FPL
The Best FPL Forwards & Mid-Priced Defenders for 2025/26: Who to Trust?
Discover the best premium forwards and top mid-priced options in attack and defence for FPL 2025/26.
Which premium forward deserves your armband? Is there a reliable mid-priced gem who could free up cash for your midfield? And with the new defensive contributions, are those £5.0m–£5.5m defenders now must-haves? Let’s break down the best picks for the 2025/26 campaign, focusing on strikers who can deliver early points and defenders who combine value with consistency.
Best Premium Forwards: 2025/26’s Heavy Hitters
Here we’re including anyone at £8.0m or higher. Here’s how the best shape up for Gameweek 1 and beyond.
Erling Haaland (£14.0m) – The Reluctant Differential?
Let’s start with the obvious: Erling Haaland. Last season, his 22 goals and three assists felt a touch underwhelming by his own sky-high standards. But make no mistake, Haaland remains the most explosive FPL asset in the game. He’s central to City’s attack, responsible for 42% of their goals when on the pitch. Even in what was seen as a “down” year, City scored the second most goals (72) and boasted an xG of 70.14.
With Rodri back, some fresh faces, and early fixtures against Wolves (A), Spurs (H), Brighton (A), United (H), and Burnley (H), Haaland could explode out of the blocks again. Right now, his ownership sits at a surprisingly low 18%. If you’re choosing between him and Salah, it’s perfectly viable to back Haaland as your one premium.
Alexander Isak (£10.5m) – The Wildcard Transfer Watch
Isak is the second-best forward in the game, and, depending on price, some argue he’s the best overall. After bagging 23 goals and six assists for Newcastle, his future is now under the microscope, with Liverpool showing strong interest.
If he moves to Anfield, his appeal goes up, even if he loses penalties. The supply at Liverpool, the league’s top scorers (86 goals, 81.76 xG), would make him a massive threat. But, until his future is settled, there’s a risk. Newcastle’s opening games, Aston Villa (A) and Liverpool (H), aren’t ideal for FPL managers looking for fast starts. Monitor closely; if he moves, we’ll need to reassess Salah and the Liverpool attack as a whole.
Viktor Gyokeres (£9.0m) – The Arsenal Newcomer
Gyokeres arrives at Arsenal after a stunning spell at Sporting, where he scored 97 goals and delivered 27 assists in just 102 games. His penalty record is elite (89% conversion), and he could even challenge Saka for spot-kicks. If he claims pens, the £1.0m discount versus Saka makes him intriguing.
But there are risks: no full pre-season, Arsenal’s opening fixtures (Liverpool, City, Newcastle in first six), and competition from Kai Havertz. For now, Gyokeres is a “wait and see,” but don’t forget about him.
Ollie Watkins (£9.0m) – Mr. Reliable
Watkins has scored double-digit goals in every Premier League season he’s played. Last year, he managed 16 goals and eight assists, and he’s nailed on to start for Villa (who have a kind opening schedule). The odds say he’ll stay put, and with Villa’s great fixtures, Newcastle (H), Brentford (A), Palace (H), Sunderland (A), Fulham (H), Burnley (H) , he’s the second highest-scoring forward for the first eight. Watkins is a solid, low-risk pick.
Hugo Ekitike (£8.5m) – The Anfield Enigma
Ekitike joins Liverpool after 15 goals and eight assists at Frankfurt. He boasts excellent underlying numbers (xG 21.6, xA 6.8) and should thrive under Arne Slot. If he nails down the number nine role, surrounded by creative players like Salah and Wirtz, he could be one of the bargains of the year. The only caveat: If Isak arrives, Ekitike’s place (possibly on the left, rotating with Gakpo) becomes less certain. Watch preseason closely.
Mid-Priced Forwards: Value in Attack
Forwards between £6.5m and £7.5m are always tempting for those hunting value. This season’s best bets include proven finishers and some exciting wildcards.
- Evanilson (£7.0m, Bournemouth): Led his team for xG (12.46) and big chances. With Enes Unal injured, he’s nailed for minutes and a steady source of points, especially after the tricky GW1 at Anfield.
- Jorgen Strand Larsen (£6.5m, Wolves): Ended last season with a flurry of goals and assists, now likely to be Wolves’ main striker and possibly on penalties. Enables flexibility elsewhere.
- Chris Wood (£7.5m, Nottingham Forest): Last season’s surprise package. Nailed for minutes and pens, with a great opening run of fixtures.
- Danny Welbeck (£6.5m, Brighton): The veteran led Brighton in goals and, with Joao Pedro and Ferguson gone, should start up front and take pens.
- Dominic Solanke (£7.5m, Spurs): Nine goals and five assists in a tricky debut season at Spurs. If Son leaves, he could take pens. Spurs’ fixtures are kind and he could start strong.
