Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Meta Tier List – Best Players

Looking for the best players for Fantasy Premier League to increase your ranking? Look no more! This up to date reference guide is designed to quickly help you plan for the prepare for the best FPL team, by listing all the best players, both essential and differential, to aim for from each team.

Tier Explanations

To determine a player's tier level, we take into account that player's potential to score highly in a gameweek, including their value and current form. Current injuries are not taken into account. Remember, these are subjective rankings and there is no guarantee a player in a higher tier will outperform a lower tier in any given gameweek!

We use the following criteria, and will look to refine them further over time. There may be times where players may be warranted a tier in between, such as Tier 2.5.

  • Tier 1 - Best Players:: Recommended a spot and as your first player from their club. Key player for their team, and plays 90 minutes most weeks (very much nailed). These are generally the "template" players, who are highly owned, and already have the top scores in the game. Their value may be quite high and/or may have risen significantly already. It may not be possible to create a team solely based on Tier 1 players due to their price.
  • Tier 2 - Key Players: The backbones of your team. An in-form player, and recommended to support Tier 1 players if having more than one player from their respective teams. Plays most games, but may not be the full 90 minutes without question. Plan to prioritize transferring them in your main team.
  • Tier 3 - Differentials: More riskier options that many managers do not yet own and do have the potential to reward their owners with a huge upside, but not yet fully proven. If they are already in your team, they are not worth wasting resources to transfer out quite yet but also not priorities to transfer in. At the very least, they are worthy of a bench spot in your team.
  • Tier 4 - Watchlist: Players not yet a proven asset but just worth keeping an eye on. For example, new team signings, regular starters coming into form, coming back from injuries, teams coming into strong fixtures, or youth players coming into the main side. If you want a true gamble, start here.
  • Tier 5 - All Others: All other players not mentioned are placed in this tier and are not currently in our radar. However, some players may still get occasionally mentioned.

Arsenal

TierName
Tier 1Saka
Tier 1.5Gabriel 🔼
Tier 2Saliba 🔼
White 🔼
Raya 🔼
Tier 3G.Jesus
Martinelli
Zinchenko 🔽
Trossard 🔼
Tier 4Havertz
Ødegaard
Rice 🆕

While not quite as a diverse FPL team as they were in the 2022/23 Season, Arsenal are still one of the top teams in the league and at least one player always deserves a consideration in your team.

Saka remains a consistent but non-explosive asset for under £10m. He plays 90 minutes pretty much every week and is a safe of a pick you can get.

Martinelli, due to his performance last season has a premium price tag and is starting to reward owners after a quiet start to the season. Gabriel Jesus is worth keeping an eye on as he gains goal scoring form and return to fitness, although arguably there are better Forward picks for less than £8m.

The other attacking options are not less enticing picks at this stage such as Ødegaard, Havertz, Trossard, and Nketiah. We like Trossard but seems to be used as more of an impact substitute, and we hope he starts to get more minutes. Declan Rice is included here as a tentative budget pick.

As for the defenders, Gabriel seems to be the prime pick due to his attacking threat and lower price point than Saliba or White. Raya is a decent Goalkeeper pick as a slightly cheaper option. The backline seems to be largely cemented in place at least until Tomiyasu and Jurriën Timber returns.

Aston Villa

TierName
Tier 1Watkins
Tier 2Douglas Luiz
Alex Moreno
Bailey 🔼
Tier 3McGinn
Tier 4Diaby

Most managers will also have Aston Villa players in their team, with Ollie Watkins the most obvious option so far. Midfielders and defenders are a different story, however.

McGinn and Douglas Luiz plays 90 minutes most weeks and either scores or assists relatively well. The edge goes out to Douglas Luiz as he is on penalties, all for £5.6m. Both are decent options even for your bench.

We love Leon Bailey as another budget differential midfielder option and is worth keeping an eye out for. Although he plays most weeks, his playing time is not fully guaranteed and often comes from the bench or is substituted early. Once a strong early season pick, Moussa Diaby seems to have fallen out of favor and form a bit.

Alex Moreno looks to be back, and it should pay to get him in early as he is already priced in as a premium option and can only rise from here. When the other viable defender option, Pau Torres, is easing back into the side, it should also signal a stronger Aston Villa team. Right now, we would not consider other defenders or Martinez to be worth it at this stage. Do not fall into the Matty Cash trap!

Bournemouth

TierName
Tier 2Solanke
Tier 3Neto
Senesi

Bournemouth are performing much better as a team this season under their new manager, but their FPL potential are still lacking.

Other than their talisman Dominic Solanke who still has a lot of potential for goals at just £6.8, Neto and Senesi has shown strong performances in the season.

Start planning to get them in Gameweek 28 though, where they play twice on March 9th and 13th.

