Market moves · GW8

Most-Bought Players before GW9: Are They Worth It?

The most-bought list shows where the market is moving, but it does not tell us on its own whether the market is right. Before GW9, this review checks the leading transfer targets against form, minutes, price and the upcoming schedule. The aim is to separate players whose data supports the buying wave from those benefiting from a fast reaction to one gameweek, so a transfer becomes part of a plan rather than an attempt to follow the crowd.

By Roshn FDR Published: 13 Oct 2026, 08:30 Reading time: 6 min
Quick takeaways

What matters before you make the move

  1. Watkins currently leads the buying wave with 2,291 transfers in.
  2. Market momentum is more persuasive when form, minutes and fixtures agree with it rather than when it rests on the last score alone.
  3. Mohammed Abu Al Shamat needs a deeper comparison if the player you own has similar minutes and a comparable schedule.
  4. Using the market well means understanding why managers are buying, not trying to reach every player whose ownership is rising.

How to read the most-bought list

Transfers in measure post-gameweek market mood. They are useful for showing where ownership is heading and whether a player may become more important for rank, but they do not separate a good move from a late one. A player can lead buying because managers are chasing a return that already happened or because a genuine fixture and role change improved the outlook.

That is why the market has to be checked against form, minutes and the next-round projection. When the signals agree, the buying wave confirms an existing case. When they do not, market momentum becomes a warning, especially if the transfer requires selling a good asset or using most of the available budget.

1) Watkins — is the buy justified?

Watkins has received 2,291 transfers in this event. The market is moving toward him while form is 16.0, the next projection is 16.0 and ownership is 18.9%; those are the numbers that decide whether the momentum is justified. The next fixture is against Al Riyadh away, rated very favourable relative to the field for this type of decision. Across the 5 fixtures visible in the upcoming window, the average run is very favourable relative to the field, so the case does not rest on one matchup alone. Against that, he also has 51 transfers out. The buying trend has support from several data points rather than looking like pure points-chasing.

The case becomes stronger when the move fixes a weak position and the player can stay useful for several weeks. If you are selling a similar asset only because the market moved, the upgrade may be limited. The current availability data does not flag an obvious participation concern.

2) Reijnders and 3) Mohammed Abu Al Shamat

With 1,499 transfers in, Reijnders is one of the market movers. Before following the crowd, form 9.0, projection 9.0 and 472 minutes matter more than the purchase count alone. The next fixture is against Abha at home, rated very favourable relative to the field for this type of decision. Across the 5 fixtures visible in the upcoming window, the average run is very favourable relative to the field, so the case does not rest on one matchup alone. The buying trend has support from several data points rather than looking like pure points-chasing. If the price also unlocks another upgrade, the transfer can be more valuable than the player-level numbers alone suggest.

Mohammed Abu Al Shamat has received 1,144 transfers in this event. The market is moving toward him while form is 13.0, the next projection is 13.0 and ownership is 44.6%; those are the numbers that decide whether the momentum is justified. The next fixture is against Abha at home, rated very favourable relative to the field for this type of decision. Across the 5 fixtures visible in the upcoming window, the average run is very favourable relative to the field, so the case does not rest on one matchup alone. The buying trend has support from several data points rather than looking like pure points-chasing. The choice between Reijnders and Mohammed Abu Al Shamat should not be reduced to one number: Mohammed Abu Al Shamat has the stronger current form, while Mohammed Abu Al Shamat is more widely owned, and Mohammed Abu Al Shamat is the cheaper option in this comparison. The better move therefore depends on whether you need safety, budget flexibility or more room to differentiate your rank.

4) Trincão and 5) Martinelli

With 976 transfers in, Trincão is one of the market movers. Before following the crowd, form 17.0, projection 17.0 and 646 minutes matter more than the purchase count alone. The next fixture is against Al Nassr at home, rated fairly difficult for this type of decision. Across the 5 fixtures visible in the upcoming window, the average run is favourable overall, so the case does not rest on one matchup alone. The buying trend has support from several data points rather than looking like pure points-chasing. The fourth market target can still be useful, but there is little reason to rush if your current option has an acceptable fixture and safer minutes.

