WSL Fantasy Gameweek 7: captain picks and best buys
WSL Fantasy Gameweek 7 preview: best buys, captain picks and differentials
WSL Fantasy Gameweek 7 has two derbies at the top of the bill, Manchester United - Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur - Arsenal, but the transfer decision this week is about what comes after them. Chelsea own the best three-Gameweek program in the game, Manchester City's run turns kinder once the derby is behind them, and several popular players project for so few minutes that there is no better week coming to move them on. This preview covers who to buy, who to captain, the differentials and who to sell, with every pick judged on Gameweeks 7 to 9 rather than on this round alone.
If you missed last week's analysis, the WSL Fantasy Gameweek 6 preview is still up. The full projections behind every number below are on the WSL Fantasy player picks page.
The programs: whose next three Gameweeks are worth owning
Chelsea's [A]CRY → [A]CHA → [H]EVE is the clear best run in the game: 8.77 expected goals and 1.64 expected clean sheets over the three Gameweeks. It starts with the strongest single fixture of the week, an 86% win probability and 3.35 expected goals at Crystal Palace, and it is backed by the season so far: Chelsea have averaged 2.93 xG per game and conceded just 0.41 xG per game, with four clean sheets from five league games. Their program turns in Gameweek 10 when Manchester City visit, so this is a three-week window to load up on, not a permanent one.
Manchester City are second on [A]MAN → [A]LCL → [H]WHU with 7.25 expected goals. The derby is the hard part (46% win probability, 1.70 expected goals), and the two fixtures behind it are why City attackers are worth owning now: their projections rise through the window. Arsenal are close behind on [A]TOT → [H]AVL → [A]LIV (7.17 expected goals, 1.21 expected clean sheets) and have the second-best defensive program after Chelsea.
At the other end, Everton ([H]AVL → [H]MAN → [A]CHE), Charlton ([A]BIC → [H]CHE → [A]CRY) and Aston Villa ([A]EVE → [A]ARS → [H]MAN) have the three weakest attacking programs among WSL clubs. Tottenham Hotspur are the team whose run changes most after this week: Arsenal at home is their worst fixture of the window, then [A]BIC → [H]BHA follows.
| Team | GW7 fixture | Win probability | Expected goals | Clean sheet | Program (GW7-9) | 3-round xG | 3-round CS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHE | [A]CRY | 86% | 3.35 | 50% | [A]CRY → [A]CHA → [H]EVE | 8.77 | 1.64 |
| MCI | [A]MAN | 46% | 1.70 | 27% | [A]MAN → [A]LCL → [H]WHU | 7.25 | 1.08 |
| ARS | [A]TOT | 61% | 2.10 | 35% | [A]TOT → [H]AVL → [A]LIV | 7.17 | 1.21 |
| BHA | [H]WHU | 48% | 1.73 | 29% | [H]WHU → [H]CRY → [A]TOT | 5.39 | 0.74 |
| MAN | [H]MCI | 29% | 1.31 | 18% | [H]MCI → [A]EVE → [A]AVL | 4.90 | 0.93 |
| TOT | [H]ARS | 17% | 1.06 | 12% | [H]ARS → [A]BIC → [H]BHA | 4.76 | 0.61 |
| BIC | [H]CHA | 48% | 1.62 | 32% | [H]CHA → [H]TOT → [A]LCL | 4.18 | 0.66 |
| LCL | [A]LIV | 29% | 1.18 | 23% | [A]LIV → [H]MCI → [H]BIC | 3.92 | 0.62 |
| LIV | [H]LCL | 43% | 1.47 | 31% | [H]LCL → [A]WHU → [H]ARS | 3.74 | 0.73 |
| CRY | [H]CHE | 4% | 0.69 | 4% | [H]CHE → [A]BHA → [H]CHA | 3.60 | 0.40 |
| WHU | [A]BHA | 26% | 1.24 | 18% | [A]BHA → [H]LIV → [A]MCI | 3.26 | 0.46 |
| AVL | [A]EVE | 32% | 1.28 | 23% | [A]EVE → [A]ARS → [H]MAN | 3.19 | 0.41 |
| CHA | [A]BIC | 25% | 1.13 | 20% | [A]BIC → [H]CHE → [A]CRY | 3.06 | 0.43 |
| EVE | [H]AVL | 41% | 1.48 | 28% | [H]AVL → [H]MAN → [A]CHE | 2.96 | 0.56 |
The game's player pool also includes WSL2 clubs. Their sides play in Gameweek 7 and Gameweek 9, but on the current fixture list WSL2 has no fixture in Gameweek 8, so their three-Gameweek totals cover two matches and are not comparable with the WSL table above. Newcastle United, the most-owned WSL2 club, go [A]NFO → [H]BUR.
