Discover the Best Out-of-Position Players in FPL 2026/27, including defenders playing in midfield or attack who can offer extra routes to points.
An out-of-position (OOP) player can change the mathematics of Fantasy Premier League. A defender stationed on the wing can collect attacking returns while retaining access to clean-sheet points, while a midfielder leading the line earns an extra point for every goal compared with an FPL forward.
The label should not be handed out too freely, though. An attacking full-back is not automatically OOP, while a one-match tactical experiment may disappear as soon as an injured teammate returns.
These are the cases worth taking seriously and the ones that still require patience.
Prices correct as of 30 August 2026.
Best Out-of-Position Players in FPL 2026/27
- Maxim De Cuyper – Brighton: Defender | Left-winger | £4.6m | Best current OOP option
- Nico O’Reilly – Manchester City: Defender | No.10/central midfielder | £6.5m | High ceiling, rotation risk
- Neco Williams – Nottingham Forest: Defender | Left wing-back | £5.0m | Strong attacking role
- Trai Hume – Sunderland: Defender | Right midfielder/right-winger | £4.5m | Budget option to monitor
- Marc Guéhi – Manchester City: Defender | Centre-back/holding midfielder | £6.0m | Role not yet secure
- Bryan Mbeumo – Manchester United: Midfielder | Right-winger/centre-forward | £8.0m | OOP opportunity may be temporary
- Ola Aina – Nottingham Forest: Defender | Right wing-back | £4.5m | Cheaper Forest alternative
- Rayan Aït-Nouri – Manchester City: Defender | Left-back/left-wing option | £5.4m | Wait for regular minutes
1. Maxim De Cuyper
- Brighton: FPL position: Defender | Current price: £4.6m | Current role: Left-winger
Maxim De Cuyper is the cleanest OOP case in FPL at the moment. Brighton have pushed the Belgian into their front line, allowing him to attack from the left while remaining classified as a defender.
The experiment produced an immediate reward against Aston Villa. De Cuyper scored, forced the shot that became Victor Lindelöf’s own goal and finished the match with four attempts and three chances created. His 17-point return was not built around one fortunate finish; his overall positioning supported it.
There is an expiry date to consider. Kaoru Mitoma’s return and any late attacking signing could eventually send De Cuyper back into defence. For now, however, a £4.6m defender starting in Brighton’s front three is difficult to ignore.
2. Nico O’Reilly
- Manchester City: FPL position: Defender | Current price: £6.5m | Current role: No.10/central midfielder
Nico O’Reilly has already occupied two midfield positions in Manchester City’s opening two league matches. Enzo Maresca used him as a No.10 against Bournemouth before moving him into central midfield for the victory at Crystal Palace.
That makes O’Reilly a genuine OOP defender rather than merely an adventurous full-back. The problem is that his advanced role has not yet translated into a significant FPL return, while £6.5m is a substantial investment for a player facing competition throughout City’s squad.
His position is still worth following closely. A defender regularly arriving around the penalty area for one of the league’s strongest attacks can become an elite asset very quickly. At his current price, though, managers should first look for greater security of minutes and a clearer route to attacking returns.
3. Neco Williams
- Nottingham Forest: FPL position: Defender | Current price: £5.0m | Current role: Left wing-back
Neco Williams is not OOP in the strictest sense, but Oliver Glasner’s 3-4-3 has changed the type of defender he is in FPL. Instead of beginning from a conventional back four, Williams operates as a wing-back with responsibility for providing width and joining Forest’s attacks.
His influence was clear at Anfield, where he repeatedly tested Liverpool’s right side and won the penalty converted by Morgan Gibbs-White. In FPL, winning that spot-kick also earned Williams an assist.
Forest have yet to establish themselves as a reliable clean-sheet side this season, so Williams cannot depend solely on defensive returns. His advanced position gives him another route to points and makes the extra £0.5m over Ola Aina easier to justify.
4. Trai Hume
- Sunderland: FPL position: Defender | Current price: £4.5m | Current role: Right midfielder/right-winger
Sunderland spent part of pre-season using Trai Hume in front of the right-back, and Régis Le Bris has continued to deploy him higher up the pitch. Listed as a £4.5m defender, Hume is effectively filling a right-sided midfield role when Sunderland have the ball.
He also showed that the switch was more than a defensive exercise by contributing two goals and an assist during pre-season. Sunderland are unlikely to create chances at the rate of the division’s leading clubs, but an inexpensive defender playing in midfield does not need enormous attacking numbers to become useful.
The risk concerns personnel. Hume can be returned to right-back whenever Sunderland need him there, particularly as Nordi Mukiele and Thomas Meunier compete for minutes. He is an appealing budget option, although his position should be checked before every deadline.
5. Marc Guéhi
- Manchester City: FPL position: Defender | Current price: £6.0m | Current role: Centre-back/holding midfielder
Marc Guéhi produced one of the season’s most unexpected tactical stories when Maresca started him as a holding midfielder against Bournemouth. The experiment ended with Guéhi heading home City’s equaliser and collecting a 10-point FPL return.
He returned to centre-back against Crystal Palace, so it would be premature to describe him as a permanent midfielder. The arrival of Ayyoub Bouaddi and the improving fitness of City’s other midfielders could further reduce the need to use him there.
Guéhi remains a strong FPL defender even without the positional switch. He scored 179 points last season and carries a threat from set pieces, but managers should regard any future midfield start as an added benefit rather than the central reason to buy him.
Other Out-of-Position Players to Watch
Bryan Mbeumo
- Manchester United: FPL position: Midfielder | Current price: £8.0m | Possible role: Centre-forward
Mbeumo led Manchester United’s attack during pre-season and started through the middle against Hull while Benjamin Šeško worked towards full fitness. He would have considerable OOP appeal if that arrangement continued, but Šeško’s return could move him back to the right or create greater rotation. His forward role is a bonus, not something managers should currently assume will last.
Ola Aina
- Nottingham Forest: FPL position: Defender | Current price: £4.5m | Current role: Right wing-back
Aina offers a cheaper route into the same Glasner system as Neco Williams. His right wing-back position allows him to advance beyond Forest’s midfield, although Williams has displayed the stronger attacking involvement so far. Aina is the more natural option for managers who need to save £0.5m.
Rayan Aït-Nouri
- Manchester City: FPL position: Defender | Current price: £5.4m | Possible role: Left-winger
Aït-Nouri has the technical ability to play high on the left and was used there during pre-season. The attraction is obvious, but he has not played a Premier League minute this season. Until Maresca provides evidence that Aït-Nouri has a regular place, the Algerian belongs on a watchlist rather than in an FPL squad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does out of position mean in FPL?
A: An out-of-position player is listed in one FPL category but regularly performs a different role for his club. The most valuable example is usually a defender playing in midfield or attack because he can earn clean-sheet points while operating closer to goal.
Q: Are wing-backs considered out-of-position players?
A: Not always. Wing-back is still a defensive position, so players such as Neco Williams and Ola Aina are better described as advanced defenders rather than strict OOP assets. They are included because their average positioning gives them substantially more attacking potential than a conventional full-back.
Q: Who is the best budget OOP defender in FPL 2026/27?
A: Maxim De Cuyper is the best option while he continues to start on Brighton’s left wing. Trai Hume is the cheaper alternative at £4.5m, but his right-sided midfield role is less secure.
You have just read “Top 5 Out-of-Position Players in FPL 2026/27”. Follow 52Hz Football for more Fantasy Premier League tips, rankings and analysis.
READ MORE:
7 Greatest Point Hauls in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) History
From Dennis to Bednarek: The 5 Worst FPL Performances of All Time
