FPL Weekly — Next 3 Matches 🔔

Quick key (plain English):

• xGI/90 = expected goals + assists per 90 (attacking threat).

• Defensive contribs/90 = tackles/blocks/interceptions (clean-sheet & bonus help).

• Attack % / Defence % (next three) = player’s average fixture friendliness:

  • Higher Attack % = easier to score

  • Higher Defence % = easier to keep clean sheets

Best Captain Picks 🔥

• Erling Haaland (£14.0m, FWD) — Nothing new under the sun: 2.51 xGI/90 with a stellar 96% Attack outlook makes him the default armband again. The slate (Spurs, Brighton, Man Utd) brings two high-tempo games that feed his penalty-box volume, plus a rivalry fixture where City usually create in bunches—bankable floor and hat-trick ceiling in one package.

• Cody Gakpo (£7.5m, MID) — If you want a vice or a chase captain, 0.64 xGI/90 plus 91% Attack across Newcastle, Arsenal, Burnley offers sustained involvement and multiple routes to points. Even with one “red” fixture on paper, Liverpool’s chance creation keeps him live for goals/assists every match.

• Bernardo Silva (£6.5m, MID) — The under-owned safety valve with 0.61 xGI/90 and a model-leading 96% Attack run (Spurs, Brighton, Man Utd). He’s not just a creator here—those opponents’ styles should pull City into transition and second-phase chances, where Bernardo quietly racks up returns.

Best Overall ⭐

Best Overall Defenders ⭐

• Rico Lewis (£5.0m) — A ceiling pick at DEF: 0.73 xGI/90 is elite for the position, and the 96% Attack / 91% Defence three-game read (Spurs, Brighton, Man Utd) adds both assist and clean-sheet pathways. If his advanced role holds, he can outscore many mids at this price.

• Virgil van Dijk (£6.0m) — The premium anchor: 0.19 xGI/90 + 21 defensive contribs/90 with 91% Attack / 86% Defence through Newcastle, Arsenal, Burnley. You’re buying a clean-sheet floor, bonus potential, and set-piece threat that stacks nicely in tight games.

• Riccardo Calafiori (£5.5m) — Unicorn profile for a defender: 0.78 xGI/90 and 95% Defence across Leeds, Liverpool, Nott’m Forest. When a DEF posts winger-like attacking numbers and has elite CS odds, you get true double-route upside.

• Maxence Lacroix (£5.0m) — Set-piece dart with 0.40 xGI/90 and a supportive 68% Defence (Nott’m Forest, Aston Villa, Sunderland). He won’t overlap like a wing-back, but he’s live for headed chances and bonus in grindy matches.

• Rayan Aït-Nouri (£6.0m) — Schedule play: 96% Attack / 91% Defence is outstanding for Spurs, Brighton, Man Utd. The 0.08 xGI/90 caps the ceiling, yet role and fixtures make him a steady every-week starter in this window.

Best Overall Midfielders ⭐

• Morgan Gibbs-White (£7.5m) — Talisman usage drives 0.71 xGI/90; even with a modest 45% Attack vs Crystal Palace, West Ham, Arsenal, his set pieces and centrality keep him relevant when fixtures ebb.

• Elliot Anderson (£5.5m) — Budget starter with bite: 0.67 xGI/90 and 45% Attack (same Crystal Palace, West Ham, Arsenal run) at a price that lets you fund premiums; perfect as an every-week M4/M5 who still carries assist/late-runner upside.

• Cody Gakpo (£7.5m) — Already in captaincy, but worth repeating: 0.64 xGI/90, 91% Attack, and a three-game slate (Newcastle, Arsenal, Burnley) that still projects volume.

• Bernardo Silva (£6.5m) — 0.61 xGI/90 with 96% Attack through Spurs, Brighton, Man Utd; the “glue” mid who pads points while enabling a Haaland build.

