FPL Gameweek 8: Best Players and Top Picks for 2025/26
With the season continuing, attention turns to who can deliver the most points in the coming round. Our FPL Gameweek 8: Best Players and Top Picks for 2025/26 highlights the standout options based on form, fixtures, and underlying stats.
In this guide, we’ll break down the key players to target, the ones to avoid, and where the smart transfers could be made ahead of the deadline.
Goalkeepers
Check out which players are a buy, sell or keep ahead of FPL Gameweek 8!
Arsenal appear to have continued their fantastic defensive from of last season – keeping four clean sheets this season already. It’s Fulham up next for the Gooners, which is another great opportunity to add to their total, via goalkeeper David Raya (£5.7m).
Bournemouth are one of five sides who have kept three clean sheet this season. This week they meet with Crystal Palace, but the Cherries go into the away clash ranking among the best three sides in the league for expected goals conceded. This could mean potential for Djorde Petrovic (£4.5m).
Several goalkeepers could have success this week, including Gianluigi Donnarumma (£5.7m), who faces a home game against Everton, Crystal Palace’ Dean Henderson (£5m) v Bournemouth, and Burnley’ Martin Dubravka (£4.5m) against Leeds.
Defenders
Arsenal’ impressive statistics don’t end at four clean sheets from seven games, they also rank better then any other side for total big chances conceded. Offering more than clean sheet potential though is Gabriel (£6.3m) who scored against Newcastle recently.
Crystal Palace could be a tough match for Bournemouth away from home. However, if there is one player who can produce points with multiple routes it’s Marcos Senesi (£5m). As well as helping his side keep three clean sheets and hitting defcon points in all but one of his matches, he has also banked two assists.
No defender has produced more assists than El Hadji Diouf (£4.4m). Whilst the Hammers haven’t exactly been convincing in any part of the pitch, new manager Nuno Santos could well make an immediate defensive impact at home to Brentford.
Chelsea’ Marc Cucurella (£6.1m) versus Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace’ Daniel Munoz (£5.6m) up against Bournemouth and Manchester City’ Josko Gvardiol (£5.9m) v Everton are also great options.
You can also check out our experts FPL Gameweek 8 wildcard draft!
Midfielders
Fulham have managed just one clean sheet in their first seven matches – which highlights how vulnerable they can be from a defensive perspective. One of several Arsenal attackers who could take advantage of this is Bukayo Saka (£9.9m) who found the net in his most recent match.
Crystal Palace may have impressed so far this season, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be a huge challenge to contain one of the most in-from attackers in the league. Scoring six goals and registering three assists already is Antoine Semenyo (£7.9m), who heads into the clash in top form.
Whilst Tottenham have been leaking goals as of late, they have also been scoring them – at least two in three of their previous four matches. Vital to that run was Mohammed Kudus (£6.7m). The Ghanian continues to impress since joining from West Ham – with five attacking returns in seven league games.
Liverpool’ Mohamed Salah (£14.4m) v Manchester United, Chelsea’ Pedro Neto against Nottingham Forest, and Newcastle penalty taker Anthony Gordon (£7.4m) for his meeting with the leaky Brighton are great alternatives.
Forwards
The pick of the bunch in attack is still Erling Haaland (£14.5m). The Norwegians has amassed a whopping nine goals and one assist in his first seven league games. Up next for Manchester City is Everton, who have been hit and miss in terms of clean sheets this campaign.
Nottingham Forest’ poor form under new manager Ange Postecoglu is something we can’t ignore as FPL managers. Although out of form – blanking in his previous three matches – Joao Pedro (£7.7m) is still one of the best performing forwards so far this season.
Arsenal are one of few sides in excellent winning form. The Gooners have also netted twice in their last four matches. Leading the attack into Gameweek 8 against Fulham is of course new signing Viktor Gyokeres (£9.1m) who will be keen to prove his early doubters wrong.
