Major evergreen refresh after GW7. The old version of this page was still titled "After GW3". That is too stale for a core SEO page. Haaland remains the premium anchor, Isak is back scoring, João Pedro has risen in price and the budget pool is now led by DCL, Kostoulas and Evanilson.
Current forward ranking
| Rank | Forward | Price area | Best reason | Main concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Haaland | £15.7m | Best raw ceiling + captaincy | Cost / workload |
| 2 | Isak | £9.0m | Liverpool central scorer | Premium opportunity cost |
| 3 | João Pedro | £7.9m | Chelsea structure + ownership | Chelsea rotation/context |
| 4 | DCL | £6.0m | Secure role + 3.60 xG | Leeds team ceiling |
| 5 | Kostoulas | £5.7m | Brighton attack + 41 pts | Rotation + hard fixtures |
| 6 | Evanilson | £6.1m | Form + four-assist route | Europe / team ceiling |
| 7 | Barry | £5.7m | Budget structure | Arsenal away GW8 |
| 8 | Wissa | £6.1m | Role/fixtures | Form and transfers out |
1. Haaland — still No.1
Haaland remains the easiest forward ranking.
Why:
- premium captaincy;
- penalties;
- elite City attack;
- multiple-return ceiling.
The Ipswich knock is improving and Maresca says he could be available for AEK. (Premier League)
If fit, the ownership decision remains:
HOLD / build around.
The question is captaincy each week, not whether he belongs in the squad.
Latest FPL news
2. Isak — premium alternative is back
Isak costs £9.0m and is being bought again. (FPL Toolkit)
He gives:
- Liverpool central striker role;
- premium goal threat;
- lower price than Haaland;
- a way to spend more across midfield/defence.
The problem is structure.
A team with:
Haaland + Isak + João Pedro
spends heavily at forward.
That can be correct.
It can also make the midfield weaker.
Isak vs João Pedro
Isak
- higher goal ceiling;
- central Liverpool scorer;
- lower ownership;
- costs more.
João Pedro
- cheaper;
- Chelsea attack;
- easier structure;
- massive ownership.
If the Isak upgrade forces you to lose Saka or premium Arsenal defence, João Pedro can remain the better full-team choice.
3. João Pedro — structure king
João Pedro has risen to £7.9m.
That price is still attractive for:
- Chelsea attack;
- forward slot;
- high ownership;
- balanced Wildcard structure.
He does not need to outscore Isak every week.
He needs to allow the rest of the team to score enough points.
4. DCL — safest cheaper forward
Current tracking:
- £6.0m
- 33 points
- 3.60 xG
- 599 minutes
- 7 starts
That is strong evidence.
He offers the cheapest combination of:
- secure starts;
- central role;
- repeatable goal threat.
5. Kostoulas — highest cheap upside
Kostoulas has 41 points and costs around £5.7m in current tracking.
His advantage is Brighton.
The team has one of the best attacks in the league.
The downside:
- Liverpool away;
- City away;
- European rotation.
Owners can hold.
Fresh buyers can wait for the fixture entry point.
6. Evanilson — biggest budget riser
Evanilson is now around £6.1m.
His GW7 goal + assist strengthened the case.
The wider attraction:
- Bournemouth central striker;
- assists as well as goals;
- Leeds and Ipswich after GW8.
The concern:
- European schedule;
- Bournemouth's lower total attacking ceiling than Brighton/Liverpool/City.
DCL vs Kostoulas vs Evanilson
| Factor | DCL | Kostoulas | Evanilson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | Best | Most uncertain | Strong |
| Team attack | Medium | Best | Medium |
| Current price | £6.0m | £5.7m | £6.1m |
| Immediate GW8 | Sunderland A | Liverpool A | Man Utd A |
| Rotation | Low | Higher | Europe |
| OneFPL lean | Safest | Upside | Balanced |
Barry
Barry is £5.7m with 28 points in current tracking. (FPL Toolkit)
He remains useful.
But Arsenal away in GW8 reduces immediate appeal.
