FPL Gameweek 8 tips: captain picks and best buys
FPL Gameweek 8 preview: best buys, captain picks and differentials
Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 8 opens on Friday 23 October and runs to Sunday, with all twenty clubs in action and no blanks. The decision you make this week is about the run behind it: Arsenal start the best three-gameweek program in the game, Manchester United and Chelsea meet each other in Gameweek 9, and a few popular picks are losing their minutes rather than their fixtures. All figures below are TheFantasyTool model projections in expected FPL points, pulled on 17 October. The full ranking for every player is on our FPL player picks page.
If you missed last week, our FPL Gameweek 7 preview covers the picks that set up this round.
FPL Gameweek 8 to 10 programs: whose next three are worth owning
Arsenal have the best run in the game. Their [H]EVE → [A]LIV → [H]HUL program adds up to 6.22 expected goals and 1.44 expected clean sheets, both the highest of any club. The Everton game is the strongest single fixture of the round: a 69% win probability and a 49% clean sheet chance, the best defensive number this gameweek. The Liverpool trip in Gameweek 9 is the one to plan around, not a reason to avoid them, because Hull at home follows straight after.
Manchester City's [A]AVL → [H]BHA → [A]NFO is second at 5.95 expected goals, but only 0.92 expected clean sheets, so it is an attacking program rather than a defensive one. Manchester United ([H]BOU → [A]CHE → [H]AVL) and Chelsea ([H]TOT → [H]MUN → [A]SUN) come next. Brentford's [A]HUL → [H]NFO → [A]BHA is the quiet one to note: 4.81 expected goals and the second-best clean sheet chance this round at 35%.
At the bottom, Hull City's [H]BRE → [H]IPS → [A]ARS is the weakest program in the game at 2.80 expected goals and 0.47 expected clean sheets. Everton have the worst single fixture this round, 0.72 expected goals at Arsenal, but their program improves from there.
| Team | GW8 fixture | Win probability | Expected goals | Clean sheet | Program GW8-10 | 3-GW xG | 3-GW CS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARS | [H]EVE | 68% | 2.09 | 49% | [H]EVE → [A]LIV → [H]HUL | 6.22 | 1.44 |
| MCI | [A]AVL | 56% | 1.99 | 31% | [A]AVL → [H]BHA → [A]NFO | 5.95 | 0.92 |
| MUN | [H]BOU | 53% | 2.03 | 26% | [H]BOU → [A]CHE → [H]AVL | 5.45 | 0.72 |
| CHE | [H]TOT | 52% | 1.95 | 27% | [H]TOT → [H]MUN → [A]SUN | 5.38 | 0.77 |
| BRE | [A]HUL | 55% | 1.86 | 35% | [A]HUL → [H]NFO → [A]BHA | 4.81 | 0.83 |
| LIV | [H]BHA | 47% | 1.81 | 26% | [H]BHA → [H]ARS → [A]CRY | 4.68 | 0.78 |
| BOU | [A]MUN | 24% | 1.34 | 13% | [A]MUN → [H]LEE → [A]IPS | 4.65 | 0.71 |
| NEW | [A]CRY | 38% | 1.56 | 22% | [A]CRY → [H]EVE → [A]FUL | 4.56 | 0.74 |
| BHA | [A]LIV | 28% | 1.36 | 16% | [A]LIV → [A]MCI → [H]BRE | 4.33 | 0.55 |
| FUL | [A]COV | 41% | 1.53 | 26% | [A]COV → [A]AVL → [H]NEW | 4.22 | 0.70 |
The 3-GW columns are totals across Gameweeks 8, 9 and 10. Check the FPL fixture schedule for the longer view and the FPL market probabilities for the bookmaker numbers behind each fixture.
Best FPL Gameweek 8 goalkeepers
David Raya (6.1m, ARS) is the best goalkeeper in the game this week and over the next three. He projects 4.3 points against Everton and 12.8 across [H]EVE → [A]LIV → [H]HUL, with the Hull game the strongest of the three at 4.7. At 43.8% ownership he is a template pick, so owning him protects your rank rather than gaining on it.
Caoimhin Kelleher (5.0m, BRE) is the value option and the second-best keeper on both rankings. His [A]HUL → [H]NFO → [A]BHA program is a flat 4.0 → 4.0 → 3.3, for 11.3 points over three gameweeks, and only 6.0% of managers own him. A flat program is what a set-and-forget goalkeeper looks like.
