The FPL player list for 2026/27 is live, and the prices are out. The Scout has published the must-haves, the position changes have been announced, and the Fixture Difficulty Ratings are available for every team through the first eight Gameweeks. Whether you are a veteran chasing a top-10k finish or a newcomer in the Rookie League playing for prizes, knowing who to pick — and who to avoid — is the difference between a season spent chasing and a season spent celebrating. For managers building their fantasy Premier League draft strategy for 2026/27, here is how the player pool breaks down.
Premium Assets: The Big Three
Erling Haaland is priced as the most expensive forward in FPL history, and the justification is simple: nobody scores goals at his rate. His minutes-per-goal ratio across three Premier League seasons is unmatched. The question is not whether to own him — it is whether you can afford the rest of your squad if you do. Mohamed Salah remains the safest premium midfielder. His underlying numbers — shots, chances created, expected goal involvement — have been remarkably consistent across eight seasons at Liverpool. He may not match Haaland’s ceiling in any given Gameweek, but his floor is higher than any other midfielder in the game.
Bukayo Saka enters 2026/27 as the premium midfielder with the most favorable opening fixtures. Arsenal open against promoted Coventry at home, and Saka’s role as the team’s primary penalty taker and set-piece deliverer adds routes to points that his open-play numbers already support. Martin Ødegaard, priced slightly below Saka, offers a cheaper route into Arsenal’s attack with comparable assist potential. Cole Palmer at Chelsea, coming off a breakout season that redefined expectations for a player his age, is priced aggressively but carries the upside of being the focal point of Chelsea’s attack with penalties and direct free kicks.
Mid-Price Gems: The £6.0-7.5m Sweet Spot
The mid-price midfield bracket is where FPL seasons are won and lost. Eberechi Eze at Crystal Palace, priced around £7.0m, has been the creative engine of a Palace attack that improved dramatically in the second half of last season. Bryan Mbeumo at Brentford inherits even more attacking responsibility if any summer departures materialize. Anthony Gordon at Newcastle offers pace, direct running, and an improving goal return in a team built around transition attacks.
In defense, Trent Alexander-Arnold remains the premium defensive option at Liverpool — his assist potential from right-back justifies a price tag that rivals some midfielders. Josko Gvardiol at Manchester City offers goal threat from set pieces and clean sheet potential from the league’s best defense. For budget defenders, promoted teams offer £4.0m starters, but the truly valuable budget options are established players at mid-table clubs who have slipped in price: a £4.5m full-back at Fulham or Wolves who starts every week is worth more than a £4.0m promoted defender who loses his place by Gameweek 4.
Players to Avoid (For Now)
New signings with no Premier League experience are traps until they prove otherwise. The league’s physicality and pace consume players who dominated in other competitions. Wait for evidence — one good performance is not enough, two is a trend, and by Gameweek 5 the data will tell you who is real. Similarly, players returning from serious injury need a bedding-in period. The Price Change Predictor means you can afford to wait and buy at their floor rather than gambling on an immediate return to form.
Sources: Premier League official FPL site — player prices and position changes 2026/27 (July 2026); The Scout “Must-Haves for start of 2026/27 FPL” (July 2026); OneFPL “2026/27 Launch Date, Price Reveal and Pre-Season Guide” (July 2026).