The short answer
Midfield is the deepest position in FPL Draft 2026/27, but that does not mean every midfielder is equally replaceable. The first few rounds should still prioritise players with premium output, secure minutes and set pieces; later rounds are where role and upside matter more than name value.
Our updated ranking uses final pre-season evidence, expected minutes, set pieces, defensive-contribution potential and positional scarcity.
OneFPL top 25 FPL Draft midfielders
| Rank | Player | Club | Draft case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Fernandes | Man Utd | Elite floor, captain-level output, set pieces and the best first two fixtures |
| 2 | Cole Palmer | Chelsea | Penalties, creativity and 200-point upside |
| 3 | Bukayo Saka | Arsenal | Secure premium role in an elite attack |
| 4 | Dominik Szoboszlai | Liverpool | Major set-piece share and strong all-round involvement |
| 5 | Bryan Mbeumo | Man Utd | Three goals and an assist in his final three summer starts; expected to play up front |
| 6 | Florian Wirtz | Liverpool | Central creative role with strong assist upside |
| 7 | Antoine Semenyo | Man City | Proven 200-point level with huge attacking ceiling |
| 8 | Matheus Cunha | Man Utd | Strong talent and fixtures, but Mbeumo currently has the clearer striker case |
| 9 | Morgan Gibbs-White | Nott'm Forest | Talismanic role, creativity and reliable minutes |
| 10 | Phil Foden | Man City | Elite ceiling when starting; rotation remains the tax |
| 11 | Morgan Rogers | Chelsea | High ceiling once his starting role settles |
| 12 | Declan Rice | Arsenal | Set pieces, defensive contributions and excellent minutes |
| 13 | Elliot Anderson | Man City | All-round scoring profile with DefCon support |
| 14 | Cody Gakpo | Liverpool | £7.0m-class attacking role and a goal in Liverpool's final friendly |
| 15 | Ismaila Sarr | Crystal Palace | Direct attacker with strong transition threat |
| 16 | Bruno Guimarães | Arsenal | Secure central role and multiple routes to points |
| 17 | Martin Ødegaard | Arsenal | Creative floor with an elite team environment |
| 18 | Iliman Ndiaye | Everton | Advanced role and penalty involvement |
| 19 | Pascal Groß | Brighton | Penalties, corners and free-kicks make him unusually valuable |
| 20 | Harry Wilson | Leeds | Proven attacking output and set pieces |
| 21 | Enzo Fernández | Chelsea | Minutes security plus box involvement |
| 22 | Enzo Le Fée | Sunderland | Creativity and potential dead-ball value |
| 23 | Mamadou Sangaré | Brentford | Excellent defensive-contribution profile plus some attacking upside |
| 24 | Marcus Tavernier | Bournemouth | Useful set pieces and multi-route returns |
| 25 | Alex Scott | Bournemouth | Progressive role with upside if minutes remain secure |
Tier 1: first-round midfielders
Bruno Fernandes, Palmer and Saka are the premium midfield foundation.
Bruno is our No.1 because Manchester United begin with Hull and Ipswich, while his secure minutes and set-piece role give him one of the safest floors in Draft. Official Fantasy analysis also identifies him as one of the four must-have players for the start of the normal FPL season.
Palmer and Saka remain excellent early-round picks because Draft rewards season-long reliability. Even when fixtures turn, both should remain difficult to replace from waivers.
Tier 2: strong second- and third-round targets
Mbeumo moves up after the final pre-season evidence. Official FPL's final Scout Selection says he currently looks better than Cunha, with three goals and one assist in his final three starts and an expected centre-forward role while Benjamin Sesko is unavailable.
Szoboszlai and Wirtz offer different routes into Liverpool. Szoboszlai's set pieces help his floor; Wirtz has the stronger pure creativity case. Gakpo is the later, more aggressive Liverpool option after scoring against Como in the final friendly.
The best mid-round value
Draft leagues are often won by finding players with roles that are more valuable than their draft-room reputation.
Three names stand out:
- Pascal Groß — penalties, corners and free-kicks for Brighton.
- Mamadou Sangaré — strong projected defensive-contribution numbers and secure central minutes.
- Declan Rice — less explosive than a winger, but unusually hard to bench because he combines set pieces, minutes and DefCon.
Price does not matter in Draft, so a £5.5m player with a monopolised dead-ball role can be more valuable than a flashier £7.0m name with rotation risk.
How to draft midfield
In an eight-team league, do not panic if you miss one premium midfielder. The position is deep.
A useful structure is:
| Draft phase | Target |
|---|---|
| Rounds 1-2 | One elite midfielder or scarce forward |
| Rounds 3-5 | Secure top-15 midfielder |
| Rounds 6-9 | Set pieces, advanced roles and DefCon |
| Late rounds | Upside picks whose roles could grow |
Use OneFPL's Top 100 Draft rankings to compare midfielders against forwards and defenders, and read the FPL Draft guide for waiver, trade and roster strategy.
OneFPL verdict
Bruno is the safest No.1 midfielder, while Mbeumo is the biggest late pre-season riser. Do not overpay for midfield depth: once the premium tier disappears, there are enough useful options to let you attack scarce forwards and defenders in other rounds.
FAQ
Who is the best midfielder in FPL Draft 2026/27?
Bruno Fernandes is our No.1 because of his elite output, secure role, set pieces and outstanding opening fixtures.
Is Mbeumo better than Cunha in Draft?
Right now, yes. Final pre-season evidence gives Mbeumo the stronger immediate role and form, although both remain high-end picks.
Does player price matter in FPL Draft?
No. Draft has no £100m budget, so rank players by expected points, minutes and replacement value rather than normal FPL price.
Sources
OneFPL analysis. OneFPL is an independent Fantasy Premier League companion and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the Premier League or Fantasy Premier League.
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