Deadline: Friday 18 September 2026 at 18:30 BST.
This is the final OneFPL checklist.
Do it in this order so you do not solve a low-priority problem before a high-priority one.
1. Check availability first
Open Team News.
Look for:
- confirmed injuries;
- suspensions;
- late tests;
- press-conference updates;
- players returning to training.
Do not start with transfer trends.
Start with who can actually play.
2. Separate “doubt” from “out”
A yellow flag is not the same as a confirmed absence.
João Pedro is the clearest GW5 example: injury concern exists, but the final decision is different from simply labelling him out.
If the player is still in contention and your bench is strong, holding can be better than a panic transfer.
Latest FPL news
3. Decide whether you actually need a transfer
Make a move only if it:
- fixes a non-starter;
- improves expected points meaningfully;
- improves several future Gameweeks;
- unlocks a key captain/premium.
If none applies, rolling into the international break is strong.
Read Should You Roll Your Transfer?.
4. Check your captain
Haaland is the default GW5 captain.
He was fully rested in City's EFL Cup match and faces Sunderland at home.
If you are moving away from him, be clear about the reason.
Use Captains.
5. Set vice-captain properly
Do not leave the vice on:
- an injury doubt;
- a major rotation risk;
- a player who may get a short cameo.
If the captain misses out, the vice becomes your full captaincy decision.
6. Triple Captain decision
If using it:
- Haaland is the standout GW5 route.
If saving:
- you preserve a future Double Gameweek option.
Do not activate the chip accidentally while adjusting the captain.
7. Free Hit decision
Use it only if your normal XI is substantially worse than the best one-week draft.
Once confirmed, the Free Hit cannot simply be undone like a normal transfer.
Read Best GW5 Free Hit Team.
8. Wildcard decision
Wildcard only if the long-term squad needs rebuilding.
Remember:
- a long international break follows GW5;
- more injury information will arrive;
- banked transfers may reduce the need.
9. Set the bench in the correct order
Prioritise:
- expected minutes;
- fixture;
- points ceiling.
Remember formation rules can determine which substitute actually enters.
Read Auto Subs & Bench Order.
10. Check European and cup workload
Some players carried Thursday minutes.
Others were rested.
Those differences matter for:
- starts;
- substitution risk;
- fatigue.
Use the Midweek Minutes Tracker.
11. Check formation
Your XI must have:
- one goalkeeper;
- at least three defenders;
- at least two midfielders;
- at least one forward.
Do not let a last-minute bench swap create a formation problem.
12. Confirm the chip status
Make sure the page shows exactly what you intend:
- no chip;
- Free Hit;
- Wildcard;
- Triple Captain;
- Bench Boost.
Only one chip can be used in a Gameweek.
13. Check transfer cost
Before confirming, verify whether the move costs:
- 0 points;
- -4;
- -8.
Do not assume you still have a free transfer.
Read When Is a -4 Worth It?.
14. Check price movement last
Price is a constraint, not the first football reason.
Use Price Changes.
If you are not being priced out, certainty may be worth more than £0.1m.
15. Save the team
Do not assume a captain or bench change saved automatically because you clicked around.
Confirm the final state before leaving the page.
16. Screenshot or note the plan
Useful for:
- reviewing decisions later;
- checking live mini-league calculations;
- comparing expected vs actual outcomes.
17. After the deadline
Move from planning to live tracking.
Use Live FPL Table for:
- live points;
- provisional bonus;
- autosubs;
- mini-league position.
OneFPL verdict
The final hour creates unnecessary mistakes when managers use the wrong order.
Use:
availability → transfer → captain → vice → bench → chip → price.
Not the other way around.
