The Scout explains why Bruno Fernandes and Chris Wood stars can outscore Mohamed Salah

Bruno Fernandes (£9.0m) and Chris Wood (£7.7m) have the fixtures to outscore Mohamed Salah (£14.5m) with the captaincy in Gameweek 3 of 2025/26 Fantasy Premier League.

Liverpool’s Salah has been the most-selected armband pick in each of the first two Gameweeks. 

But a home match against Arsenal will surely make those backers think twice. The Gunners have yet to concede a goal or a big chance – a situation where the player is expected to score – over the first two Gameweeks. 

Manchester United’s Fernandes and Nottingham Forest forward Wood, on the other hand, are at home to Burnley and West Ham United respectively.

Fernandes was the third top-scoring player in Fantasy last season in matches against promoted clubs.

He averaged 9.2 points per match across his six outings, producing two goals, seven assists and just one blank.

Notably, all three clubs who have played at home to a promoted opponent have at least one attacker who recorded a double-figure haul.

Indeed, in Burnley’s first away match of 2025/26, Tottenham Hotspur duo Richarlison (£6.7m) and Mohammed Kudus (£6.6m) delivered 13 and 10 points respectively in Gameweek 1.

Attackers with double-figure hauls at home to promoted clubs

GW
Player
Opp.
Pts

1
Richarlison
Burnley
13

1
Kudus
Burnley
10

2
Cullen
Sunderland
14

2
Anthony
Sunderland
13

2
Gyokeres
Leeds
12

Wood, meanwhile, got off to a fast start this season with two goals and 13 points at home to Brentford in Gameweek 1. 

He now faces a West Ham side who have conceded 11 goals across their first three matches across all competitions.

The Hammers have also allowed a league-high nine big chances, which are situations where the player is expected to score. 

Who else should managers consider?

The underlying statistics show both Spurs’ Richarlison and AFC Bournemouth‘s Antoine Semenyo (£7.2m) boast a huge goal threat ahead of their showdown at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Richarlison has had a league-high eight shots in the box, while Semenyo’s four big chances place joint-top along with Erling Haaland (£14.1m). 

The Manchester City forward has a flawless record against his weekend hosts Brighton & Hove Albion, with five goals and an assist across five meetings.

Elsewhere, Fernandes’ team-mate Matheus Cunha (£8.1m) and Aston Villa‘s Ollie Watkins (£9.0m) are identical for shots in the box and big chances. 

Goal threat, first two Gameweeks

Player
Shots
Big chances
Shots in box

Richarlison
8
1
8

Haaland
7
4
7

Semenyo
7
4
6

Cunha
7
1
5

Watkins
5
1
5

Thiago
5
1
5

Strand Larsen
5
0
5

So, who is the best captain?

West Ham’s poor showings in both the league and EFL Cup suggest Wood has the better fixture of the two.

Added to Man Utd’s own cup exit and the case for captaining the Forest forward is an increasingly strong one.

Fernandes, though, just about does enough here. His historical numbers and the double-figure hauls against promoted clubs certainly offer encouragement.

Combined with his extra points for goals and clean sheets as a midfielder, and his potential for defensive contribution points, and the Man Utd playmaker appears to have the greater upside.Â