Best FPL Gameweek 8 defenders
Gabriel (7.9m, ARS) is the top defender this week at 4.7 points and over the next three at 13.2. His trajectory runs 4.7 → 3.7 → 4.8 across [H]EVE → [A]LIV → [H]HUL, and pairing him with Raya doubles up on the same Arsenal clean sheet, which is a correlation worth having in the best defensive program in the game.
Ezri Konsa (4.6m, ARS) is the cheaper way into that Arsenal defence. He projects 4.1 against Everton and 10.6 across [H]EVE → [A]LIV → [H]HUL. His model minutes are 77, lower than Gabriel's 80, which is the price of the 3.3m saving.
Bobby Thomas (4.0m, COV) is the best budget defender in the game. He projects 4.2 → 4.6 → 3.9 across [H]FUL → [H]SUN → [A]EVE for 12.7 points, second only to Gabriel over three gameweeks, and he has the highest decay-weighted score of any defender across the next six. Two home games to open the run is what makes this the week to bring him in. He is owned by 9.2%.
This is where the round and the program disagree. Tarik Muharemovic (5.0m, LEE) projects 4.3 against Sunderland, more than Thomas this week, but his [A]SUN → [A]BOU → [H]TOT run tails off to 3.3 and 3.8 for 11.4 in total. If you are buying one cheap defender and keeping him, buy Thomas. Muharemovic is the pick only if you want this week's points first.
Nordi Mukiele (5.4m, SUN) is the differential at 1.8% ownership. He projects 4.3 → 4.1 → 3.2 across [H]LEE → [A]COV → [H]CHE, so the value is in the first two gameweeks and the Chelsea game is the natural moment to move him on.
One to plan for next week rather than now: Adrien Truffert (5.4m, BOU) is only 2.9 at Manchester United, but [A]MUN → [H]LEE → [A]IPS climbs to 4.2 and 3.9 after it. Bring him in for Gameweek 9, not before. James Tarkowski owners should hold for the same reason: his 3.0 → 3.7 → 4.9 trajectory rises with Everton's program.
Best FPL Gameweek 8 midfielders
Cole Palmer (9.7m, CHE) is the highest-projected midfielder this week at 5.9 against Tottenham, and his [H]TOT → [H]MUN → [A]SUN program holds up at 5.9 → 5.1 → 4.8. The model gives him 0.45 expected goals for the Tottenham game and 88% of Chelsea's penalties, which is where the ceiling comes from.
Bruno Fernandes (11.8m, MUN) has the most points of any midfielder across the three gameweeks, 16.1, from [H]BOU → [A]CHE → [H]AVL. The Chelsea away game dips to 4.9, the two home games carry it at 5.8 and 5.4, and he takes 89% of United's penalties.
Bryan Mbeumo (7.8m, MUN) is the cheaper way into the same program. He projects 5.4 → 4.3 → 5.2 across [H]BOU → [A]CHE → [H]AVL for 14.9 points, 1.2 fewer than Bruno for 4.0m less. That makes him the best points per million of the premium midfielders.
Bukayo Saka (9.6m, ARS) rides the best program in the game: 5.6 → 4.0 → 5.5 across [H]EVE → [A]LIV → [H]HUL. His model minutes are 71, the lowest of this group, which is the risk you take. He is also the top captain option in Gameweek 10.
| Player | Price | Owned | GW8 | GW9 | GW10 | 3-GW total | Program |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Fernandes | 11.8m | 31.0% | 5.8 | 4.9 | 5.4 | 16.1 | [H]BOU → [A]CHE → [H]AVL |
| Cole Palmer | 9.7m | 26.1% | 5.9 | 5.1 | 4.8 | 15.8 | [H]TOT → [H]MUN → [A]SUN |
| Bukayo Saka | 9.6m | 17.0% | 5.6 | 4.0 | 5.5 | 15.1 | [H]EVE → [A]LIV → [H]HUL |
| Bryan Mbeumo | 7.8m | 19.5% | 5.4 | 4.3 | 5.2 | 14.9 | [H]BOU → [A]CHE → [H]AVL |
| Morgan Rogers | 7.9m | 47.2% | 5.2 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 14.0 | [H]TOT → [H]MUN → [A]SUN |
| Enzo Le Fee | 5.7m | 3.0% | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 13.0 | [H]LEE → [A]COV → [H]CHE |
| Marcus Tavernier | 6.1m | 7.8% | 4.0 | 4.8 | 4.1 | 12.9 | [A]MUN → [H]LEE → [A]IPS |
| Anton Stach | 6.0m | 2.3% | 4.2 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 12.4 | [A]SUN → [A]BOU → [H]TOT |
| Diego Gomez | 5.0m | 3.6% | 4.0 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 11.7 | [A]LIV → [A]MCI → [H]BRE |
The hidden gem is Enzo Le Fee (5.7m, SUN). He projects 4.4 → 4.3 → 4.3 across [H]LEE → [A]COV → [H]CHE for 13.0 points, more than Martin Ødegaard and Declan Rice for less money, and he is on 73% of Sunderland's penalties. Only 3.0% of managers own him.
