FPL 2025/26 GW8: Five Fantasy Premier League players to transfer out or avoid in Gameweek 8
Players to dodge in FPL Gameweek 8
As Gameweek 8 of Fantasy Premier League rolls in, it’s just as important to know who to cut loose as the players to bring in, writes FPL expert Blake Hurst.
Some players are struggling for form, facing tough fixtures or carrying doubts that could cost you points.
Here are five names to seriously consider selling or avoiding – make the smart moves now and steer clear of unnecessary headaches in the coming weeks!
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Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa, 8.7m)
An impact injury over the international break has left Watkins sidelined from training and while there’s a chance he returns for Gameweek 8, it feels like a smart time to move him on.
Villa’s upcoming fixtures don’t offer much encouragement either, with tougher opponents likely to limit Watkins’ output even if he’s passed fit.
Given the striker’s price and the number of in-form forwards emerging, this looks like a convenient window to cash out and redistribute funds elsewhere.
Short-term pain could easily turn into long-term gain by stepping off now.
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Eberechi Eze (Arsenal, 7.6m)
As much as he’s exciting to watch, Eze just isn’t the right FPL pick for now.
Priced at 7.6m, the new signing needs consistent returns to justify that spot, but with Arsenal spreading their attacking output across several players, his reliability feels uncertain.
While Eze is full of talent and involvement, the end FPL product hasn’t yet matched the promise. With better priced midfielders offering stronger value and more predictable points elsewhere, Eze sits firmly in the “avoid” category for the moment.
Eze is a fantastic player – but in FPL terms, not the smartest investment just yet.
Giorgi Mamardashvili (Liverpool, 4.3m)
The excitement around Mamardashvili is understandable – a Liverpool goalkeeper priced at just 4.3m looks like a steal.
But taking a closer look, it’s not as appealing as it seems. Alisson Becker is set to regain his starting spot once he’s back from injury, which means Mamardashvili will quickly become a dead spot in your squad – a transfer waiting to happen.
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Couple that with Liverpool’s tough upcoming fixtures in which clean sheets aren’t guaranteed, and it’s clear this isn’t the best move.
Better to avoid bringing Mamardashvili in and focus on more secure goalkeeper options instead.
Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace, 4.9m)
This applies to all Crystal Palace defenders right now: if you have one in your squad, it’s probably time to consider moving them on.
The upcoming fixtures just aren’t strong enough to justify keeping your funds tied up in Palace’s defence.
Switching to a more reliable option, like one of Arsenal’s defenders, offers better stability and clean sheet potential over the next few gameweeks and feels like the smart, practical move to free up both budget and squad space.
Marc Cucurella (Chelsea, 6.1m)
Controversial but clear: as much as I’d love him for GW8, Cucurella is one to avoid on your Wildcard. At 6.1m, the full-back is simply not worth that price tag given the options out there.
If you want a Chelsea defender, Trevoh Chalobah, at 5.1m, offers much better value without sacrificing much in potential returns.
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Chelsea’s fixtures look promising but investing big in a defender only makes sense if you’re confident in week-in, week-out points.
For that reason, Cucurella feels overpriced and risky right now, making Chalobah the smarter pick for budget-conscious Wildcarders to invest their funds elsewhere.
Want more tips? You can also read 101GreatGoals.com’s guides to the FPL players to buy in Gameweek 8 and Fantasy Premier League wildcard tips.