BBC Sport names eight FPL picks to consider for 2026-27 season
BBC Sport on 17 August 2026 published a list of eight players it says could help managers in the 2026-27 Fantasy Premier League season, explicitly setting them out alongside, but separate from, premium options such as Bruno Fernandes and Erling Haaland. The selections cover a mix of mid-priced midfielders, budget enablers and a low-cost goalkeeper intended to complement template big hitters.
The article highlights eight specific players and explains why each might offer value for FPL managers building squads around expensive forwards and midfielders. It points to ownership figures and roles under new managers where relevant and provides recent performance data and set-piece responsibilities to justify the recommendations. Readers are invited to join the BBC Sport League on the official Fantasy Premier League game using the code bbcfpl.
Florian Wirtz is recommended as a mid-priced Liverpool midfielder at £7.5m with around 14% ownership, presented as a potential differential because fewer managers have backed him than Dominik Szoboszlai. Under new manager Andoni Iraola, Wirtz has been used as a number 10 operating close to striker Alexander Isak in pre-season friendlies, a role Iraola has publicly preferred rather than pushing him wide. The article argues that playing higher up should increase Wirtz's touches in the final third and his share of Liverpool's goal involvement, offering what it describes as a cleaner route into the club's attack than some more popular midfield options.
Dominik Szoboszlai is listed at £7m after a strong previous campaign, finishing as Liverpool's second highest-scoring FPL player with 160 points, behind Virgil van Dijk on 175 points. The piece notes Liverpool's opening five gameweeks start with Newcastle followed by Nottingham Forest, Ipswich, Fulham and Bournemouth and details Szoboszlai's 13 goals last season, including four direct free-kicks, plus his contribution to defensive points (defcon). It adds there are question marks over his exact role under Iraola with Wirtz likely to occupy the number 10 spot, but suggests Szoboszlai's versatility could help secure minutes.
Pascal Gross is presented as a value midfielder at £5.5m owned by fewer than 11% of teams, with the article pointing to an increased role this summer including expected penalty duties after Danny Welbeck moved to Chelsea. It records Gross converting a spot-kick in pre-season against Strasbourg and providing a free-kick assist in the same match, while also noting his existing involvement in corners and other set-pieces as multiple routes to returns. For goalkeepers, Antonin Kinsky at £4.5m is recommended as a standout budget option if he retains the Tottenham starting spot, having started every game under Roberto de Zerbi in the run-in and produced several strong performances; Guglielmo Vicario remains at the club but De Zerbi selected Kinsky for the run-in even after Vicario's return from injury.
Joao Pedro is listed as a Chelsea striker at £7.5m following a debut season that yielded 15 goals and nine assists, with the article stating he finished as the fourth highest-scoring forward in the FPL game and registering 63 shots in the box and 26 big chances. It notes Chelsea have no European football to contend with and that he is £2m cheaper than Cole Palmer while being the club's clear focal point, though Danny Welbeck could provide competition for minutes. Nottingham Forest's Neco Williams is recommended as a £5m defensive option; the Wales right-back ranked third for fantasy points among Forest players last season, produced five goal involvements and led defenders for shots with 46, and could benefit if manager Oliver Glasner adopts a wing-back system after Forest kept 13 clean sheets in the 2024-25 campaign.
Riccardo Calafiori is offered as a £5.5m route into Arsenal's defence, with Piero Hincapie also priced at £5.5m as a challenger for the left-back role and Gabriel at £8m noted as beyond many budgets. The article describes Calafiori as Arsenal's first-choice left-back for most of last season if he remains fit, with early substitutions said to be unlikely before the 60th minute after a full pre-season. It also mentions Cristhian Mosquera at £5.5m is expected to start in Saliba's absence (William Saliba listed at £6m) but that Mosquera's run could be brief given transfer links and an uncertain Saliba recovery timeline. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is recommended as a Leeds striker at £6m, described as the third most-owned forward behind Erling Haaland (£15.m) and Joao Pedro (£7.5m) who complete the template front three; he accumulated 142 points, his best FPL season since 20-21, scored 14 goals from 15.57 expected goals and earned 33 big chances, the fourth highest in the division, and is on penalties and rarely substituted.
The article also signposts additional material on what has changed in FPL for the 2026-27 season and offers expert tips on how to win at FPL, providing managers with further guidance alongside the eight player recommendations.
