GW2 Kneejerks: How They Landed in GW3
Each week we track how the biggest transfer swings perform in the game that follows. Last time we looked at GW2 points through the lens of GW1 transfers. This week it's GW3's turn: who managers moved for in GW2, and how those players actually scored.
Overall Picture
Looking at GW2 net transfers against GW3 points:
- Heavy inflows that worked: João Pedro (+900k) repaid the faith with 9 points.
- Heavy inflows that blanked: Semenyo (+1.0M), Chris Wood (+770k), and Brennan Johnson (+730k) all ended with just 1–2 points. Wood's blank in particular stung — some managers even triple-captained him.
- Heavy outflows due to injuries: Palmer (−2.9M), Saka (−960k), and Frimpong (−890k) all missed GW3 completely.
- Other heavy outflows: Watkins (−475k) blanked with 2 points, so sellers weren't punished.
- Punished sales: Bowen (−460k) scored late and finished on 6 points, hurting those who moved him on.
Chart Quadrants Explained
High transfers out + high points = regret
High transfers out + low points = dodged bullet
High transfers in + high points = great decisions
High transfers in + low points = ouch
Defenders
Defenders saw plenty of movement, though with mixed outcomes. Several names crossed the heavy threshold but didn't deliver, while moderate inflows like Chalobah (+218k), Senesi (+39k), and Guéhi (+133k) produced strong hauls, fueling plenty of Reddit chatter about cheap defenders being the hidden winners of GW3.
Midfielders
Midfield transfers were shaped almost entirely by injuries. Palmer and Saka drove the largest exits and missed out completely, while Brennan Johnson (+730k) was the big inflow but produced only 1 point before being subbed at 54 minutes — a common frustration across the community. Bowen (−460k) was the clear regret case, scoring the 84th-minute winner for West Ham.
Forwards
João Pedro (+900k) was the standout success story, delivering 9 points. Chris Wood (+770k) was a major inflow but blanked with 2 points, turning into one of the week's most painful kneejerks. Semenyo (+1.0M) was the single biggest inflow overall, but his 2-point return left new owners underwhelmed. Watkins (−475k) was the major forward sale and also blanked, so those who sold got away with it.
Goalkeepers
Keepers don't see that many transfers gameweek to gameweek, nonetheless there are some standouts. Alisson (−82k) was heavily sold but delivered anyway — a clean sheet plus bonus points, making him one of the clearest "sold & punished" cases of the week. Meanwhile, Pickford (+129k) and Vicario (+216k) were the biggest inflows but both blanked, returning just 3 and 1 point respectively.
Analysis based on GW2 transfer data and GW3 performance across all Premier League players. Transfer volumes represent net transfers (transfers in minus transfers out) for each player. Injury data sourced from official Premier League and club communications.