Top Fantasy Premier League players after 8 gameweeks

We talk about the best players in Fantasy EPL in each line – goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards. Who has the most points in Fantasy English Premier League and whether you should pick these players for Gameweek 9?

Best FPL goalkeepers after 8 gameweeks

David Raya (Arsenal) – 49 points

Cost – 6.2 million

Arsenal maintains the reputation of one of the most reliable defenses in world football, and the Londoners' goalkeeper is always a good choice in Fantasy EPL, as well as in the Champions League. The thing is, Raya's price is also decent for a goalkeeper. His peers, whom we will discuss below, score not much fewer points, but in terms of price they can pleasantly surprise and allow you to save a million pounds, or even more.

Should you pick him for Gameweek 9?

Not the best idea, considering that Arsenal faces an away trip to Liverpool, who have been in very good form in recent weeks. The Londoners have conceded at Enfield in the last 4 Premier League matches, and in half of them – 2 goals.

Konstantinos Tzolakis (Hull City) – 42 points

Cost – 4.7 million

A very unexpected guest in this goalkeeper TOP! Who would have thought that Hull City would start so briskly in its first season after a long break in the elite English division! And the Tigers' goalkeeper from Greece will allow the team to go with an average of 1 goal conceded per game after 8 rounds. But Tzolakis and Hull surprise, allowing the Greek goalkeeper to consistently bring points to his Fantasy EPL owners.

Should you pick him for Gameweek 9?

Strangely enough – yes. We would even recommend adding Tzolakis to your squad, as in Gameweek 9 his team will play at home against Ipswich, who are 12th, having lost 3 of their 4 away matches this season. The only concern is that Ipswich scores a lot away – 7 goals in 4 matches. But the factor of the Tigers' solid home defense may come into play – only 3 goals conceded in 4 matches and two clean sheets.

James Trafford (Leeds) – 42 points

Cost – 5 million

Trafford fitted perfectly into Leeds' play and has already delivered 3 “clean sheet” matches this season. In general, Leeds United have one of the best defenses of the season – United have conceded only 6 goals in 8 rounds. Only Arsenal have a better defence, having conceded 5 times in the league.

Should you pick him for Gameweek 9?

We would not recommend doing this. Leeds have an away trip in Gameweek 9 to Bournemouth, who are currently in very good form. And in head‑to‑head matches against Leeds in the EPL, the Cherries have played well in attack – 6 goals scored in the last 2 games.

Best Fantasy PL defenders after 8 gameweeks

Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton) – 60 points

Cost – 5.3 million

Brighton surprises this season with a full squad, as a team. But Maxim De Cuyper's stats as a defender are absolutely outstanding – 2 goals + 3 goal assists in 8 rounds! At the same time, it should be noted that in the last two rounds De Cuyper has not delighted his owners with productive actions. On the other hand – he is so cheap that keeping him in the squad is absolutely cost‑free.

Should you pick him for Gameweek 9?

Hardly a good idea. An away trip to a “wounded” Manchester City could end poorly for Brighton. On the other hand – the Seagulls have not lost to the Citizens in 4 Premier League matches in a row! Although Maxim De Cuyper himself has not shone in these matches and has not contributed with goal actions.

Gabriel (Arsenal) – 52 points

Cost – 7.9 million

A very expensive defender for Fantasy EPL, but also very reliable and consistently delivering points. This season the Brazilian maintains a high level and, in addition to an incredible defensive performance, also managed to score a goal in the last round, greatly pleasing his Fantasy owners.

Should you pick him for Gameweek 9?

Just as in the case of David Raya, there are serious concerns about this decision. On one hand – Arsenal can quite well “dry out” any opponent, but on the other – Liverpool at Anfield is always dangerous when talking about a threat to the opponent’s goal.

Luka Vuskovic (Brighton) – 52 points

Cost – 5.1 million

One of the main discoveries of the new EPL season. The defender who moved from German Hamburg has collected fewer than 6 points for his fantasy owners in only one of the last 6 matches. A very cool stability indicator!

Should you pick him for Gameweek 9?

