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⚽🧠FPL Brain: Who to transfer in?
Simple, statistics-based rankings for Captaincy and Transfers, delivered weekly
Welcome to this week’s FPL newsletter! Here’s a quick guide to the sections and stats you’ll see below:
- Captain Picks – The standout options to give the armband to this gameweek, based on form and immediate fixture potential.
- Overall Best (⚔️ Defenders, 🎨 Midfielders, 🎯 Forwards) – The top-performing players in each position, projected over the next 3 gameweeks.
- Budget Gems (💸) – Lower-priced players who still offer strong returns, helping free up funds elsewhere, for the next 3 gameweeks.
- Low Ownership Differentials (🔍) – Under-the-radar picks with less than ~10% ownership, who can boost your rank if they deliver, also assessed across the next 3 gameweeks.
Stat Glossary:
- xGI/90 – Expected Goals + Assists per 90 minutes. A measure of attacking involvement.
- Attack % – Strength of attacking output versus upcoming opponents (higher % = stronger attacking potential).
- Defend % – Reliability of defensive output versus upcoming opponents (higher % = better chance of clean sheets/defensive returns).
- Def contribs/90 – Defensive contributions (tackles, blocks, interceptions) per 90 minutes.
- Fixtures – The next 2–3 matches the player is projected to play.
- Rank # – Position compared to others in the same category (1 = best).
Use this guide to balance safe picks with clever differentials, and to spot where you can save budget or take calculated risks across the next three gameweeks.
Captain Picks
Enzo Fernández (£6.6m, CAP) — Chelsea — Rank #1
xGI/90 0.61
Attack 98%
xGI/90 0.61
Attack 98%
Chris Wood (£7.6m, CAP) — Nott'm Forest — Rank #2
xGI/90 0.52
Attack 99%
xGI/90 0.52
Attack 99%
Erling Haaland (£14.2m, CAP) — Man City — Rank #3
xGI/90 1.59
Attack 98%
xGI/90 1.59
Attack 98%
Jaidon Anthony (£5.5m, CAP) — Burnley — Rank #4
xGI/90 0.53
Attack 97%
xGI/90 0.53
Attack 97%
Viktor Gyökeres (£9.0m, CAP) — Arsenal — Rank #5
xGI/90 0.70
Attack 98%
xGI/90 0.70
Attack 98%
⚔️ Overall Defenders
Trevoh Chalobah (£5.1m, DEF) — Chelsea — Rank #1
xGI/90 0.29 · Def contribs/90 10.92
Attack 65% · Defend 65%
(Man Utd, Brighton, Liverpool)
xGI/90 0.29 · Def contribs/90 10.92
Attack 65% · Defend 65%
(Man Utd, Brighton, Liverpool)
Marcos Senesi Barón (£4.6m, DEF) — Bournemouth — Rank #2
xGI/90 0.07 · Def contribs/90 13.75
Attack 90% · Defend 90%
(Newcastle, Leeds, Fulham)
xGI/90 0.07 · Def contribs/90 13.75
Attack 90% · Defend 90%
(Newcastle, Leeds, Fulham)
Omar Alderete (£4.0m, DEF) — Sunderland — Rank #3
xGI/90 0.08 · Def contribs/90 10.26
Attack 85% · Defend 85%
(Aston Villa, Nott'm Forest, Man Utd)
xGI/90 0.08 · Def contribs/90 10.26
Attack 85% · Defend 85%
(Aston Villa, Nott'm Forest, Man Utd)
Maxence Lacroix (£5.0m, DEF) — Crystal Palace — Rank #4
xGI/90 0.06 · Def contribs/90 10.75
Attack 74% · Defend 74%
(West Ham, Liverpool, Everton)
