Gameweek 5 is here, and the early-season Fantasy Premier League picture is starting to become a little clearer.
Four rounds of matches have given us more information about player roles, team selections and which clubs could provide reliable FPL points over the weeks ahead.
But there is still plenty of uncertainty, with several players emerging as potential transfer targets and some popular names facing important decisions ahead of the deadline.
The good news for FPL managers is that there are plenty
of opportunities this week.
The challenge is working out which ones are worth acting on.
Our team has been digging into the fixtures, player form, ownership, clean-sheet potential and captaincy options to bring you everything you need for Gameweek 5.
Here’s your complete FPL GW5 checklist — with our detailed guides linked throughout.
FPL Gameweek 5 Fixtures
The Gameweek 5 schedule gets underway with Brentford hosting Chelsea before a busy weekend of Premier League action.
The full fixture list is:
- Brentford vs Chelsea
- Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa
- Brighton vs Arsenal
- Everton vs Ipswich Town
- Newcastle United vs Hull City
- Nottingham Forest vs Coventry City
- Bournemouth vs Liverpool
- Leeds United vs Crystal Palace
- Manchester City vs Sunderland
- Fulham vs Manchester United
There are some obvious fixtures that immediately catch the eye.
Manchester City have Sunderland at home, Nottingham Forest welcome Coventry, Newcastle face Hull and Everton take on Ipswich.
But as always with FPL, the obvious fixture isn’t necessarily the whole story.
Player minutes, attacking involvement, defensive numbers and upcoming fixtures all need to be considered before making a move.
What Did We Learn From Gameweek 4?
Gameweek 4 produced some interesting developments for FPL managers.
Arsenal continued their strong start, Brighton produced one of the biggest wins of the weekend, Nottingham Forest picked up another victory and several previously overlooked players strengthened their claims for FPL consideration.
There were also some disappointing results for managers invested in Liverpool and Tottenham assets.
That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time to sell.
One of the most important lessons from the opening weeks of the season is to avoid making major decisions based on a single game.
Instead, look for changes in role, minutes and underlying opportunity.
Our full review looks at the biggest talking points from the weekend and, more importantly, what they could mean for FPL managers going forward:
👉 Premier League Gameweek 4 Review: Biggest Talking Points and Takeaways
Who Should You Buy in FPL Gameweek 5?
This is probably the biggest question facing FPL managers this week.
There are players coming into the conversation because of their recent form, while others are becoming attractive because of their upcoming fixtures.
The key is identifying players who can deliver over more than just one Gameweek.
There are also budget considerations to take into account. A player might be an attractive option in isolation, but not necessarily worth bringing in if the move requires sacrificing a more valuable asset elsewhere in your squad.
We’ve identified the players attracting the most attention ahead of GW5 and examined why they could be worth buying now.
But there are some names on the list that may surprise you.
👉 FPL Gameweek 5 Top Transfers: The Best Players to Buy
Before you make that transfer, though, check the latest injury and team-news situation.
Looking for a Differential?
If your mini-league isn’t going to be won by simply following the most popular players, Gameweek 5 offers some interesting opportunities.
There are several low-owned players who have the fixtures, form or underlying role to become genuine FPL options.
Of course, there’s a reason these players aren’t in every team.
Some are still unproven. Others have difficult fixtures this week but could become attractive over the next few rounds. And some could be one big performance away from a significant increase in ownership.
We’ve picked out 10 differential options worth knowing about before the deadline.
You may not want to buy all of them.
But there are a few that deserve to be on your watchlist.
👉 FPL Gameweek 5 Differential Picks: 10 Players Who Could Haul
Who Should You Captain in FPL GW5?
Captaincy is where things get particularly interesting this week.
There is one obvious premium option who will attract plenty of attention, but there are alternatives for managers willing to look beyond the most popular choice.
Fixture difficulty, recent form, expected minutes and a player’s potential ceiling all matter when deciding who gets the armband.
And don’t forget that captaincy isn’t just about picking the player you think will score.
It’s about identifying the player with the best combination of opportunity and upside.
Our dedicated captaincy guide runs through the leading candidates and explains the thinking behind each option.