Best Mid-Priced Defenders: Unlocking New Value
With the new rules rewarding clearances, blocks, interceptions, and tackles, defenders in the £5.0m–£5.5m bracket look better than ever. Here are your top picks:
1. Daniel Muñoz (Crystal Palace, £5.0m)
A full-back who plays more like a winger. Four goals and six assists last season, plus great attacking stats. Palace’s early fixtures (Forest, Sunderland, West Ham, Everton, Bournemouth) are inviting. If you want an attacking defender who can deliver double-digit hauls, look no further.
2. Nikola Milenković (Nottingham Forest, £5.0m)
Offers a big goal threat from set-pieces. Forest’s fixtures are strong for clean sheets, and Milenković is one of the highest-scoring defenders for goals.
3. Murillo (Nottingham Forest, £5.0m)
Leading all defenders for defensive contributions and bonus points. Not a huge goal threat, but his baseline value is immense, especially with Forest’s kind opening games.
4. James Tarkowski (Everton, £5.0m)
Reliable, bonus-heavy, and a threat from set-pieces. Everton have a nice opening run, and if fit, Tarkowski offers a safe floor for points.
Building a successful FPL team is all about blending explosive premiums, value picks, and set-and-forget defenders. Whether you’re gambling on Haaland, eyeing Isak’s transfer saga, or searching for bonus magnets in defense, balance is key.
Don’t forget: For the latest transfer updates, player analysis, and predicted points, download the “We Play FPL” app! Get ahead with transfer planning, compare players side by side, and make informed decisions for a flying start to the season.
May your arrows be green. Happy managing!
Arsenal
2025/26 FPL: Gameweek 9 player picks and the Oct. 24 deadline
FPL Gameweek 9 picks: goalkeepers, defenders and forwards to consider for the Oct. 24 deadline. BST.
Gameweek 9 offers few standout heavyweight clashes, which can make it an ideal week for FPL managers hunting steady returns. Below are considered selections drawn from the current form and fixtures ahead of the Oct. 24 deadline.
Goalkeepers: David Raya (£5.7m) is highlighted for clean sheet potential after conceding just three times in all competitions this season and is described as a set-and-forget option. Nick Pope (£5.2m) sits as FPL’s second-highest scoring goalkeeper through the opening eight rounds and has kept three clean sheets in his last four matches in all competitions, with Newcastle hosting Fulham on Saturday. Robert Sánchez (£4.9m) is the cheaper alternative; he will be aiming for a shutout at home to Sunderland, who have scored in only one of their four away games.
Defenders: Marc Cucurella (£6.1m) offers attacking and defensive upside, having delivered 15 points across his past two matches and creating 11 chances for Chelsea this term. Gabriel (£6.4m) is the leading defensive candidate, having provided more points than any other defender this term and 45 in his last five Premier League matches. Marcos Senesi (£5.0m) is the obvious Bournemouth route into defence at home to Nottingham Forest, with 48 points this term. Dan Burn (£5.1m), Kieran Trippier (£5.0m) and Joe Rodon (£4.1m) are also noted as solid defensive choices.
Midfield and attack: Antoine Semenyo (£8.1m) has outscored other midfielders by 24 points and is a must-have at home to Forest, having produced five-plus points in all his home games. Declan Rice (£6.6m) could benefit from Arsenal’s set-piece threat at home to Palace. Bukayo Saka (£10.0m) remains a reliable long-term option despite fitness setbacks.
Forwards: Erling Haaland (£14.7m) remains a must-have after 11 goals in eight league games and is primed to score as Manchester City visit Aston Villa. Cody Gakpo (£7.5m) has scored in his past five matches for club and country and faces Brentford. Igor Thiago (£6.1m) is a budget gamble after five league goals in eight matches.
Reminder: The Gameweek 9 deadline is 6:30 p.m. BST (1:30 p.m. ET, 10:30 a.m. PT) on Oct. 24.
FPL
Gameweek 8 FPL guide: top picks after the international break
Best FPL picks for Gameweek 8: goalkeepers, defenders and attackers to target after the break update
The October international break gave Fantasy Premier League managers time to reassess ahead of Gameweek 8. Several fixtures shape clear options across positions while other choices require caution.
Goalkeepers to consider include Gianluigi Donnarumma (£5.7m), who is fixture-proof for Manchester City against Everton (H). David Raya (£5.7m) remains a set-and-forget option given Arsenal’s defensive form, despite Fulham (A) posing a challenge; the Gunners have conceded just three goals in all competitions this term. With Alisson injured for the next few weeks, Giorgi Mamardashvili (£4.3m) could be a steal as Liverpool’s starting goalkeeper, especially with the club seeking to halt a three-game losing run ahead of Manchester United (A).