• Florian Wirtz (£8.5m) — Classy returns profile: 0.47 xGI/90 plus 91% Attack (Newcastle, Arsenal, Burnley). Even when he isn’t the finisher, he’s the final-ball magnet.

Best Overall Forwards ⭐

• Erling Haaland (£14.0m) — See captaincy: foundational pick with the best combo of xGI and fixtures in the pool.

• Hugo Ekitiké (£8.6m) — Explosive 1.48 xGI/90 and 91% Attack (Newcastle, Arsenal, Burnley) make him the ideal partner to Haaland; he thrives when games stretch.

• Chris Wood (£7.5m) — Penalty-box finisher with 1.11 xGI/90 despite a leaner 45% Attack (Crystal Palace, West Ham, Arsenal). He’s a classic “run hot” pick—look to start him when service is likely.

• João Pedro (£7.5m) — A steadier path at 0.40 xGI/90 with 81% Attack (West Ham, Fulham, Brentford). Minutes, penalties, and good fixtures make him a reliable FWD2/3.

• Igor Thiago (£6.0m) — Mid-price enabler: 0.92 xGI/90, 66% Attack (Aston Villa, Sunderland, Chelsea). Great when you want to funnel cash into defence/midfield without losing forward punch.

Best Budget 💸

Best Budget Defenders💸

• Rico Lewis (£5.0m) — Headline cheap DEF because the role creates mid-like returns (0.73 xGI/90) and the 96%/91% slate (Spurs, Brighton, Man Utd) is superb; he’s your upside budget pathway.

• Maxence Lacroix (£5.0m) — Budget centre-back with tangible goal threat (0.40 xGI/90) and a supportive 68% Defence over Nott’m Forest, Aston Villa, Sunderland—ideal as a rotation starter in good home games.

• Sepp van den Berg (£4.5m) — Bonus-friendly worker (14 defensive contribs/90) with 66% Attack / 47% Defence (Aston Villa, Sunderland, Chelsea). Not glamorous, but he keeps benches safe and occasionally spikes BPS.

• Josh Acheampong (£4.0m) — Rare £4.0m you can actually use: 0.18 xGI/90, 81%/81% and a kind run (West Ham, Fulham, Brentford)—perfect first bench who can step in this fortnight.

• Trevoh Chalobah (£5.0m) — Similar 81%/81% slate (West Ham, Fulham, Brentford) with steady defensive volume; handy when you need nailed depth more than fireworks.

Best Budget Midfielders💸

• Elliot Anderson (£5.5m) — Best “play every week” budget mid: 0.67 xGI/90, 45% Attack vs Crystal Palace, West Ham, Arsenal; keeps your structure flexible while still carrying real involvement.

• Matt O’Riley (£5.5m) — Category-leading 0.96 xGI/90 with a middling 59% Attack (Everton, Man City, Bournemouth). Target Everton/Bournemouth aggressively and manage expectations in the City fixture.

• David Brooks (£5.0m) — Nicely priced with 0.42 xGI/90 and a friendly 76% Attack (Wolves, Spurs, Brighton). Box-arrivals + set-piece cameos give him sneaky upside at 5.0.

• Josh King (£4.5m) — Pure enabler with 0.36 xGI/90 and 41% Attack (Man Utd, Chelsea, Leeds). He’s bench-first but can cover a blank week without killing you.

• Marcus Tavernier (£5.5m) — Mirrors Brooks at a slightly higher tag: 0.38 xGI/90, 76% Attack (Wolves, Spurs, Brighton). Use him as a rotation mid in the two softer games.

Best Budget Forwards💸

• Igor Thiago (£6.0m) — The budget forward to trust: 0.92 xGI/90 and 66% Attack (Aston Villa, Sunderland, Chelsea). Great FWD2 when you want funds elsewhere.

• Raúl Jiménez (£6.5m) — Pragmatic cover at 0.37 xGI/90 with 41% Attack (Man Utd, Chelsea, Leeds); start in the greenest fixture only.

