The Hard Tackle lists the five best budget buys to consider to bring into your team heading into FPL Gameweek 16 of the 2025/26 season.

FPL managers heading into Gameweek 16 are entering that familiar December stretch where injuries, rotation and fixture congestion start squeezing squads and bank balances at the same time. This is the part of the season where budget picks are not just helpful, they are often the difference between fielding eleven players and taking hits just to avoid a disaster.

When the template is packed with expensive stars, the managers who climb are usually those who nail the cheaper slots without sacrificing upside.​ Gameweek 16 offers exactly that kind of opportunity. The fixture list throws up mid-table clashes, strangely open contests and a couple of vulnerable backlines that can be targeted by managers willing to look beyond the obvious names.

Instead of chasing every in-form premium, the smarter play might be to spread funds more evenly and lean on budget options in good match-ups, especially those with low ownership and solid underlying roles at their clubs. That is where this week’s FPL budget picks come in.​

All five players discussed here are priced in the budget bracket, but they are not mere bench fodder. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Harry Wilson, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Diogo Dalot and Kenny Tete all combine good fixtures with strong roles in their teams and a chance of double-digit returns if things break their way.

With Leeds United visiting a Brentford defence that has started to fray, Fulham welcoming a blunt Burnley side, Everton taking aim at an out-of-sorts Chelsea, and Manchester United hosting an inconsistent Bournemouth, there is a lot to like about the landscape for targeted budget punts.​

This is not about filling your team with random cheap players and hoping for a miracle. It is about identifying where price, form and fixture overlap just enough to justify trusting a cut-price asset with a starting spot. Each section below dives into one of these potential difference-makers, focusing on why their Gameweek 16 match-ups and current form make them ideal budget buys in FPL right now.​

Dominic Calvert-Lewin: betting on Brentford’s cracks for FPL success

Leeds United’s trip to Brentford in Gameweek 16 is the kind of fixture that looks balanced on the table but tilts heavily once you start digging into the numbers. Brentford have built a reputation as a stubborn, well-drilled defensive side in recent seasons, yet this campaign their backline has been far less reassuring, with the team conceding regularly and relying on last-ditch defending rather than sustained control.

That strain has shown up in their goals against column and in the way they allow a steady stream of chances in and around the box, a problem that plays directly into the hands of a classic penalty-box striker.​ This is where Dominic Calvert-Lewin comes into the conversation.

After a sluggish start to life at Leeds United, the Englishman has finally found rhythm, recently scoring in back-to-back matches after going through a lean run since Gameweek 9. Across the season he has already produced several league goals from a relatively modest number of appearances, with his shot profile showing a heavy focus on central, in-the-box efforts that suit his aerial strength and smart movement.

In FPL terms, that upswing has come just as his price has settled at a very friendly £5.6m, keeping him firmly in budget territory despite signs that his confidence and sharpness are returning.​ Crucially, Calvert-Lewin’s recent performances have not been padded by lucky deflections or speculative efforts from distance.

His chances have mostly come in high-value areas, while Leeds United’s willingness to go more direct at times means he remains a constant outlet for crosses and long passes, particularly against teams like Brentford who sometimes struggle to defend the second phase of set pieces and wide deliveries. With low ownership and an away fixture that offers more promise than fear right now, Calvert-Lewin looks like one of the standout budget forwards to back in Gameweek 16.​

Harry Wilson: targeting Burnley’s leaky backline

Any time Fulham face a defence as fragile as Burnley’s has been this season, attacking options from Marco Silva’s side deserve serious attention. Burnley’s Premier League campaign has been dominated by their struggle to keep goals out; they sit low in the table for goals conceded per game and rank poorly for key defensive metrics, including passes allowed into dangerous central zones and overall expected goals against.

That combination tells the story of a side that is not just unlucky, but structurally weak, frequently allowing opponents to slice through once the first press is broken.​ Harry Wilson is perfectly positioned to exploit that weakness, and that is exactly why he featured in our differential piece and the general transfer recommendations one as well.

The Fulham midfielder has enjoyed a steady 2025/26 season, starting regularly and chipping in with attacking returns in wins over sides like Brentford and Wolves, while also finding the net in tougher fixtures such as the recent defeat to Crystal Palace. Underlying numbers over the last few matchweeks show Wilson among a select group of midfielders who blend shooting volume with chance creation, placing him in a bracket typically dominated by far more expensive names.

That attacking involvement, combined with his knack for cutting in from wide areas and threatening from set pieces, gives him multiple routes to points against a Burnley team that struggles both to defend crosses and to track runners from the half-spaces.​ From an FPL standpoint, the most appealing part of Wilson’s profile is how much you get for so little.

His price has risen to £5.3m on the back of his improved output, but he remains squarely in the budget midfield category, especially when compared to the premium and mid-price options crowding most squads. Ownership is still relatively low, meaning any haul in this plum home fixture could have a real impact on ranks, particularly for managers chasing in mini-leagues. If you are looking for an attacking midfielder who can fit seamlessly into a three- or four-man midfield structure without blowing up your budget, Wilson against Burnley looks close to ideal.​

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: Everton’s engine meets troubled Chelsea

Everton’s season has quietly shifted from firefighting to building, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has been right at the heart of that transformation. Operating as a driving force from midfield, he has provided powerful running, late box entries and a steady creative output that has helped Everton look far more purposeful going forward in recent weeks. Reports from recent matches highlight how opponents have struggled to cope with his energy and directness, with one notable display seeing him dominate the middle of the pitch as Everton secured a clean sheet and a comfortable victory.​