Defensive investments start again with Arsenal. Gabriel (£6.3m) was rested during Brazil’s second friendly and should be ready for Fulham; he has scored 33 points across the last four games and pairs well with William Saliba (£6.0m) and Jurriën Timber (£5.9m). Joško Gvardiol (£5.9m) delivered 12 points at Brentford in Gameweek 7 and is an attacking set-piece threat for Man City against Everton. Budget defenders include Sunderland’s Omar Alderete (£4.1m), a near-guaranteed starter despite a slight injury concern after a 17-point haul at Nottingham Forest in Gameweek 6, and Burnley’s Quilindschy Hartman (£4.0m), who has managed assists in back-to-back games ahead of Leeds United (H).
In midfield and attack, Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze (£7.6m) is certain to start with Martin Ødegaard injured and arrives in form after scoring for England against Latvia. Tottenham’s Mohammed Kudus (£6.8m) produced 12 points at Leeds United after scoring his first Spurs goal in Gameweek 7 and supplying an assist; Aston Villa (H) follows. Jérémy Doku (£6.6m) has been good value when starting, producing 20 points in recent home matches and providing one assist during the international break.
Cody Gakpo (£7.5m) offers a cost-effective route into Liverpool’s attack against a leaky Man Utd defence, having scored four goals in his last three games for club and country and netting three in three at Anfield versus United. Burnley’s Jaidon Anthony (£5.7m) is the fourth-highest scoring midfielder in FPL and could extend his five goal contributions if fit. Up front, Erling Haaland (£14.5m) is essential after 21 goals for club and country this season; his only non-scoring fixture was the home clash with Spurs in Gameweek 2. João Pedro (£7.7m) should benefit from Nottingham Forest’s defensive struggles under Ange Postecoglou, while Jarrod Bowen (£7.7m) remains a reliable source of goals now classed as a forward and recently scored in a 3- goal display against Brentford (H).
Arsenal
Gameweek 7 FPL guide: key picks before the international break
Essential Fantasy Premier League picks for Gameweek 7: goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, forwards
The upcoming international break gives Fantasy Premier League managers a pause, but Gameweek 7 demands decisions before the deadline. Friday night’s Bournemouth v Fulham fixture shortens planning time ahead of five notable Sunday matchups.
Goalkeeper choices centre on David Raya (£5.6m) and Nick Pope (£5.0m). Raya looks most likely to keep a clean sheet after Arsenal secured their sixth shutout of the season at Olympiacos midweek and the Spaniard made several superb stops. Arsenal host struggling West Ham United on Saturday, increasing Raya’s appeal. Pope endured a mixed afternoon against Arsenal last weekend but should have an easier ride at home to Nottingham Forest on Sunday. The Tricky Trees have also been in European action midweek and have made an underwhelming start to life under Ange Postecoglou, scoring just once in three league outings since the Australian took over.
Defenders to consider include Arsenal’s Gabriel (£6.2m) and Jurriën Timber (£5.8m), plus Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi (£4.9m) and Aston Villa’s Matty Cash (£4.6m). Gabriel is the obvious pick after last weekend’s late winner at Newcastle but was substituted with an injury against Olympiacos and is a slight doubt. Timber has amassed 37 points this season, one fewer than Gabriel, is a strong attacking threat and is guaranteed to start despite no defensive contribution points so far. Senesi has been a revelation, scoring seven points or more in four of his six outings for Bournemouth, with a home game against Fulham on Friday offering further upside. Cash offers attacking promise and defensive solidity for Villa and has already scored this season.
Midfield recommendations include Bukayo Saka (£9.8m), Eberechi Eze (£7.5m), Gabriel Martinelli (£6.9m), Antoine Semenyo (£7.8m) and Bruno Fernandes (£9.0m). Saka scored midweek and could be an excellent differential given low ownership. Eze and Martinelli are cheaper options in form but lack guaranteed minutes. Semenyo is the highest scoring midfielder with 48 points and only one blank in six weeks and should benefit against Fulham. Despite a missed penalty and yellow card at Brentford, Fernandes remains an excellent choice for Manchester United’s home clash with Sunderland and “should still be on penalties despite two misses this term.”
Attacking picks include Ismaïla Sarr (£6.4m), Anthony Gordon (£7.4m), Jérémy Doku (£6.6m), Erling Haaland (£14.4m), Viktor Gyökeres (£9.0m) and Jean-Philippe Mateta (£7.5m). Sarr returned from injury, scored against Liverpool and faces Everton. Gordon could punish Forest following his midweek brace. Doku has managed 23 points across his last three games and is City’s best value for the trip to Brentford. Haaland remains a must-have after a Champions League brace at Monaco and eight Premier League goals, making him an easy captain choice. Gyökeres has both his goals at the Emirates this term and looked lively against Olympiacos. Mateta was unfortunate not to score against Liverpool and could trouble an Everton defence that has kept only one clean sheet in their last four league games.