| Team | GW7 fixture | Win probability | Expected goals | Clean sheet | Program (GW7-9) | 3-round xG | 3-round CS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRC | [H]WOL | 52% | 2.21 | 22% | [H]WOL → [A]IPS (2 fixtures) | 3.92 | 0.45 |
| LEI | [H]SOU | 35% | 1.26 | 27% | [H]SOU → [H]WAT (2 fixtures) | 3.34 | 0.58 |
| WOL | [A]BRC | 26% | 1.53 | 11% | [A]BRC → [H]NFO (2 fixtures) | 3.26 | 0.35 |
| SOU | [A]LEI | 37% | 1.31 | 28% | [A]LEI → [H]SHU (2 fixtures) | 3.20 | 0.72 |
| DUR | [A]WAT | 37% | 1.68 | 18% | [A]WAT → [H]SUN (2 fixtures) | 3.17 | 0.39 |
| NEW | [A]NFO | 47% | 1.54 | 34% | [A]NFO → [H]BUR (2 fixtures) | 3.15 | 0.82 |
| IPS | [H]SUN | 39% | 1.45 | 27% | [H]SUN → [H]BRC (2 fixtures) | 2.93 | 0.45 |
| SUN | [A]IPS | 33% | 1.32 | 23% | [A]IPS → [A]DUR (2 fixtures) | 2.90 | 0.46 |
| WAT | [H]DUR | 38% | 1.69 | 19% | [H]DUR → [A]LEI (2 fixtures) | 2.87 | 0.31 |
| NFO | [H]NEW | 25% | 1.07 | 22% | [H]NEW → [A]WOL (2 fixtures) | 2.48 | 0.39 |
| BUR | [H]SHU | 46% | 1.40 | 39% | [H]SHU → [A]NEW (2 fixtures) | 2.14 | 0.59 |
| SHU | [A]BUR | 24% | 0.94 | 25% | [A]BUR → [A]SOU (2 fixtures) | 1.78 | 0.40 |
Full fixture difficulty and dates are on the WSL Fantasy schedule, and the odds behind the win and clean sheet numbers are on the WSL market probabilities page.
Goalkeepers for Gameweek 7
Hannah Hampton (5.5m, CHE) is the keeper to own, and 57% of managers already do. Chelsea's [A]CRY → [A]CHA → [H]EVE gives her 4.5 → 4.9 → 5.1 over the window, the highest three-Gameweek total of any goalkeeper at 14.5. You can hold her and stop thinking about the position until Gameweek 10.
Misa (5.0m, ARS) is the differential at 4% ownership. Arsenal's [A]TOT → [H]AVL → [A]LIV looks tough on paper, but her projection barely moves: 3.8 → 4.2 → 4.5 → 4.6 → 4.5 → 4.5 from Gameweek 7 to 12. That makes her the keeper to buy if you want one transfer to cover the next six weeks, not just the next three.
This round and the three-Gameweek view disagree here. WSL2 keepers such as Jackie Burns (4.7) and Anna Tamminen (4.6, 11% owned) out-project Hampton this week, but both have no fixture in Gameweek 8. If you are buying one goalkeeper and keeping her, buy Hampton or Misa. On a budget, Khiara Keating (4.5m, LIV) at 12% ownership goes [H]LCL → [A]WHU → [H]ARS for 3.6 → 3.4 → 2.5. She is fine for two weeks, but Arsenal in Gameweek 9 is where you would want to move her on.
Defenders for Gameweek 7
Sandy Baltimore (7.0m, CHE) has the highest projection of any player in the game this week at 8.1, and only 5% of managers own her. Chelsea's [A]CRY → [A]CHA → [H]EVE carries her for 8.1 → 7.0 → 6.0, 21.1 over three Gameweeks, which is more than any midfielder manages. She is on penalties and has already created 2.0 xA this season. She has not played every minute so far, so check the WSL predicted lineups before the deadline. Her projection drops to 3.7 when Manchester City visit in Gameweek 10, so this is a buy for the next three weeks.
