Premier League Gameweek Fantasy Football Picks – Round 31

04/09/2026 916

Depending on whether you've kept your Wildcard or not, GW31 in the Fantasy Premier League is either going to be a tricky checkpoint for you or the simplest decision in your whole FPL season. With Manchester City, Arsenal, Crystal Palace, and Wolverhampton not playing this week and with key injuries to players like Bruno Guimarães, Robin Roefs, Tarkowski, and Chalobah, figuring out how to even get 11 active players can be tricky if you don't have a Wildcard or if you didn't build up to this week ahead of time.

Whether you've got a Wildcard for your fantasy football squad or you're just looking for a few suggestions for last-minute transfers, here's how Forebet has planned its fantasy Premier League squad for GW31.

The 15-man Squad (4–4–2)

Goalkeepers

Caoimhín Kelleher (GK, BRE)

Kelleher is a strong pick when you want exposure to a top defensive ecosystem without paying the most expensive keeper price. In GW31, he’s involved in Brentford vs Leeds, which can still work for him even if it’s not a guaranteed shutout: Leeds tend to generate shots, and that’s where Kelleher’s save points can carry the day. His value comes from combining clean-sheet possibility with a “not-bad-even-with-one-conceded” floor. If the Bees control territory (their usual mode), Kelleher’s workload becomes manageable and bonus becomes possible in a tight win.

Emiliano Martínez (GK, AVL)

Martínez remains one of the safest “big game” keepers to own because he scores in multiple ways even when the Villans aren't in the best of forms. He offers FPL managers saves, bonus in narrow wins, and the odd monster haul when Villa defend deep but survive. He’s also a good rotation partner to a keeper like Kelleher because he doesn’t need a clean sheet to be worthwhile. His price is rarely “cheap,” but it’s often justified because he combines reliability with genuine week-winning ceilings. Plus, without needing high-price players like Haaland, Semenyo, and Rice in your squad this week, you likely won't have many budgetary concerns anyway.

Defenders

Malick Thiaw (DEF, NEW)

Thiaw is the kind of defender who can deliver points even when you’re not expecting a clean sheet. He racks up the measurable stuff: aerial wins, blocks, and clearances, which is exactly what pushes centre-backs into bonus when matches are close. After GW31 weekends, those gritty contributions matter because not every fixture is a clean-sheet banker. The additional upside is set pieces: he’s a legitimate target on corners, so a single headed chance can transform a standard return. If you’re using a mid-priced defence, Thiaw works as a stable starter in neutral fixtures and an easy bench in the worst ones.

Omar Alderete (DEF, SUN)

Alderete is a steady, budget-friendly defender for managers who prefer repeatable points over highlight-reel moments. His main value comes from defensive involvement, such as first contacts in the box, blocks, and clearances that accumulate quickly in tight matches. That’s why he can score even when the clean sheet isn’t perfect. He also offers a small attacking angle from corners—nothing you build your week around, but enough to make him more than a two-point placeholder. If you want a low-cost defender who rotates cleanly with another starter and doesn’t force transfers, Alderete is a sensible way to keep funds in your midfield and forwards.

Joachim Andersen (DEF, FUL)

Andersen is an excellent “controlled chaos” defender, as he’s heavily involved in defending wide deliveries, and he’s also one of the best at turning defence into attack via long diagonals. That combination helps his bonus profile in narrow wins because he’s not just clearing, he’s progressing. In GW31, the biggest appeal (in addition to Andersen simply being available) is his stability. He tends to play big minutes and rarely gets hooked early, which is precious in busy periods. Add a credible set-piece threat and you’ve got a defender who can deliver steady sixes while occasionally spiking higher. If your strategy is to minimise risk while keeping upside, Andersen fits.

Virgil van Dijk (DEF, LIV)

Van Dijk is the premium centre-back you pay for because he blends reliability with genuine set-piece danger. GW31 includes Brighton v Liverpool, and that fixture is useful for him, as Brighton can create moments, which increases the chance of bonus-friendly defensive FPL actions, and Liverpool can still win the clean sheet battle if they control game state. He’s also always one corner away from a huge return. If you want one defender who can be started regardless of opponent—because he scores via clean sheets, bonus, and occasional goals, Virgil is the archetype.

Nathan Collins (DEF, BRE)

Collins is a strong rotation defender because his scoring doesn’t rely on assists. He’s excellent in the fundamentals that FPL rewards for centre-backs: aerial duels, blocks, and clearances in low-event matches. That gives him a dependable floor in fixtures where you’d never trust an attacking full-back. He also carries a modest set-piece threat, particularly against teams that struggle with first contacts. The price tends to sit in a team-structure-friendly zone, which matters when you’re funding premium midfielders. For GW31 and beyond, Collins is the type you start in decent matchups and bench without regret in the rough ones.

Midfielders

Morgan Rogers (MID, AVL)

Rogers has emerged as a terrific mid-priced midfielder because his role produces both assists and goals, as well as late arrivals, half-space combinations, and carries into the box. He’s also a useful “glue with upside” option, as he's not so expensive that he warps your team, but involved enough that he can produce meaningful returns across a friendly run. When Villa have the kind of fixtures where they can dominate territory, Rogers becomes very startable because he tends to be close to the final action. If you’re looking for a midfielder who won’t force captaincy but can still deliver sevens, eights, and the occasional double-digit haul, he’s a strong pick.

