FPL
31 July 2025 149 comments
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We turn our attention to the best £5.0m-£5.5m midfielders as we continue to survey the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) price list.

In our position-by-position guides, we’ll analyse the top players competing for a place in managers’ opening squads.

Elliot Anderson (£5.5m)

Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson produced 107 points in the 2024/25 season, thanks to two goals and six assists in 37 appearances.

However, with defensive contribution points added, his total would have been 143.

This is a trend that Fantasy managers will need to adapt to, as players who were once overlooked are now emerging as viable options for our 15-man squads.

Anderson, who will predominantly play in central midfield in Nuno Espirito Santo’s 4-2-3-1 formation, created 37 chances in 2024/25, the fourth-most of any Forest player.

He also takes some corners and free-kicks, another string to his bow.

The real appeal, however, is Anderson’s ability to hoover up the defensive contribution points. He averaged a superb 13.39 defensive contributions per 90 last season, hitting the midfield threshold (12) on 18 separate occasions!

The opening fixtures are very decent, too.

Moises Caicedo (£5.5m)

The second-most owned FPL midfielder under £6.0m right now is Moises Caicedo. Chelsea’s Player of the Season in 2024/25 sits in just over 7.5% of FPL squads at the time of writing.

It’s not hard to figure out his appeal.

Caicedo accumulated only 98 points last season, scoring just one goal and providing four assists.

But with his 42 defensive contribution points factored in, which is the highest among all midfielders, his total would have reached 140 points.

Above: Current £5.0m-£5.5m midfielders sorted by defensive contribution points in 2024/25

While he may not possess the ‘glamour’ typically associated with FPL assets, Caicedo remains a reliable choice, having played the full 90 minutes in 33 out of his 38 starts during the 2024/25 campaign.

Additionally, Chelsea have some favourable opening fixtures.

Jhon Arias (£5.5m)

 

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149 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. adstomko
    • 9 Years
    4 months, 6 days ago

    Midfield too heavy, or looking ok? (BB GW1)

    Perri
    Van Dijk - Saliba - Van de Ven
    Palmer - Saka - Fernandes - Wirtz - Rogers
    Watkins - Thiago
    (Petrović - Lacroix - Collins - Marc Guiu)

    1. Zladan
      • 8 Years
      4 months, 6 days ago

      Probably not heavy enough. No Salah at 55% owned will hurt you.

      1. adstomko
        • 9 Years
        4 months, 6 days ago

        Disagree. Salah's points will be shared with Wirtz

    2. One for All
      • 7 Years
      4 months, 6 days ago

      Looks good midfield is a bit too much, not too sure about Thiago. Would get Larsen or Welbeck instead.

    3. Haa-lala-land
      • 5 Years
      4 months, 6 days ago

      Boils down to how to spend 19m in your midfield on two players :

      Bruno (9) + Saka (10)

      Vs

      Salah (14.5) + 5.5 mid

      Maths never was my strong point

      1. adstomko
        • 9 Years
        4 months, 6 days ago

        Bruno is a place holder for Gyökeres or Isak (transfer out Thiago)

  2. One for All
    • 7 Years
    4 months, 6 days ago

    A)

    Kelleher
    Cucurella,Van Dijk, De Cuyper
    Kudus, Salah, Eze, Palmer
    Pedro, Wissa, Bowen

    Kinsky, Konsa, A.Ramsey, Esteve

    B)

    Kelleher
    Cucurella,Van Dijk, De Cuyper
    Kudus, Salah, Wirtz, Palmer, Mitoma
    Pedro, Wissa

    Kinsky, N. Williams, Barnes, Esteve

    C)

    Kelleher
    Cucurella,Van Dijk, De Cuyper
    Kudus, Salah, Wirtz, Palmer
    Strand Larsen, Pedro, Wissa

    Kinsky, N. Williams, A.Ramsey, Esteve

    A. B or C guys?

    Thanks

    1. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      4 months, 6 days ago

      B

      1. One for All
        • 7 Years
        4 months, 6 days ago

        Thanks

    2. waltzingmatildas
      • 15 Years
      4 months, 6 days ago

      Struggling to see each of the differences?