Ellie Carpenter (7.0m, CHE) (37% owned) and Lucy Bronze (5.5m, CHE) (28% owned) are the template Chelsea defenders on the same [A]CRY → [A]CHA → [H]EVE run, at 6.2 → 6.0 → 5.6 and 5.6 → 5.3 → 4.9. Both are holds. Bronze is the better value at 5.5m. If you already have a Chelsea keeper and want a third Chelsea player, Veerle Buurman (5.0m, CHE) is the budget route at 5.0m and 3% ownership, projecting 4.9 → 4.3 → 4.0 on [A]CRY → [A]CHA → [H]EVE. A Hampton plus Chelsea-defender stack doubles up on the same clean sheet, and with a 50% clean sheet chance at Crystal Palace that is the stack to make this week.
Natalia Ramos (5.0m, LIV) is the best cheap defender for the next two weeks. Liverpool go [H]LCL → [A]WHU → [H]ARS, and she projects 5.6 → 5.2 → 2.9. That is two good fixtures and a bad one, so treat her as a two-Gameweek pick and plan to sell her again before Arsenal arrive in Gameweek 9. Only 1% of managers own her. In this round Ramos and Bronze project the same 5.6, but Bronze has 2.1 more over the window. If you want to keep the defender, buy Bronze; if you want a cheap two-week pick, buy Ramos.
Manchester City's defence is the one that improves. Alex Greenwood (6.0m, MCI) goes [A]MAN → [A]LCL → [H]WHU at 4.3 → 4.9 → 5.2, so the derby is the low point of the three, and she is a hold for her 28% of owners. Maya Le Tissier (6.0m, MAN) (30% owned) dips to 3.2 in the derby, then Manchester United go [A]EVE → [A]AVL and she is back to 4.8 and 4.7. She takes penalties, so keep her through the derby.
| Player | Team | Price | Owned | GW7 | GW8 | GW9 | GW7-9 | Weighted GW7-12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandy Baltimore | CHE | 7.0m | 5% | 8.1 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 21.1 | 22.4 |
| Ellie Carpenter | CHE | 7.0m | 37% | 6.2 | 6.0 | 5.6 | 17.8 | 19.6 |
| Lucy Bronze | CHE | 5.5m | 28% | 5.6 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 15.8 | 17.1 |
| Alex Greenwood | MCI | 6.0m | 28% | 4.3 | 4.9 | 5.2 | 14.4 | 15.9 |
| Natalia Ramos | LIV | 5.0m | 1% | 5.6 | 5.2 | 2.9 | 13.7 | 16.2 |
| Ona Batlle | ARS | 6.0m | 32% | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 13.4 | 15.7 |
| Veerle Buurman | CHE | 5.0m | 3% | 4.9 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 13.2 | 14.1 |
| Maya Le Tissier | MAN | 6.0m | 30% | 3.2 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 12.7 | 15.7 |
Midfielders for Gameweek 7
Beth Mead (7.0m, MCI) is the midfielder to buy. Manchester City's [A]MAN → [A]LCL → [H]WHU gives her a rising 5.7 → 6.8 → 7.7, the best three-Gameweek total in the position at 20.2 and the best weighted six-Gameweek score at 22.8. At 11% ownership she is still a differential. The program turns this week, so the time to buy her is before the two good fixtures, not during them.
Lauren Hemp (8.0m, MCI) is the City midfielder most managers already have (48%), and she is a clear hold on the same [A]MAN → [A]LCL → [H]WHU run at 5.5 → 6.2 → 6.8. She has four goals and two assists in five league games and is producing 1.25 xGI per 90.
Sjoeke Nüsken (6.5m, CHE) out-projects Mead this round at 6.7 against 5.7, and she is the best Gameweek 7 midfielder in the game. But her line runs the other way: 6.7 → 5.7 → 4.9 on Chelsea's [A]CRY → [A]CHA → [H]EVE, against Mead's rising 5.7 → 6.8 → 7.7. If you are buying one midfielder and keeping her, buy Mead. Nüsken is the 6.5m route into Chelsea's three-week window at 2% ownership, and she has 2.18 xG of her own this season.
Kirsty Hanson (8.0m, TOT) is a buy for Gameweek 8, not this week. Tottenham host Arsenal first and she projects only 4.0, then [A]BIC → [H]BHA lifts her to 6.8 and 6.3, with 5.5 to follow in Gameweek 10. Bring her in next week.
