Many Indian Super League (ISL) fantasy managers, including those with highly-owned players like Jorge Diaz, Mourtada Fall, Dimitri Petratos, and Sahal Abdul Samad, may have seen favourable results in Matchweek 3. However, if you haven't, there's still an opportunity to gain ground.

With the international break providing a brief respite, it's an ideal moment for ISL fantasy managers to reconsider their strategy for the long term. The early-season success of midfielders and defenders in ISL Fantasy highlights the potential benefits of allocating more budget to these positions.

This trend was particularly evident in Matchweek 3, where none of the forwards made it among the top 10 highest-scoring players. Odisha FC centre-back Mourtada Fall, led the way with an impressive 13-point performance, followed by FC Goa's midfielder Noah Sadaoui as the only other player in that Matchweek to tally double-digit points.

Breakdown of points by position this season

When examining the overall list of the top 10 highest-scoring players in ISL Fantasy this season, only four forwards have managed to secure a place. Mumbai City FC's Jorge Diaz leads the charts with 21 points, having scored in every single Matchweek so far. He is joined by Parthib Gogoi, Dimitri Petratos, and Jason Cummings, who are the other forwards in the top 10 highest-scoring category.

Indeed, among the 32 players who have accumulated 10 or more points this season, only six forwards have achieved double-digit hauls. While this statistic may change as more forwards find their form, the current data indicates that midfielders and defenders offer the best value for money.

Players like Mourtada Fall and Noah Sadaoui have become popular choices and are among the most transferred players following their double-digit hauls in Matchweek 3.

Player	Club	Position	Points
Jorge Diaz	Mumbai City FC	Forward	21
Mourtada Fall	Odisha FC	Defender	20
Adrian Luna	Kerala Blasters FC	Midfielder	18
Parthib Gogoi	NorthEast United FC	Forward	18
Asheer Akhtar	NorthEast United FC	Defender	17
Dimitri Petratos	Mohun Bagan SG	Forward	17
Jason Cummings	Mohun Bagan SG	Forward	17
TP Rehenesh	Jamshedpur FC	Goalkeeper	17
Sahal Abdul Samad	Mohun Bagan SG	Midfielder	16
Noah Sadaoui	FC Goa	Midfielder	14

Wildcard option

For ISL Fantasy managers considering the above strategy shift, it might be worth contemplating a complete team rebuild by using the Wildcard chip instead of taking point hits. The Wildcard chip allows managers to reconstruct their squad without incurring point deductions.

Based on the first three Matchweeks, ISL Fantasy managers should consider selecting players who have consistently received playing time while dropping those who have been sidelined. Budget-friendly options like Laldinpuia, Jay Gupta, and Mirshad Michu can help managers afford high-end players in their squads. Additionally, these three players could serve as valuable differentials, as they are owned by less than 10 percent of managers (at the time of writing).

Create your own ISL Fantasy team as well if you haven’t already

To mark its 10th season, ISL introduced ‘ISL Fantasy,’ a classic fantasy format game. Fans can participate in the overall league or club-based leagues based on their preferences. They can create private leagues, inviting friends and fellow football aficionados to compete. Prizes include a Sony PlayStation®️5 gaming console, EA Sports FC 24, signed club merchandise, and a Gift Card worth INR 20,000, which will be awarded to 100 winners at the end of the season. Sign up at: https://fantasy.indiansuperleague.com/