FPL GW5 COMPLETE GUIDE ⁉️JOAO PEDRO INJURY UPDATES! 🇧🇷 ⚠️ 🚨 | Fantasy Premier League 2026/27

Conflicting reports exist about João Pedro's injury, including a Brazilian report of a knee issue keeping him out for three and a half weeks.

Most managers should keep João Pedro, start him, and rely on the auto-sub if he doesn't play, as he is likely back for game week six. Wildcarders or free-hit users might consider selling João Pedro for a one-week punt, accepting a small value drop to buy him back later.

Szoboszlai's underlying data is inflated by a penalty, with only 0.12 non-penalty xG per 90, making him poor value at his price.

Managers should hold Szoboszlai unless they have the money for Gibbs-White and multiple transfers to spare.

Gibbs-White has promising underlying data and penalty duties, making him a good target, especially for those selling Szoboszlai. He is not essential, and other midfield options exist, but his fixtures make him appealing.

Calafiori and Konsa are obvious long-term picks due to value and attacking threat, while Vardy is a certain starter after resting in the cup. Newcastle's Hall and Chou are preferred over Botman due to injury concerns, with Chou offering better set-piece threat and clean sheet potential. Van Hecke and Branthwaite are strong value defenders, with Branthwaite nearly scoring and matching Tarkovsky's underlying numbers.

European rotation will impact midfielders from game week six, making non-European players like Palmer, Rogers, and Gibbs-White more appealing.

Saka is preferred over Ødegaard due to playing 90 minutes and taking penalties, while Pascal Gross is a reliable weekly starter on set pieces and penalties.

Haaland, Visscher, and Calvert-Lewin are forward targets, with Calvert-Lewin expected to return well despite Leeds' tough fixtures. Delap is a cheap differential striker under £6m with good fixtures and looks set to be the number one starter.

João Pedro should be started and left to the auto-sub if he doesn't play, with managers monitoring the deadline stream for squad news. Manchester City, Newcastle, and Nottingham Forest are the best teams for one-week punts based on clean sheet and goal projections.

Haaland is the top captaincy pick with a 68% goal involvement chance and highest projections, making it risky to back against him before the break.

Bruno Fernandes, Palmer, and Gibbs-White are captaincy alternatives, though Gibbs-White's team may not score heavily. His free-hit and wildcard drafts now favor Palmer and Barry over João Pedro due to injury uncertainty.

He will wait for deadline stream updates on João Pedro, likely rolling if he appears in the squad despite a low chance. If João Pedro doesn't play, he considers punting on Delap, Barry, or Williams, planning to buy João Pedro back on the wildcard.