Updated 18 September 2026. The Gameweek 5 deadline is 18:30 BST today.
This is the rapid-answer version of OneFPL's GW5 coverage: the decisions managers are still making in the final hours, with direct links to the tools that help finish the call.
1. Is João Pedro definitely out?
No. Brazil withdrew him from the upcoming internationals because of an injury concern, but Chelsea have not ruled him out of Brentford.
Owners with a playable bench should usually hold and start him, then put a reliable player first on the bench. Use Team News for the latest status.
2. Should I sell João Pedro?
Not only because of the doubt. The international break follows GW5, so a short-term issue could be largely absorbed before GW6.
Sell if Chelsea rule him out for longer, your bench is weak, or the move improves your structure anyway.
Latest FPL news
3. Best João Pedro replacement?
The main routes are:
- Calvert-Lewin for a proven central role at £6.0m;
- Wissa for the Hull fixture;
- Liam Delap for Coventry and a cheap Free Hit route;
- Thierno Barry for value and budget release.
Use Player Lab Compare.
4. Best captain?
Haaland. Manchester City host Sunderland and he was fully rested in the EFL Cup win over Norwich.
Use Captains for the final ranking.
5. Triple Captain Haaland?
A strong viable option. The case is Sunderland at home, penalties, elite shot volume and zero midweek minutes. The reason to save is the possibility of a future Double Gameweek.
6. Free Hit in GW5?
Only if your normal XI is far away from the ideal one-week team. GW5 strongly favours Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, Everton and Newcastle.
Read Best GW5 Free Hit Team.
7. Wildcard GW5 or GW6?
If your squad is functional, waiting until GW6 remains attractive because a long international break starts after this Gameweek. If your squad is badly broken now, there is no prize for waiting.
8. Roll the transfer?
Roll if your XI is strong, no key player is ruled out and the move is mostly sideways. Saved transfers are especially valuable before the break because you can bank up to five.
9. Is a -4 worth it?
Usually only if the incoming player is expected to gain more than four points over the outgoing player across the relevant horizon, or if the move solves a longer-term structural problem.
Read When Is a -4 Worth It?.
10. Bruno or Mbeumo?
Mbeumo offers better value. Official FPL data has him on five big chances and 11 shots in the box, while costing far less than Bruno. Bruno retains penalties, set pieces and premium creative responsibility.
11. Start or bench Groß?
Start him unless the alternative has a clearly stronger fixture and role. Arsenal is difficult, but Groß still has penalties, set pieces and creation.
12. Start De Cuyper?
Startable, but easier to bench than Groß if you own a defender with a strong clean-sheet fixture.
13. Buy Gibbs-White?
Yes if the move works beyond one week. Forest host Coventry and Gibbs-White remains their talisman.
14. Buy Liam Delap?
A strong short-term budget option. He fits best on Free Hit or in a structure where the saving matters.
15. Buy DCL?
Calvert-Lewin is one of the safer cheap-forward routes. Leeds' successful appeal means he now has three official league goals.
16. Buy Gvardiol?
Strong buy, subject to expected start. City offer the best defensive environment of the Gameweek and Gvardiol adds attacking upside.
17. Sell Gakpo?
Not because of injury. He started and scored in the cup. The remaining issue is rotation after heavier midweek minutes than some competitors.
18. Start Kluivert?
He scored in Europe on Thursday. The downside is the Thursday-to-Sunday turnaround before Liverpool. He is benchable if you have a strong alternative.
19. Is Strand Larsen more interesting?
Yes. He scored a penalty for Crystal Palace in Europe, adding important spot-kick evidence. Thursday workload still matters.
20. Final checklist?
- Check Team News.
- Confirm captain and vice.
- Check bench order.
- Confirm any chip intentionally.
- Use Price Changes only after making the football decision.
- Save before the deadline.
OneFPL verdict
The biggest edge today is avoiding unnecessary moves based on incomplete information. Haaland is the standout captain, João Pedro remains a hold-if-you-can-cover, GW5 Free Hit is team-dependent, and rolling a transfer into the long break is a perfectly strong decision.