xGI/90 0.06 · Def contribs/90 10.75
Attack 74% · Defend 74%
(West Ham, Liverpool, Everton)
Riccardo Calafiori (£5.7m, DEF) — Arsenal — Rank #5
xGI/90 0.45 · Def contribs/90 4.64
Attack 95% · Defend 95%
(Man City, Newcastle, West Ham)
xGI/90 0.45 · Def contribs/90 4.64
Attack 95% · Defend 95%
(Man City, Newcastle, West Ham)
🎨 Overall Midfielders
Enzo Fernández (£6.6m, MID) — Chelsea — Rank #1
xGI/90 0.61 · Def contribs/90 6.21
Attack 65% · Defend 65%
(Man Utd, Brighton, Liverpool)
xGI/90 0.61 · Def contribs/90 6.21
Attack 65% · Defend 65%
(Man Utd, Brighton, Liverpool)
Bryan Mbeumo (£8.1m, MID) — Man Utd — Rank #2
xGI/90 0.74 · Def contribs/90 2.75
Attack 5% · Defend 5%
(Chelsea, Brentford, Sunderland)
xGI/90 0.74 · Def contribs/90 2.75
Attack 5% · Defend 5%
(Chelsea, Brentford, Sunderland)
Pedro Lomba Neto (£7.0m, MID) — Chelsea — Rank #3
xGI/90 0.37 · Def contribs/90 4.63
Attack 65% · Defend 65%
(Man Utd, Brighton, Liverpool)
xGI/90 0.37 · Def contribs/90 4.63
Attack 65% · Defend 65%
(Man Utd, Brighton, Liverpool)
Bruno Borges Fernandes (£9.0m, MID) — Man Utd — Rank #4
xGI/90 0.71 · Def contribs/90 11.5
Attack 5% · Defend 5%
(Chelsea, Brentford, Sunderland)
xGI/90 0.71 · Def contribs/90 11.5
Attack 5% · Defend 5%
(Chelsea, Brentford, Sunderland)
Yankuba Minteh (£5.9m, MID) — Brighton — Rank #5
xGI/90 0.34 · Def contribs/90 7.72
Attack 35% · Defend 35%
(Spurs, Chelsea, Wolves)
xGI/90 0.34 · Def contribs/90 7.72
Attack 35% · Defend 35%
(Spurs, Chelsea, Wolves)
🎯 Overall Forwards
Erling Haaland (£14.2m, FWD) — Man City — Rank #1
xGI/90 1.59
Attack 50%
(Arsenal, Burnley, Brentford)
xGI/90 1.59
Attack 50%
(Arsenal, Burnley, Brentford)
João Pedro Junqueira de Jesus (£7.8m, FWD) — Chelsea — Rank #2
xGI/90 0.46
Attack 65%
(Man Utd, Brighton, Liverpool)
xGI/90 0.46
Attack 65%
(Man Utd, Brighton, Liverpool)
Jean-Philippe Mateta (£7.6m, FWD) — Crystal Palace — Rank #3
xGI/90 0.56
Attack 74%
(West Ham, Liverpool, Everton)
xGI/90 0.56
Attack 74%
(West Ham, Liverpool, Everton)
Viktor Gyökeres (£9.0m, FWD) — Arsenal — Rank #4
xGI/90 0.70
Attack 95%
(Man City, Newcastle, West Ham)
xGI/90 0.70
Attack 95%
(Man City, Newcastle, West Ham)
Igor Thiago Nascimento Rodrigues (£6.0m, FWD) — Brentford — Rank #5
xGI/90 0.37
Attack 25%
(Fulham, Man Utd, Man City)
xGI/90 0.37
Attack 25%
(Fulham, Man Utd, Man City)
💸 Budget Defenders
Marcos Senesi Barón (£4.6m, DEF) — Bournemouth — Rank #1
xGI/90 0.07 · Def contribs/90 13.75
Attack 90% · Defend 90%
(Newcastle, Leeds, Fulham)
xGI/90 0.07 · Def contribs/90 13.75
Attack 90% · Defend 90%
(Newcastle, Leeds, Fulham)
Omar Alderete (£4.0m, DEF) — Sunderland — Rank #2
xGI/90 0.08 · Def contribs/90 10.26
Attack 85% · Defend 85%
(Aston Villa, Nott'm Forest, Man Utd)
xGI/90 0.08 · Def contribs/90 10.26
Attack 85% · Defend 85%
(Aston Villa, Nott'm Forest, Man Utd)
Maxence Lacroix (£5.0m, DEF) — Crystal Palace — Rank #3
xGI/90 0.06 · Def contribs/90 10.75
Attack 74% · Defend 74%