It would be a big risk. After all, an away match against Manchester City is not the best idea for selecting a defender from the opponent team of the Citizens.

Best FPL Midfielders after 8 Gameweeks

Pascal Gross (Brighton) – 58 points

Cost – 6.2 million

It was already mentioned above that Brighton impressed strongly at the start of the season, and here we will separately note how great this experienced German attacking midfielder performed – he already has 3 goals and 6 assists! Well, who could have predicted that before the start of the EPL 2026/27 campaign?

Should you pick him for Gameweek 9?

Not the best idea for the reason already mentioned above. Brighton is unlikely to pull off such a big sensation as a win over Man City in Manchester. Although Gross personally might make some decisive contribution at Etihad, the likelihood of that at the moment is not considered very high.

Marcus Tavernier (Bournemouth) – 52 points

Cost – 6.3 million

Another player that few expected to see in the TOP-3 most effective players in Fantasy EPL among midfielders after Gameweek 8. And Markus managed to get there, quite deservedly. This attacking midfielder already has 5 goals this season. In 4 of the 8 championship matches, Tavernier earned 10 points for his Fantasy EPL owners. Beautiful!

Should you pick him for Gameweek 9?

Yes, yes and once again yes! With all due respect to Leeds United’s defense, at home Bournemouth can beat anyone in world football, and Leeds themselves have scored a good number – 6 goals – in the last two EPL matches at their Cherry Stadium. Marcus himself also has experience scoring against this opponent.

Ryan Cherki (Manchester City) – 44 points

Cost – 8 million

In the absence of the injured Antoine Semenyo and the poor form of other Manchester City attacking players, Cherki becomes the “leader” of Enzo Maresca’s attack. He already has 4 goals and 2 assists this season. At the same time, the Frenchman can “disappear” on the pitch when his team is not performing well. That was the case in the previous gameweek against Aston Villa, when Cherki delivered “zero” fantasy points to owners and was substituted after the first half.

Should you pick him for Gameweek 9?

Probably, yes. At home against Brighton – though a dangerous opponent, Manchester City should still display bright and effective football, and who better than Cherki to lead his teammates forward?

Best FPL Forwards after 8 Gameweeks

Erling Haaland (Manchester City) – 66 points

Cost – 15.7 million

This is a player that Fantasy EPL participants usually never doubt for a second. Haaland scored, scores and will score many in the Premier League. The other thing is that the Norwegian is priced like two top fantasy players. So when buying Erling, you often have to sacrifice someone else in another position. But we admit – this sacrifice is often justified. Only once this season has Haaland collected fewer than 6 points in a gameweek.

Should you pick him for Gameweek 9?

Overall, Haaland is worth picking in a Fantasy PL squad always. Even if it’s a match against Arsenal with its concrete defence. Against Brighton at home, and also in a week without European cups, Erling will surely play well and manage to score.

Alexander Isak (Liverpool) – 51 points

Cost – 9 million

And this Scandinavian pleasantly surprises at the start of the new Premier League season. If in the previous campaign Isak mainly struggled with injuries and was adapting at Liverpool, now, with the new coach Andoni Iraola, Alex has hit the right notes. Already 6 goals scored, half of them in the last 4 rounds.

Should you pick him for GW 9?

We don’t think this is a good idea. A match against Arsenal is definitely not the game in which you should expect outstanding point returns from the London side’s opponent forwards. Though Isak and the Merseysiders can still surprise.

João Pedro (Chelsea) – 47 points

Cost – 7.9 million

In the list of top point‑scorers in Fantasy PL this season, Pedro holds a respectable position. But it should be noted that in recent weeks the Brazilian has significantly lost stability and health. Against Everton João scored only two points, and against Tottenham he didn’t even appear on the field due to injury.

Should you pick him for GW 9?

No. At the moment the Brazilian is listed as “injured”. And although the Fantasy PL site gives him a 75% chance to play in GW9, the very fact of injury and the opponent being Manchester United, crisis‑riddled as they may be, suggest that a replacement should be found for Chelsea’s forward.

Source. Data were used in preparing the material official Fantasy Premier League website