Premier League Gameweek Fantasy Football Picks – Round 29

03/02/2026 1273

With Haaland once again uncertain for the next gameweek, with Rice also not at 100%, and with GW31 coming soon Fantasy Premier League managers face some tough decisions in the coming weeks. Whether you're looking for a Wildcard for this mid-week round of fantasy football or you're just wonder how best to manage your FPL squad, here are Forebet's suggestions for GW29 and for the near future.

As usual, Forebet's 15-man group is designed to balance dependable scoring with the ability to explode when the schedule turns favourable. We're focusing on upcoming green fixtures, player form, overall quality, a balanced budget, and future prospects.

The 15-man Squad (4–4–2)

Goalkeepers

David Raya (GKP, ARS)

Raya is a strong first-choice goalkeeper because Arsenal’s structure limits high-quality chances and keeps matches under control. That kind of environment is perfect for Fantasy: fewer chaotic shot sequences, more straightforward saves, and a better chance of a shutout. Raya’s strengths fit that profile with his calm positioning, confident handling, and good decisions when sweeping behind the back line. He also benefits from Arsenal’s possession dominance, which reduces long spells of pressure. He won't be available for GW31, but Arsenal has other green fixtures before their clash with Manchester City in GW33, so, Raya is still one of the safest ways to lock in consistent goalkeeper scoring, as long as you have a good backup keeper for gameweeks 31 and 33.

Robert Sánchez (GKP, CHE)

Sánchez is an appealing partner/rotation goalkeeper because Chelsea’s defensive shape has improved and he still faces enough shots to add save points even when a shutout doesn’t happen. He’s assertive on crosses and quick off his line, which helps him avoid “cheap” concessions and can contribute to extra points in tight results. His distribution also suits Chelsea’s desire to control tempo, which is useful when games are edged by a single goal. Recent weeks haven't shown wild swings, but Sánchez offers a reliable start with upside and he has a green fixture in GW31, making him a good back-up for Raya for the coming weeks..

Defenders

Jurriën Timber (DEF, ARS)

Timber is a defender who can score in more ways than just a clean sheet. In Arsenal’s system he often steps into midfield spaces, which increases his involvement and helps him rack up the small actions that Fantasy rewards in tight wins. When Arsenal dominate, Timber can also appear in underlap positions that lead to cut-backs and final-third touches, which is an underrated source of assists for defenders. His minutes profile is important: when he’s starting regularly, he’s a low-maintenance pick who you don’t need to bench unless the opponent is truly brutal. With Arsenal’s controlled style and a manageable upcoming schedule, Timber is a smart blend of safety and upside. Like Raya, Timber will miss out GW31 and have a red fixture in GW33, but that's why the rest of our defender options are also reliable.

James Tarkowski (DEF, EVE)

Tarkowski is built for Fantasy points in close games. Everton’s approach often leads to heavy defensive work for centre-backs, with clearances, blocks, and first contacts—all of which translate into reliable returns when matches stay tight. He’s also Everton’s main aerial target from corners and deep free-kicks, so he always carries a genuine chance of a goal in addition to the defensive points. His biggest advantage is availability: he tends to play the full match whenever fit, which matters during busy periods. Everton’s next opponents include a mix of green and red fixtures, so, some rotation is to be expected.

Marc Guéhi (DEF, MCI)

Guéhi is a dependable centre-back option who offers consistent minutes and a strong baseline. Like all other City and Arsenal players, Guehi will miss out gameweek 31, but City have quite a few other green fixtures before and after that, and Guehi has settled as in as a CB starter in the squad with very high-scoring FPL potentianl even in red fixtures, let alone in green one's, such as City's upcoming games against Nottingham Forest and West Ham.

Virgil van Dijk (DEF, LIV)

This hasn't been Van Dijk's or Liverpool's best season so far, but both the Reds and the Dutch defender seem to be picking up speed in the final run-in of this season. More importantly, Van Dijk continues to be a goal-scoring threat in many fixtures and consistently brings in points even when Liverpool are failing to maintain clean sheets. He has the impressive 35 FPL points in his last 3 games and Liverpool's next 3 fixtures include games against Wolverhampton, Tottenham, and Brighton, making it very likely that Virgil van Dijk continues his high-scoring fantasy football trajectory.

Marcos Senesi (DEF, BOU)

Senesi is a great example of a mid-priced defender who can deliver both a steady floor and sporadic big returns. Bournemouth’s centre-backs tend to accumulate clearances and blocks in competitive matches, and Senesi also brings extra upside from attacking corners and set plays. He attacks the first ball aggressively, and even when he doesn’t score, he can create second-phase chaos that leads to assists or bonus points. His cost typically sits in the “easy to own” bracket, so he won’t wreck your structure. With Bournemouth’s schedule including a couple of red fixtures in GW31 and 32replacing Senesi soon might be a good option, but the Cherries' next two fixtures are fairly favorable, so, he remains a reliable option for now.

Midfielders

Ryan Gravenberch (MID, LIV)

Gravenberch remains Liverpool's highest-scoring midfielder in the FPL this season, and with the Reds expecting comfortable fixtures in March, he is a clever way to buy into a high-output team without paying the very top prices. When Liverpool dominate, he gets repeated touches in advanced pockets, combining around the box and arriving late for chances—exactly how midfield points appear. He also benefits from Liverpool’s pressing game: recoveries and quick transitions keep him involved, and involvement itself often translates into bonus when Liverpool win narrowly. His recent form has looked steady in terms of minutes and influence, which is crucial for a mid-price pick. If Liverpool’s schedule includes opponents who concede space between the lines, Gravenberch’s ability to carry and combine becomes even more valuable, making him a strong weekly starter.

