HERE at Dream Team HQ we prefer to shine a light on the game’s best performers but it’s also our duty to acknowledge when certain individuals aren’t pulling their weight.
Ahead of Gameweek 8, we’ve collated the seven most popular outfield players yet to reach the 40-point mark this season.
A little light on points, lads…[/caption]
Before we dive into the list, a quick note to say that we have omitted individuals who have been affected by injury and fitness issues, such as Cole Palmer (£5.5m) and Alexander Isak (£6m).
It stands to reason that players who have been sidelined may be lagging behind in the rankings but that’s a separate conversation.
For the purposes of this pursuit, we’re interested in assets who simply haven’t pulled their weight despite plenty of minutes on the pitch.
7. Morgan Gibbs-White (£4.1m)
Forest are without a win since Ange Postecoglou took charge[/caption]
Nottingham Forest have been unable to rediscover their form from last season and this is reflected in the Dream Team rankings.
Elliot Anderson’s (£4.1m) healthy tackle count and penchant for bonus points have set him apart but the City Ground’s other regulars have been below par and that includes their No10.
Gibbs-White has provided three assists but his numbers are down in every other department — he’s made just four tackles in ten outings.
Consequently, the 25-year-old, who appears in 5.4% of teams, has mustered 39 points in total.
6. Pedro Neto (£3.8m)
A slow start[/caption]
The Portuguese international has featured in every Chelsea fixture so far this season, starting all but two games, one of which was a Carabao Cup meeting with Lincoln.
A lack of minutes is not a valid excuse for Neto’s underwhelming tally of 34 points.
The 5.7%-owned winger scored against West Ham back in Gameweek 2 but that was his only shot on target of the campaign to date.
His returns pale in comparison to team-mates Moises Caicedo (£4.7m) and Enzo Fernandez (£4.7m), who rank second and third respectively among players in their position.
Dream Team managers need to make sure they’re backing the right Chelsea midfielders.
5. Reece James (£4m)
Used sparingly[/caption]
Another Stamford Bridge resident makes the cut to prove that many gaffers are still figuring out Enzo Maresca’s approach.
James has suffered terribly with injuries in recent years but he’s been available since Gameweek 1 this time around.
However, his previous setbacks have meant his workload has been managed.
While this is undoubtedly wise on Chelsea’s part, reduced minutes have limited his progress in the world of Dream Team.
The adaptable England right-back has only registered one clean sheet and that was back in mid-August on the opening weekend of the season.
James has an ownership of 5.8% with 33 points to his name.
4. Anthony Elanga (£3.5m)
Yet to get going[/caption]
Hopes were high for the Swedish winger following his transfer to Newcastle.
Having impressed for Forest in 2024/25, Elanga was one of the most selected midfielders in the game when the season got underway.
However, one assist and no goals represents a modest start to life at St James’ Park.
Many gaffers assumed he would be an undisputed starter on the right flank but he’s been forced to share his minutes with Jacob Murphy (£4m).
As a result, Elanga has returned just 34 points and his ownership of 7.1% is likely to decrease further having previously been close to 30%.
3. Florian Wirtz (£5.3m)
Feeling the pressure[/caption]
Much has been made of the German playmaker’s ordinary start to life at Liverpool.
Wirtz is yet to register a goal or assist in Dream Team and his total of 27 points is the lowest among all the names on this list.
For context, that puts him level in the rankings with Enzo Le Fee (£2.6m), Tyler Adams (£2.8m) and Yehor Yarmoliuk (£2.7m).
Whereas those cheap midfielders hardly appear in any teams at all, 9.9% of gaffers are still backing Wirtz at this stage, such is the belief in his talent.
The 22-year-old may come good but it’s simply true that his current average of three points-per-game does not align with his price or popularity.
2. Bruno Fernandes (£5.7m)
Fine margins[/caption]
Manchester United’s talisman is just one point short of the 40-point mark and his ranking would look very different had he not missed two penalties this season.
But miss them he did, much to the anguish of his many owners — even now he features in 11% of teams.
It’s understandable why Fernandes is so popular as he finished as Dream Team’s outright best midfielder last season.
However, the Red Devils do not have European commitments this time around and it will take something extraordinary for him to maintain his usual standards with fewer fixtures.
Fernandes is also subject to additional scrutiny because he’s the second-most expensive midfielder in the game right now.
At his price he certainly shouldn’t be below Anton Stach (£2.8m), Dan Ndoye (£3.6m) and Brajan Gruda (£2.8m) in the rankings.
1. Virgil van Dijk (£5m)
Surprised?[/caption]
The most popular player in the game yet to earn 40 points is Liverpool’s captain.
This is a strong indication that Arne Slot’s troops are yet to fully click this season, something that became very apparent when they lost three games in a row prior to the international break.
Like Fernandes, Van Dijk is just one point shy of 40 but at £5m he really should be among the top performers in his position.
The Dutchman has contributed to just two clean sheets, putting him well behind his peers from Arsenal, Newcastle and Crystal Palace.
For comparison, Dan Burn (£4.3m) and Gabriel (£5.1m) have notched six clean sheets each.
15.4% of Dream Team bosses will have a big decision to make if Van Dijk doesn’t provide substantial points in Gameweek 8.
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