The Watchlist returns for 2026/27 as we take a look at the standout Fantasy Premier League (FPL) options over the medium term.
In this article, we discuss the headline inclusions.
MORE ABOUT THE WATCHLIST
Players are selected and ranked according to factors such as club injuries, forthcoming fixtures, Rate My Team’s (RMT) points projections and whether or not the player in question is likely to be a bargain in FPL.
‘Form’ also comes into the equation after the season kicks off.
Arrows before the name indicate whether a player has climbed or fallen in our reckoning since the previous Gameweek or if they are a new entry into the tables.
The key for the factors you’ll see in the tables below is as follows:
THE WATCHLIST: BEST FPL GOALKEEPERS
David Raya (£6.0m) tops our goalkeeper list.
The Spaniard is the most expensive shot-stopper in FPL this season, but could still justify the outlay.
He secured the Golden Glove award in 2025/26 (19 clean sheets), and subsequently finished as FPL’s highest-scoring ‘keeper (162 points).
The only concern ahead of next week’s opener against Coventry City is the uncertainty around Arsenal’s defence. William Saliba (£6.0m) and Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) are both injured, of course.
Still, Raya remains a nailed-on route into the division’s best defence.
He also tops RMT’s points projections for goalkeepers over the first six Gameweeks.
But in terms of ‘value’ (projected points per million), Senne Lammens (£5.0m), Antonin Kinsky (£4.5m) and Bart Verbruggen (£4.5m) lead the way over the same period.
With the early fixture list on his side, Lammens is a very decent option in between the sticks. Notably, after Michael Carrick’s arrival at Manchester United last season, he was the second highest-scoring ‘keeper in FPL:
Above: Goalkeepers sorted by FPL points after Michael Carrick arrived at Manchester United in Gameweek 22
Verbruggen and Kinsky are the £4.5m goalkeepers of choice.
Brighton and Hove Albion boasted the fifth-best defence for expected goals conceded (xGC) in 2025/26.
Tottenham Hotspur meanwhile improved defensively under Roberto De Zerbi. The rebuild at the back is taking shape in north London, too, with Jan Paul van Hecke (£5.0m) among the new arrivals.
As for Jordan Pickford (£5.5m), there is plenty to look forward to both before and after the first international break, with back-to-back matches against newly-promoted opposition.
THE WATCHLIST: BEST FPL DEFENDERS
Even with those aforementioned injuries, Arsenal defenders will remain a top priority for most FPL managers.
Gabriel Magalhaes (£8.0m) has been handed a £2m price hike this year. However, had he not been reduced to substitute duty on the final day of 2025/26, he could potentially have beaten Andrew Robertson’s (£4.5m) record points haul for a defender (213).
And whilst pricey, in his meetings with his Gameweek 2-8 opponents last season, the Brazilian averaged 8.2 points per start. Up first is newly-promoted Coventry, of course.
Above: Gabriel’s returns against his Gameweek 2-8 opponents in 2025/26
But due to Saliba’s injury, there’s a potentially much cheaper alternative to highlight. Will Cristhian Mosquera (£5.5m) become ‘nailed’ in the Frenchman’s absence? Hopefully Sunday’s Community Shield encounter against Manchester City will offer some clarity.
There are also defensive concerns at Liverpool. However, Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) certainly has the fixtures on his side in the first five Gameweeks. The Dutch centre-back scored more goals than any other defender last season (six). And at the other end, let’s not forget that Liverpool were the third-best team for xGC.
Harry Maguire (£5.0m) meanwhile had a defensive contribution (DefCon) success rate of 34.8% in 2025/26. With Casemiro no longer around, he could be the primary target from set-pieces.
Josko Gvardiol (£5.5m) and James Tarkowski (£6.0m) are both among the top seven defenders for projected points in Gameweeks 1-6.
There are some appealing cheaper picks further down the list.
Jaydee Canvot (£5.0m) and Tarik Muharemovic (£5.0m) offer DefCon and clean sheet potential. They also carry a bit of goal threat from set plays.
If Oliver Glasner sets up his Nottingham Forest side with wing-backs, it could have a positive impact on Neco Williams (£5.0m). The Welshman was already last season’s top defender for shots (46).
THE WATCHLIST: BEST FPL MIDFIELDERS
Bruno Fernandes (£12.0m) is the penalty-taking midfielder most FPL managers will covet.
As a No 10 under Carrick, he scored four goals and supplied 16 assists in 17 matches.
And there’s a compelling case to double-up on Manchester United’s midfielders this year due to the fact that they have two of the newly-promoted sides up first.
Bryan Mbeumo (£8.0m) subsequently features – he was the top midfielder for expected goals (xG) in 2025/26, and could potentially start the season up front.
Above: Midfielders sorted by expected goals (xG) in 2025/26
We discussed the merits of Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai (£7.0m) and Florian Wirtz (£7.5m) here, so we’ll swiftly move on to Antoine Semenyo (£8.5m).
The early signs of his new role under Enzo Maresca in pre-season have been positive, with plenty of freedom to stay high and wide and isolate defenders. Indeed, he’s already supplied five assists in only three friendly matches this summer.
Cole Palmer (£9.5m) is Chelsea’s penalty taker and has a full pre-season under his belt. We are yet to see the best of him in the friendlies to date, but improvement is expected under Xabi Alonso. There are some favourable fixtures to come, too, especially from Gameweek 4.
In terms of best projected value in Gameweeks 1-6, Pascal Gross (£5.5m), Ismaila Sarr (£6.5m), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (£6.5m) and Enzo Le Fee (£6.0m) are all among the top 10 midfielders.
Morgan Gibbs-White (£8.0m) has been handed a price rise for 2026/27, having finished last season with 15 goals and four assists in 37 matches. The attacking midfielder has had a full summer off, of course.
Despite some tricky opening fixtures, Forest still rank mid-table for projected goals in the first six Gameweeks.
“Without Morgan Gibbs-White’s goals, we would probably have been relegated. He is already at a top level, but I can help him and improve his game — maybe in a few little parts. He has a very high influence [in the team]. Morgan has everything. He can finish, he can assist. He’s very important.” – Oliver Glasner on Morgan Gibbs-White, via The Athletic
THE WATCHLIST: BEST FPL FORWARDS
The forwards list was relatively easy to put together, with Erling Haaland (£15.5m), Joao Pedro (£7.5m) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.0m) the template front three:
Next, Alexander Isak (£9.0m) certainly has the medium-term fixtures on his side. He’s also looked sharp in pre-season.
As for Igor Thiago (£8.0m), he was the surprise hit of 2025/26. Even if you strip away penalties, the Brazilian international still netted 13 goals.
Three £6.0m-and-under options round off the list – Brian Brobbey (£6.0m), Igor Jesus (£6.0m) and Oli McBurnie (£5.5m).
McBurnie is notably the joint-top forward for projected value in the first six Gameweeks.