With 859 transfers in, Martinelli is one of the market movers. Before following the crowd, form 7.0, projection 7.0 and 248 minutes matter more than the purchase count alone. The next fixture is against Al Riyadh away, rated very favourable relative to the field for this type of decision. Across the 5 fixtures visible in the upcoming window, the average run is very favourable relative to the field, so the case does not rest on one matchup alone. The buy is understandable, but the signals are mixed enough that it should not be an automatic move for every squad. This category needs one extra question: are managers buying because the role and schedule genuinely improved, or because one recent return moved sentiment faster than the fundamentals?

When does points-chasing become a problem?

Buying after a player scores is not automatically wrong; sometimes the return is the first visible sign of a genuine trend. The problem is when the points are the only reason while wider form, minutes or fixtures do not support the move. At that point, you may be spending a transfer on information the market has already fully priced in.

If a player is rising quickly but faces a tougher matchup or uncertain role, waiting can be stronger. Conversely, a player who did not haul last week but still has strong form and a favourable run can be the better transfer even if he is absent from the most-bought list.

Market movement, ownership and real risk

Heavy buying gradually raises ownership and changes the rank effect of the player. Owning a popular asset reduces downside when he returns, but buying only for protection can limit upside when a better alternative exists. Ownership is a risk-management tool rather than an independent quality metric.

There is also no need to chase every potential price rise early. If your budget allows patience, new information before the deadline can be worth more than a small price difference. A later decision with clearer availability information is often better than an early transfer that becomes awkward if the team picture changes.

Who to buy and who to watch before GW9

From this group, Watkins and Reijnders deserve the first checks because the market movement sits alongside a profile that can be supported in several ways. Mohammed Abu Al Shamat needs comparison with the player you own, while Trincão and Martinelli are closer to watchlist options when there is no urgent route in.

Before confirming the move, ask whether the player is better than your current option for minutes, form and fixtures, and whether the transfer still makes sense after GW9. If the answer is yes, the market is confirming a useful decision. If not, most-bought does not mean most suitable for your squad.

Related analysis
Transfers · GW8 Best Transfers for GW9

The best transfer before GW9 is not automatically the player who scored most last week. A useful move combines current form, dependable minutes, price, ownership risk and a schedule that can support the player beyond one fixture. This Roshn FDR review ranks the leading candidates, explains the trade-offs behind each option and separates genuinely useful moves from transfers that may simply be chasing points that have already happened.

 Captaincy · GW8 Best Captain Options for GW9

Captaincy is the weekly decision that magnifies both upside and downside, so the answer should not simply be the highest-owned player or the season points leader. Before GW9, the strongest candidates combine reliable minutes, sustainable form, an attractive matchup and enough attacking ceiling to justify doubling the score. This review identifies the safer captain, the nearest challengers and a more aggressive route for managers willing to accept extra rank volatility.

 Differentials · GW8 5 Differential Picks for GW9

A useful differential is not simply an obscure player. The best low-owned options have a credible route to points and enough ownership leverage to matter when they return. Before GW9, this shortlist looks for five players whose case does not depend on one goal or one exceptional gameweek, then checks minutes, form, price and the upcoming schedule. The aim is calculated risk: a player you can hold if the first fixture disappoints, not a punt that needs an immediate perfect outcome.

 Elite analysis · GW8 What Are the Top 1,000 Managers Doing? GW8 Review

Tracking the Top 1,000 managers is not an invitation to copy their teams. It is a way to understand where rank risk is concentrated and where genuine differences appear. After GW8, this review looks at the most-owned players, captaincy and chip use, then compares broader elite samples when the same data is available. The important question is not simply who is popular, but whether that popularity forms a stable core worth respecting or creates an opportunity to move differently when your own data supports it.
Continue exploring
Weekly fantasy editorial Transfers, captains, differentials, elite trends and gameweek reviews. Roshn Fantasy insights Club outlooks, schedules and market signals. Roshn Fantasy team planner Review future opponents and simulate transfers. Player price changes and transfers Track rises, falls, ownership and availability.