De Cuyper and Gross questioned as FPL managers weigh up Gameweek Seven choices
BBC Sport FPL analyst Gianni Buttice outlined the key Fantasy Premier League dilemmas ahead of Gameweek Seven on 16 October 2026, asking whether De Cuyper and Gross are essential picks for managers.
Buttice noted that while De Cuyper and Gross are “as close to must-have status as anyone in this game”, both face Liverpool and Manchester City away across their next three fixtures, and he said he would not be ripping up his team to accommodate either player despite Crystal Palace at home in the derby this weekend being a favourable match-up. Given the choices, Buttice said he would prioritise defender De Cuyper (£5.1m). He added that Bruno Fernandes (£11.9m), owned by a third of managers and the game's second most expensive asset with five blanks from six, is an easy sell this week, with Arsenal's Bukayo Saka (£9.6m) and Chelsea's Cole Palmer (£9.7m) suggested as replacements.
On Manchester United assets Buttice recommended moving on from their defenders, while advising there is a case to retain Bryan Mbeumo (£7.9m); Mbeumo is ranked equal 10th among midfielders with 33 points so far this season and is therefore more of a hold than a buy.
Discussing Chelsea, Buttice pointed to an attack-minded manager in Xabi Alonso, no European involvement and a full week on the training ground as factors that make the side capable of scoring two or three goals in matches. He wrote that owning striker Joao Pedro (£7.8m), described as 'must have' in the article, probably does not provide enough cover given Chelsea's attacking firepower, and that the choice between Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers (£7.9m) will come down to budget and expectations around penalties and set-piece goals, with Palmer the main beneficiary.
Buttice warned managers that a double gameweek before gameweek 19, when chips reset, looks unlikely. He listed Erling Haaland's three standout home fixtures before the end of the year as Ipswich this weekend, Fulham in gameweek 11 and Hull in gameweek 16, noting there is little to separate those fixtures; he added that Ipswich have already lost 5-2 at Manchester United and won 3-2 at Crystal Palace in the league this season and do not usually sit deep away from home.
While reiterating De Cuyper as a standout option, Buttice recommended considering coverage of the Arsenal defence under Mikel Arteta, saying they should remain the league's best defensive unit and that Riccardo Calafiori (£5.9m) currently looks the strongest route in. He also pointed to defensive contribution (defcon) magnets to consider: Leeds' Tarik Muharemovic (£5m), Brighton's Luka Vuskovic (£5.1m), Bournemouth's Antonio Silva (£5m) and Everton centre-back James Tarkowski (£6.2m), adding that all four are reliable defcon performers who play for teams that do not concede too many goals.
These eight players will help you win FPL. Managers must finalise squads for Gameweek Seven with Haaland's home fixture against Ipswich this weekend among the matches influencing transfer and captain decisions.
