The Best Goalkeepers for Draft Fantasy Premier League 2026/27
David Raya is the best goalkeeper to draft for 2026/27. He is the only goalkeeper with a large enough advantage over the rest of the position to justify an aggressive pick. Gianluigi Donnarumma is second, while Caoimhín Kelleher and Jordan Pickford are the best alternatives if you wait.
The position is deep, though. That changes the draft decision. Missing Raya does not mean immediately taking the next goalkeeper; it usually means spending the pick on a scarce forward or midfielder and returning to goal later.
This guide is for draft leagues, where each goalkeeper can belong to only one manager. There are no fixed player prices. In Draft Fantasy Premier League, you can use a snake draft or give every manager the same auction budget and let the room set each player's value.
Best Draft Fantasy Premier League goalkeepers: the 2026/27 rankings
The rankings combine Draft Fantasy's live season model with role security, current draft behaviour and the routes each goalkeeper has to clean-sheet, save and bonus points. Season xP is the projected total across 38 Gameweeks. Edge is the player's advantage over the ninth goalkeeper in an eight-manager league: the best option we expect to remain undrafted when every manager starts one goalkeeper.
Scoring note: every projection, ranking and auction recommendation below uses Draft Fantasy regular scoring, which matches official FPL scoring. Custom-scoring leagues calculate their own player points from commissioner-defined values, so the order and sensible bid limits can change.
| Rank | Player | Draft call | Season xP | Edge | First five fixtures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Raya | Round 3 | 168 | +34 |
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| 2 | Gianluigi Donnarumma | Rounds 4–5 | 153 | +19 |
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| 3 | Caoimhín Kelleher | Rounds 7–8 | 148 | +14 |
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| 4 | Jordan Pickford | Rounds 5–6 | 135 | +1 |
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| 5 | Robin Roefs | Rounds 10–12 | 148 | +14 |
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| 6 | Emiliano Martínez | Rounds 7–8 | 143 | +9 |
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| 7 | Alisson Becker | Round 6 | 134 | 0 |
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| 8 | Dean Henderson | Rounds 9–10 | 135 | +1 |
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| 9 | Nick Pope | Rounds 10–12 | 136 | +2 |
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| 10 | Bart Verbruggen | Rounds 10–12 | 131 | -3 |
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Draft Fantasy model and draft-data snapshot from 4 August 2026. Rankings add editorial role and market judgment to the model. Edge is rounded points above the replacement goalkeeper in an eight-manager league. Fixture difficulty: 1 is easiest and 5 is hardest.
The table reveals the central strategy. Raya and Donnarumma have meaningful separation. After that, the position becomes flat enough to wait. Only 17 projected points separate Kelleher in third from Verbruggen in tenth, and several attractive starters are currently being drafted after pick 60.
Open the free 2026/27 draft cheat sheet, set the correct league size and filter to goalkeepers before your draft. The board updates as projections, squads and availability change.
1. David Raya is the one goalkeeper worth reaching for
Raya is first because he combines the best projection with the clearest positional advantage. Draft Fantasy projects 168 points, 15 more than Donnarumma and 34 above the eight-manager replacement level.
The projection has a strong recent foundation. Raya finished 2025/26 with 162 fantasy points and 19 clean sheets, 19 points clear of every other goalkeeper, according to the Premier League's official Team of the Season review.
His current average draft position is pick 17, earlier than our preferred Round 3 entry. Do not take that as an instruction to force him in the second round. The model likes Raya, but a top forward lost in Round 2 is much harder to replace than a goalkeeper lost in Round 3. If you want an early defensive anchor, the 2026/27 defender rankings show that Gabriel offers a much larger replacement edge than any goalkeeper.
2. Donnarumma has the schedule, but not Raya's edge
Donnarumma projects 153 points and opens with three home matches in five, including Bournemouth, Coventry and Sunderland. That gives him the best early schedule in the premium goalkeeper tier.
He is still a tier below Raya. The 19-point edge over replacement is useful, but it is not large enough to pass on an outfield starter you will struggle to replace. Round 4 is reasonable once the first striker and midfielder tiers have broken; Round 5 is better if your room is waiting on goalkeepers.
His Draft Fantasy ADP is 25.5, so the early market is already treating him as a premium. If he goes before your preferred point, let him go. Kelleher, Pickford and Martínez give you more ways to recover than the forward pool does.
3. Kelleher is the best patient-manager target
Kelleher is our favourite balance of projection and draft cost. His 148 xP is effectively level with Roefs, but Kelleher is easier to trust as a weekly starter and has four appealing fixtures in the opening five.
The updated 2026/27 Bonus Points System also rewards an extra BPS for saving a big chance. The Premier League's official scoring explainer records that Kelleher saved 27 big chances and three penalties last season. That does not guarantee bonus points, but it confirms that his fantasy ceiling is not dependent on clean sheets alone.
His current ADP is 62, around the end of Round 8 in an eight-manager league. That is a much cleaner price than chasing the position early. Build the outfield first, then take Kelleher when the dependable goalkeeper run begins.
4. Pickford is safer than his projection looks
Pickford is fourth in our editorial order even though his 135 xP sits below several alternatives. The reason is role certainty and multiple routes to points.
He saved a league-high 28 big chances last season and also saved a penalty. Everton's first five include three home matches, while his 82% Draft Fantasy ownership shows that current drafters still regard him as a dependable season-long starter.
