João Pedro's injury has left a huge number of Fantasy Premier League managers with an important decision to make ahead of Gameweek 5. The Chelsea forward is set to miss today's clash against Brentford after suffering a knee injury, with the latest reports suggesting that he could be back once the upcoming international break is over.
That would potentially make him available for Chelsea's next Premier League fixture against Bournemouth next month, meaning FPL managers could be dealing with a relatively short-term problem rather than a long-term absence.
However, with João Pedro owned by more than 71% of Fantasy Premier League managers, his injury creates a major dilemma. Should you immediately transfer him out, replace him with Chelsea's likely starter, or simply keep him and wait?
Here are our three best João Pedro FPL solutions for Gameweek 5.
1. The Direct Replacement Method — Danny Welbeck
The most straightforward solution is also arguably the most obvious one: replace João Pedro with the player most likely to take his place in Chelsea's starting XI.
That player is Danny Welbeck.
Priced at just £5.9m, Welbeck is an extremely cheap option for a forward playing for one of the Premier League's biggest clubs. More importantly, his chances of starting have received a significant boost because of João Pedro's injury.
Welbeck is expected to lead the Chelsea attack against Brentford, making him an interesting short-term punt for FPL managers looking for an immediate replacement.
The appeal goes beyond just this Gameweek, too.
If João Pedro is not fully fit by the time Chelsea return to Premier League action following the international break, Welbeck could potentially start his second consecutive league game for the Blues.
That gives him an opportunity to deliver returns in more than one fixture while offering FPL managers plenty of money to spend elsewhere.
Of course, Welbeck is unlikely to remain Chelsea's first-choice striker once João Pedro is fully fit. But if you're looking for a cheap replacement who should immediately step into the starting lineup, he is arguably the cleanest solution.
Best for: Managers who want an immediate replacement and are willing to take a short-term punt.
2. Who Should Keep João Pedro?
Not every João Pedro owner needs to panic.
If you already have a strong bench option capable of replacing the Chelsea forward this Gameweek, keeping Pedro could actually be the smarter move.
His expected absence is relatively short, and if he returns after the international break as anticipated, transferring him out now could simply create another headache when you eventually need to bring him back.
This is particularly important for managers who already have good depth across their squad.
Instead of spending a transfer on João Pedro, you could simply use your bench player for Gameweek 5 and utilise your transfer elsewhere, perhaps upgrading another position or bringing in a player with stronger upcoming fixtures.
Even if João Pedro ends up missing a second consecutive Premier League match, holding him could still make sense if your bench can cover him.
The key factor here is bench quality.
If your replacement is likely to score very few points, selling Pedro becomes more attractive. But if you have a reliable substitute sitting on your bench, there is little reason to waste a transfer on a player who could soon be back in the Chelsea XI.
Best for: Managers with a strong bench and enough squad depth to absorb one or two missed Gameweeks.
3. Want to Avoid the João Pedro Fitness Headache? Buy Yoane Wissa
The third option is for FPL managers who simply want to eliminate the João Pedro problem altogether.
If you don't want to keep checking injury updates, wondering whether Pedro will return for Chelsea's next match or potentially waste another transfer later, you can take the long-term approach and replace him with Yoane Wissa.
Wissa could be an excellent alternative because Newcastle's upcoming fixtures offer significant FPL appeal.
The Magpies face Hull at home, Coventry away, Aston Villa at home and Crystal Palace away through the end of October, giving Wissa an attractive run of fixtures in which he could potentially deliver attacking returns.
The biggest advantage is that you wouldn't necessarily need to think about replacing him again anytime soon.
Rather than transferring João Pedro out now and then bringing him back once he's fit, Wissa can become a genuine medium-term option while Pedro recovers and gets back to his best.
There is also a financial benefit.
Wissa is a cheaper alternative, allowing you to pocket some extra money and potentially strengthen another position in your FPL squad.
For managers looking for a set-and-forget replacement, this could be the most appealing option of the three.
Best for: Managers who want to move on from João Pedro completely and target a longer-term forward with strong fixtures.
João Pedro FPL: Which Solution Is Best?
There is no universal answer to the João Pedro FPL dilemma.
If you want the direct replacement, Danny Welbeck is the obvious choice and could offer immediate value at £5.9m.
If you have a strong bench, keeping João Pedro and saving your transfer could be the smartest move, especially if he returns after the international break.
But if you're tired of worrying about his fitness and want a long-term solution, Yoane Wissa offers an attractive alternative thanks to Newcastle's upcoming fixture run and his cheaper price.
Ultimately, the right decision depends on your squad structure, but don't feel pressured into selling João Pedro simply because more than 71% of managers own him. Assess your bench, your transfer plans and your Gameweek 5 strategy before making the move.