Chelseas’s recent struggles only add to his appeal ahead of Gameweek 16. The London club have endured a patchy campaign, dropping points in games they were expected to control and occasionally looking disjointed in midfield and defence. That inconsistency has shown up not only in results but also in a defensive record that is far from elite, making them a side that can be got at if the opposition midfield is brave enough to carry the ball forward and test the back line. Dewsbury-Hall fits that brief perfectly: his forward surges, willingness to shoot and eye for through balls give him multiple ways to hurt an opponent that has not yet found a settled, reliable structure this season.​

From a Fantasy angle, the Everton man sits in a sweet spot. His recent price movements have taken him to £5.1m, putting him just above the cheapest midfielders but still well within budget territory for anyone looking to strengthen their fourth or even third midfield slot. Transfer trend data shows that he has been among the more popular mid-price risers in the build-up to this gameweek, a reflection of managers recognising his consistent minutes, improved attacking role and kind run of fixtures. For those who want a midfielder capable of ticking over with steady returns rather than relying on rare explosions, Dewsbury-Hall looks like a strong investment ahead of a vulnerable Chelsea side.​

Diogo Dalot: attacking full-back vs streaky Bournemouth

Manchester United at home to Bournemouth is one of those fixtures that has historically screamed “captaincy” for attacking assets, but in the current season the more interesting value may be in the back line. Bournemouth’s campaign has been marked by wild swings in performance: stretches where they look compact and dangerous, followed by spells where they concede in bunches and lose control of games completely. Their defensive numbers place them among the more generous teams in the league, with multiple matches featuring two or more goals conceded and a habit of allowing a steady flow of shots inside the box when their structure unravels.​

Diogo Dalot is exactly the sort of defender who can turn that kind of opponent into a big FPL score. Operating primarily at right-back, the Portuguese international plays a hybrid role that sees him heavily involved in both build-up and final-third actions, often popping up high and wide or drifting into central pockets to link play. Performance data this season highlights his attacking value: he has already registered assists, recorded high touch counts in advanced areas and posted strong progressive passing numbers, all of which boost his chances of collecting returns beyond the standard clean-sheet points. His heat maps show long stretches of activity up the flank, reinforcing the idea that, in Fantasy terms, he behaves more like a budget wing-back than a conventional full-back.​

Where Dalot becomes especially interesting is his price. With various official and media sources listing him among the standout budget defenders, he currently sits around the low-to-mid £4m bracket in FPL, making the quoted £44m figure in this context a reminder of his real-world transfer value rather than his Fantasy cost. At roughly £4.4m in the game and with a home fixture against an opponent capable of collapsing, he offers an enticing combination of clean-sheet potential, attacking threat and bonus-point appeal. For managers looking to shift funds from defence into midfield and attack without completely sacrificing upside at the back, Dalot stands out as one of the best budget-friendly routes into Manchester United’s backline for Gameweek 16.​

Kenny Tete: riding Fulham’s defensive wave vs blunt Burnley

Fulham’s home tie with Burnley is not just an opportunity for attacking assets like Harry Wilson; it also puts their defence firmly on the radar, particularly for those chasing value at the back. Burnley’s attacking numbers this season tell a worrying story for their fans but a very encouraging one for FPL managers considering Fulham defenders. They rank low in the league for goals scored and key attacking metrics, struggling to create clear chances and often relying on isolated moments rather than sustained pressure to threaten opponents. In short, they look like the kind of side you are happy to target for a clean sheet.​

Within that context, Kenny Tete is a name worth circling. In previous campaigns, he has shown he can offer more than just defensive solidity, contributing a goal and multiple assists across a season while re-establishing himself as Fulham’s first-choice right-back after overcoming injuries. His underlying profile includes a decent share of attacking involvement, particularly through crosses and overlapping runs, alongside the expected clearances and tackles that can feed into the new defensive contribution metrics. With Calvin Bassey also catching the eye this season as a strong, combative centre-back who benefits from Burnley’s lack of cutting edge in the box, Fulham’s back line looks like a rich hunting ground for budget defenders in this particular gameweek.​

From a pricing standpoint, Tete is very attractive. Previous analyses of budget defenders have highlighted him as an excellent option around the £4.5m mark, noting that a healthy portion of his points can come from attacking returns rather than clean sheets alone. That price point places him among the cheapest viable starters in defence, freeing up funds for managers to invest more heavily further forward while still fielding someone with both clean-sheet potential and a hint of attacking upside. In a week where Burnley’s attack looks unlikely to suddenly explode into life, Tete’s combination of fixture, role and cost makes him an ideal budget pick for those looking to refresh their back line.​

FPL transfer budget recommendations at a glance

Honourable mentions

Beyond the core five, there are several other names who deserve a quick nod for Gameweek 16 and the weeks ahead. Calvin Bassey offers a more central, defensive route into that appealing Fulham vs Burnley fixture, combining low ownership with a solid chance of clean-sheet points and a decent shot at bonus through defensive actions. Piero Hincapie has been highlighted as a progressive defender with attacking upside in a strong back line, while Maxim De Cuyper has emerged as an interesting left-sided option with a knack for getting forward.​

In midfield, Mikel Merino brings box-to-box threat and a history of chipping in with both goals and assists, making him a tempting mid-price alternative when fixtures turn kind. Wide attackers Samuel Chukwueze and Yeremy Pino both have the sort of direct, high-ceiling profiles that can produce sudden hauls when minutes and match-ups align, though they come with greater rotation risk. Up front, Callum Wilson remains one of the most dangerous forwards in the league when fit, marrying penalty duties with clinical finishing to deliver explosive returns over short bursts, making him a classic short-term punt whenever his minutes look secure.