Looking for the best João Pedro replacement in FPL?
Nicolas Jackson (£6.8m) is our leading all-round pick, Evanilson (£6.2m) offers a strong balance of form and fixtures, and Thierno Barry (£5.6m) is the cheapest option in our comparison.
Chelsea have confirmed that João Pedro faces a spell on the sidelines with a thigh injury, leaving Fantasy Premier League managers with a major transfer decision ahead of Gameweek 9.
Below, we compare five replacements, explain whether selling is essential and assess the latest transfer activity.
Updated: 28 October 2026. Prices and transfer totals correct at time of writing. Recent form covers Gameweeks 4–8 of the 2026/27 season.
Chelsea have confirmed that João Pedro will be unavailable for a few weeks following a thigh injury sustained in training.
No exact return date has been confirmed. FPL currently lists him with a thigh injury and an unknown return date, so managers should plan their Gameweek 9 team without him. However, it is too early to assume he will miss every fixture through Gameweek 13.
Selling is a sensible move if you have a free transfer and need a starting forward. With Pedro facing several weeks out, a replacement can strengthen your team immediately and potentially improve your options over the next few Gameweeks.
Holding is still an option if you have reliable bench cover, more urgent problems elsewhere or would need a points hit to make the transfer. An injury does not automatically make a four-point hit worthwhile: compare the replacement's likely returns with those of the player who would come off your bench.
Pedro's price has fallen to £7.8m, but check his selling price in your own squad before deciding what you can afford. Your available budget depends on your purchase price and money in the bank.
Evanilson leads these five forwards for points over the last five Gameweeks, while Jackson has scored the most goals. Barry offers the lowest price.
| Player | £m | Pts | G | A | Next 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | 6.8 | 30 | 4 | 0 | FUL mun SUN |
| Evanilson | 6.2 | 32 | 3 | 2 | LEE ips NFO |
| Calvert- Lewin | 6.1 | 25 | 2 | 1 | bou TOT che |
| Barry | 5.6 | 18 | 2 | 0 | new COV bre |
| Thiago | 7.8 | 19 | 1 | 3 | NFO bha EVE |
Pts = FPL points; G = goals; A = FPL assists. Statistics cover GW4–8. Next 3 = GW9–11 fixtures, listed top to bottom. CAPITALS = home; lower case = away.
Nicolas Jackson's appeal starts with his goal threat. The Aston Villa forward has scored four goals and collected 30 FPL points across Gameweeks 4–8, making him the leading goalscorer in this comparison.
Fulham at home gives him an attractive opening fixture in Gameweek 9. Manchester United away follows, before another home match against Sunderland. That schedule offers a useful balance of immediate potential and reasons to hold beyond one Gameweek.
Jackson has risen to £6.8m in last night's price updates. However, even after that increase, he remains £1.0m cheaper than Pedro's current market price, although your actual saving depends on Pedro's selling price in your squad.
Verdict: Our first choice for managers prioritising recent goals and a promising Gameweek 9 fixture. Check the latest team news after Villa's midweek match before committing.
Evanilson has delivered 32 points, three goals and two assists over the last five Gameweeks. That makes him the highest-scoring forward in this shortlist, with returns coming from both scoring and creating goals.
Bournemouth host Leeds in Gameweek 9, visit Ipswich in Gameweek 10 and then welcome Nottingham Forest. Two home matches in that sequence strengthen his appeal as an option to hold across several deadlines.
At £6.2m, Evanilson also costs £0.6m less than Jackson. That difference could be valuable if you need money for a midfield or defensive upgrade.
Verdict: A strong alternative to Jackson, particularly if spreading your budget across the squad is more useful than targeting the forward with the most recent goals.
Choose Jackson for his recent goalscoring and Fulham at home in Gameweek 9. His four goals give him the edge over Evanilson for scoring output in the five-Gameweek sample.
Choose Evanilson for the lower price and his upcoming run of fixtures. He has scored two more FPL points over the same period and leaves an extra £0.6m available elsewhere.
Our preference is Jackson if both fit your budget comfortably. If the saving enables another meaningful improvement to your starting XI, Evanilson could be the better transfer for your team.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has returned 25 points, two goals and one assist in Gameweeks 4–8
Leeds visit Bournemouth in Gameweek 9, host Tottenham in Gameweek 10 and then travel to Chelsea. The home match is appealing, but the two away fixtures mean this is not an obviously easier schedule than Evanilson's.
The price difference matters here: Calvert-Lewin is only £0.1m cheaper than the Bournemouth forward. That makes the decision more about your assessment of the players than a substantial budget saving.
Verdict: A viable alternative, but Evanilson's stronger five-Gameweek points total gives him the edge in our ranking.
Thierno Barry is the cheapest forward in this comparison, with 18 points and two goals over the last five Gameweeks.
Everton face Newcastle away, Coventry at home and Brentford away across Gameweeks 9–11. The Coventry match stands out, although buying Barry means starting with a trip to Newcastle.
His main advantage is the money he releases. Barry costs £1.2m less than Jackson and £0.6m less than Evanilson, which could help fund an upgrade elsewhere.
Verdict: Best suited to managers with a clear plan for the savings. His recent points return is lower than the leading options, so consider the effect on your whole team before choosing the cheapest replacement.
Igor Thiago has recorded 19 points, one goal and three assists across Gameweeks 4–8. Those assists have supported his returns, but his recent goalscoring trails Jackson and Evanilson.
Brentford host Nottingham Forest in Gameweek 9, travel to Brighton in Gameweek 10 and then welcome Everton.
However, at £7.8m, Thiago is the most expensive replacement in this shortlist. He costs £1.0m more than Jackson and £1.6m more than Evanilson despite scoring fewer points over the comparison period.
Verdict: An option if you particularly favour Brentford's fixtures, but our preference is to spend less on Jackson or Evanilson.
João Pedro has recorded 865,448 transfers out ahead of Gameweek 9, as managers look for a replacement for the injured Chelsea forward.
Nicolas Jackson has attracted 801,950 transfers in, while 272,373 managers have brought in Evanilson, highlighting strong demand for two of our leading replacements.
Nine Elite XI managers have already made transfers this week, including Daniel Boije, who is currently ranked 3,823 overall.
Still weighing up your João Pedro replacement? Explore Elite XI: Team Reveal to see their latest squads, track their transfers and read their notes before making your Gameweek 9 decisions.
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