Last updated: Gameweek 9 · October 22, 2026
InfoSport Start/Sit Advice – Gameweek 8
EPL fantasy start sit decisions for Gameweek 8
The toughest lineup call this week is whether to bench an underperforming premium—such as João Pedro, who projects 11.42 InfoSport Points but plays a favourable fixture—or trust a lower-owned breakout like Luka Vušković, who projects 13.78 points and carries elite defensive volume. Our model rewards defensive work and xG/xA above official FPL scoring, so category-league managers in Sleeper and Fantrax will find value in defenders that FPL ignores.
Must-starts for Gameweek 8
- Erling Haaland (Man City, FWD): 18.72 projected points and 19.19 points per 90.
- Pascal Groß (Brighton, MID): 15.27 projected points, 6 assists season total.
- Luka Vušković (Brighton, DEF): 13.78 projected points, 62 clearances/blocks/interceptions.
- Charalampos Kostoulas (Brighton, FWD): 12.75 projected points, 4 assists in 7 games.
- Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton, DEF): 11.68 projected points, 5 clean sheets this season.
- Francisco Evanilson (Bournemouth, FWD): 11.67 projected points, 2.59 expected goals.
- Mohamed Belloumi (Hull City, MID): 11.5 projected points, 20 tackles (2nd of 78).
- Bryan Mbeumo (Man Utd, MID): 11.43 projected points, 90 expected minutes.
Starts and sits by position
Goalkeepers
START: Bart Verbruggen (Brighton, GK). 8.14 points per 90, 5 clean sheets this season, and facing Liverpool away but with expected 90 minutes in a side ranked 1st for clean sheets.
START: David Raya (Arsenal, GK). 6.88 points per 90, 4 clean sheets and 15 saves, with 90 expected minutes against Everton at home.
SIT: Jordan Henderson (Chelsea, GK). Only 72 expected minutes despite 11.17 points per 90; rotation risk outweighs quality.
Defenders
START: Luka Vušković (Brighton, DEF). 13.78 projected points, 87.4 expected minutes, and ranks 9th of 78 for clearances/blocks/interceptions with 62 total.
START: Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton, DEF). 11.68 projected points, 82.6 expected minutes, and 5 clean sheets; Brighton has conceded only 5 goals in 7 games.
SIT: Joško Gvardiol (Man City, DEF). Only 64.6 expected minutes despite 12.23 points per 90; Man City rotation risk limits floor.
SIT: Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal, DEF). 8.73 projected points, down from 34th rank by projection; fixture difficulty and 83.4 minutes warrant caution.
Midfielders
START: Pascal Groß (Brighton, MID). 15.27 projected points, 15.98 points per 90 (2nd of 80), with 6 assists and 5 clean sheets this season.
START: Mohamed Belloumi (Hull City, MID). 11.5 projected points, ranks 2nd of 78 for tackles with 20, and plays Brentford at home.
SIT: Cole Palmer (Chelsea, MID). 8.02 projected points, only 89.4 expected minutes, and 26.5% FPL ownership may indicate crowding.
SIT: Rayan Cherki (Man City, MID). 10.07 projected points but only 58.4 expected minutes; City rotation limits a 15.53 points-per-90 talent.
Forwards
START: Erling Haaland (Man City, FWD). 18.72 projected points, 19.19 points per 90 (1st of 80), with 8 goals and expected 87.8 minutes.
START: Charalampos Kostoulas (Brighton, FWD). 12.75 projected points, ranks 2nd of 80 for assists with 4, and 75.4 expected minutes.
SIT: João Pedro (Chelsea, FWD). 11.42 projected points but only 69 expected minutes; fixture is favourable yet rotation risk is real.
SIT: Alexander Isak (Liverpool, FWD). 11.05 projected points but only 64.2 expected minutes; Brighton at home is a clean-sheet threat.
Toughest calls: head-to-head decisions
Luka Vušković or Maxim De Cuyper? Start Vušković. He projects 13.78 points to De Cuyper’s 11.68, ranks 9th of 78 for defensive actions versus De Cuyper’s 49th, and offers the higher floor this week.
Pascal Groß or Bryan Mbeumo? Start Groß. 15.27 projected points, 15.98 points per 90 (2nd of 80), and 6 assists trump Mbeumo’s 11.43 projected and 90 minutes of uncertainty at Man Utd.
João Pedro or Charalampos Kostoulas? Start Kostoulas. Only 69 expected minutes and rotation risk make João Pedro a sit; Kostoulas projects 12.75 with 4 assists and 75.4 minutes against beatable opposition.
David Raya or Bart Verbruggen? Start Verbruggen. 8.14 points per 90, 5 clean sheets, and Brighton’s 1st-rank clean-sheet rate outweigh Raya’s 6.88 points per 90 despite a favourable Everton matchup.
Goalkeeper streams this week
Bart Verbruggen (Brighton, GK): 8.14 points per 90, 5 clean sheets, facing Liverpool (A) but with elite defensive unit.
David Raya (Arsenal, GK): 6.88 points per 90, 4 clean sheets and 15 saves, hosting Everton (H) in a high-likelihood clean-sheet scenario.
Bottom line
Brighton dominates this week’s EPL fantasy lineup: Groß, Vušković, De Cuyper and Kostoulas project over 50 combined InfoSport Points and combine elite attacking and defensive metrics. Haaland remains non-negotiable at 18.72 projected points. Rotate out low-minutes players like João Pedro (69 minutes), Cherki (58.4 minutes) and Gvardiol (64.6 minutes), even if their season rates are high. Check our latest rankings for any late injury updates, and use the waiver-wire guide for replacements before lock. See injury news and goalkeeper streaming options for further moves.