Océane Hurtré (6.0m, BIC) is the value pick. Birmingham City go [H]CHA → [H]TOT → [A]LCL, and she projects 6.0 → 4.6 → 4.1. She has five league goals already, and her 6.0 is the best Gameweek 7 projection of any midfielder at 6.0m or less. The projection fades after this week, so she is a buy for this round with an eye on selling her again by Gameweek 9. For a cheaper midfielder, Maika Hamano (5.0m, CHE) at 5.0m rides Chelsea's [A]CRY → [A]CHA → [H]EVE for 4.6 → 3.5 → 3.1, but she projects for fewer minutes than the regular starters.
| Player | Team | Price | Owned | GW7 | GW8 | GW9 | GW7-9 | Weighted GW7-12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beth Mead | MCI | 7.0m | 11% | 5.7 | 6.8 | 7.7 | 20.2 | 22.8 |
| Lauren Hemp | MCI | 8.0m | 48% | 5.5 | 6.2 | 6.8 | 18.5 | 20.4 |
| Sjoeke Nüsken | CHE | 6.5m | 2% | 6.7 | 5.7 | 4.9 | 17.3 | 19.1 |
| Kirsty Hanson | TOT | 8.0m | 13% | 4.0 | 6.8 | 6.3 | 17.1 | 19.2 |
| Aoba Fujino | MCI | 7.0m | 2% | 4.7 | 5.3 | 5.8 | 15.8 | 17.4 |
| Océane Hurtré | BIC | 6.0m | 13% | 6.0 | 4.6 | 4.1 | 14.7 | 16.5 |
| Georgia Stanway | ARS | 6.5m | 18% | 4.7 | 5.1 | 4.1 | 13.9 | 16.4 |
| Maika Hamano | CHE | 5.0m | 1% | 4.6 | 3.5 | 3.1 | 11.2 | 11.9 |
Forwards for Gameweek 7
Khadija Shaw (12.5m, MCI) (68% owned) and Alessia Russo (11.5m, ARS) (48% owned) are the two premium forwards, and both are holds. Shaw goes [A]MAN → [A]LCL → [H]WHU at 6.3 → 7.6 → 8.3, rising every week. She has five goals from 5.8 xG and is producing 1.47 xGI per 90. Russo goes [A]TOT → [H]AVL → [A]LIV at 6.8 → 7.8 → 6.1 and has the highest weighted six-Gameweek score in the game at 25.3. Both are on penalties. Owning both is the template, and the program gives you no reason to break it this week.
Melvine Malard (8.0m, CHE) is the forward for Chelsea's three-week window. She projects 7.2 → 5.7 → 4.3 on [A]CRY → [A]CHA → [H]EVE, the best Gameweek 7 projection of any forward at 7.2. She has two goals in 172 league minutes. Her line falls each week, so treat her as a two-Gameweek buy and plan the sale before Manchester City visit in Gameweek 10, when she drops to 3.1.
Kiko Seike (7.0m, BHA) gives Brighton exposure on [H]WHU → [H]CRY → [A]TOT at 5.7 → 6.6 → 4.5, with three league goals. Crystal Palace at home in Gameweek 8 is her best week. At the budget end, Olivia Garcia (4.0m, BHA) is 4.0m on the same Brighton run for 4.4 → 5.2 → 3.3, and she is producing 1.63 xGI per 90 in her minutes. That is 1.10 points per million this week, for the cheapest price on this list.
Elisabeth Terland (7.0m, MAN) is the hidden gem for the longer view. The derby holds her to 4.4, then Manchester United go [A]EVE → [A]AVL and her line runs 4.4 → 5.3 → 6.1 → 7.5. Her weighted six-Gameweek score of 20.0 is the best of any forward outside the two premiums, and only 8% of managers own her.
| Player | Team | Price | Owned | GW7 | GW8 | GW9 | GW7-9 | Weighted GW7-12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khadija Shaw | MCI | 12.5m | 68% | 6.3 | 7.6 | 8.3 | 22.2 | 25.1 |
| Alessia Russo | ARS | 11.5m | 48% | 6.8 | 7.8 | 6.1 | 20.7 | 25.3 |
| Melvine Malard | CHE | 8.0m | 11% | 7.2 | 5.7 | 4.3 | 17.2 | 18.3 |
| Kiko Seike | BHA | 7.0m | 10% | 5.7 | 6.6 | 4.5 | 16.8 | 18.3 |
| Elisabeth Terland | MAN | 7.0m | 8% | 4.4 | 5.3 | 6.1 | 15.8 | 20.0 |
| Stina Blackstenius | ARS | 7.0m | 6% | 4.9 | 5.4 | 3.9 | 14.2 | 16.8 |
| Olivia Garcia | BHA | 4.0m | 2% | 4.4 | 5.2 | 3.3 | 12.9 | 14.1 |
To see how these picks fit into one squad, the WSL Fantasy optimal teams page solves the best team for each Gameweek live.
