Here’s my view of a few players for your telegraph fantasy football team for the 3rd round of the FA Cup

Background

Firstly at the risk of stating the truly obvious the FA Cup counts for points in telegraph fantasy football.  So the idea is to pick players who will play in this round and hopefully further rounds.  They also have to be players who will score well in the premier league as well.  There aren’t enough transfers to put one player in and then take him out unless you’ve been very frugal.  The difficulty is that the 4th round is January 25th meaning that there are only 2 premier league games before round 4.  You have to try and identify teams and players who will get through to that 4th round

The advantage of telegraph fantasy football is that you can make your picks after the team sheet of the first game (s).  This means you can put players in with certainty.  A big plus when top 4 challenging teams will rest key players and those battling relegation will do the same.  The games this weekend where you will be able to see the team sheet before the transfer deadline are

Saturday:  Blackburn v Man City

Sunday:  Nottingham Forest v West Ham

telegraph fantasy football – some picks for FA Cup 3rd round

Saturday

Man City (Blackburn away)

Pellegrini has said he wants to win every competition but has the resources to rotate and do that.  You will see the team sheet before the deadline to transfer

Look at the line ups but anyone from the players below are good long term premier league picks:

Zabaleta  – limited cover although Boyata could fill in the 4th round and Clichy could move to RB

Kompany – had long injury lay off so may be picked as not over played.  Has cover though

Silva – as for Kompany.  Has Nasri as cover though

All the above have good telegraph fantasy football premier league potential if theyre in the line up but have risked attached to the 4th round games

Everton (home to QPR)

Martinez has said he wants to take the competition seriously but has a limited squad and therefore rotation will be limited.  Rednapps priority should be promotion but he’s old school so may take the competition seriously.

Anyone from

Coleman – is a rotation risk but should be in your team anyway

Alcaraz – short term but will play both rounds due to Jagielka injury

Baines – Injuries mean it is likely he will play both 3rd and 4th round games

Personally I think Lukaku and Barkley will be rested.  Mirallas is a bit in and out of the side anyway

Newcastle (home to Cardiff)

Newcastle will be looking to win this as they wont realistically be challenging the top 4 and wont be in any relegation trouble.  They will need a full side to defeat Cardiff.  In OGS’s first game he will be looking to win and attack

Anyone from

Williamson – with injuries should play and good value

Remy – Hard to see him not starting as he’s so essential to Newcastle’s scoring

Southampton (home to Burnley)

Pochettino here does like rotation due to the high pressing game meaning players have to be fresh and fully fit so everyone is a rotation risk.  However they will try and win the competition

Lovren – definitely has cover but the most likely to start consistently

Clyne  – just back from injury so should start to get match fitness

Lallana – as for Lovren

Rodriguez – the most picked striker.  Hard to think he wont start against his old team

Arsenal v Spurs

You should have in your team an Arsenal defender and midfielder irrespective of this game

Koscielny and Walcott are likely to play given recent injury rests.  Mertesacker is the better premier league pick but more likely to be rotated

For Spurs Eriksen now becomes a good pick  and Danny Rose is great value and both should play.

Sunday

Do your transfers tomorrow obviously

West Ham (away to Forest)

Irrespective of the line up I wouldn’t have anyone in my team.  Ravel Morrison at a push.

Sunderland (home to Carlisle) 

Should be goals here and a chance for some easy points plus a guaranteed 4th round pick.  Just who to pick. Personally its not attractive enough for me but if you have the transfers then GK Mannone, Bardsley in defence and Fletcher upfront are the best picks.  Whether they will play in the 4th round is a doubt as he may rest players due to the relegation fight priority

Chelsea (away to Derby)

I’d stay away from Chelsea rather than transfer in.  I would expect a reserve team out.  Azpilicueta should play but I’d struggle to guarantee anyone else who will play this game and regular premier league games

Liverpool (home to Oldham)

Injuries alone will preclude wholesale changes and Rodgers will want to take this competition reasonably seriously.  If you haven’t got Suarez then transfer him in for goodness sake.  He should play.  Injuries should mean Glen Johnson will play.  Sterling is another good choice and should play.  Couthino is a gable and could be rotated but good value

Man Utd (home to Swansea)

Will be rotation here so difficult to pick.  They should win as Swansea will rotate as well.  Although 4 losses in 10 home games makes that anything other than guaranteed.

Difficult to pick anyone who’s long term.  Neither Rooney or RVP will play but they will play long term so Welbeck is too short term.  The defence is mass rotation so I would stay away

That’s it.  Good luck in telegraph fantasy football FA Cup round 3.  Remember to join our telegraph fantasy football league:  Telegraph fantasy football:  Code 8000919    league name:   fantasy football geek

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