Top 3 picks
1. Casemiro, Man United, £5.8m
On pure total points within budget, Casemiro is the standout. He leads this price bracket with 164 points at just £5.8m, and the route to those returns is unusually well rounded for a budget midfielder, 9 goals, 4 assists, 9 clean sheets and 20 bonus points. The 7.5 form is also the best among the leading names here, which matters when deciding whether a season total is still supported by current output. At only 5.2% selected, he offers a strong blend of value, stability and upside. If you want the best points-per-pound profile in this group, he is the first name to consider.
2. Wilson, Fulham, £5.9m
Wilson is a close second on 161 points, just three behind Casemiro, and his attacking numbers are arguably more appealing for managers chasing direct returns. He has produced 10 goals and 8 assists, the strongest combined attacking total among the top options, plus 9 clean sheets and 21 bonus. The obvious concern is form, just 2.2, which suggests the season-long total is doing more work than the recent trend. Still, at £5.9m and with 18.9% ownership, he remains one of the clearest proven budget midfield picks if you trust Fulham’s fixtures and want a player with multiple paths to points.
3. Anderson, Nottingham Forest, £5.6m
Anderson ranks third with 154 points for only £5.6m, and while his attacking output is modest, 3 goals and 3 assists, the rest of the profile explains the appeal. He has collected 10 clean sheets and chipped in 10 bonus points, giving him a dependable floor that many budget midfielders lack. His 4.0 form is not explosive but is healthier than several names around him, and 7.0% selection keeps him in differential territory. He is not the highest-upside pick in the pool, but he is one of the safest ways to bank steady points under £6.0m.
Honourable mentions
- Garner, Everton, £5.2m, 153 points. A very efficient budget option, with 2 goals, 7 assists, 11 clean sheets and 13 bonus. The appeal is value and reliability rather than explosiveness.
- Szoboszlai, Liverpool, £7.0m, 147 points. Right on the budget line, but still eligible here. His 6.0 form, 6 goals, 5 assists and 20 bonus make him one of the better current picks if you can stretch to the full £7.0m.
- Bruno G., Newcastle, £6.8m, 143 points. Strong season line of 9 goals and 7 assists, but the 2.2 form makes him harder to prioritise right now.
- Dewsbury-Hall, Everton, £5.2m, 142 points. Possibly the best value challenger outside the top three, with 8 goals, 6 assists, 8 clean sheets, 18 bonus and a strong 6.2 form. If you want a cheaper in-form alternative, he has a serious case.
Watch list
- Enzo, Chelsea, £6.5m, 135 points. Respectable season total, 8 goals and 4 assists, but 1.5 form is a major red flag.
- Stach, Leeds, £4.8m, 132 points. One for deep-budget builds, with 5 goals, 6 assists and low 1.9% selection. Useful if cash savings are the priority.
- Gravenberch, Liverpool, £5.4m, 130 points. Cheap exposure to Liverpool with 4 goals, 5 assists and 9 clean sheets, though the 1.5 form keeps him in watch-list territory.
- Emerging name to monitor, Dewsbury-Hall. Strictly he sits in the honourable mentions on total points, but the combination of £5.2m and 6.2 form makes him the likeliest climber if recent output continues.
Verdict
Casemiro is the best budget FPL midfielder under £7m by total points within budget. The case is simple, 164 points is the top score in this pool, he costs just £5.8m, and he backs it up with the best current form of 7.5. Wilson is the closest challenger for attacking upside, while Dewsbury-Hall looks the best value-based alternative for managers who want to save even more cash. But if the brief is total points within budget, Casemiro is the clear number one.