Fantasy Premier League throws up a blank gameweek in GW26, which will see numerous managers activate their Free Hit chip ahead of the deadline.
The Free Hit, which you can only use once per season, allows the user to make unlimited transfers for one week only before your team reverts to its prior lineup for the following gameweek, making it a very valuable fantasy asset.
Four teams – Chelsea, Liverpool, Luton Town and Spurs – do not play this weekend due to the League Cup final, leaving many FPL squads short of a few starters. While some managers can field nine or ten players, there will be others with fewer options in place, making the Free Hit a must.
We’ve selected five players who absolutely need to make their way into your FPL team if you’re on a Free Hit – with a few other transfer suggestions thrown in there.
FPL Deadline: Saturday, February 24, 13:30pm BST.
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Fantasy Premier League: Best Free Hit players to get in GW26
Pedro Neto (£5.7m)
A free hit is nothing without differentials, and Pedro Neto is the ultimate differential this week at just 3.8 percent ownership.
The Portuguese winger has been excellent when fit this season, registering two goals and 11 assists for Wolves, with four of his goal involvements coming in his last four games. He comes up against a truly dreadful Sheffield United defence at home this weekend and should get a few returns.
Indeed, the fixture is so good that there is no excuse for not going triple Wolves in GW26 if you are using the free hit chip. Hwang Hee-chan (£5.5m) is on penalties and has been in the best form of his Premier League career, scoring 10 goals and making three assists, while Pablo Sarabia (£4.7m) could be a cheeky punt.
Jose Sa (£5.0m) is arguably the best goalkeeper pick of the week, Craig Dawson (£4.5m) has the biggest goal threat from set pieces, while Rayan Ait-Nouri (£4.5m) is their most attacking defender, although he only has one assist this season.
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Ivan Toney (£8.2m)
Since returning from his suspension, Ivan Toney has scored four goals and made one assists in five Premier League games. Only Rasmus Hojlund (6) has scored more over that period, while no one has had more big chances (8) in front of goal. Add in the fact he’s on penalties, and he’s a no brainer for Monday’s game against an out-of-form West Ham United.
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Martin Odegaard (£8.4m)
The obvious pick here is Bukayo Saka (£9.1), but as he’s already in 62 percent of FPL teams there’s little point in going over why he’s a necessity in your team; if you don’t have him, get him in.
Martin Odegaard has somewhat gone under the radar as an Arsenal fantasy asset, largely because Saka already fills that role for us and there are so many midfield options out there. But in a week where we are scraping the barrel for players the Norwegian cannot be ignored.
The 25-year-old is in form, registering a goal and three assists in his last two matches, while he has created an astonishing 29 chances with an xA value of 3.46 in the past seven gameweeks, more than any other player in the Premier League.
Newcastle have been dire at the back over the last two months – Odegaard and the Gunners should really make the most of this weekend’s home tie. And though a clean sheet is far from guaranteed, Gabriel (£5.2m) and William Saliba (£5.7m) really need to be in your side too.
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Phil Foden (£8.1m)
Frustratingly for his owners, Phil Foden has blanked in the three games since his 20-point haul against Brentford. But he remains an excellent pick at a good price ahead of their trip to Bournemouth.
The England international is well on his way to having his most productive campaign, putting up eight goals and seven assists so far. He’s getting into better attacking positions than ever and turning it into chances, popping off 70 shots in 25 games – among midfielders only Saka (71) has taken more. He’s also created 51 chances this term.
Manchester City will be hurt by the news that Kevin De Bruyne has sustained another injury and Bournemouth away is far from a gimme, but I defy you to find me five other midfielders who are more essential in GW26 than Foden.
We’re also assuming you’re going to have Erling Haaland (£14.4m) one way or the other, hence why he’s not taking up this spot.
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Ollie Watkins (£8.7m)
Almost half of all FPL managers own Ollie Watkins, which means the other half should be very worried about not owning him ahead of GW26.
After enduring a mid-season scoring slump which saw him get just one goal in seven games, the Aston Villa striker has scored four in his last four Premier League games. His underlying numbers over the past seven gameweeks have been very healthy; he’s third in the division for shots (23) and big chances (7), and fourth for shots in the box (18) and expected goals (3.6xG).
Nottingham Forest have improved under Nuno Espirito Santo, but they generally don’t travel well whereas Villa are one of the best home teams in the league.
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