(West Ham, Liverpool, Everton)
xGI/90 0.06 · Def contribs/90 10.75
Attack 74% · Defend 74%
(West Ham, Liverpool, Everton)
Chris Richards (£4.5m, DEF) — Crystal Palace — Rank #4
xGI/90 0.09 · Def contribs/90 8.25
Attack 74% · Defend 74%
(West Ham, Liverpool, Everton)
xGI/90 0.09 · Def contribs/90 8.25
Attack 74% · Defend 74%
(West Ham, Liverpool, Everton)
Dan Burn (£5.0m, DEF) — Newcastle — Rank #5
xGI/90 0.03 · Def contribs/90 7.5
Attack 100% · Defend 100%
(Bournemouth, Arsenal, Nott'm Forest)
xGI/90 0.03 · Def contribs/90 7.5
Attack 100% · Defend 100%
(Bournemouth, Arsenal, Nott'm Forest)
💸 Budget Midfielders
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (£5.0m, MID) — Everton — Rank #1
xGI/90 0.35 · Def contribs/90 5.75
Attack 45% · Defend 45%
(Liverpool, West Ham, Crystal Palace)
xGI/90 0.35 · Def contribs/90 5.75
Attack 45% · Defend 45%
(Liverpool, West Ham, Crystal Palace)
David Brooks (£5.0m, MID) — Bournemouth — Rank #2
xGI/90 0.65 · Def contribs/90 7.12
Attack 90% · Defend 90%
(Newcastle, Leeds, Fulham)
xGI/90 0.65 · Def contribs/90 7.12
Attack 90% · Defend 90%
(Newcastle, Leeds, Fulham)
Anton Stach (£5.0m, MID) — Leeds — Rank #3
xGI/90 0.25 · Def contribs/90 7
Attack 79% · Defend 79%
(Wolves, Bournemouth, Spurs)
xGI/90 0.25 · Def contribs/90 7
Attack 79% · Defend 79%
(Wolves, Bournemouth, Spurs)
Will Hughes (£4.9m, MID) — Crystal Palace — Rank #4
xGI/90 0.18 · Def contribs/90 9.03
Attack 74% · Defend 74%
(West Ham, Liverpool, Everton)
xGI/90 0.18 · Def contribs/90 9.03
Attack 74% · Defend 74%
(West Ham, Liverpool, Everton)
Yasin Ayari (£4.9m, MID) — Brighton — Rank #5
xGI/90 0.12 · Def contribs/90 9.6
Attack 35% · Defend 35%
(Spurs, Chelsea, Wolves)
xGI/90 0.12 · Def contribs/90 9.6
Attack 35% · Defend 35%
(Spurs, Chelsea, Wolves)
💸 Budget Forwards
Igor Thiago Nascimento Rodrigues (£6.0m, FWD) — Brentford — Rank #1
xGI/90 0.37
Attack 25%
(Fulham, Man Utd, Man City)
xGI/90 0.37
Attack 25%
(Fulham, Man Utd, Man City)
Lyle Foster (£5.0m, FWD) — Burnley — Rank #2
xGI/90 0.21
Attack 11%
(Nott'm Forest, Man City, Aston Villa)
xGI/90 0.21
Attack 11%
(Nott'm Forest, Man City, Aston Villa)
Wilson Isidor (£5.5m, FWD) — Sunderland — Rank #3
xGI/90 0.22
Attack 85%
(Aston Villa, Nott'm Forest, Man Utd)
xGI/90 0.22
Attack 85%
(Aston Villa, Nott'm Forest, Man Utd)
Eliezer Mayenda Dossou (£5.5m, FWD) — Sunderland — Rank #4
xGI/90 0.17
Attack 85%
(Aston Villa, Nott'm Forest, Man Utd)
xGI/90 0.17
Attack 85%
(Aston Villa, Nott'm Forest, Man Utd)
Norberto Bercique Gomes Betuncal (£5.4m, FWD) — Everton — Rank #5
xGI/90 0.64
Attack 45%
(Liverpool, West Ham, Crystal Palace)
xGI/90 0.64
Attack 45%
(Liverpool, West Ham, Crystal Palace)
🔍 Low-Ownership Defenders
Trevoh Chalobah (£5.1m, DEF) — Chelsea — Rank #1
xGI/90 0.29 · Def contribs/90 10.92
Attack 65% · Defend 65%
(Man Utd, Brighton, Liverpool)
xGI/90 0.29 · Def contribs/90 10.92
Attack 65% · Defend 65%
(Man Utd, Brighton, Liverpool)