Anton Stach (6.0m, LEE) is the other cheap differential, at 2.3% ownership. He is 4.2 → 4.0 → 4.2 across [A]SUN → [A]BOU → [H]TOT, a flat 12.4 over three gameweeks.
Diego Gomez (5.0m, BHA) is the budget midfielder for anyone short of funds. Brighton's [A]LIV → [A]MCI → [H]BRE does not look friendly on paper, but he still projects 4.0 → 3.7 → 4.0 for 11.7, and his six-gameweek weighted score of 14.3 is among the best at his price because Brighton's run opens up after Gameweek 10.
Marcus Tavernier (6.1m, BOU) has a short dip and then the better fixtures. He projects 4.0 at Old Trafford, then 4.8 against Leeds, across [A]MUN → [H]LEE → [A]IPS for 12.9. James Garner (6.0m, EVE) is the deeper differential at 0.2% ownership: 3.4 at Arsenal, then 4.1 and 4.2 across [A]ARS → [A]NEW → [H]COV. Both score more from Gameweek 9 onwards, so neither move is urgent this week.
Best FPL Gameweek 8 forwards
Erling Haaland (15.7m, MCI) needs no case. He is the top forward this week at 5.7 and over three gameweeks at 17.0 across [A]AVL → [H]BHA → [A]NFO, and 76.3% of managers own him. The question is what goes next to him.
The answer is Thiago Rodrigues (7.8m, BRE), the second-best forward this week at 5.0 and over three gameweeks at 13.3. Brentford's [A]HUL → [H]NFO → [A]BHA starts with the best fixture, so his trajectory runs 5.0 → 4.5 → 3.8: this is the week to buy him, not next. He takes 86% of Brentford's penalties and is owned by 8.9%.
Joao Pedro owners can hold. He projects 13.1 across Chelsea's [H]TOT → [H]MUN → [A]SUN, only 0.2 behind Thiago Rodrigues over the three gameweeks.
For a cheaper forward, Gonzalo Garcia (6.1m, FUL) projects 4.2 → 3.4 → 3.9 across [A]COV → [A]AVL → [H]NEW for 11.5. Jørgen Strand Larsen (6.0m, CRY) is the differential at 0.7% ownership: 4.2 against Newcastle and 11.0 across [H]NEW → [A]TOT → [H]LIV, with 77% of Crystal Palace's penalties. His value is front-loaded, so treat him as a two-gameweek pick before Liverpool arrive.
Check the FPL predicted lineups before the deadline: Saka and Strand Larsen both sit near 70 model minutes, and a confirmed start changes their case more than anyone else's here.
Who to captain in FPL Gameweek 8
Cole Palmer (9.7m, CHE) is the captain at 5.9 projected points against Tottenham, with Chelsea's [H]TOT → [H]MUN → [A]SUN keeping him in the captaincy picture for the next two gameweeks as well. Bruno Fernandes (11.8m, MUN) is a close second at 5.8 on [H]BOU → [A]CHE → [H]AVL. Erling Haaland (15.7m, MCI) is third at 5.7 at Aston Villa, on [A]AVL → [H]BHA → [A]NFO; with three-quarters of managers owning him, captaining Palmer instead is a small, sensible differential.
Captaincy is a plan across gameweeks. Haaland is the top captain option in Gameweek 9 at 5.9 against Brighton, and Saka takes over in Gameweek 10 at 5.5 against Hull. Owning Palmer, Haaland and Saka gives you the best captain in each of the next three gameweeks.
