Game Week 27 ends a week of knockout European football after the low-scoring affair of GW26 which saw a host of favourites failing to haul big points. Indeed, Mohamed Salah (remember him?) returned the most points after his two goals and as many assists delivered 21 points in the 7-0 drubbing of Manchester United.
GW27 promises to be a better one, however, with a few teams playing twice and the strong possibility of massive returns. The in-form Brighton and Brentford as well as unfancied Southampton and Crystal Palace all have two games, throwing up enough opportunities to seek differential returns.
FootballCastle will be with you all the way as we provide tips on the best players to buy in Gameweek 27, ahead of the deadline at 11:00 GMT on Saturday 11 March.
Goalkeepers
David Raya (£4.8m)
The Brentford man should top your shopping list this weekend, with his form and schedule of five matches over the next three game weeks making him an easy pick.
Jason Steele (£3.9m)
Brighton’s number two seems to have displaced Robert Sánchez after impressing manager Roberto De Zerbi. Steele represents a fantastic differential option as he faces Leeds and Crystal Palace in DGW27, while he can be easily benched against tougher opposition.
With the 4-0 win against West Ham on his Premier League debut making it consecutive clean sheets in all competitions, the future looks bright for the 32-year-old.
Defenders
Kieran Trippier (£6.0m)
Despite back-to-back defeats ending their long unbeaten run, Newcastle United can bounce back at home to Wolves. Their right-back offers strong all-round potential with 37 key passes and 11 big chances created that both rank top in FPL since the season’s restart.
Pervis Estupiñán (£4.8m)
The left-back has been a revelation when attacking or defending as he’s produced three assists, four clean sheets and 42 points in his last six appearances.
Estupiñán is the most-bought defender for Double Gameweek 27 fixtures against Leeds and Crystal Palace.
Ben Mee (£5.1m)
Mee has been impactful at both ends of the pitch with three goals, an assist and eight clean sheets ahead of facing Everton and Southampton in DGW27.
Additionally, both opponents are in the bottom three for goals scored at home this season, further lifting the defender’s potential for returns as Brentford remain unbeaten since the World Cup.
Diogo Dalot (£4.7m)
Dalot has won back his starting spot in recent weeks and a home date with Southampton raises his prospects for possible returns at both ends of the pitch.
Midfielders
Kaoru Mitoma (£5.5m)
Brighton’s most-reliable attacking player has blanked in only three of his 11 starts whilst averaging 6.7 FPL points in that period.
The Japanese delivered a goal, assist and 13 points in GW26 against West Ham with all three of his double-figure hauls coming in the last five matches. Mitoma can continue that sparkling form in fixtures against Leeds United and Crystal Palace.
Wilfried Zaha (£7.2m)
Zaha is a tempting option in DGW27 when Crystal Palace face Manchester City and rivals Brighton. The Ivorian is his team’s top goalscorer with six goals this season and he made a timely return from injury last week.
Pertinently, he averages 6.4 points per match against the Seagulls after scoring five goals in eight matches against the Sussex side.
Mohamed Salah (£12.8m)
Liverpool’s Premier League record goalscorer averages 11.2 points per game against Bournemouth and faces them on the back of his season-high 21 points haul against Man United.
Salah’s prospects continue to rise and potential managers would be pleased to know he has produced a league-high eight shots on target in the last four GWs.
Marcus Rashford (£7.4m)
The in-form star could outperform many Double Game Week players having averaged 11.2 points at home since the season resumed.
Six double-figure returns at Old Trafford is a league-leading total this term and Southampton could bear the brunt of Rashford’s clinical performances.
Gabriel Martinelli (£6.5m)
The Brazilian has scored four goals and earned a team-leading 34 points in his last four outings as he stepped up when Arsenal lost their natural centre-forwards.
Martinelli could continue with a role up front in GW27 against Fulham and his potential for returns is as good as any DGW player.
Forwards
Bryan Mbeumo (£5.9m)
Having produced five goal involvements in the last seven games, Mbeumo represents a cheap option that is worth buying ahead of DGW27.
Crucially, his price tag is £1.9m cheaper than strike-partner Ivan Toney and he should see plenty of chances to score against Everton and Southampton.
Erling Haaland (£12.2m)
Dwelling in a massive 84.4 per cent of squads, Haaland should be the most-captained player against Crystal Palace after producing 17 points against them earlier this season.
Furthermore, his 36 shots in the box and 19 big chances away from home are league-leading totals. Can you dare to defy the general consensus and give your armband to someone else?
Ivan Toney (£7.8m)
Toney is in a good run of form as Brentford are unbeaten since the World Cup. Par for the course, he bears lots of armband potential against Everton and Southampton after averaging six points per away match this season, a tally that can only be matched by the 6.1 of Haaland.
Harry Kane (£11.7m)
GW27 against Nottingham Forest bodes well for the forward who has blanked in only three of his 13 home games, registering nine goals and three assists.
Furthermore, Kane scored twice to collect 10 points in the reverse fixture and you can bank on him as a captaincy pick.
