Best Goalkeepers for EPL Fantasy 2026/27

Last updated: Gameweek 7 · October 14, 2026

Konstantinos Tzolakis projects to 8.4 InfoSport Points next gameweek—the highest of any goalkeeper in our model—because Hull City’s shot-stopping metrics and clean-sheet likelihood outpace every rival this month. The gap between elite and mid-tier keepers widens in category-scoring leagues like Sleeper and Fantrax because saves and goals conceded matter equally to clean sheets, rewarding busy defenses and penalizing concessions far more than FPL does.

Best Goalkeepers for EPL Fantasy: Rankings

InfoSport Points model (see our methodology). Pts/90 blends the last five appearances with the full season; ⚠ = availability flag.

Tier 1: The Elite

Konstantinos Tzolakis (Hull City, GK)

Tzolakis ranks 1st of 24 in points per 90 (8.4) and projects 8.4 InfoSport Points in his next fixture—the highest among all Premier League goalkeepers. He has three clean sheets and only four goals conceded in five matches, with 17 saves. Hull’s next three fixtures are Everton (H), Fulham (A) and Brentford (H).

Jordan Pickford (Everton, GK)

Pickford ranks 2nd in points per 90 (7.4) and projects 7.4 InfoSport Points next week. He has climbed from 1 point in gameweek 3 to 9 and 11 in weeks 4 and 5, reflecting strong recent form: three clean sheets, 15 saves and only three goals conceded. Everton face Hull (A), Chelsea (H) and Arsenal (A).

James Trafford (Leeds, GK)

Trafford ranks 1st in saves (20 of 24 goalkeepers) despite only 2 clean sheets, rewarding high shot count in our model. He projects 7.4 InfoSport Points next week and scored 12 points in gameweek 5. His fixture list—Arsenal (A), Manchester United (H), Sunderland (A)—includes tougher away tests but keeps-sheet upside at home.

David Raya Martín (Arsenal, GK)

Raya projects 7 InfoSport Points next week and ranks 1st in clean sheets (tied with four others). He has 42.3% FPL ownership—highest on this list—which reflects his clean-sheet dominance (3 in 5 matches), though his 9 saves rank only 18th and make him less suited to save-heavy leagues than Tier 1 peers. Arsenal play Leeds (H), Nottingham Forest (A) and Everton (H).

Alisson Becker (Liverpool, GK)

Alisson projects 6.8 InfoSport Points next week, supported by three clean sheets and consistent double-digit point returns in gameweeks 3, 4 and 5 (12, 10, 9). His 4.2% FPL ownership makes him under the radar despite Liverpool’s fixture appeal: Manchester City (H), Brentford (A), Brighton (H).

Tier 2: Reliable Starters

Caoimhín Kelleher (Brentford, GK)

Kelleher projects 6.6 InfoSport Points and has accumulated 17 saves and 2 clean sheets through five matches. His recent scores (3, 8, 9) show steadying form; Brentford face Aston Villa (A), Liverpool (H) and Hull (A) next.

Bart Verbruggen (Brighton, GK)

Verbruggen projects 6.4 InfoSport Points and ranks 1st in clean sheets (tied), with 12 saves and 3 clean sheets so far. At 21.6% FPL ownership, he offers clean-sheet reliability: Brighton play Sunderland (A), Crystal Palace (H) and Liverpool (A).

Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City, GK)

Donnarumma projects 5.2 InfoSport Points but scores 5.2 points per 90, suggesting he underperforms short-term expectations. City’s defensive strength (2 clean sheets, 5 goals conceded) constrains his ceiling; next three: Liverpool (A), Ipswich (H), Aston Villa (A).

Antonín Kinský (Spurs, GK)

Kinský projects 4.8 InfoSport Points on 12 saves and 2 clean sheets, but 8 goals conceded rank poorly in our model. His 17.1% FPL ownership suggests overestimation; Spurs face Manchester United (A), Coventry (H) and Chelsea (A).

Lukáš Horníček (Newcastle, GK)

Horníček projects 4.8 InfoSport Points, ranking 2nd in saves (19) yet only 10th in clean sheets (1). At 1.5% FPL ownership, his high shot count suits save-heavy category leagues; Newcastle play Coventry (A), Aston Villa (H) and Crystal Palace (A).

Tier 3: Value Picks and Streamers

Bernd Leno (Fulham, GK)

Leno projects 4.6 InfoSport Points on 16 saves but only 1 clean sheet and 8 goals conceded, limiting ceiling in category play. At 3.4% FPL ownership, his save volume suits streaming in busy weeks: Ipswich (A), Hull (H), Coventry (A).

