Prioritise a defender offering several routes to points; reserve goalkeeper claims for a clear weakness. Brighton’s recent returns deserve attention, but two away fixtures precede their home match.
These are GW8 pickups using TFF’s simulated season through GW7. Ownership is a sample, so check your own league. Minutes forecasts follow accumulated usage; projections are estimates. For the transaction process, see how waivers and free agents work.
Top-priority claim
Riccardo Calafiori
A defender with a goal, two assists and four clean sheets offers several Classic routes to a return. His 590 minutes support expecting a regular starting role, without guaranteeing full matches. The 20.3-point projection makes him the strongest defensive option here, despite a quieter recent scoring average.
- Fixtures: Everton (H), Liverpool (A), Hull (H).
- League size: 8–12 managers; consider in 4–6.
- Tier: Top priority.
- Drop: A rotation defender without attacking returns.
- Risk: Recent output trails his season average; projected points aren’t assured.
Medium-priority claims
Konstantinos Tzolakis
Saves strengthen the goalkeeper case: 26 across the season accompany three clean sheets. His 630 minutes support a continued full-match expectation. The 24.8-point Classic projection contrasts with a last-three average of 3.7. Two home fixtures make this a sensible position-specific claim.
- Fixtures: Brentford (H), Ipswich (H), Arsenal (A).
- League size: 8–12; smaller leagues only for a goalkeeper upgrade.
- Tier: Medium priority.
- Drop: An expendable backup goalkeeper.
- Risk: The projection exceeds the level suggested by recent scoring.
Luka Vuskovic
Five clean sheets underpin the Classic appeal, with a goal and an assist adding attacking value. His 618 minutes favour regular starts, while a 9.7 last-three average shows strong recent output. However, a 7.5-point projection across the next three suggests judging him on his wider contribution rather than expecting that recent average to continue.
- Fixtures: Liverpool (A), Manchester City (A), Brentford (H).
- League size: 8–12; selective interest in 4–6.
- Tier: Medium priority.
- Drop: A low-return rotation defender.
- Risk: Two away games precede the home fixture; form may cool.
Charalampos Kostoulas
Three goals and two assists give the forward a direct Classic case, reinforced by an eight-point last-three average. His 487 minutes suggest involvement but less dependable playing time than the near-ever-present options. Expect a meaningful role if usage continues, with substitution or rotation risk. The 9.5-point projection tempers enthusiasm for chasing recent returns.
- Fixtures: Liverpool (A), Manchester City (A), Brentford (H).
- League size: 10–12; an attacking bench option in eight.
- Tier: Medium priority in deeper leagues.
- Drop: A fringe forward with fewer attacking returns.
- Risk: Reduced minutes could undermine an already modest projection.
Wait for free agency
Lewis Hall
Playing time is the starting point: 630 minutes support expecting full-match involvement again. A goal and an assist offer attacking help; one clean sheet limits the Classic case. His 5.7 recent average is useful cover rather than a reason to prioritise him above a stronger defensive upgrade.
- Fixtures: Crystal Palace (A), Everton (H), Fulham (A).
- League size: 10–12; cover in eight, usually pass in 4–6.
- Tier: Wait for free agency.
- Drop: An unused rotation defender.
- Risk: Appearance security may not produce enough attacking or clean-sheet returns.
Bart Verbruggen
Five clean sheets provide the Classic attraction, alongside 16 saves and 630 minutes. Continued full matches are a reasonable forecast from that usage. His last-three average of 6.7 improves on the season average, but the seven-point projection and two upcoming away matches make patience preferable to an aggressive goalkeeper claim.
- Fixtures: Liverpool (A), Manchester City (A), Brentford (H).
- League size: 10–12; goalkeeper cover in eight.
- Tier: Wait for free agency.
- Drop: A backup keeper you aren’t using.
- Risk: Existing clean sheets don’t guarantee another during this run.
Mohamed Belloumi
Three goals and two assists make the midfielder an interesting Classic option. His 514 minutes support expecting involvement, although season minutes alone cannot establish his current starting status. Two home fixtures and a 13-point projection strengthen the free-agency case, provided you can tolerate uncertain weekly minutes.
- Fixtures: Brentford (H), Ipswich (H), Arsenal (A).
- League size: 10–12; conditional bench interest in eight.
- Tier: Wait for free agency.
- Drop: A rarely used midfield rotation option.
- Risk: His 3.7 recent average and unresolved starting status weaken the case.
Jayden Bogle
For a midfield vacancy, two goals offer a Classic route, but no assists and a last-three average of two points make him a recovery watch. His 545 minutes suggest substantial involvement, not guaranteed starts. A seven-point projection leaves little reason to spend priority before his attacking output improves.
- Fixtures: Sunderland (A), Bournemouth (A), Tottenham (H).
- League size: 10–12 only.
- Tier: Wait for free agency.
- Drop: An equally uncertain, unused midfield reserve.
- Risk: The recent downturn could continue despite accumulated playing time.
Calafiori is the strongest overall claim. Belloumi is the best free-agency option for a deeper-league midfield vacancy, conditional on accepting minutes uncertainty. Waiting carries the risk that another manager takes him; these tiers describe how aggressively to act, not who will remain available.
