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We have had a pretty relaxing international break but we are raring to go and ready to preview FPL gameweek 8.
In this FPL gameweek 8 preview we will be looking at the players with the best fixtures for the next five weeks.
But first, if you are an avid draft player be sure to check out our updated draft rankings. Over the international break we re-ranked the top 150 assets to help you assess waivers and trades.
AND, we looked in detail at when defenders got defcon points. We found that it was general true that defenders are likely to get defcons against better opposition. However, we also found that it differed by team.
AND, Joe updated our wonderful fixture ticker so that it’s even prettier than it was before. Perhaps more importantly, he also reviewed and updated all our difficulty ratings.
In tried and tested fashion, let’s look at the best fixtures ahead of FPL Gameweek 8.
The attacking ticker is telling us to buy some reliable, proven FPL assets. Here is where I stand on the options.
Honestly, it’s slim pickings. João Pedro is pretty much the only stable option. He isn’t setting the world alight at the moment but he is starting up top for them.
Enzo is probably an option while Palmer is injured because of penalties but I think that’s a pretty short-term option so I am personally not interested – don’t buy, don’t sell.
Everyone else is a rotation headache.
Bukayo Saka and Victor Gyökeres are the standout choices. Saka’s the talismanic elite FPL asset and is STILL ON PENALTIES, despite what many of you told Joe on Reddit.
Gyökeres is likely leading the line for a bit, especially with Havertz not back until after Gameweek 12, and even though he hasn’t been elite he has been fine.
Also, Eze could be an interesting pick given how Arsenal are using him with Ødegaard constantly in and out with injuries.
It’s a bit of a headscratcher. Salah is, well, Salah but he hasn’t been hitting the heights we’d expect this season, so I wouldn’t rush to buy him until we see a couple of weeks of form.
Alexander Isak is probably the Liverpool forward I’d be willing to roll with, though he might not get 90 minutes every week given their squad depth.
It’s basically Haaland or bust for reliability. Lots of people are eyeing up Jeremy Doku, but while he’s brilliant on the ball, he’s not good at delivering end product consistently.
Foden’s great but never guaranteed minutes, and Reijnders is just not essential, despite the early-season hype.
Now here’s where you’ve got the true Gameweek 1 hero: Antoine Semenyo. He’s been outperforming his underlying stats a bit, but he’s still a brilliant value and likely on penalties.
Kluivert is more of a punt for now in draft formats, and Evanilson’s form has been too poor to consider buying but the fixtures mean he is fine to hold.
Yankuba Minteh is cheap, has excellent underlyings and is considered “a prospect” – this could be his breakout season.
Mitoma’s good but more of a winger and might not deliver as many points as you’d like for his price. Huerzeler randomly rotates though – you have been warned.
Anthony Gordon is probably your best midfield shout, though it’s annoying he’s not getting full games or penalty duties.
Woltemade’s a no-go for me until I know he is nailed when Wissa is back.
If you’ve got Mateta or Ismaïla Sarr, you’re fine to start them. If you don’t, I’d be tempted to wait until after the Arsenal fixture to bring them in. Palace are dealing with fatigue from European matches, so maybe neither are 100% required.
Best Defensive Fixtures From FPL Gameweek 8
If you’re staring at your defensive options and trying to figure out who to get, then look no further!
Right at the top of the defensive fixture ticker. It’s a no-brainer to load up on their defence – they’re already the best defence in the league. The simplest and probably best move is to get Gabriel if you can – he’s the standout option.
If you’re like me and briefly panicked on wildcard last week then you have William Saliba. He is also a solid shout and I don’t hate that I have him as a differential to Gab given you might even get an occasional goal from a set-piece but I wouldn’t say he is the best shout.
If you’re feeling brave, you could go for Jurriën Timber. He’s been fantastic so far and is essentially an attacking fullback in the best defence in the league – there is just a tiny rotation worry with Ben White around, but maybe that’s just overthinking it.
Your go-to here is Marc Cucurella. He’s practically playing as an inverted forward at times, popping up in the box and being a real threat. Yes, he’s a bit pricey, but if you’re willing to gamble on him over Gabriel, you could get a nice differential haul.
Other Chelsea defenders are a bit of a minefield with all the rotation and red cards flying around, but Chalobah is probably the safer, cheaper way in if you can’t afford Cucurella. I’d welcome any advice from Chelsea fans though if they know better than me.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a skip for me at the moment. The only defender I’d even consider is Virgil van Dijk, but even then I recently sold him myself. He’ll score a few goals and he’s great for defensive contributions, but I’m not convinced Liverpool are going to keep many clean sheets right now.
Get James Tarkowski. He’s always a top source of defensive contributions and has been for years. Just don’t do it this week against Man City because, well, they’re Man City. And, as you will have seen in our defcons piece, players don’t score defcons against City assets.
Dan Burn is your safe and affordable bet – Eddie Howe just loves him.
Trippier is still good but not on as many set pieces as before, and the rest of the Newcastle defenders are a bit uncertain in terms of nailed-on minutes.
If Lewis Hall ever gets fit, he’d be a brilliant pick, but for now, Burn is probably your best shout.
I’d just avoid their defenders for now. There’s too much rotation risk and you can get better value from Cucurella or Gab. But, if you won’t listen to me then I would pick Gvardiol – probably the most nailed.
Joachim Andersen is your man. He’s been racking up defensive contributions like nobody’s business. Just maybe hold off until after they’ve faced Arsenal and Newcastle away, because those fixtures are tough.
I’m taking these two together because they’re interesting parallels. Bournemouth are underperforming their xGC and Palace are overperforming theirs. So, in a straight shootout between the two I would be inclined to take Bournemouth.
Bournemouth’s Senesi is the best pick because he has that plus constant def cons.
Palace have good options too like Lacroix or Guehi, but they’ll be dealing with European fatigue soon.
The truth is, I like all these picks. But I don’t want to play Palace against Arsenal in gameweek 9 or Bournemouth against City in gameweek 10 – and that’s how I would pick between the two of them.
That’s your lot for the FPL Gameweek 8 preview. We’ve sifted through the best upcoming fixtures, picked out the value in both attack and defence, and tried to dodge the usual rotation chaos.
Check back tomorrow for transfer tips and later in the week for captaincy.
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