There comes a point in every FPL season where loyalty starts to cost you points, and Gameweek 18 feels like exactly that moment, written Blake Hurst, Fantasy Premier League expert. Injuries, suspensions and stutters are piling up for some big-name assets, while clear gaps appear everywhere. This is the week to be ruthless. Acting early with Bruno Fernandes and Igor Thiago not only ranks your team, it unlocks money and slots for players like Hugo Ekitike, Matheus Cunha and Florian Wirtz to really move your rank up.
Bruno Fernandes (9.4m)
Fernandes has been the definition of reliable for years, so it’s always uncomfortable to suggest a sale. But that injury against Aston Villa was a real momentum-killer, and suddenly it doesn’t feel like a ‘don’t think twice’ take. With some exciting differentials emerging in midfield, this is a natural place to launch. Cunha, Wirtz and even someone like Jack Grealish or Elliot Anderson all give you a new path to points and, crucially, they don’t carry the same question marks when it comes to fitness. If you have value tied to the Manchester United captain, now is the best time to redirect it before the model changes and its price drops.
Igor Thiago (7.1m)
This one will be a little uncomfortable because the fixtures aren’t great, but the shape is hard to ignore. Thiago’s recent underlying numbers have been really poor: almost no shooting, minimal xGI, and long stretches of games where he just doesn’t look like he’s scoring. Yes, he is still on penalties and still has 90 minutes, so a comeback is always possible, but at some point you have to back off on what you see. With forwards like Ekitike flying around and Jarred Bowen providing a more reliable route to points in midfield, there is a clear opportunity cost to sitting on a flat Brentford number nine. If you need a move that can truly change your season, this sale makes perfect sense.
Dominik Szoboszlai (6.7m)
Liverpool utilityman Szoboszlai is frustrating because the role is good and the games are about to go well. The problem is timing. This suspension for his fifth yellow card means he misses the home game against Wolves, which is exactly the game you wanted him for. Running him through a blank in a key week seems suboptimal when there are live midfield options at the same price that actually play. If your bench is strong and you transfer, you can probably get away with being on hold. But if you’re looking for upside and trying to attack GW18 aggressively, passing him to someone like Wirtz or another explosive mid is a very reasonable play.
Maxence Lacroix (5.2 m)
There is nothing wrong with Lacroix as a player or with Crystal Palace’s defense in general. They remain well trained, occupy fourth place in the defensive rankings and will continue to keep a good number of clean sheets. It’s more a question of timing and opportunity than a dramatic decline. When an Everton defender in a similar price bracket has better matches and comparable underlying numbers, it becomes a classic lateral move that can quietly improve your team. If you’re sitting on a spare transfer and looking for a small but significant adjustment, jumping out of Lacroix now and joining that Everton backline looks like one of those smart, low-drama FPL decisions.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (5.8m)
If there’s one player who sums up the phrase “FPL troll”, it’s Calvert-Lewin. Long-time managers have been burned enough times to know the pattern: You ignore it as it moves along, buy into it as soon as it seems essential, then watch the goals dry up. A run of five consecutive comebacks for Leeds is impressive, but it’s also exactly the point where you start to wonder if you’re late to the party. The next few matches – Sunderland, Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle – are set to be tough and not ideal for a striker you don’t fully trust. If you’ve been avoiding it until now, now is not the time to give in. Difficult to avoid it.