James Garner (MID, EVE)

Garner is the kind of budget midfielder you can actually use in your fantasy football squad beyond GW31 too. Set-piece involvement is the big draw, as deliveries from wide areas and free-kicks provide assist pathways even when open play is limited. He also contributes defensively with tackles and recoveries that help him avoid “empty minutes.” That’s exactly what you want from a cheaper slot during a chaotic gameweek. He won’t be your headline scorer, but he supports structure: you can keep premium attackers while still having a fourth/fifth midfielder who isn’t dead weight. In matchups where Everton are competitive, Garner can pick up solid returns without needing a goal.

Ryan Gravenberch (MID, LIV)

Gravenberch is a smart Liverpool “access point” because he benefits from a high-volume attack without costing what the elite Reds do. GW31’s Brighton v Liverpool is particularly interesting for him: Brighton’s pressing can open transition moments and second-ball situations where midfielders rack up key involvement. His best FPL value comes when Liverpool dominate: he gets touches between the lines, arrives for cut-backs, and can collect bonus in narrow wins thanks to involvement and tidy ball use. If you want upside at a manageable price, Gravenberch is the profile.

Bruno Fernandes (MID, MUN)

Bruno is still the most reliable Manchester United midfielder because everything funnels through him: key passes, central shots, set pieces, and the “final decision” moments. GW31 gives him Bournemouth away, which can be awkward, but it’s also the kind of fixture where one Bruno moment (through ball, set-piece assist, penalty) can swing your entire week. If you’re buying a premium mid for both ceiling and floor, Bruno is the clearest option because he doesn’t need United to be perfect—he just needs involvement, and he always has it.

Casemiro (MID, MUN)

Casemiro is a non-flashy pick who can still be useful in the right run because his scoring is built on defensive work (recoveries, interceptions) plus the occasional late-box moment or set-piece scramble. In tighter matches, those defensive actions can push him toward a decent baseline and, sometimes, bonus if United keep it narrow. GW31’s Bournemouth v Man Utd could suit him if it becomes a midfield battle rather than a wide-open shootout. As a cheaper midfield slot, he helps maintain structure while reducing the risk of a total blank.

Forwards

Igor Thiago (FWD, BRE)

Igor Thiago is a forward whose points come from repeatable patterns: box presence, near-post attacks, and finishing from close range rather than speculative efforts. That’s why he remains attractive at his price point—he doesn’t need seven shots to score. GW31 includes Leeds v Brentford, a fixture that can offer service opportunities if Brentford get deliveries into the area. The upside is clear: if Brentford create crossing volume, Thiago is the focal point. He’s also the type of striker who can deliver even in a scrappy match via a single decisive touch.

Hugo Ekitike (FWD, LIV)

Ekitike is a strong “mid-priced striker with premium-like movement.” He runs across centre-backs, attacks the near-post channel, and stays alert for cut-backs, which is exactly the patterns that generate high-quality shots. That makes him a better FPL bet than forwards who rely on long-range attempts. His value is also structural: he lets you keep a balanced midfield while still fielding three playable forwards. In weeks where his team’s fixture isn’t brutal, Ekitike can be started with confidence because his chance quality tends to remain high even when the game is tight. He’s a classic “ceiling without premium cost” forward.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (FWD, LEE)

Calvert-Lewin remains a very fixture-dependent but powerful pick because his best work is highly repeatable: near-post runs, aerial dominance, and finishing from crosses and second balls. When Leeds face opponents who concede wide service, his prospects improve sharply because his shot locations get closer to goal. He also benefits from set-piece phases—scrambles, knock-downs, rebounds—where he can score without the team needing 20-pass sequences. Pricewise he often sits in a forgiving range for a starting No. 9. If your upcoming schedule includes a couple of manageable opponents, DCL becomes an excellent third forward who can produce meaningful hauls.

Suggested XI for GW31 (3–4–3)

Kelleher

Van Dijk – Andersen – Collins

Bruno Fernandes (VC) – Gravenberch – Rogers – Casemiro

Igor Thiago – Ekitike – Calvert-Lewin

Bench: Martínez, Thiaw, Alderete, Garner

Armband thoughts

There’s no Haaland in this squad, so your captaincy is about involvement. Bruno is the obvious vice/captain candidate because of set pieces and centrality. If Liverpool have the upper hand at Brighton, Ekitike offers upside, but Bruno remains the safest “one moment changes everything” option.

Final Notes

Without any of the big names from Man City and Arsenal (and the several dependable defenders from Palace), most people's GW31 FPL squads will look quite different from the rest of the season's norm - lots more striped shirts and much lower prices on some players. What's more, Liverpool, Chelsea, and United all face tricky opposition this week, while Villa and Newcastle continue to be in poor form, meaning that this will likely be the most chaotic week for fantasy football managers this season. Still, the above 15 players offer the most stable guarantee for a good points return this week, according to Forebet's calculations. Good luck!