Brentford

TierName
Tier 2Toney
Tier 4Maupay
Reguilón 🆕

Brentford on the other hand, are doing much worse this season with a plethora of injuries and their key player Ivan Toney only just back from his suspension. For managers that got him in his grand return, he has repaid their faith already but overall team strength should be considered.

With Mbeumo out long term, there are currently no other attacking considerations in this team right now other than possibly Maupay, who has been on a scoring streak lately.

Reguilón is emerging as the potential new potential Defender option for Brentford, so keep an eye out for him in the coming weeks.

Brighton

TierName
Tier 1Groß
Tier 2João Pedro
Tier 3Estupiñán 🔽
Mitoma 🆕
Tier 4Welbeck 🆕

Brighton are also another side that is looking much different from their previous season with erratic rollercoaster performances. As they look to gain momentum in a strong run of fixtures, we love Groß and João Pedro going forward.

It's also always worth keeping an eye on one of their key players from last season, Kaoru Mitoma. Estupiñán on the other hand, has been extremely disappointing since his return and will likely not recommend him going forward.

Evan Ferguson seems to have fallen off the radar since his hattrick and now overshadowed by João Pedro who is also on penalties. Keep an eye on Welbeck while João Pedro is out injured, however.

Burnley

TierName
Tier 4David Datro Fofana
Zeki Amdouni 🔼
Tier 5Lyle Foster

Burnley players cannot be recommended unless you are looking for budget and differential players both in one. Early in the season, their defenders such as Jordan Beyer were picked for the bench but even that seems unnecessary with defenders from other teams such as Everton performing better at similar price points.

If you really must pick a player from this team, watch out for their new loan signing David Datro Fofana who has returned on his first two appearances for the team, both from the bench. More consistent starts and better Burnley form could mean the player could be a hidden gem.

Chelsea

TierName
Tier 1Palmer
Tier 2Gusto 🔼
Tier 3Petrovic
Tier 4Nkunku
Sterling
Gallagher 🆕
Enzo 🆕
Chilwell 🆕

Cole Palmer, like the other Tier 1 players has the combination of attacking returns, is on penalty duties, and playing every week. With a starting price of £5.0 and now at a whopping £5.9, Palmer is still at one of the lowest price points compared to his performance. A must-own player in FPL for now.

Other Chelsea players cannot be recommended at this time. Even if Ben Chilwell and Reese James are fully fit, we have been hurt enough by them! Gusto and Petrovic however, can be considered as budget options depending on the fixture, or a bench option.

Start to consider Enzo Fernández if he starts to play in a more forward role than he has been for Chelsea so far this season.

Crystal Palace

TierName
Tier 2Eze
Olise
Tier 4Anderson 🔽
Mitchell 🔽
Guéhi 🔽

Crystal Palace have become quite poor this season after their good defending record early on in their campaign. Eze and Olise are their key players and would be considered at least Tier 1.5 if they aren't currently so injury-prone.

Everton

TierName
Tier 2Branthwaite
Pickford
Tier 3Mykolenko
Tarkowski
Tier 4A.Doucoure
Harrison

Everton are a mixed bag this season, but and their defenders seem to be good occasional starters depending on fixtures or budget bench options for your team. Pickford is a great great goalkeeper rotation option at £4.5 and at the time of writing is the top scoring goalkeeper in the game!

Fulham

TierName
Tier 3Leno
Raúl
Tier 4Willian
Andreas
Muniz 🆕
iwobi 🆕

Fulham has shown flashes of goalscoring prowess with the signing of Raúl Jiménez, who we hope can be a good replacement for Mitrovic. Until he is fit though, Muniz seems to be the apt replacement if you really want a Forward from Fulham.

As for the Midfielders, Andreas and Willian could also be worth taking a look at again once Fulham picks up some form again. Iwobi will also be back.

If you must have Fulham defence, then Leno is your only decent option.

Liverpool

TierName
Tier 1Salah
Tier 2Darwin 
Diogo Jota
Tier 3Luis Diaz
Alexander-Arnold
Virgil van Dijk
Gomez
Allison
Bradley 🔼

Some value may be found in this title-challenging Liverpool side other than Salah. Darwin, Diogo Jota, Gomez, and even Diaz are priced decently if they can continue to get starts and be fit, especially during their Double matches now confirmed for on Gameweek 25 (but a blank on the following Gameweek 26). Start planning for these players as soon as possible!

Bradley could be a surprise pick going forward as we have seen from his performances - watch out for TAA's fitness - it's hard to recommend TAA at such a high price point even if his ceiling is high.

Luton Town

TierName
Tier 2Doughty
Tier 3Adebayo
Morris
Barkley

Luton Town are not a side to be written out, it seems! With their Double Gameweek coming up with Liverpool, it is time to plan their best assets to be in your team. Doughty is the most solid option here with consistent attacking threat, and it looks like both Adebayo and Morris has found their place in the starting lineup.