Antoine Semenyo (MID, MCI)

Semenyo assumed the striker's role in Haaland's absence last week and proved as capable in that role as he is on the wings. He is a high-upside midfielder because his style naturally generates shots and chances. He attacks defenders directly, carries into the box, and takes early efforts from good angles, all of which are traits that convert into Fantasy returns when City face teams that leave space in transition. The key is repeatability: even when he doesn’t score, he tends to be involved in the most dangerous moments, which keeps his points potential alive every week. He too will be out in GW31, however, so, make sure the rest of your midfielders are reliable replacements for him.

James Garner (MID, EVE)

Garner is a budget midfielder who can still contribute because he’s involved in set plays and tends to play heavy minutes. Everton’s corners and free-kicks create a steady trickle of assist opportunities, and Garner’s deliveries give him a clear route to points even if he isn’t constantly shooting. He also adds defensive work—tackles and recoveries—which helps him avoid the “two-pointer only” trap that many cheap mids fall into. In matches where Everton are competitive, he can pick up bonus through work rate and tidy distribution. If Everton’s schedule is kind, Garner is the sort of low-cost pick who lets you fund premium attackers while still offering usable starts in the right matchups.

Harry Wilson (MID, FUL)

Wilson has been scoring an average of 7+ points per round in the last few FPL rounds and Fulham expect a trio of green fixtures in the coming weeks too. Add to that Wilson's affordable price and the upcoming Arsenal-less and City-less GW31, and including the Fulham midfielder in your fantasy football squad for the next three weeks is a reliable choice. After that, in red fixture weeks, you can comfortably bench him, without losing too much off your budget, but his form and total points making a reliable inclusion going forward.

Alex Iwobi (MID, FUL)

Similar to his Fulham teammate above, Iwobi’s Fantasy Premier League appeal comes from steady involvement and versatile roles that keep him close to goal contributions. He can carry through pressure, create chances with quick slips into runners, and arrive in the box late, all of which are different routes to points. He often plays big minutes, which matters when rotations increase later in the season. While he may not have the explosive ceiling of premium mids, he can deliver consistent returns over a friendly schedule because he’s frequently involved in the build-up to the final action. If Fulham’s next matches aren’t against dominant defensive sides, Iwobi becomes a reliable starter who complements higher-variance attackers elsewhere. He’s also budget-friendly compared to many attacking mids, helping maintain flexibility for future transfers.

Forwards

Erling Haaland (FWD, MCI)

The last time Haaland was expected to miss a game, he ended up playing. Then, last week, he was suddenly off without a heads-up. In GW29, it is once again uncertain whether or not the Norwegian will start and we know he'll miss GW31 even if he's fit.

With so much uncertainty around a player, we would have recommended not including him in your squad if you don't have him. And - if you're one of the few people who haven't got Haaland in - it's certainly better to get someone more reliable instead for the next few weeks, like Calvert-Lewin or Joao Pedro. However, if you do have the Norwegian in your squad already, this certainly doesn't seem like a time to sell him, given City's upcoming green fixtures in gameweeks 29, 30, and 32. As long as you have a couple of other reliable strikers to play in Haaland's stead when he's injured and/or in GW31, he's still a worthy inclusion in any FPL squad.

Hugo Ekitike (FWD, LIV)

Ekitike has been at the core of Liverpool's upswing of form. And, with Isak still injured and Chiesa still out of favor with Slot, Ekitike continues to be a reliable starter and a reliable goalscorer for both the Reds and for FPL managers who have him. The Frenchmen brought in 30 FPL points for those who captained him instead of Haaland last week and with Liverpool's upcoming green fixtures (and Haaland's absences), Ekitike looks like a good option for the captain armband going forward too.

Igor Thiago (FWD, BRE)

Of the potential third striker candidates in the FPL right now, Igor Thiago stands out as a better option than Bowen, Pedro, Watkins or Calvert-Lewin right now. Brentford expect relatively favorable fixtures in the next 5 Premier League rounds (Bournemoth, Wolverhampton, Leeds, Everton, and Fulham) and Thiago has proven he's a clinical goal-scoring threat even against tough opponents this season. Having him in a striker duo with Ekitike seems like the best possible option when Haaland is out right now, as well as a striker trio when he's in-play.

Suggested XI for GW29 (4–4–2)

Raya

Van Dijk – Guéhi - Timber – Tarkowski

Semenyo – Gravenberch – Wilson – Iwobi

Ekitike (C) – Igor Thiago

Bench: Sánchez, Senesi, Garner, Haaland (rotate based on opponent difficulty and any late injury news).

Captaincy

Unless any last-minute injury updates indicate that Haaland will indeed start against Forest on Wednesday, Forebet recommends captaining Ekitike this week instead. The risk of Haaland not starting, but just getting subbed-on in the last few minutes of the game is just not worth it, given that the Frenchman is also expected to be a goal-scoring threat in Liverpool's game against Wolves on Tuesday.

Closing note

The next few weeks in the Fantasy Premier League certainly bring some uncertainties and turmoil for FPL managers. If you still have your Wildcard, you're probably keeping it till GW31, but fantasy football looks tricky even before that, due to injuries to some key players many of us have come to rely upon in recent months. Looking ahead and planning your substitutions is key if you want to make it out of March with a good amount of points on the score sheet.