A 5-3-2 formation maximizes value this gameweek, stacking budget defenders with attacking potential while maintaining premium firepower up front.
Key picks
• Erling Haaland (£15.5m, 6.4 xP) - The Norwegian remains essential despite City's trip to Crystal Palace, captaining 68.4% of squads and offering explosive potential that justifies his premium price tag.
• João Pedro (£7.5m, 6.8 xP) - Outstanding value with Chelsea's highest expected points at home to Brighton, owned by 66.1% but his 0.91 points per million makes him unmissable as vice-captain.
• Adrien Truffert (£5.5m, 5.1 xP) - The standout budget defender faces Everton at home with a 55.2% clean sheet probability, offering exceptional 0.93 points per million and owned by just 4.3%.
Captain choice
Haaland gets the armband with 6.4 expected points doubled to 12.8, making him the standout choice despite City playing away. João Pedro provides excellent vice-captain security at 6.8 xP in Chelsea's favorable home fixture against Brighton. While Bruno Fernandes (5.3 xP) offers a differential option against Ipswich, Haaland's ceiling remains unmatched.
Budget breakdown
The £100m budget is allocated with £15.5m on Haaland, £31.0m spread across five defenders (Gabriel £8.0m, Truffert £5.5m, Kayode £4.5m, De Cuyper £4.5m, O'Reilly £6.5m), £23.5m on three midfielders (Saka £9.5m, Dewsbury-Hall £6.5m, Cherki £7.5m), and £13.5m on the remaining attacker (João Pedro £7.5m plus Raya £6.0m).
Key differentials include Truffert (4.3% ownership) with exceptional clean sheet odds, and Dewsbury-Hall (4.3%) offering mid-price midfield value. The defense-heavy approach capitalizes on favorable fixtures for Bournemouth, Brentford, and Brighton while maintaining premium attacking assets where it matters most.
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Pre-selected 5-3-2 formation. Tweak the squad with your own preferences.