The short answer
After three Gameweeks, the forward hierarchy is becoming much clearer.
OneFPL's current forward tiers are:
- Erling Haaland — best premium ceiling
- Alexander Isak — best premium alternative / Liverpool route
- João Pedro — best highly-owned mid-price structure pick
- Yoane Wissa — strong value route with improving fixtures
- Igor Thiago — underperforming the chances and worth monitoring
- Thierno Barry — cheaper third-forward structure option
This page is designed to stay evergreen through 2026/27. It should be refreshed whenever roles, prices or fixtures materially change.
Best FPL forwards after GW3
| Rank | Forward | Current price | Best reason to own | Main concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erling Haaland | £15.5m | Highest premium ceiling | Cost / squad structure |
| 2 | Alexander Isak | £9.1m | Liverpool central scorer | Uses valuable forward slot |
| 3 | João Pedro | £7.7m | Chelsea attack + ownership | Hull have defended well |
| 4 | Yoane Wissa | £6.2m | Value + improving run | Lower ceiling than premiums |
| 5 | Igor Thiago | Mid-price | Strong underlying chances | No league goal yet |
| 6 | Thierno Barry | Budget | Frees money for midfield | Lower weekly floor |
Prices can move daily. Check OneFPL Price Changes before transferring.
1. Erling Haaland — best premium ceiling
Haaland remains the cleanest route to Manchester City's goals.
He scored against Coventry in GW3 and then scored twice away to Porto in the Champions League on 8 September.
That form matters, but so does workload: he has now played a European match before the Manchester derby.
Manchester City are away to Manchester United in GW4.
Verdict: HOLD / premium captain alternative, but not the easiest GW4 fixture.
2. Alexander Isak — Liverpool's safest attacking route
Isak scored twice at Ipswich and rose to £9.1m.
Liverpool host Fulham in GW4, which keeps him near the top of the forward rankings.
His major advantage over Liverpool midfield options is role security: he is the central scorer while Gakpo faces more wide-rotation pressure following Bradley Barcola's arrival.
Verdict: BUY.
3. João Pedro — still central to Chelsea structure
João Pedro blanked at Arsenal but remains one of the most owned forwards in the game.
Chelsea host Hull next.
Hull's three consecutive clean sheets mean managers should not call this a guaranteed haul, but one difficult Arsenal away match does not undo João Pedro's role.
Verdict: HOLD / BUY depending on structure.
4. Yoane Wissa — the value route
Official FPL's GW4 Wildcard squad includes Wissa at £6.2m.
His value is not simply the next fixture. The attraction is using a cheaper forward slot to fund premium midfield or defence while still retaining a real goals route.
Managers deciding between two premium forwards and a cheaper third striker should compare Wissa with Barry and Thiago inside the Transfer Planner.
Verdict: BUYABLE value forward.
5. Igor Thiago — underlying numbers say do not ignore him
Thiago has not scored in the league yet, but his chances have been much stronger than the zero-goal return suggests.
Current expected-goal data puts him roughly 2.1 goals below xG through the opening three league matches.
That does not mean a goal is guaranteed next.
It does mean the process has been better than the FPL points.
Read our GW4 Underperformers for the wider buy-before-the-haul shortlist.
Verdict: WATCH / aggressive differential.
6. Thierno Barry — useful third-forward structure
Barry's appeal is budget.
He becomes especially relevant when the question is not "Is Barry better than Isak?" but:
Does using a cheaper third forward create a much stronger five-man midfield?
That is why he belongs in the Wildcard formation discussion.
Best forward structure on Wildcard
Premium-heavy
Haaland + Isak + João Pedro
Highest forward spend, strongest individual ceiling, less money for midfield and defence.
Balanced
Haaland/Isak + João Pedro + Wissa
Keeps two strong scorers while freeing meaningful budget.
Midfield-heavy 3-5-2
Two starting forwards + cheap third forward
Best when the fifth midfielder clearly outscores the third-striker alternative.
Read 3-5-2 vs 3-4-3 on a GW4 Wildcard.
OneFPL verdict
Haaland has the highest ceiling. Isak has the strongest immediate premium fixture. João Pedro remains the safest mid-price structure pick. Wissa is the best current value route, while Thiago is the most interesting underlying-stat buy-low candidate.
Use Player Lab for xG/xA and Fixtures for the next five Gameweeks.
FAQ
Who is the best FPL forward in 2026/27?
Haaland remains the premium ceiling pick, while Isak currently has the stronger GW4 fixture.
Is Isak worth £9.1m?
Yes if you need a premium forward. His central Liverpool role and Fulham home fixture make him one of the strongest current buys.
Is João Pedro still a good FPL pick?
Yes. One Arsenal blank should not outweigh his Chelsea role and wider fixture run.
Who is the best budget FPL forward?
Wissa is the strongest current value route, while Barry is useful for managers deliberately building a cheaper third-forward slot.
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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