The danger is paying for the name. Pickford's ADP is 28, ahead of Kelleher by more than four rounds despite only a one-point model edge over replacement. If he remains available in Round 5, take the stability. If someone spends a third-round pick, use the discount elsewhere.
5. Roefs is the model-versus-market opportunity
Roefs is the most interesting disagreement between projection and draft behaviour. He is third in raw goalkeeper xP at 148, yet his current ADP is beyond pick 100.
That discount makes him a strong second goalkeeper and a viable first goalkeeper for managers who wait until the final third of the draft. The opening run is mixed: Ipswich away and Fulham at home are attractive, but Arsenal and Manchester City arrive in Gameweeks 4 and 5.
Do not draft him as if the 148-point projection is certain. Draft him because the room is charging a late-round price for a player with top-five model upside.
6. Martínez, Alisson and Henderson are the stable fallback tier
Emiliano Martínez has the strongest projection of this group at 143 and currently goes around pick 49. He is the safest fallback when the first four names disappear, although Aston Villa's opening fixtures are uneven.
Alisson has the strongest club context but only a replacement-level projection in our current model. That makes him a good goalkeeper and an ordinary draft value. His pick-34 ADP is too rich when similar points remain available several rounds later.
Henderson is the patient option. He saved 26 big chances last season, Crystal Palace face Ipswich and Leeds in the opening five, and his current ADP is 76. He is the sort of goalkeeper who lets you complete the important parts of your starting XI first.
Pope and Verbruggen sit close behind. Both are acceptable late starters, but neither creates enough separation to start a goalkeeper run yourself. Antonín Kinský is another late watchlist name if Tottenham's starting role becomes clear; until it does, do not pay for a job he has not yet secured.
What to bid in an eight-manager goalkeeper auction
Draft Fantasy auctions give every manager £250 and equal access to every goalkeeper. The numbers below assume eight managers, a standard 15-player squad and regular scoring. Suggested ceilings are editorial limits, not fixed player prices.
Only Raya currently has a qualifying observed average from at least five completed, properly funded Draft Fantasy auctions. A dash means the sample is not sufficient, not that the goalkeeper should cost nothing.
| Player | Observed average | Editorial ceiling | Auction plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Raya | £17.0 | £18–£22 | Pay for the only large goalkeeper edge, then spend £1–£2 on a backup |
| Gianluigi Donnarumma | — | £10–£14 | Take the premium schedule only at a clear discount to Raya |
| Jordan Pickford | — | £6–£9 | Buy role certainty and saves without matching his aggressive ADP |
| Caoimhín Kelleher | — | £5–£8 | The preferred balanced build if the elite bids become expensive |
| Emiliano Martínez | — | £4–£7 | A reliable fallback after preserving money for outfield starters |
| Robin Roefs | — | £2–£5 | Bid for model upside, but keep the exit price low |
| Henderson / Pope / Verbruggen | — | £1–£4 | Use depth to avoid a bidding contest and nominate alternatives |
Draft Fantasy auction snapshot from 4 August 2026. Observed averages use qualifying completed auctions; suggested ceilings are editorial guidance for this specific eight-manager regular-scoring setup.
The auction rule is simple: spend for separation, not reputation. Raya can justify roughly eight per cent of the budget because his edge is unusual. Once his price exceeds £22, the opportunity cost becomes too large. A £7 Kelleher plus an extra £15 for a starting forward or midfielder is often the stronger squad.
Create a Premier League auction league and test the budget decisions with your own managers. Every bid is live, so nobody begins with a published price advantage.
The goalkeeper rule for draft night
Do not take a goalkeeper because another manager takes one. Use the gap left on your board.
- take Raya in Round 3 when the best outfield tiers have already broken;
- consider Donnarumma in Rounds 4–5, but do not chase him;
- make Kelleher the main target when waiting until Rounds 7–8;
- use Pickford when security matters more than model value;
- pair a safe starter with late upside rather than drafting two expensive goalkeepers;
- spend £1–£3 on the second goalkeeper in most eight-manager auctions.
This is also the position where custom scoring can change the answer most sharply. Extra rewards for saves, penalties, claims or distribution can push busy goalkeepers above clean-sheet specialists. Open your league's scoring page and compare its values with regular scoring before copying the order above.
Fantasy draft goalkeeper FAQs
When should I draft a goalkeeper?
Round 3 is the earliest sensible point for Raya in an eight-manager league. If he is gone, wait: Donnarumma belongs around Rounds 4–5, while the depth at the position lets you find a usable starter from Round 7 onwards.
Should I draft two goalkeepers?
Yes, but do not pay twice. Secure one goalkeeper you trust, then use a late pick on upside, favourable early fixtures or a player who can rotate around difficult matches.
Do goalkeepers have prices in Draft Fantasy?
There are no fixed player prices. Snake leagues use draft picks. Auction leagues give managers a £250 budget, and your live bidding determines what a goalkeeper costs in that league.
Does this ranking work with custom scoring?
The strategy does, but the order may not. This guide uses regular scoring. A custom league that adds points for saves or subtracts more for goals conceded can produce different projections, draft rounds and auction ceilings.
Build your 2026/27 league
Use the free Premier League draft board to compare goalkeepers with the outfield tiers, then create your 2026/27 Draft Fantasy league, invite your managers and choose a snake or auction draft.