      1. One for All
        • 7 Years
        4 months, 6 days ago

        B and C have N.Williams and no Eze/ Bowen

        A) Eze+Bowen
        B) Wirtz+Mitoma+ N.Williams
        C) Strand Larsen+Wirtz+ N.Williams

  3. DaftPunk
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    4 months, 6 days ago

    I'm intrigued to see how the attacking dynamic develops at Liverpool, especially if Isak joins.

    Wirtz and MacAllister have hardly been in the same line-up yet in pre-season, once they do maybe Wirtz will have even more creative freedom.

    There could be rotation in the full-back positions. Bradley hasn't as yet looked too convincing defensively or going forward, Frimpong has looked better in both aspects.

    I still consider Salah essential despite the price and the changes in the team. Gakpo will probably get more starts in the opening GWs, although Wirtz, Ngumoha or Ekitike might get minutes in the LW position also.

  4. waltzingmatildas
    • 15 Years
    4 months, 6 days ago

    How's this BB gw1 team?
    Sanchez Areola
    Munoz Aina AWB Konsa Esteve
    Salah Palmer Bruno Rogers Sarr
    Bowen Evanilson Thiago

    Not sure on Sarr or Thiago but maybe good enough for BB

  5. Moxon
    • 11 Years
    4 months, 6 days ago

    Not looking good for Bournemouth if Zabarnyi leaves as well. Shame because I was interested in Petrovic

  6. LangerznMash
    • 9 Years
    4 months, 6 days ago

    This article is a little harsh on Dan James regarding his last two seasons in the Prem, when he actually scored 6 goals and made 6 assists in 2979 minutes. That works out as 0.36 attack returns per 90, which is good for £5.5m.
    He has also improved considerably since then and averaged 0.72 goal contributions per 90 last season.
    I'm starting with him for sure.

    1. LangerznMash
      • 9 Years
      4 months, 6 days ago

      Averaging last 2 seasons points to calculated what it would give over a full season (3400 minutes) means that priced at £5.5m the value figure would be around 26. Top tier value.

  7. Wirtz Nightmare
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    4 months, 6 days ago

    Can someone RMT
    Kelleher ( Petrovic )
    Konsa, Williams , VDV ( truffert , richards )
    Rogers , Palmer , Salah , Ndiaye ( Anderson
    Solanke, Pedro , Watkins
    Thanks

    (1)

    1. Parker the bus
        4 months, 6 days ago

        7 out of 10

    2. CarlsonBallers
      • 3 Years
      4 months, 6 days ago

      OK, looking at three different options, thoughts?

      Kelleher
      Konsa, Tarkowski, Wan-Bissaka, Milenkovic
      Salah, Mbeumo, Wirtz, Anderson
      Isak, Wissa
      Bench: Sels, Elliott, Guehi, Piroe

      Kelleher
      Milenkovic, Colwll, Wan-Bissaka
      Anderson, Salah, Mbuemo, Wirtz, Adingra
      Ekitike, Isak
      Bench: Pickford, Moreno, Guiu, Andersen

      Kelleher
      VVD, Aina, Wan-Bissaka
      Rogers, Baleba, Salah, Mbeumo, Szoboszlai
      Isak, Watkins
      Bench: Sels, Guehi, Beto, Bogle

      1. Limpbusquets
        • 6 Years
        3 months, 28 days ago

        my thoughts are why would you bench the better goalkeepers?

    3. FIFA23-EDERSON31
      • 2 Years
      4 months, 2 hours ago

      Bank: £0.0m

      GK: SELS
      DEF: GVARDIOL, VIRGIL, CUCURELLA, SALIBA
      MID: MBEUMO, PALMER, MARMOUSH
      FWD: WOOD, JOAO PEDRO, ISAK

      SUBS: (Need advice on Subs).
      GK: KELLEHER £4.5m,
      MID: MAINOO £5.0m, A.RAMSEY £4,5m
      DEF: GUEHI £4.5m