Fantasy Premier League Tips: The Ultimate Game Week 26 Guide
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We’re briefly back to normal in Game Week 26, with all 20 Premier League teams having a single GW, as betting sites have odds at the ready.
It’s certainly a case of calm before the storm, considering that GW27, GW28 and GW29 are all littered with clubs having double and blank Game Weeks.
FPL managers will have some tough decisions to make over the coming weeks. Some might be using their Wildcard for GW26 and this is very much team-dependent.
Others might instead be rolling over a free transfer and seeing how the land lies ahead of GW27 where there are more fun and games.
There are certainly some intriguing fixtures this weekend and none more so than the clash at Anfield between Liverpool and quadruple hopefuls Manchester United.
It’s a dicey looking fixture for FPL managers who have players from both teams. Manchester City go up against Newcastle United, with Arsenal attacking players set to make hay against Bournemouth after thrashing Everton in midweek.
If you’ve still got a Free Hit, Bench Boost or Wildcard chip, then you might be considering how to best use them and the latter could be a viable option this Game Week.
Much depends on the current state of your team, with some managers considering a Free Hit in GW28 considering that several teams have blanks.
When Is The Game Week 26 Transfer Deadline?
The Fantasy Premier League Game Week 26 transfer deadline is Saturday, March 4, at 11:00 GMT, shortly before the 12:30 match that takes place between Manchester City and Newcastle United.
Which Teams Have the Best FPL Fixtures For GW26 and Beyond?
Game Week 26 involves each team playing one match, although GW27 – GW29 will see some teams play as little as TWO games and some teams play as many as SIX matches.
This is quite a difference and many managers will be considering using a combination of chips such as Free Hit, Wildcard and Bench Boost should they have them available.
It is BRENTFORD who have six matches over the next four Game Weeks and Game Week 27 looks particularly enticing for the Bees who travel to Premier League relegation candidates Everton and Southampton.
BRIGHTON also have a Double Game Week in 27 and that is preceded with a home clash against West Ham, which means that Seagulls assets are sure to be popular.
We can’t overlook ASTON VILLA either, especially as Unai Emery’s side have home matches against Crystal Palace and Bournemouth sandwiching a trip to the London Stadium.
It’s hard to be too sweet on CHELSEA right now, although four of their next five Premier League encounters are at home, while ARSENAL only have single Game Weeks on the horizon but they are good fixtures!
Who Are the Best GW26 Players to Buy?
Defenders
Brentford have a double on the horizon and it’s little surprise to find BEN MEE (£5.0m) as the most popular FPL defender to sign in Game Week 26.
The Bees central defender averages 4.3 points per game and smashed 13 points in GW22, with his price tag meaning that funds are generally not an issue when it comes to signing him.
PERVIS ESTUPINAN (£4.7m) has also caught the eye, although FPL managers should make sure that the Brighton full-back is recovered from a muscle injury before taking the plunge.
LEWIS DUNK (£4.7m) offers a viable alternative if you want to have a Seagulls defender in the ranks for their upcoming Double Game Week.
Midfielders
If you took MARCUS RASHFORD (£7.2m) out of your team for last week’s blank, it could be worth restoring him, also his odds for the PFA Player Of The Year award have tumbled from 100/1 pre Christmas to just 4/1 now.
The Manchester United forward has been achieving big attacking returns for the past few GW’s and he’s owned by over 50% of managers which means that not having him could cost you dear in your mini-leagues.
Brighton have a favourable home clash against West Ham before a DGW and that explains why KAORU MITOMA (£5.3m) is a warm order, with the Japanese winger looking to get back on the goal trail after scoring 21 points across GW21 and GW22.
SOLLY MARCH (£5.1m) is also a value pick and there’s no harm in having double Brighton in your team.
Forwards
IVAN TONEY (£7.6m) could be essential due to Brentford’s excellent fixtures and the striker looks set to be facing an FA ban later in the season.
Should the forward be suspended earlier than anticipated, then BRYAN MBEUMO (£5.8m) becomes an attractive option and managers are starting to latch on to this Bees option.
Meanwhile, OLLIE WATKINS (£7.3m) continues to score for Aston Villa at a rate of knots and we also know that the forward is on spot kicks.
The former Brentford player is still a differential considering that less than 10% of FPL managers have him in the team although his price tag makes him easy to transfer in.
There was an eye-catching performance from PHIL FODEN (£8.0m) for treble seeking Manchester City in a midweek FA Cup clash away at Bristol City, with the England man potentially about to hit a rich vein of form.
Fulham’s MANOR SOLOMON (£4.9m) would be the ultimate differential if the Israeli continues to fire for the Cottagers.
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Who Are the Best GW26 Players to Sell?
Defenders
THIAGO SILVA is the most-sold defender in Fantasy Premier League this Game Week and the Chelsea player could be on the sidelines for several weeks, which doesn't help an under pressure Graham Potter who is the current 2/5 favourite in the sack race market.
There’s also the fact that the Blues are struggling for form at the moment, while TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD is now leaving teams that wanted him for Liverpool’s recent Double Game Week.
Midfielders
Manchester City clash with Premier League top four hopefuls' Newcastle United this weekend and many managers are shifting out their players including KEVIN DE BRUYNE.
The Belgian’s non-appearance at Bournemouth has been the final straw for many and the midfielder’s price tag is far from cheap, while RIYAD MAHREZ has played just 78 minutes in the past three Game Weeks and he’s exiting stage left as well.
Similarly, Liverpool assets are being sold off after the passing of their Double Game Week, with CODY GAKPO and MOHAMED SALAH surplus to requirements ahead of a tricky home fixture against Manchester United.
MIGUEL ALMIRON is another player who is making way and the Newcastle winger is unlikely to generate many points at the Etihad Stadium.
Forwards
Ironically, ALEKSANDR MITROVIC is just coming back to full fitness as he’s sold off by nearly 100,000 managers however the Serbian has been wasting a place in many squads for several weeks and we can see the logic in getting rid for a better-scoring player.
EDDIE NKETIAH also appears to have lost his place in the Arsenal team considering Mikel Arteta has now found a place for Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, with the forward likely to only enjoy cameo performances between now and the rest of the season.
Who Should Be Captain For Game Week 26?
Now this is a tricky one for GW26. Do we go for the tried and trusted Erling Haaland who is likely (but not certain) to start against Newcastle United?
The Norwegian tends to be fixture-proof as was demonstrated in a recent clash at Arsenal, although there’s the nagging possibility that the Magpies might be able to keep him quiet.
There’s also the small matter of Arsenal hosting Bournemouth in arguably the easiest fixture of the Premier League season.
We should therefore consider Bukayo Saka, who is near the top of the PFA Young Player of the Year award odds and potentially Martin Odegaard as the Gunners certainly have the capability to score in volume.
However, Liverpool and Manchester United options are clearly off the menu as the two sides meet at Anfield.
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