• Richarlison (£6.5m) — Stat monster for the price (1.00 xGI/90), but 31% Attack (Man City, Bournemouth, West Ham) says be selective—Bournemouth is the time to pounce.

• Jørgen Strand Larsen (£6.5m) — Rotation-friendly 0.35 xGI/90, 36% Attack (Bournemouth, Everton, Newcastle); a decent third forward when streaming fixtures.

• Lyle Foster (£5.0m) — Deep budget release valve (0.32 xGI/90) with a rough 5% Attack (Sunderland, Man Utd, Liverpool); use only if you absolutely need cash.

Best Differentials 🕶️

Best Differential Defenders🕶️

• Rico Lewis (£5.0m) — Low ownership plus 0.73 xGI/90 and a dream 96%/91% run (Spurs, Brighton, Man Utd) makes him the standout upside punt in defence—genuine haul potential from an “extra mid” role.

• Riccardo Calafiori (£5.5m) — Attacking full-back numbers (0.78 xGI/90) wrapped in 95% Defence (Leeds, Liverpool, Nott’m Forest) give you two clean routes to points; perfect for catching rivals off guard.

• Maxence Lacroix (£5.0m) — Set-piece menace (0.40 xGI/90) with a decent 68% Defence slate; a sneaky CS + header combo when the matchup turns aerial.

• Reece James (£5.5m) — 0.22 xGI/90 and 81%/81% (West Ham, Fulham, Brentford). If he’s ramping, the crossing volume and overlaps can turn into fast green arrows.

• Sepp van den Berg (£4.5m) — Cheap, ignored, and busy; Aston Villa, Sunderland, Chelsea should feed him defensive actions and bonus chances.

Best Differential Midfielders🕶️

• Morgan Gibbs-White (£7.5m) — Under-owned for a team talisman: 0.71 xGI/90 with 45% Attack (Crystal Palace, West Ham, Arsenal). He collects points in multiple ways—set pieces, cut-backs, penalties if applicable.

• Elliot Anderson (£5.5m) — Budget differential who actually posts numbers (0.67 xGI/90). In a week where many bench their cheap mids, he can outscore template 6.5s.

• Cody Gakpo (£7.5m) — Should be more popular given 0.64 xGI/90 and 91% Attack (Newcastle, Arsenal, Burnley). Ideal when you’re not already tripled in that attack.

• Bernardo Silva (£6.5m) — 0.61 xGI/90 with 96% Attack (Spurs, Brighton, Man Utd); low-drama, high-return glue—great for closing rank gaps without ripping your team apart.

• Matheus Cunha (£8.0m) — Volatile pick at 0.45 xGI/90 with a poor 19% Attack (Fulham, Burnley, Man City), but his direct style can still spike; use only if you’re deliberately embracing variance.

Best Differential Forwards🕶️

• Igor Thiago (£6.0m) — Ownership lags the data: 0.92 xGI/90 and 66% Attack (Aston Villa, Sunderland, Chelsea). A great way to fund premium mids/defs while keeping goal threat.

• Raúl Jiménez (£6.5m) — Use as a rotating FWD3 around the best single fixture; 0.37 xGI/90 and 41% Attack won’t kill you and sometimes pop.

• Jean-Philippe Mateta (£7.5m) — 0.29 xGI/90, 54% Attack (Nott’m Forest, Aston Villa, Sunderland); streaky finisher who shines in transition games.

• Evanilson (£7.0m) — Interesting curveball with 0.29 xGI/90 and 76% Attack (Wolves, Spurs, Brighton); use when you’re actively targeting open, high-tempo fixtures.

• Richarlison (£6.5m) — 1.00 xGI/90 but just 31% Attack (Man City, Bournemouth, West Ham); the Bournemouth slot is the angle—time the entry and you can grab a cheap haul.