This article is part of our FPL Barometer series.
Early on in the season, it is important for fantasy Premier League owners to look for potential breakout performers who are undervalued to start the year. It is still too early to draw conclusions, but several players who were FPL afterthoughts heading into the season are already making strides toward establishing themselves as weekly options. Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez and Swansea's Bafetimbi Gomis have already established themselves as breakout performers, and a pair of players who toiled in the Championship last season are trending in the same direction. Conversely, a handful of players from top clubs who were expected to make a significant fantasy impact are off to slow starts that have cost their FPL owners valuable points. While nothing is truly set in stone until the transfer deadline has officially passed, the players who made today's lists are making the best, or worst, of their present circumstances.
RISING
Nathan Redmond
After terrorizing Championship defenses last season to the tune of six goals and 13 assists, Redmond is proving he is more than capable of producing in the Premier League as well. Through three matches the 21-year-old now has a pair of goals and an assist after a Matchweek 3 performance against Stoke City in which he garnered an assist along with four shots and two crosses. Redmond has started the last two matches after coming off the bench in the season opener and has seemingly solidified his regular starting spot, as he played a full 90 minutes against the Potters. Redmond is considered by many to be the most talented player Norwich has to offer, and those talents are beginning to pay weekly dividends in FPL games.
Callum Wilson
A 20-goal scorer last season in England's second division, Wilson was relatively quiet through the season's first two matches, as he was absent from the scoresheet and had just three shots. Despite his struggles, the 23-year-old came through with a breakout performance against West Ham in Matchweek 3, with three goals on four shots in an exciting 4-3 Cherries victory. Wilson's confidence will be sky-high after Saturday's performance, and he could be peaking at the right time as far as FPL owners are concerned, as Bournemouth are set to begin a string of fixtures that features the likes of Leicester City, Norwich and Sunderland.
Aleksandar Kolarov
Kolarov is known for his constant presence in the attack, but his contributions on the defensive side of the ball have his fantasy value on the rise. Kolarov's FPL potential was on display Sunday against Everton, with a goal on two shots along with three crosses and a clean sheet. The Serbian has started all three matches this season for the still unbeaten City defense, and he is unlikely to lose his place in the starting lineup as long as the unit continues to play at a high level, even with Gael Clichy back in training after recovering from an injury. Because of the weekly all-around potential he possesses, Kolarov is as appealing as any fantasy defender going at the moment. Right back Bacary Sagna also received a boost in FPL value this week with the news that Pablo Zabaleta will miss a month due to injury.
FALLING
Dusan Tadic
After a Man of the Match performance in the season opener when he registered an assist, three crosses and three shots, Tadic seemed poised to rebound from a puzzling 2014/15 season that was plagued by inconsistency and injuries. Tadic reverted to his old ways rather quickly, however, as he was substituted off at the half in Matchweek 2 before he was benched altogether against Watford on Sunday. The 26-year-old is capable of producing when he as at his best, as he as one of the top assist-providers in the league through the first half of last season, but his inconsistent form and the competition for playing time at Southampton make him far from a lock to contribute on a weekly basis.
Wayne Rooney
After Manchester United shipped out forwards Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao this summer while acquiring support in the forms of Memphis Depay, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin, Rooney was expected to return to his central striker role and shoulder a heavier goalscoring burden this season. Through three matches, however, Rooney has yet to record a goal or an assist (aside from the assist he was given in FPL on Kyle Walker's own goal in the opener) and has landed just two shots on target. United are still unbeaten despite scoring just two goals during that span, and will need more from Rooney if they are to return to the top of the table this season. Until the 29-year-old begins to show signs of life in this revamped Red Devils lineup, it is hard to justify the hefty price tag required to roster the captain.
John Terry
Terry finished among the top FPL defenders in many formats last season due in large part to Chelsea's defensive record and his remarkable consistency. Terry, who has been a fixture in the Blues' back line for some time and a key contributor to their recent success, has endured a nightmare start to the 2015/16 season. After returning from a second-half benching in Matchweek 2, Terry was shown a red card after just 54 minutes in Sunday's 3-2 win over West Brom and will miss next week's match versus Crystal Palace. Chelsea have now given up seven goals in just three matches, and Terry's poor form has his fantasy value on the decline when combined with his meager offensive contributions.
