Preview: What You Need to Know Ahead of Matchweek 2 in ESPN Fantasy Football
The first round of ESPN Fantasy Voetbal is in the books, and that means it’s time to start some new traditions. From now on, we’ll bring you a preview every Thursday morning to get you ready for the Fantasy weekend ahead.
Here are four things you need to know before matchweek 2.
1. Don’t expect a monster score every week
Over 87,000 managers kicked off their ESPN Fantasy Football season with a bang, with an average score of 70 points in matchweek 1. That’s the kind of start many Premier League players can only dream of.
That success was helped by popular picks like Steijn, Perisic, Weghorst and Parrott all delivering. Plus, the gap between the top teams and the rest in the VriendenLoterij Eredivisie is wider than in England.
Still, a quick reality check: scores of 90 to 110 points are rare. If things dip a bit this weekend, no stress. Now’s the time to build steadily, not to panic.
2. The big teams are playing away
One reason matchweek 2 could be trickier? Most of the top teams are on the road. PSV, Feyenoord, Ajax, AZ and FC Utrecht are all playing away this weekend.
Out of the twenty most-picked players in ESPN Fantasy Football, only four are playing at home. And even they face tough opponents: Deijl and Edvardsen host Ajax, while Van Rooij and Unnerstall go up against PSV. In short, this round comes with more risk.
3. NEC stars in the spotlight
Just one round in, and the hype around NEC is real. Three players have already seen a price bump, and two of them — Chery and Ogawa — wear the red and green. They shined against Excelsior, but now comes the real test: an away day at Heracles Almelo. Time to see if their form holds on tougher ground.
Koki Ogawa celebrates the 3-0 with Tjaronn Chery during N.E.C. – Excelsior, 9 August 2025.
4. Is it too soon to sell Pepi?
Ricardo Pepi, the most expensive striker in the game, is also the most transferred-out player this week. Over 3,100 managers dropped him after he was left out of PSV’s squad in matchweek 1.
It makes sense after a six-goal performance without him, but was it too soon? Even off the bench, Pepi could still offer value this weekend — especially in a match that might open up.
Couhaib Driouech and Ricardo Pepi celebrate winning the Johan Cruijff Shield during PSV – Go Ahead Eagles, 3 August 2025.
The deadline is tonight at 19:55. Is your team locked in?
Still unsure about your lineup? Watch the ESPN Fantasy Voetbal Show (in Dutch) on ESPN’s YouTube channel for all the latest tips and insights.
Not signed up yet? No worries. Head to fantasyvoetbal.nl or download the ESPN Goal app to join. You can still compete in the overall rankings and start your own subleague with friends, family or colleagues. Your points will count from the moment you begin.
Good luck this weekend!
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