Who to sell before FPL Gameweek 8
Josko Gvardiol (5.8m, MCI) is the clearest sell, and the problem is minutes, not fixtures. City's [A]AVL → [H]BHA → [A]NFO is a decent run, but the model gives him 46 minutes this week and 1.9 → 2.0 → 1.8 points across it. Nothing in the next six gameweeks lifts him above 2.3, so there is no better week to wait for. Marc Guehi projects 3.8 this week for 0.2m more. 29.0% of managers own Gvardiol.
Alexander Isak (9.0m, LIV) is the expensive one to move. The model has him at 15 minutes and 0.8 points against Brighton, rising only to 1.4 and 1.9 across [H]BHA → [H]ARS → [A]CRY. He is still owned by 12.0%, and the 9.0m he ties up buys Thiago Rodrigues with change.
Kevin Schade (6.2m, BRE) is the same story inside a good program. Brentford's [A]HUL → [H]NFO → [A]BHA is one of the better runs in the game, but Schade projects 44 minutes and 2.5 points this week. If you want Brentford's fixtures, the way to own them is Thiago Rodrigues or Kelleher, and doing it now catches the best of the three games.
Yoane Wissa (6.2m, NEW) is one you can wait a round on. [A]CRY → [H]EVE → [A]FUL is a fair run and his 3.7 and 3.5 for the next two gameweeks are respectable, so this is not a bad week for him. But he drops to 2.8 at Fulham and 2.2 when Arsenal visit in Gameweek 11, so if you are moving him to fund a bigger change, Gameweek 9 is the latest it makes sense.
Best Free Hit team for FPL Gameweek 8
With no blanks this week, a Free Hit is only worth it if your squad is badly out of shape. If you do play it, this is the squad that maximises Gameweek 8 projected points within the 3-per-club limit and the solver's spending ceiling. It plays a 3-5-2 with Palmer as captain, for 60.6 projected points in the starting XI including the captain double. The live version is on the FPL optimal teams page.
- Goalkeeper: David Raya (ARS, 4.3)
- Defenders: Tarik Muharemovic (LEE, 4.3), Bobby Thomas (COV, 4.2), Ezri Konsa (ARS, 4.1)
- Midfielders: Cole Palmer (CHE, 5.9, captain), Bruno Fernandes (MUN, 5.8), Bukayo Saka (ARS, 5.6), Bryan Mbeumo (MUN, 5.4), Morgan Rogers (CHE, 5.2)
- Forwards: Thiago Rodrigues (BRE, 5.0), Joao Pedro (CHE, 4.9)
- Bench: Bernd Leno (FUL), Liam Delap (NFO), Milan van Ewijk (COV), Dara O'Shea (IPS)
FPL Gameweek 8 transfer summary
- Buy for the program: Bobby Thomas, Thiago Rodrigues, Enzo Le Fee.
- Arsenal assets (Raya, Gabriel, Saka) are the best three-gameweek holds in the game.
- Sell on minutes: Gvardiol, Isak, Schade. Wissa can wait until Gameweek 9.
- Captain: Palmer, then Haaland in Gameweek 9 and Saka in Gameweek 10.
More analysis for every gameweek is in our FPL preview hub.
FAQ
Who should I captain in FPL Gameweek 8?
Cole Palmer is the top captain at 5.9 projected points against Tottenham, just ahead of Bruno Fernandes (5.8 against Bournemouth) and Erling Haaland (5.7 at Aston Villa). Haaland takes over as the best captain in Gameweek 9.
Which budget defenders are best for FPL Gameweek 8?
Bobby Thomas at 4.0m is the best budget defender, with 4.2 projected points against Fulham and 12.7 across Coventry's next three gameweeks. Ezri Konsa at 4.6m is the cheap route into Arsenal's defence at 4.1 against Everton.
Should I sell Gvardiol before FPL Gameweek 8?
Yes. Josko Gvardiol projects 46 minutes and 1.9 points this week, and no more than 2.3 in any of the next six gameweeks, so there is no reason to wait. Marc Guehi projects 3.8 for 0.2m more.
Who are the best FPL differentials for Gameweek 8?
Enzo Le Fee (3.0% owned, 13.0 points over three gameweeks), Nordi Mukiele (1.8%, 4.3 this week) and Jørgen Strand Larsen (0.7%, 4.2 against Newcastle) are the best low-ownership picks.
Which team has the best fixtures from FPL Gameweek 8?
Arsenal. Their Everton, Liverpool, Hull run totals 6.22 expected goals and 1.44 expected clean sheets, the most of any club, and the Everton game carries a 49% clean sheet chance.
This preview was written by TheFantasyTool AI.