Captaincy for Gameweek 7
Sandy Baltimore (7.0m, CHE) is the top captain by projection at 8.1, a clear margin over the next option. A defender captain is unusual, but Chelsea's 86% win probability at Crystal Palace, her penalties and her clean sheet chance give her both an attacking and a defensive route to points.
The alternatives are Melvine Malard (8.0m, CHE) at 7.2 and Alessia Russo (11.5m, ARS) at 6.8. Russo is the pick for managers who do not own a Chelsea attacker, since she projects higher than Shaw (6.3) in the derby week. Plan ahead too: Russo leads in Gameweek 8 at 7.8, and Shaw takes over in Gameweek 9 at 8.3. That is the strongest argument for keeping both premium forwards.
Who to sell before Gameweek 7
Kerstin Casparij (8.0m, MCI) is the clearest sell. 33% of managers own her at 8.0m, and she is projected for only about 22 minutes in Gameweek 7, giving 1.0 → 1.7 → 2.1 on [A]MAN → [A]LCL → [H]WHU. City's program is good, but she is not the City defender getting the minutes. Nothing in the next three weeks lifts her above about two points, so there is no better week coming to sell her, and the money buys Baltimore.
Lauren James (7.5m, CHE) (24% owned) and Katie McCabe (6.5m, CHE) (20% owned) are Chelsea players you do not want for Chelsea's [A]CRY → [A]CHA → [H]EVE run. They project for about 12 and 18 minutes this week and 1.0 → 1.6 → 1.8 and 1.1 → 1.5 → 1.5 across the window. Swap them for the Chelsea players who start: Nüsken is 1.0m cheaper than James, and Buurman is 1.5m cheaper than McCabe. The same goes for Agnes Beever-Jones (15% owned, 1.1 → 1.3 → 1.3) and Vivien Endemann (14% owned, 1.1 → 1.2 → 1.4).
Alexia Putellas (8.5m, LCL) is the hard call, because 58% of managers own her. London City Lionesses go [A]LIV → [H]MCI → [H]BIC. Liverpool away is a fair fixture, and 3.8 is not a bad week. But Manchester City visit next and she drops to 3.1. That is why this is the week to move: you can sell her before her worst fixture rather than after it. Over the three weeks she projects 12.0, while Mead projects 20.2 at 1.5m less.
FAQ
Who should I captain in WSL Fantasy Gameweek 7?
Sandy Baltimore is the top captain pick at 8.1 projected points, ahead of Melvine Malard (7.2) and Alessia Russo (6.8). Chelsea play at Crystal Palace with an 86% win probability, and Baltimore takes their penalties. If you do not own a Chelsea attacker, Russo is the best captain among the popular premiums this week.
Who are the best differentials for WSL Fantasy Gameweek 7?
Sandy Baltimore (5% owned), Beth Mead (11%), Sjoeke Nüsken (2%) and Elisabeth Terland (8%) are the best low-ownership picks. Baltimore and Nüsken ride Chelsea's [A]CRY → [A]CHA → [H]EVE run, Mead's projection rises on City's [A]MAN → [A]LCL → [H]WHU, and Terland has the best long-term line of any non-premium forward.
Should I sell Alexia Putellas before WSL Fantasy Gameweek 7?
Yes, this is the week to sell her. Liverpool away is a fair fixture at 3.8, but she drops to 3.1 when Manchester City visit in Gameweek 8. She projects 12.0 over Gameweeks 7 to 9, while Beth Mead projects 20.2 for 1.5m less.
Which budget defenders are best for WSL Fantasy Gameweek 7?
Natalia Ramos (5.0m, Liverpool) projects 5.6 → 5.2 → 2.9 on [H]LCL → [A]WHU → [H]ARS, so she is a two-Gameweek pick to sell before Arsenal. Veerle Buurman (5.0m, Chelsea) is the cheapest way into Chelsea's [A]CRY → [A]CHA → [H]EVE run at 4.9 → 4.3 → 4.0.
Is Kerstin Casparij worth keeping in WSL Fantasy Gameweek 7?
No. She is projected for about 22 minutes in Gameweek 7 and 1.0 → 1.7 → 2.1 points across Gameweeks 7 to 9. At 8.0m, that money is better spent on Sandy Baltimore or Beth Mead.
More WSL analysis is in our WSL Fantasy preview hub, and the rules and scoring are explained in the WSL Fantasy guide.
This preview was written by TheFantasyTool AI.