Mohamed Salah made a triumphant return to action for Liverpool, scoring a goal, providing an assist, and earning 11 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) points as Liverpool defeated Brentford convincingly. However, despite his stellar performance, nearly 150,000 FPL managers rushed to add him to their squads for Gameweek 26, overlooking one crucial detail: Liverpool doesn’t have a league fixture due to their Carabao Cup final clash against Chelsea. This leaves managers with valuable assets sitting on the bench.
Liverpool and Chelsea’s progression to the final means they, along with Luton and Spurs, who were their respective opponents, will have a rare weekend off, narrowing the pool of available players to choose from. With only 16 clubs in contention, FPL managers face a challenge in fielding a complete squad.
For those with depleted squads, activating the Free Hit chip allows unlimited transfers without point deductions for one gameweek. Alternatively, taking a few point hits to field a full team now and saving the Free Hit for later in the season is another strategy to consider.
In light of this unique gameweek, let’s explore the FPL top captain picks available for Gameweek 26.
Erling Haaland (Man City)
Erling Haaland, valued at £14.4m, continues to excel with 16 goals and six assists to his name this season. Manchester City faces Bournemouth away in Blank Gameweek 26, presenting another favorable opportunity for Haaland to add to his tally.
Bournemouth’s defensive record has been shaky, having conceded 46 goals (seventeenth) with an Expected Goals conceded (xGC) of 38.7 (eleventh). It’s unlikely they’ll contain Manchester City’s formidable attack, managed by Pep Guardiola, which has scored 57 goals (third) with an xG of 49.27 (fourth) at the time of writing.
Bookmakers also favor Manchester City to score heavily, ranking them as the second favorites to score 2.5 or more goals (45%) this gameweek.
Given Haaland’s prolific scoring record, his status as the league’s top scorer, and his consistent starting position with penalty-taking duties, he remains the most popular and justified captaincy option for fantasy managers this week.
Also Read: Best Goalkeeper picks in FPL Gameweek 26
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
Ollie Watkins continues to shine brightly in what can only be described as a stellar season, boasting an impressive tally of 13 goals and 14 assists. His underlying statistics further underline his impact, with an Expected Goals (xG) of 12.2 and Expected Assists (xA) of 3.4. Currently, he sits as the second-highest scoring player in the fantasy football game, accumulating a total of 161 points.
Aston Villa looks forward to a favorable fixture as they host Nottingham Forest at Villa Park. With Nuno Espirito Santo’s side conceding 44 goals (sixteenth) and Villa showcasing their attacking prowess throughout the season, expectations are high for Villa’s offensive output. Having scored 52 goals (fifth) with an xG of 46.33 (also fifth), Villa is poised to capitalize on Forest’s defensive vulnerabilities. Additionally, Unai Emery’s team ranks as the third favorites to score 2.5 or more goals (38%) in this encounter.
As Villa’s clear talisman, Watkins boasts an impressive Goal Involvement rate of 52%, highlighting his significant impact on the team’s performance. With consistent starts and full 90-minute appearances, the England international remains a reliable fantasy option for Gameweek 26.
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Among the FPL top captain picks, Bukayo Saka is having an exceptional season, with his recent form particularly standing out. He boasts 12 goals and eight assists overall, with an impressive six goals in his last four games alone. Delving into his underlying statistics, Saka has an Expected Goals (xG) of 11 and an Expected Assists (xA) of 7.8, showcasing his consistent threat in front of goal and in creating chances.
Arsenal’s upcoming home fixture against Newcastle United presents a favorable opportunity for Saka and the Gunners’ attack. Newcastle’s defensive performance has notably dipped since Joelinton’s injury, conceding the second-most goals (20) in the league since Gameweek 18, along with the worst Expected Goals Conceded (xGC) at 22.60.
In contrast, Mikel Arteta’s side has been potent in attack, scoring 58 goals (second) with an xG of 52.04 (second). This sets the stage for a challenging night for Newcastle’s defense.
With Saka’s exceptional underlying numbers and consistent output, he remains a key asset for fantasy managers. His assured starting position, penalty-taking duties, and the dual threat of scoring and providing assists further solidify his appeal as a fantasy option for the season ahead.
Rasmus Hojlund (Man United)
Rasmus Hojlund has certainly come into his own at Manchester United after a challenging start at Old Trafford. The Danish international has been on fire recently, bagging seven goals and two assists in his last six games, all of which he started.
Manchester United’s recent form has been impressive, winning their last four games and remaining unbeaten in their last five. During this period, they’ve netted 13 goals (fourth most) with an Expected Goals (xG) of 8.99 (sixth).
Their upcoming fixture against Fulham presents another opportunity for goals, as Fulham has conceded 41 goals (fourteenth) with an Expected Goals Conceded (xGC) of 46.2 (sixteenth) so far this season. United is rightfully considered strong favorites for this encounter.
Under the management of Erik Ten Hag, Manchester United is also among the joint third favorites to score 2.5 or more goals (38%) in Blank Gameweek 26. With Hojlund’s impressive recent performances and United’s attacking momentum, he emerges as a compelling fantasy option for the upcoming gameweek.
Hwang Hee-Chan (Wolves)
Hwang Hee-Chan has proven to be an exceptional value pick in fantasy football this season, delivering impressive returns at a modest price of £5.5m. With 10 goals and three assists to his name, along with an Expected Goals (xG) of 6.2 and Expected Assists (xA) of 2.4, he has certainly punched above his weight.
Wolves gear up for a promising fixture against bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United, known as the “Moneyball” game. Sheffield United has struggled defensively, conceding the most goals (65) in the league, with the worst Expected Goals Conceded (xGC) at 50.2.
While Wolves’ attacking statistics aren’t among the league’s best, with 39 goals scored (eighth) and an xG of 34.97 (thirteenth), the matchup against Sheffield United presents a golden opportunity to exploit defensive weaknesses. As the third favorites (38%) to score 2.5 or more goals and strong favorites for the win, Wolves are expected to capitalize on this encounter.
Also Read: Best Defender picks in FPL Gameweek 26
With Hwang leading the charge as Wolves’ top goal-scorer, and the likelihood of him playing upfront, especially with Matheus Cunha sidelined with injury, he emerges as a standout option for fantasy managers in Blank Gameweek 26. Additionally, there’s a good chance he could also be on penalty duties, further boosting his appeal as one of the most reliable attacking options at Wolves.