Zion Suzuki (Aston Villa, GK)

Suzuki projects 4.54 InfoSport Points across 72 expected minutes, meaning fixture rotations may limit floor. His 1.9% FPL ownership and points-per-90 rank of 8th offer value if Villa employ him in favourable matchups; Villa face Brentford (H), Newcastle (A) and Manchester City (H).

Walter Benítez (Crystal Palace, GK)

Benítez projects 4.33 InfoSport Points on limited data (one gameweek of play so far), with only 5 saves recorded. His 0.1% FPL ownership and points-per-90 rank of 9th signal upside if he secures the starting role; Palace play Nottingham Forest (H), Brighton (A) and Newcastle (H).

Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest, GK)

Sels projects 4.2 InfoSport Points on 11 saves and 1 clean sheet, with 5 goals conceded putting pressure on save value. At 1.6% FPL ownership, he offers late-round depth: Crystal Palace (A), Arsenal (H) and Ipswich (A).

Trending Up and Down This Month

Up: Emiliano Martínez (Chelsea) has scored 8, 3 and 2 InfoSport Points in gameweeks 3, 4 and 5 despite playing only 72 minutes. His 18 saves rank 3rd of 24, and Chelsea’s fixture swing (Bournemouth H, Everton A, Spurs H) may unlock clean sheets. Pickford climbed from 1 point in gameweek 3 to 9 and 11, riding three clean sheets and strong shot-stopping; his recent form makes him a tier-1 hold.

Down: Kinsky (Spurs) has fallen to 4.8 projected points after 8 goals conceded and marginal clean-sheet likelihood. Horníček (Newcastle) has recorded only 1 clean sheet despite 19 saves, penalizing his next-week ceiling as he trades save volume for defensive solidity.

How to Draft and Manage Goalkeepers

1. Separate save volume from clean-sheet stability. Trafford (20 saves, 2 clean sheets) and Tzolakis (17 saves, 3 clean sheets) fit different league archetypes; in category play, Trafford’s shot count is an asset, not a liability. Check fixture difficulty to spot teams facing high-volume attacking sides.
2. Weight recent form over season averages. Pickford’s 9- and 11-point weeks trump his gameweek 3 floor; Martínez’s 18 saves matter even on 72-minute appearances. Use last three matches to identify keepers climbing into form rather than relying on five-match totals.
3. Prioritize keepers on teams with both defensive stability and save potential. Tzolakis (3 clean sheets, 17 saves) and Alisson (3 clean sheets, 14 saves) combine clean-sheet rewards with shot-stopping bonus; avoid keepers with either alone, such as Kinsky (2 clean sheets but 8 conceded).
4. Stream goalkeepers against low-shot teams when your starter faces a spike. Use our full rankings to identify next-week projections; a goalkeeper on a quiet fixture (e.g., Horníček facing Coventry) may offer floor, while a starter on a busy one (e.g., Leno at Ipswich) may offer upside.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I draft a high-save keeper or a clean-sheet keeper first?

High-save keepers (Trafford 20, Horníček 19, Martínez 18) suit category play better than FPL because saves and goals conceded are weighted equally. However, clean-sheet keepers (Tzolakis 3, Pickford 3, Raya 3, Alisson 3, Verbruggen 3) combine clean sheets with saves; Tzolakis and Pickford achieve both, making them safer early picks. Delay high-save specialists on weak defenses (Leno, Sels) unless midround value appears.

Is Raya still a first-round pick despite low FPL ownership compared to other elite options?

Raya is 42.3% FPL-owned—by far the highest on this list—but projects only 7 InfoSport Points, ranking 4th behind Tzolakis (8.4), Pickford (7.4) and Trafford (7.4). His three clean sheets matter less in category leagues than Tzolakis’s balance of saves and clean sheets. Draft Tzolakis or Pickford ahead of Raya unless you value clean-sheet-only floors and expect Arsenal to dominate possession.

Who should I stream when my starter faces a top-attacking team?

Check opponent shot totals using fixture difficulty to spot high-volume attacks. If your keeper faces 20+ expected shots, consider a backup on a quieter fixture—for example, swapping Pickford (Everton face Arsenal A, week 7) for Verbruggen (Brighton face Sunderland A). Low-owned keepers like Horníček (1.5% FPL) and Benítez (0.1% FPL) offer short-term value on fixture swings if their parent clubs secure minutes.

Bottom Line

Tzolakis and Pickford own tier-1 projections because they combine saves with clean sheets—the rare dual that unlocks category-league value. Draft them before Raya if you prioritize next-week floor, then target Trafford or Alisson for save volume and consistency. Stream mid-tier keepers like Leno or Horníček in high-shot fixtures to exploit matchup imbalances that FPL ownership overlooks. See our methodology for how saves and clean sheets are weighted in the InfoSport Points model, and defensive rankings to evaluate the teams protecting your chosen goalkeeper.