FPL Gameweek 1 Tips: Captain, Best Picks & Team

We are almost there.

Our favorite competition Fantasy Premier League starts with Gameweek 1 in just a days. After a well-deserved rest, more than 6 million FPL managers are heading towards the 9-month-long marathon for a good finish in the global ranking and for victory in their mini-leagues.

Are you as excited as we are? We hope so.

We prepared for you a few (but important) pieces of advice before the start of the season, and as usual, our FPL GW1 Tips, where we also look at best picks, captain and our team selection.

Feel free to JOIN our Fantasy Football Reports mini-league by clicking this link or using our league code mbnplo.

Anyway, for our regular readers who are familiar with our content, let’s start with FPL GW1 Tips.

1. Fantasy Premier League 2025/26 Tips for Gameweek 1

1. Do not leave the selection of your squad for the last minute. If you want to take this season seriously, you should be 80-90% sure about your squad 2-3 days before the first kickoff. Decisions made just a few minutes before the deadline are usually bad, influenced by fear and emotions.
2. Speaking about emotions, you should eliminate them when selecting your GW1 team. You should build your squad on logic and data.
3. Use information from the previous seasons when picking your team. Look at players’ points from last season and seasons before. Are there any players that are able to repeat their strong performance year after year? If so, these are strong contenders for your GW1. They are safe options and could be the core of your FPL team throughout the whole season. Take a look at our article about the most reliable FPL players from previous seasons, you will find who these players are.
4. Look at the best FPL team from last season in our article: The best FPL team 2024/25. It is an analysis ex-post, and it shows which players we should have picked at the beginning of the last season and which was the best formation we should have used.
5. Do not take unnecessary risks with your GW1 squad. We have very little information about the upcoming season. We recommend you to play it safe, with low risk in the first gameweek. Go for reliable players and try to avoid players that we know nothing about. If you do want to take some risk, make sure you have it under control and that you select a maximum of 1 or 2 “risky” players.
6. Do not forget to consider players that are on set pieces and penalties. They could offer a great source of fantasy points.
7. Think long-term. Look at fixtures in GW2, GW3… How does your GW1 squad look for post-GW1 fixtures? Do you have good captaincy options for the following gameweeks?
8. If you think you have found the team you like, your optimal GW1 squad, go through all positions in your squad and challenge every player in your team. Is this player the best option for this position? Do I really need (want) him in my team? Why did I pick him? And if you find yourself doubtful about some players, then maybe it is time to start tinkering again.
9. Do not forget to ask yourself one very important question: What did I overlook? We are human beings, and we always overlook something when making decision complex like this (selecting our GW1 team). Make sure you analyzed all data, that you went through all players, and that you made your decision as best as you could.
10. FPL GW1 is always in complete chaos. Try not to chase points after it. Take a deep breath after the gameweek is over, and try to save a transfer for the next gameweek (unless some of your players get injured). You will have more information and data to make the right decision then.

Alright, so much for the FPL GW1 Tips. If you are interested in reading more about practical Fantasy Football Tips, go right to our article: 7 key tips for Fantasy Premier League Success.

Notes for the new season:

• Clean sheets rose in the previous season. In the last season (2024/25), there were 178 clean sheets, which is a small increaese in comparison to the 2023/24 season when we saw 157 clean sheets. This increase in clean sheets and introduction of defensive contribution points could (and I think really should) open the discussion about going “big at back” again

My view on defensive contribution points

• I love defensive contributions, just like I love ball recoveries in UCL Fantasy. They offer stable, repeatable points output in a chaotic scoring system. It’s like owning a stock (but not a growth stock that is doubling each year) in a well-managed, fundamentally strong company with a reasonable P/E ratio, that can give you each year – year after year, a consistent 3–4 % dividend without fluctuations. What’s not to love about that?
• Players best at defensive contributions can get you points from defensive contribution in around 50% of matches, which is an extra 2 points every second game, which is an extra 38 points per season (equivalent of 7.6 goals for a midfielder, and 9.5 goals for forwards)
• I think we will see a shift in points – points are going to be now more heavily distributed in midfield and defense. Forwards will lose big on this one (as it seems that you will rarely see a forward getting points for DEFCONs)
• IMO, 5 at the back will be on cards again because of this. BUT – 5 at back is only a good strategy when you have 2 cheap 4.5m playing forwards (which we do not have this season), so you could play 5-4-1, as you do not want to play 5-3-2 because midfield spots are precious. So I am leaning towards a 4-4-2 formation this year.

