The Hard Tackle lists the five best options to consider to bring into your team heading into FPL Gameweek 8 of the 2026/27 season.
The Fantasy Premier League (FPL) season is rapidly gathering pace, and as we approach Gameweek 8 of the 2026/27 season, managers worldwide are facing crucial crossroads. The early-season data has finally stabilized, revealing clear patterns of form, underlying metrics, and fixture difficulty. Surviving and thriving in this stretch requires a delicate balance between targeting short-term fixture swings and securing long-term, reliable talismans.
Navigating the transfer market at this stage demands decisive action. Point structures are beginning to crystallize, and price changes are punishing hesitant managers. Finding players who offer both defensive stability and explosive attacking ceilings is the ultimate recipe for climbing the global rankings and dominating mini-leagues.
This week provides a golden opportunity to get ahead of the template or double down on high-flying assets before their valuations skyrocket out of reach. Whether you are looking to replace underperforming premiums, clear out deadwood, or utilize a wildcard, targeting these in-form stars will set your squad up for massive success. Here are the five essential players you need to target for Gameweek 8.
Tarik Muharemovic
The towering Leeds United defender is quickly becoming one of the most attractive budget-friendly options in the backline. The Whites have shown defensive resilience under pressure, already racking up two impressive clean sheets this season.
Muharemovic’s appeal, however, stretches far beyond mere defensive shutouts particularly at a time he is attracting interest from Bayern Munich. In Gameweek 7, he demonstrated his offensive potential with an assist against Manchester United, proving he can deliver returns at both ends of the pitch.
Heading into Gameweek 8, Leeds faces a struggling Sunderland attack that has found goals hard to come by at times. Not only does this fixture give Muharemovic an excellent chance to log another clean sheet, but Sunderland’s vulnerable defensive transitions mean he is highly likely to secure further offensive hauls from set-pieces.
Maxim De Cuyper
Maxim De Cuyper has officially established himself as the must-own defender of the 2026/27 campaign. Despite already sitting in over 40% of all FPL teams, his staggering form makes him completely unavoidable, transforming him into a truly fixture-proof asset. The Belgian wide man continued his relentless point-scoring run with a solid six-point return last time out, driving his total to a league-high 59 points this season.
While some managers might hesitate to bring him in ahead of a clash against a traditionally strong Liverpool side, the current reality favors the Belgian. The Reds’ defence has looked uncharacteristically vulnerable, and De Cuyper’s impressive numbers and attacking positioning mean he can easily dismantle any backline in the world right now.
Pedro Neto
Chelsea’s dynamic wide player is playing with an immense amount of confidence and is currently in impressive form. Pedro Neto completely stole the show in Gameweek 7, producing a spectacular, match-winning brace against Everton to secure maximum points for his side. That explosive performance has propelled him up to 34 total FPL points for the season, a tally built on an impressive return of 3 goals and 1 assist.
Neto’s direct running, explosive pace, and high shot volume make him the focal point of his team’s counter-attacking blueprint. As long as the Portuguese international maintains this sharpness, he represents an incredible mid-priced midfield option capable of matching the output of premium assets.
Johan Manzambi
It may have been a belated start to his Aston Villa career, but Johan Manzambi is making up for lost time in spectacular fashion. The exciting attacker continued his sensational introduction to the squad by finding the back of the net once again last weekend. The Swiss international’s efficiency in front of goal has been nothing short of ruthless, racking up a whopping 30 FPL points in a mere four appearances so far.
Manzambi has quickly integrated into Villa’s fluid attacking system, routinely finding himself in high-quality scoring positions. Given his low ownership and rapid point-generation rate, the youngster stands out as a phenomenal differential option to help you surge ahead of your rivals.
Charalampos Kostoulas
Rounding out our top picks is the sensational Charalampos Kostoulas, who continued his dream start to the season with a masterclass performance in Gameweek 7. He terrorised the Crystal Palace defence, walking away with both a goal and an assist to his name.
This latest haul brings his season tally to an incredible 41 points, consisting of 3 goals and 4 assists. Kostoulas is proving to be the ultimate dual-threat forward, equally capable of dropping deep to turn provider or stretching the defensive line to finish off chances himself. The Greek striker’s consistency makes him a set-and-forget option for the upcoming matchdays.
Honourable Mentions
If you are looking to explore alternative routes or need specific enablers to fund these moves, several other options deserve a spot on your watchlist. For defensive depth, look no further than Ezri Konsa, Leif Davis, Lewis Hall, and Bobby Thomas, who all offer strong value.
In the centre of the park, Pascal Gross, Anton Stach, Marcus Tavernier, Rayan Cherki, and the explosive premium option Cole Palmer remain elite creative pivots. Finally, if you need to refresh your front line, Emersonn, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Evanilson are excellent differential forwards primed to exploit favorable upcoming schedules.