Forest's catastrophic 25/26 — three managers, one survival
Nottingham Forest finished 16th in 2025/26 with 44 points — survival secured through a chaotic three-manager carousel (Nuno → Postecoglou → Dyche → Pereira returning mid-season). The mid-season Pereira appointment stabilised the squad; he enters 26/27 with his first full pre-season. For Fantasy Premier League managers, Forest is a fade-by-default club: manager instability through 25/26 makes asset confidence fragile, and even Pereira's system is largely unproven at PL level.
Chris Wood — the only nailed Forest FPL pick
Chris Wood (projected £6.5-7.0m) is Forest's lead striker and the only Forest asset with a credible FPL case for 26/27. His 24/25 season delivered 20 PL goals before he was rotated; the 25/26 chaos cut his output but he remains the nailed penalty taker and No. 9. At £6.5-7m he is a defensible 4th forward — the Pereira system stabilisation should restore some of his 24/25 form.
Morgan Gibbs-White (£7.9m) is Forest's most-owned player at 9.8%, takes the penalties, and has played every minute — he is the one Forest asset with a settled role. Elliot Anderson is not a Forest mid-bracket option any more; he is a £6.4m Manchester City midfielder. Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.9m) is still at the City Ground but has one minute of league football this season.
Forest's defensive picks: Muñoz, Murillo, Sels
Daniel Muñoz joined from Crystal Palace in the summer and is the most-owned Forest defender at £5.4m and 6.5% — he was the best attacking full-back in the budget bracket at Palace, and the role travels. He has 54 minutes so far, so confirm he is starting before you commit. Neco Williams (£5.0m, 8.3% owned) is the cheaper version and has played every minute.
Murillo (£5.5m) was a 25/26 standout centre-back — 18 bonus and 1.05 Defensive Contribution points per start under the 25/26 scoring tweak. He is the cleanest sub-£5.5m centre-back pick if Pereira keeps him in the regular XI. Matz Sels (£5.0m) is the budget goalkeeper option — competes with Roefs (Sunderland) and Verbruggen (Brighton) in the budget-GK bracket.
The three-manager carousel in 25/26 affected set-piece routines; the Pereira-era set-piece coach continuity is the open question. Verify in pre-season before locking in Murillo at £5.0m.
Forest's 26/27 ownership angle
Forest are 6/1 for relegation — mid-table expectation but the manager carousel risk is real. The recommended exposure: Wood + Murillo is the cleanest "double Forest" template. No premium Forest picks. Captain no Forest asset.
The opening 5 fixture difficulty will determine whether Wood and Murillo stay in your squad. If Forest draw favourable home fixtures in GW1-5, the budget pair is defensible. Otherwise fade Forest entirely until the first international break.