Marcos Senesi Barón (£4.6m, DEF) — Bournemouth — Rank #2
xGI/90 0.07 · Def contribs/90 13.75
Attack 90% · Defend 90%
(Newcastle, Leeds, Fulham)
xGI/90 0.07 · Def contribs/90 13.75
Attack 90% · Defend 90%
(Newcastle, Leeds, Fulham)
Omar Alderete (£4.0m, DEF) — Sunderland — Rank #3
xGI/90 0.08 · Def contribs/90 10.26
Attack 85% · Defend 85%
(Aston Villa, Nott'm Forest, Man Utd)
xGI/90 0.08 · Def contribs/90 10.26
Attack 85% · Defend 85%
(Aston Villa, Nott'm Forest, Man Utd)
Maxence Lacroix (£5.0m, DEF) — Crystal Palace — Rank #4
xGI/90 0.06 · Def contribs/90 10.75
Attack 74% · Defend 74%
(West Ham, Liverpool, Everton)
xGI/90 0.06 · Def contribs/90 10.75
Attack 74% · Defend 74%
(West Ham, Liverpool, Everton)
Chris Richards (£4.5m, DEF) — Crystal Palace — Rank #5
xGI/90 0.09 · Def contribs/90 8.25
Attack 74% · Defend 74%
(West Ham, Liverpool, Everton)
xGI/90 0.09 · Def contribs/90 8.25
Attack 74% · Defend 74%
(West Ham, Liverpool, Everton)
🔍 Low-Ownership Midfielders
Pedro Lomba Neto (£7.0m, MID) — Chelsea — Rank #1
xGI/90 0.37 · Def contribs/90 4.63
Attack 65% · Defend 65%
(Man Utd, Brighton, Liverpool)
xGI/90 0.37 · Def contribs/90 4.63
Attack 65% · Defend 65%
(Man Utd, Brighton, Liverpool)
Yankuba Minteh (£5.9m, MID) — Brighton — Rank #2
xGI/90 0.34 · Def contribs/90 7.72
Attack 35% · Defend 35%
(Spurs, Chelsea, Wolves)
xGI/90 0.34 · Def contribs/90 7.72
Attack 35% · Defend 35%
(Spurs, Chelsea, Wolves)
Kevin Schade (£7.0m, MID) — Brentford — Rank #3
xGI/90 0.52 · Def contribs/90 7.45
Attack 25% · Defend 25%
(Fulham, Man Utd, Man City)
xGI/90 0.52 · Def contribs/90 7.45
Attack 25% · Defend 25%
(Fulham, Man Utd, Man City)
Mitoma Kaoru (£6.4m, MID) — Brighton — Rank #4
xGI/90 0.22 · Def contribs/90 3.07
Attack 35% · Defend 35%
(Spurs, Chelsea, Wolves)
xGI/90 0.22 · Def contribs/90 3.07
Attack 35% · Defend 35%
(Spurs, Chelsea, Wolves)
Moisés Caicedo Corozo (£5.6m, MID) — Chelsea — Rank #5
xGI/90 0.14 · Def contribs/90 14.75
Attack 65% · Defend 65%
(Man Utd, Brighton, Liverpool)
xGI/90 0.14 · Def contribs/90 14.75
Attack 65% · Defend 65%
(Man Utd, Brighton, Liverpool)
🔍 Low-Ownership Forwards
Igor Thiago Nascimento Rodrigues (£6.0m, FWD) — Brentford — Rank #1
xGI/90 0.37
Attack 25%
(Fulham, Man Utd, Man City)
xGI/90 0.37
Attack 25%
(Fulham, Man Utd, Man City)
Francisco Evanilson de Lima Barbosa (£7.0m, FWD) — Bournemouth — Rank #2
xGI/90 0.27
Attack 90%
(Newcastle, Leeds, Fulham)
xGI/90 0.27
Attack 90%
(Newcastle, Leeds, Fulham)
Jarrod Bowen (£7.7m, FWD) — West Ham — Rank #3
xGI/90 0.17
Attack 20%
(Crystal Palace, Everton, Arsenal)
xGI/90 0.17
Attack 20%
(Crystal Palace, Everton, Arsenal)
Lyle Foster (£5.0m, FWD) — Burnley — Rank #4
xGI/90 0.21
Attack 11%
(Nott'm Forest, Man City, Aston Villa)
xGI/90 0.21
Attack 11%
(Nott'm Forest, Man City, Aston Villa)
Nick Woltemade (£7.0m, FWD) — Newcastle — Rank #5
xGI/90 0.39
Attack 100%
(Bournemouth, Arsenal, Nott'm Forest)
xGI/90 0.39
Attack 100%
(Bournemouth, Arsenal, Nott'm Forest)