Joao Pedro’s sudden withdrawal from the Brazil squad has turned him into a serious injury doubt for Chelsea’s Gameweek 5 trip to Brentford, and that is a problem Fantasy managers cannot ignore. With more than 74 per cent ownership, his availability will shape a huge number of squads this weekend.
There is, however, no need to panic over the longer term. Joao Pedro has already delivered three goals and three assists for 33 points across the first four Gameweeks, making him the standout early-season pick at £7.8m and the most-owned player in Fantasy.
Benching looks the sensible move for Gameweek 5
The immediate question is whether Joao Pedro will feature at all for Chelsea against Brentford. Xabi Alonso said he may be available on Friday night, but the clearest reading of the situation is that he is not yet secure enough to trust in the starting XI.
That makes the practical Fantasy call straightforward: bench him for Gameweek 5 rather than rush into a sale. The risk is too high if he is not fully fit, especially when Chelsea do not need to be chased into a short-term move that could backfire.
Why selling now would be a bigger mistake
The case for holding is strengthened by Chelsea’s schedule after this weekend. Between Gameweeks 6-13, they have one match out of eight with a Fixture Difficulty Rating above three, which is exactly the kind of run that can reward patience.
For Fantasy managers, that matters more than one uncertain fixture. Joao Pedro’s early numbers have been good enough to justify faith, and the combination of price, ownership and production means he still looks like a player to keep rather than dump at the first sign of trouble.
There are alternatives in the game, of course, but few offer the same balance of value and upside. Joao Pedro has already shown why he matters so much to squads across the game, and if the injury is not serious, he should remain central to Chelsea’s and Fantasy managers’ plans once Gameweek 5 passes.
For now, the key is simple: watch Friday night closely, be prepared for a benching at Brentford, and avoid making a long-term decision based on short-term uncertainty.
