Fantrax & Sleeper Waiver Wire Pickups for Premier League GW26
Finding reliable waiver wire value is increasingly important in Fantrax and Sleeper season-long leagues as squad depth is tested by injuries, rotation and winter transfers. In Gameweek 26, short-term matchups and changing roles create opportunities to gain an edge through proactive adds.
This article highlights the best Fantrax and Sleeper waiver wire pickups for Premier League Gameweek 26, focusing on players rostered in under 50 percent of leagues.
For more help setting your lineup, check out our Fantrax and Sleeper GW26 rankings, GW26 cheat sheets, and GW26 predicted lineups before the weekend matches.
Premier League Player News & Updates
Goalkeeper Waiver Wire Pickups – Fantrax & Sleeper GW26
Stefan Ortega, Nottingham Forest (5% Fantrax, 3% Sleeper)
We can't pick on Burnley this week since Dean Henderson is well over the roster cutoff, but Ortega is a nice consolation option taking on Wolves at home. Ortega wasn't great in his Forest debut at Leeds on Friday, as he conceded three goals. He also hasn't been a regular starting keeper since the 2021/22 season in the Bundesliga. Still, he should remain in goal for an excellent matchup midweek with Matz Sels (45% Fantrax, 40% Sleeper) ruled out at least one more game.
Defender Waiver Wire Picks - Fantrax & Sleeper GW26
James Hill, Bournemouth (21% Fantrax, 14% Sleeper)
Hill's strong run of form continued at the weekend, and he hasn't scored below six fantasy points since taking over as a starter at the end of December. In his last three starts, Hill has two assists to tack onto 23 clearances for a Bournemouth side that continues to ascend up the table. A matchup away at Everton isn't one to fear for the Cherries on Tuesday.
Use our Fixture Difficulty Ranker to spot easy or tough schedules for the rest of the season
Maxim De Cuyper, Brighton (39% Fantrax, 24% Sleeper)
De Cuyper has lined up at left-back the last two matches and provides a readily available full-back option with attacking upside on the waiver wire. De Cuyper has found a way onto corners when in the starting XI, adding set-piece value on top of his open-play crossing ability from the flanks. Brighton travel to Aston Villa, who have fallen down to earth in recent matches, scoring just one goal in the last two against Brentford and Bournemouth.
Midfielder Waiver Wire Picks - Fantrax & Sleeper GW26
Gabriel Martinelli, Arsenal (49% Fantrax, 52% Sleeper)
Martinelli replaced Noni Madueke in the 60th minute of Saturday's win over Sunderland and provided an assist on Arsenal's final goal in stoppage time. While Martinelli hasn't started a league match in nearly a month, he has two straight games with an assist from the bench and could make the XI at Brentford on Thursday. Leandro Trossard was also taken off injured Saturday, so there's an additional opportunity for Martinelli to find his way into the starting lineup.
Jadon Sancho, Aston Villa (15% Fantrax, 17% Sleeper)
Sancho has made three straight starts on the right of attacking midfield for Villa, contributing an assist, two shots and five chances created. Sancho has yet to play 90 minutes in the league this season, so don't expect him to play a full match. At the least, he can do enough damage in 70 minutes to score eight to 10 points without needing a goal involvement. He's worth streaming for managers in need of a midfield option as Villa take on Brighton at home in midweek.
Forward Waiver Wire Picks - Fantrax & Sleeper GW26
Tolu Arokodare, Wolverhampton (10% Fantrax, 8% Sleeper)
Am I excited to give Tolu as an option? No, but the fact is he's a starting forward regularly available on the waiver wire and that is enough to recommend him. Wolves are all but relegated, but Tolu can still provide value even on a bad team if he continues to run out as the striker. Wolves were dominated by Chelsea on Saturday, but the striker still found his way onto the scoresheet in a 15-point effort. I'm not saying he'll be an every week starter for fantasy managers, but Tolu can provide a boost if you're in need of a striker, especially with two matches in GW26.
Rayan, Bournemouth (43% Fantrax, 18% Sleeper)
I'm double-dipping on Rayan this week as this is likely your last chance to pick him up following a start and a goal at the weekend leading to 15.5 points. I wasn't sure if the talented Brazilian would start from the jump for the Cherries, but it would be hard to take him out of the XI following his excellent start to life at the club which includes two goal involvements.
The only concern is if Andoni Iraola will start the 19-year-old in a quick turnaround Tuesday against Everton. If Rayan is already rostered in your league, his teammate Amine Adli (34% Fantrax, 15% Sleeper) isn't a bad option either.
Final Thoughts: Fantrax & Sleeper Waiver Wire Picks for GW26
With fixture congestion increasing and several squads reshaped by January moves, proactive waiver wire management is especially important in Fantrax and Sleeper leagues heading into Gameweek 26. Players stepping into new roles, benefiting from short-term injuries, or taking advantage of favourable matchups can provide a meaningful edge over the coming weeks.
As always, prioritise confirmed minutes and monitor team news closely before kickoff to maximise the value of waiver claims in Fantrax and Sleeper season-long formats.