This is a hold/bench type week rather than a fresh buy.
Wissa
Wissa has fallen to £6.1m and is being sold.
That does not automatically make him bad.
It means his relative value has slipped while:
- DCL scores;
- Kostoulas rises;
- Evanilson produces;
- Isak returns.
Forward rankings are competitive.
Two forwards or three?
DefCon has made four-defender formations more viable.
You do not need three expensive forwards.
The strongest structures can be:
3-4-3
Haaland + João Pedro + DCL/Kostoulas.
3-5-2
Haaland + João Pedro/Isak + cheap bench forward.
4-4-2
Haaland + one strong second forward.
Read Best FPL Formation.
Premium-heavy vs balanced
Premium-heavy
Haaland + Isak + João Pedro.
Pros:
- huge forward ceiling.
Cons:
- midfield/defence sacrifice.
Balanced
Haaland + João Pedro + DCL.
Pros:
- strong roles;
- saves ~£3m vs Isak;
- better midfield/defence.
Budget aggressive
Haaland + João Pedro + Kostoulas.
Pros:
- maximum budget release.
Cons:
- more minutes/fixture risk.
Wildcard ranking
For GW8 Wildcard:
Haaland is automatic.
Then choose:
- João Pedro for structure;
- DCL for secure third forward;
- Isak when you can fund him cleanly;
- Kostoulas when the saving matters.
Read Best GW8 Wildcard.
OneFPL verdict
Haaland remains No.1. Isak is the best premium alternative. João Pedro is the best structural mid-price forward.
Below them:
DCL for safety → Kostoulas for cheap upside → Evanilson for balanced form/fixtures.
This page should now stay evergreen and be updated when roles materially change—not carry an "after GW3" title for months.
Best forward by price tier
Premium: Haaland
The captaincy and multi-return ceiling remain unmatched.
£8.5m–£10m: Isak
Best route when you want a second premium scorer without paying Haaland money.
£7m–£8.5m: João Pedro
Best blend of team attack and squad structure.
£5.8m–£6.5m: DCL / Evanilson
DCL for security and goal threat; Evanilson for Bournemouth's developing multi-week run.
Under £6m: Kostoulas
Highest upside when Brighton minutes are secure.
This tiered approach is more useful than one flat list because a £5.7m forward and a £15.7m forward solve different squad problems.
Forward transfers for GW8
Haaland
Start if fit. Do not sell.
Isak
Start against Brighton despite their defensive form. Premium forwards should not be benched from one difficult matchup.
João Pedro
Start at home to Spurs.
DCL
Start at Sunderland.
Kostoulas
Start or bench depending your alternative; Liverpool away lowers the projection but Brighton's attack is strong enough to return.
Evanilson
Playable at Manchester United, with the bigger appeal coming from the fixtures after GW8.
Isak vs spending the money in midfield
This is the most important premium-forward calculation.
Isak + £6m midfielder
must be compared with:
DCL + £9m midfielder
or
João Pedro + premium defender.
Isak can be individually better and still produce a weaker 15-man squad if the price forces two downgrades.
That is why Wildcard teams should build the whole structure before choosing the second premium forward.
When should this ranking change again?
Update the evergreen page when:
- expected starts materially change;
- penalties move;
- a major injury occurs;
- three-to-six-week fixtures swing;
- a budget player's role becomes secure;
- a premium loses centrality.
Do not rewrite the hierarchy just because one forward scored once.
FAQ
Who are the best FPL forwards after Gameweek 7?
Haaland remains the clear premium No.1. Isak is the premium alternative, João Pedro is the strongest mid-price structure pick, while DCL, Kostoulas and Evanilson lead the cheaper group.
Is Isak worth £9.0m in FPL?
Yes when the premium-forward structure does not weaken the rest of your team. He offers Liverpool's central goal route, but cheaper forwards can create stronger midfield and defence combinations.
Who is the best budget FPL forward now?
DCL is the safest for minutes and current scoring, Kostoulas has the strongest cheap-team-attack upside, and Evanilson is the biggest value riser after his goal and assists.