👉 FPL GW5 Captain Picks: Who Should You Captain?
Whoever you choose, don’t leave the armband decision until the final few minutes.
Which Teams Are Most Likely to Keep a Clean Sheet?
Clean sheets can be difficult to predict in FPL, but the fixture list gives us some useful clues.
Several teams have home matches against sides that have struggled for goals, making their defenders and goalkeepers particularly interesting this week.
Manchester City are among the teams attracting the most attention, while Nottingham Forest, Newcastle and Everton also have fixtures that could appeal to managers looking for defensive points.
But which teams actually have the strongest statistical chance of keeping a clean sheet?
We’ve done the numbers.
Our FPL GW5 Clean Sheet Odds article ranks the teams according to their chances of shutting out their opponents and highlights the fixtures worth targeting.
👉 FPL GW5 Clean Sheet Odds: Teams Most Likely to Keep a Clean Sheet
It’s worth checking before deciding which defenders to start — particularly if you’re choosing between two otherwise similar options.
Our FPL Gameweek 5 Scout Picks
Sometimes you just want to see the team.
After considering the fixtures, form, player roles and potential for points, we’ve put together our Gameweek 5 Scout Picks.
There are some familiar names, but we’ve also found room for a few players who may not be in every FPL manager’s squad.
The big question, of course, is who gets the armband.
And there are some difficult selection decisions further down the team as well.
Rather than give away the full XI here, you can see exactly who made the cut — and why — in our dedicated Scout Picks article.
👉 FPL GW5 Scout Picks: Our Best FPL XI
If you’re looking for a quick reference point before finalising your squad, this is the article to bookmark.
FPL GW5: Don’t Forget the Fixture Runs
One of the biggest mistakes FPL managers can make is focusing exclusively on the next 90 minutes of football.
A player might have an excellent Gameweek 5 fixture but then face a difficult run immediately afterwards.
Equally, a player who looks less appealing this weekend could become one of the best options to own over the following month.
That’s why fixture runs should be part of every transfer decision.
Look beyond GW5.
Ask yourself:
- How many Gameweeks do I expect to keep this player?
- Is his starting position secure?
- Is he involved in set pieces?
- Is his attacking or defensive role changing?
- What are his next few fixtures?
- Am I buying him because I actually want him, or because he just scored heavily?
Those questions can prevent a lot of unnecessary hits.
FPL Gameweek 5 Tips: What Should You Do Before the Deadline?
Before you make your final decisions, work through the basics.
Check injuries and suspensions
A player being listed as a doubt can completely change the value of a transfer.
Don’t make an early move and then discover on Friday that your new signing isn’t expected to start.
Look beyond the last Gameweek
One big haul can make a player look irresistible.
It doesn’t necessarily make him a good FPL transfer.
Look at minutes, role and fixtures rather than simply chasing points.
Think about your captain early
You don’t need to make the decision immediately, but identifying your captaincy shortlist early gives you time to assess the options properly.
Don’t overlook your bench
Rotation becomes increasingly important as the season progresses.
A cheap bench with guaranteed starters can be more useful than spending heavily on substitutes who rarely enter your XI.
Don’t make a transfer just because you have one
A saved transfer can be extremely valuable.
If your squad is already well positioned for the upcoming fixtures, there is nothing wrong with rolling your transfer and reassessing next week.
The FPL GW5 Game Plan
There are plenty of attractive fixtures this week, but that doesn’t mean every manager needs to make wholesale changes.
The most important thing is to understand why you’re making each decision.
Use our Gameweek 5 guides to build your own plan:
Want to change your squad?
👉 Check our FPL GW5 Top Transfers
Need a low-owned player?
👉 See our 10 FPL GW5 Differential Picks
Still undecided on your captain?
👉 Read our FPL GW5 Captain Picks
Choosing your defence?
👉 Check the GW5 Clean Sheet Odds
Want to see our complete XI?
👉 See the FPL GW5 Scout Picks
Want to know what last weekend taught us?
👉 Read our Gameweek 4 Review
The deadline is approaching, so get your team sorted, check the latest team news and make sure your captain is locked in.
Good luck in Gameweek 5!
