With the Gameweek 1 deadline now just hours away, FPL managers are making the final tweaks to their 2026/27 drafts.
Our Elite FPL Team Reveal tool shows the players being selected by proven managers with more than 80 top-10k finishes between them. Their picks can help identify the strongest combinations of fixtures, value, expected minutes and FPL potential.
Here are the five most-owned—and potentially must-have—players in the latest Elite XI Team Reveals, counting down to the only player selected by every Elite manager.
Updated: 21 August 2026
Bryan Mbeumo is the first new addition to the list, with nine of the elite managers including the Manchester United midfielder.
His appeal is supported by both fixtures and underlying statistics. Mbeumo accumulated 243 FPL points last season, while no midfielder was presented with more than his 22 big chances.
Manchester United begin the campaign against newly promoted Hull and Ipswich, giving Mbeumo an immediate opportunity to justify his growing elite ownership.
Fernandes is the more expensive and highly owned option, but Mbeumo offers a cheaper route into the same attack. Ten-time top-10k finisher Tarek Balbaa has selected both Manchester United midfielders, with the duo flanked by Groß and Wirtz in his current draft.
Mbeumo’s proven points potential, favourable opening fixtures and multiple routes to returns make him an appealing option at £8.0m.
João Pedro remains firmly established within the FPL template, with nine of the elite managers currently selecting him.
The Chelsea forward delivered 177 FPL points last season, scoring 15 goals and providing nine assists across 2,674 minutes. He also collected 30 bonus points—more than any other Chelsea player.
That proven output at £7.5m earned João Pedro a place in our guide to the best underpriced FPL players for 2026/27.
As shown in the Opta Comparison tool, João Pedro averaged 5.1 FPL points per game last season—the highest of any Chelsea player.
He should remain a major part of Chelsea’s attack under Xabi Alonso, although Danny Welbeck’s arrival creates additional competition for minutes. João Pedro will likely start regularly, but earlier substitutions could occasionally limit his ceiling.
Nevertheless, his combination of price, previous returns and expected role explains why he remains one of the most-owned—and potentially must-have—FPL players among the elite managers.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is selected by 10 of the elite managers.
As shown in our guide to the best budget FPL forwards for Gameweek 1, Calvert-Lewin scored 142 FPL points last season and recorded an expected FPL points total of 164.35—the highest figures among the budget forwards compared.
His underlying goal threat is also encouraging. Calvert-Lewin registered 19 big chances during the second half of last season, placing him joint third among forwards during that period.
He is expected to lead the Leeds attack and currently tops their anticipated penalty-taking order, adding another important route to points.
It is no surprise to see Calvert-Lewin included in the Consensus XI frontline alongside Haaland and João Pedro.
The Consensus XI combines the current squads of all our elite managers into one team, drawing on the collective experience behind more than 80 top-10k finishes.
At only £6.0m, Calvert-Lewin makes it considerably easier to accommodate expensive players such as Haaland and Fernandes. His combination of price, expected minutes, penalties and goal threat explains why elite managers currently view him as the leading budget forward.
Antonín Kinský has climbed into joint third place, appearing in 10 of the Elite Team Reveals.
Initially identified as one of the best underpriced FPL players for 2026/27, Kinský’s position has become more secure following confirmation from Roberto De Zerbi that he will begin the season as Tottenham’s number one.
That makes him one of the most appealing £4.5m goalkeepers available.
Spurs have strengthened defensively with the additions of Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke and Andy Robertson. Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes should also provide greater protection from midfield.
Kinský can also be paired with Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen (£4.5m). As highlighted by our AI Rotation Planner, their fixtures rotate particularly well across the opening seven Gameweeks.
Several elite managers appear to favour starting with two playing goalkeepers, particularly while early Bench Boost strategies remain under consideration. Kinský’s price, confirmed role and rotation potential make him an ideal fit for that approach.
Bruno Fernandes has climbed from second place to joint top, with 11 of the elite managers selecting him.
The Manchester United midfielder finished just four points behind Haaland last season after accumulating an outstanding 235 FPL points.
Fernandes scored nine goals, supplied 24 assists and collected 41 bonus points. However, it was his creativity that really separated him from the other premium midfielders.
According to the Opta Stats Sandbox, Fernandes recorded nine more FPL assists than any other player. His 136 attempted assists were 58 more than his nearest rival, while he created a league-leading 33 Opta-defined big chances.
His £12.0m price requires a significant investment, particularly for managers also selecting Haaland. However, secure minutes, penalties, set pieces and several routes to points make Fernandes easier to accommodate than many premium alternatives.
Manchester United’s opening matches against Hull and Ipswich add to Fernandes’ appeal, while his selection alongside Mbeumo in so many elite drafts highlights the confidence surrounding their attack.
For managers concerned about the cost, our best FPL Gameweek 1 team shows how you can fit Haaland, Fernandes, Mbeumo and Semenyo all into the same squad and still have a well rounded team.
Erling Haaland is no longer universally owned by the elite managers, but he remains at the top of the list alongside Fernandes.
The Manchester City forward is currently selected by 11 of the managers after scoring 27 goals, providing eight assists and finishing last season with 239 FPL points.
Haaland’s £15.5m price places major restrictions on the rest of an FPL squad. Two elite managers are currently prepared to begin without him, showing that alternative squad structures are receiving serious consideration.
If you are also considering going without the Norwegian, explore the three different strategies assessed in Mark Mansfield’s latest FPL team reveal.
However, going without Haaland still carries considerable risk.
His combination of goal threat, expected minutes and captaincy potential means one major haul could heavily punish managers who choose to spread the money elsewhere. He also remains at the centre of the Consensus XI, which combines the selections of our elite managers into one squad.
The biggest change is that no player is now universally owned.
Fernandes and Haaland share first place on 92.3%, suggesting there is greater variety in the premium structures being considered before the Gameweek 1 deadline. While most elite managers are still building around both players, some are prepared to sacrifice Haaland to strengthen the rest of their squads.
Manchester United’s opening fixtures have also had a clear influence. Fernandes and Mbeumo both feature in more than two-thirds of the elite drafts, giving managers two different price points from which to target matches against Hull and Ipswich.
Calvert-Lewin and João Pedro provide the value needed to balance those expensive selections. Both offer proven goal threat without requiring another premium-level investment.
Kinský is the only goalkeeper or defender to make the list. His inclusion reflects the appeal of a confirmed £4.5m starter and the growing trend towards beginning the season with two playing goalkeepers.
These drafts could still change before Friday’s deadline as team news, transfers and predicted line-ups provide the final pieces of information. You can follow every update live through Elite Team Reveals and receive notifications whenever one of our elite managers changes their squad.
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