches also gives him an attacking route that does not depend on another clean sheet.
The concern is availability rather than evidence: Hall is already rostered in 47.2% of completed private leagues. Start around 7–12% of remaining FAAB if he is free and upgrades a weekly starter.
Dedić is the practical second request. He has also played every minute, then added an assist and two key passes in Gameweek 2. His 8.7% roster rate makes him far likelier to survive to a fallback claim. Bid 1–4%, because Hall owns the stronger creative numbers even though both receive the same fixture run.
Groß supplies the safer midfield role
Groß has two full matches, six key passes and 0.38 expected assists. A goal and an assist at Chelsea produced the Gameweek 2 return, but the 90-minute role and chance creation are the reasons to buy. Leeds at home and Coventry away are rated two and one before a much harder Arsenal fixture.
Rank him above a volatile scorer when you need a midfielder to start immediately. An editorial range of 6–10% of remaining FAAB is reasonable; custom leagues that reward key passes can move him closer to Elanga.
Brighton teammate Diego Gómez is the lower-cost alternative. He has two assists, 0.56 expected goals and 0.65 expected assists in 175 minutes, but using both midfielders as separate high bids would overcommit to the same fixtures. Put Gómez behind Groß in the same request chain instead.
Nketiah is the forward whose process beats his points
Nketiah has only three points, which is why he remains rostered in 7.7% of leagues. The underlying case is much better: two starts produced 0.96 expected goals, 0.58 expected assists and three key passes in 122 minutes. He now faces three opponents rated two, one and two.
This is not a guarantee that the finishing changes in Gameweek 3. It is a chance to buy a scarce starting forward before a return makes him obvious. Use 4–8% of remaining FAAB when he replaces a forward without secure minutes. Managers with three dependable forwards should preserve their budget.
Ndoye is the deeper-league upside claim
Ndoye has started twice but played only 126 minutes, so his role is less secure than those above him. Gameweek 2 supplied the upside: a goal, two key passes, 0.35 expected goals and 0.63 expected assists in 65 minutes. Nottingham Forest also receive difficulty ratings of one, three and one over the next three.
Treat him as a fifth-midfielder claim, not proof that a six-point average will last. A 1–4% bid is enough in most FAAB leagues. If you need a steadier 90-minute floor, Groß should remain higher in the queue.
Hold last week's hits, but step back from Emersonn
The strongest Gameweek 2 waiver recommendations mostly reinforced their roles. Mamadou Sangaré, Anton Stach and Keane Lewis-Potter each played at least 87 minutes; Sangaré and Stach again reached double figures for defensive contributions, while Lewis-Potter added an assist. Do not drop them merely because their second score was lower than the opening return.
Maxim De Cuyper also played 90 minutes and now reaches the favourable Leeds and Coventry fixtures. Thierno Barry failed to score but generated 1.48 expected goals in 69 minutes, then moves into two difficulty-one fixtures after Manchester United. Both remain holds.
Emersonn is the exception. He fell from 65 minutes to 45, produced no shot and is now flagged with a knee problem in the official player data. Do not add him before his availability and role are clearer. That is new evidence, not a verdict on the opening goal.
Build a claim queue around the player you will drop
- Fix a weak starter before adding depth. Elanga, Hall or Groß should lead when one immediately improves your lineup.
- Pair alternatives in one position. Use Hall then Dedić at defender, or Groß then Gómez at midfield, rather than six unrelated requests.
- Pay for role and opportunity. Nketiah's three points can be more actionable than a bench player's isolated goal.
- Protect scarce FAAB and priority. The fantasy football waiver rules guide explains how bidding, rolling priority and weekly reset change the cost of each claim.
- Check the full run. The free fixture difficulty tool shows why a neutral Gameweek 3 matchup can still lead into two strong starts.
The verified Gameweek 3 deadline is Friday 4 September at 17:30 UTC. Waivers follow the processing schedule shown inside your own league, so submit the queue before that process rather than waiting for the match deadline.
Ready for a transfer market where every decision matters? Start a Draft Fantasy Premier League league, invite your managers and choose FAAB, rolling or weekly-reset waivers.