FPL Stats Review: Fantasy Premier League 2025/26 Gameweek 8 Trends

After seven Gameweeks, there’s enough data to spot patterns and early bandwagons. This FPL stats review for Gameweek 8 highlights the top Fantasy Premier League performers across defenders, midfielders and forwards, using key metrics like shots, xG, xA, chances created, clean sheets and bonus points.

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Defence – Back the Attacking Threat or DEFCON Points?

Defenders continue to dominate the Fantasy Premier League scoring charts. After seven Gameweeks, Jurrien Timber (48 points), Gabriel (47), Senesi (46) and Guéhi (46) all sit inside the top six overall, with only Semenyo (66) and Haaland (70) scoring higher.

The introduction of the new DEFCON points system has shifted how FPL managers evaluate defenders. As shown in the Opta Stats Sandbox, only Senesi (88) ranks inside the top eight for Defensive Contribution points, suggesting that while DEFCON is valuable, it should not be the sole reason to pick a defender.

Attacking threat remains crucial. Calafiori, Timber and Muñoz all lead the way with nine shots in the box each, showing that full-backs can still provide strong returns even in the DEFCON era.

Creativity numbers reinforce this trend. According to the Opta Stats Sandbox, Trippier (11), Cucurella (10), Porro (10) and Bueno (10) top the charts for attempted assists among defenders, while Timber (9) also ranks highly. This underlines Timber’s rare potential to deliver points through both goals and assists.

Midfield - Who Could Be The Next Semenyo?

The trend from early season has continued with seven of the top eight-scoring midfielders so far - Caicedo, Anthony, Enzo, Rice, Kudus, Cullen and Ndiaye all priced under £7.0m.

With Palmer's return uncertain and premium midfielders such as Wirtz, B. Fernandes and Salah underwhelming, this could be a continuing trend. Saka's return to fitness should make things more interesting.

As the above image from our Stats Sandbox feature shows, Semenyo leads the way for xFPL (48.03) over the opening seven Gameweeks with B. Fernandes (43.03) close behind.

It is interesting to note that all of the top six barring Grealish (35.65) and Kudus (33.60) have taken at least one penalty which has enhanced their xFPL numbers.

Semenyo's numbers stand out, the Ghanaian international is top amongst midfielders for shots in the box (15), 'big chances' (seven) and 'Expected Goals' (xG) (4.02).

Salah has had a disappointing start to the season but is still ranked third for both shots in the box (11) and 'big chances' (four).

Enzo's numbers are interesting, the Argentinian international is ranked third for xG (3.42), but just 12th for shots in the box (eight). Six of his eight attempts in the penalty area have been classified as 'big chances', one of which was a penalty.

There seems to be a decline in goal threat overall from midfielders with only Cunha, Anthony, Mbeumo (seven each) and Semenyo (nine) averaging a shot on target per game or higher.

As the above image from our Stats Sandbox feature shows, no player has created more chances than B. Fernandes (19). But just one of these has been classified as a 'big chance' by Opta.

Wharton (five) leads the way for that metric, but the 21-year-old has notched just one FPL assist so far. Interestingly, M. Salah is ranked second with four 'big chances' created.

Stach (14) and Dewsbury-Hall (13) are ranked third and fifth for attempted assists, which highlights their appeal at a price of just £5.0m

Xhaka is another interesting option in that price bracket, he is joint-second for 'big chances' created (four) and has already bagged three assists. As the above image from our Stats Sandbox feature shows, he is also joint-second amongst midfielders for DEFCON (89) which illustrates his multiple routes to points.

Forwards - Is Anyone Good Besides Haaland?

Goals from forwards have been hard to come by this season with Haaland (nine) leading the way with Thiago (four) some way off in second.

Haaland (70), João Pedro (39) and Bowen (35) are the only three forwards to feature in the top 30 FPL scorers so far which is worth taking note of.

However, as the below image from our Stats Sandbox feature shows, seven of the top eight players ranked by shots in the box are forwards with Semenyo the only exception.

This would indicate that forwards still carry the primary goal threat and there might be an uptick in the coming weeks.

It is also interesting to note that six of the top eight players across all positions for 'big chances' are forwards with Semenyo (seven) and Enzo (six) the exceptions.

Many popular forwards have been guilty of a poor conversion rate, Mateta has scored only two goals from nine 'big chances' (second) while Gyökeres has scored three from six (fourth). It is a similar story with Welbeck, who has scored two of his five 'big chances' while Calvert-Lewin has converted just one of five.

As the above image from our Stats Sandbox feature sorted by xG per game shows, some players who were signed over the summer transfer window could become interesting options in the coming weeks.

Woltemade is ranked third for xG per game (0.60) while Isak and Calvert-Lewin (0.40) are ranked sixth. These picks are all low owned and could be great differentials for the coming weeks.

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