The EPL veteran Barkley seems to have grown into a key player for this team as well, and we wouldn't fault managers for bringing him in for the Double Gameweek and even as a bench fodder after that.

Manchester City

TierName
Tier 1Haaland
J.Álvarez
Foden
Tier 2De Bruyne
Aké 🔼
Tier 3Bernardo
Rodrigo
Walker
Akanji

The Pep Roulette is not a big topic this season in Manchester City as the option of players have reduced a bit thanks to injuries. Double Gameweek 25 should make this a hard choice to pick the 3 best players. Haaland and De Bruyne are coming back into the side, then there is the matter of Álvarez and Foden who has filled in their shoes very well in their absence throughout the season.

We particularly like Rodri as a budget or differential option. Bernando, Doku and Grealish do not seem like valid picks at this point.

City defenders we feel are on the low priority list as it has become to hard to predict who will start and clean sheets hard to come by.

Manchester United

TierName
Tier 2Højlund
Garnacho
Tier 3Rashford
B.Fernandes
Dalot 🔼
Maguire 🔼
Onana 🔼

Højlund and Garnacho are the hot players in this "struggling" Manchester United side. They are now regular starters and offers extremely good value if they can keep up their performance!

Once prime candidates for FPL, Rashford and Fernandes have become a little too expensive for what they are currently delivering - but still always worth keeping an eye on.

Onana might be an okay option at £4.8, and same with Maguire as one of your budget defender options. Dalot passes the eye test but Manchester United defense is not worth investing too heavily on at this time.

Newcastle United

TierName
Tier 1Gordon
Tier 2Botman
Trippier
Schär 🔼
Tier 3Dubravka 🆕
Tier 4Miley 🔽
Bruno G. 🆕

Newcastle is not as good as last season, but still has strong assets. Gordon, similar to Palmer is cheap and delivers consistent returns and is basically playing as a Forward. Wilson and Isak on the other hand, while they have their merits, are too risky to keep on your side because of their injury record.

As for Defenders, Trippier has had his moments but if you can afford him, then you should do so - if not, then Botman or Schär are valid alternatives.

Miley is a tentative inclusion here as a very cheap entry into the Newcastle side. With more games in his belt, his performance should be a one to watch. Bruno Guimarães is also one to watch for if his role in the team becomes more attacking.

Nottingham Forest

TierName
Tier 3Anthony Elanga 🔼
Hudson-Odoi 🔼
Tier 4Awoniyi 🔽
Tier 5Gibbs-White
Chris Wood 🔽

Nottingham Forest is all about which player gets the chances and minutes to prove themselves, as the new manager rotates and experiments them. We like Elanga and Hudson-Odoi going forward if you are inclined to pick from this somewhat unlucky team.

Sheffield United

TierName
Tier 4McAtee 🆕
Cameron Archer 🔼

Not much to say about this team, you should only have players from Sheffield United if you absolutely cannot afford anybody else in your budget. Cameron Archer is a £4.3 Forward with 4 goals so far and may get his starting position back in the team. McAtee is on penalties for the team.

Tottenham Hotspur

TierName
Tier 1Son
Tier 2Maddison 🔽
Richarlison 🔽
Tier 3Romero
Van de Ven
Johnson 🔼
Pedro Porro 🔽
Udogie 🔽
Tier 4Werner
Kulusevski
Vicario 🔽

It will be interesting to see how the team fares once Son is back from international duty, but for now Richarlison is looking like the focal scoring point for the team, as well as Maddison who we hope will stay injury-free.

Johnson is the most interesting attacking option outside of those three, as Kulusevski seems to not be guaranteed minutes now, and Werner is classified as a Forward so a spot in your team is more limited.

Defender wise, Pedro Porro and Udogie have become very expensive after their price rises, so consider Romero and Van de Ven as cheaper alternatives with Clean Sheets hard to come by from this team.

West Ham United

TierName
Tier 3Areola
Kudus 🔽
Bowen 🔽
Ward-Prowse 🔽
Tier 4Souček

West Ham has been out of form lately, so the team is not high priority at this stage. Ward-Prowse and Bowen could easily be at least Tier 2 here, and Kudus has shown a lot of potential. Souček has also scored 5 goals this season so far, so we are including him here.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

TierName
Tier 2Pedro Neto
Hwang Hee Chan
Cunha

Last but not least, Wolves are looking fine this season for FPL! They are certainly giving more attacking depth for FPL managers and are giving headaches for team selection. Their defence is still bad, but they are scoring regularly and at least one of their attacking players deserves a spot in your team regardless of the fixtures.

With Cunha now injured, the options are narrowed down to Pedro Neto and Hwang Hee Chan who are both relatively undervalued. The team certainly has the potential to give even the strongest EPL teams a run for their money this season.

Conclusion

There you have it! The best FPL players ranked. We will look to update this regularly and take on any feedback to improve it further.

Let us know what you think in the comments below!