My view on chips and chip strategies

• Having two of each chip, one for each half of the season, is perfect. You can enjoy the first half more. And the newcomers who will waste their chips early will be able to navigate blanks and doubles later in the season better.
• When to use the first bench boost? Well, very early after you are sure you have 15 starters in your team, without injuries, suspensions. So either in GW1 or GW2, or right after the first wildcard (2nd gameweek after the wildcard, as you cannot have two chips active at the same time).
• When to use the first Triple captain? It is unlikely we see some double gameweeks in the first half of the season (if there are no unexpected postponements), so you want to target an easy fixture, like Salah or Haaland against Sunderland.
• When to use the first Wildcard? Usually, I tend to use my first wildcard around the first or second biggest fixture swing (so around GW5 – GW10). You want to benefit the most from the first Wildcard as possible. To deal with AFCON, we will all get additional transfers, which decreases the impact of using the wildcard pre-AFCON

This season will be very kind to unprepared and casual FPL managers. More luck will be needed than skill.

• We used to think that FPL is a game of skill (to some distinct of course), because good planning, saving your chips for blanks and doubles, preparing for AFCON, etc would give you clear edge over the casual managers who just do not look into the future and play gameweek by gameweek, or sometimes even miss a gameweek
• but this season, with chips for each half of the season, additional transfers for AFCON, the long term planning will not give you such benefit as in previous season.
• So I expect this season to be way more about Luck than Skill than usual
• But as a result, the season should be more competitive, and we could see fewer dead teams at the end of the season

Some of my wild predictions for 2025/26 season

• I really like Wirtz as and fantasy asset (but I am biased because of UCL Fantasy last season) – I think he will be among the top scorers this season
• If Cunha and Mbeumo can do in Man. United (with Bruno delivery) what they have been doing for Wolves and Brentford, at some point (and given their price) we might even go triple Man. United midfield with Bruno + Cunha + Mbeumo (just like Salah + Mane + Firmino was a thing a few season ago). But that is just a big IF and I am not recommending anyone to do this straight away. Both are just “wait and see” for me currently.
• Crystal Palace could be the “Nottingham Forrest” of this season. I really like how their improved. Mateta, Eze, Sarr, Munoz, Lacroix (defensive contributions) should not be overlooked as FPL assets.

2. Way to improve your Fantasy Premier League skills

Perhaps this is your first FPL season, and you are really excited about it. Or you are familiar with FPL but you could not crack that top 10k in previous seasons or beat your mini-league rivals.

Although, as we already mentioned, FPL is a game where luck plays a certain role, it is also a game of skill. So, if you would like to improve your FPL game, you can only do it by making better decisions about your team.

These 11 recommendations will help you improve your game:

1. improve your game by getting quality information – if you do not have the best information, you cannot make the best decision, so you need to sacrifice some time to obtain/read them
2. learn from point distributions in previous seasons
3. Make your own decisions and do not copy others
4. always think about the long-term big picture
5. never let emotions to make decisions instead of you
6. follow stats like shots or xG
7. think about moves before you make them
8. optimize your formation and ask yourself questions like – is this 7.5 million forward going to score more goals than this 6.0 million defender?
9. Listen to QUALITY podcasts
10. follow the right people on the FPL Twitter
11. Read good books about FPL.

Our further reading about improving FPL skills:

• 6 Books that will help you improve your FPL skills
• 13 Tips How to Get Better at Fantasy Football
• The Law of Large Numbers and its Role in FPL
• 7 Similarities Between FPL and Stock Market and How to Use Them

My FPL principles

Here are some of my own FPL principles I always go back to when I am facing FPL dilemma:

3. Key players to own in FPL 2025/26

Key players

• Salah or Haaland (Just do not try to fit them both into your team – that would disrupt the balance) – your captains in almost any gameweek
• Bruno Fernandes – stable output over the last few years, on pens, OK fixtures, and he should even benefit from defensive contributions – I personally think he is even more “essential” than Salah
• Tarkowski/Murillo/Caicedo/Anderson/Baleba – pick one or two players good at defensive contributions and just stick to them
• Dubravka – you bench goalkeeper

Other great picks to consider

• Saka/Palmer – unless you go without Salah, you can hardly fit them both. Pick one of them, and stick with him. I currently prefer Saka as I plan to captain him in GW2.
• Frimpong/VVD – pick your LIV defender. One with higher goal threat but lower expected minutes, the other with smaller goal threat, but higher expected minutes and potential with defensive contribution points.
• Pickford – Two seasons in a row top top-scoring keeper. He would definitely be my starting keeper if I had not have Tarkowski.
• Sanchez – likely the 2nd best goalkeeper (in FPL terms) after Pickford
• Bowen, Watkins, Wood – three forwards I like the most currently. With all uncertainties elsewhere, these three should be reliable picks.
• Gvardiol – despite his position change, he should be nailed among Man. City defenders.
• Wirtz – it is a bit risky to include not proven FPL players in your team, but he is just a wonder boy, and could be the type of player that will do well in any team he plays

Differentials to consider

• Jose Sa – differential 4.5m goalkeeper, fixtures improve after GW1
• Schar – so reliable in attacking returns in past seasons – had at leas 4 attacking retursn in 5 of his last 7 seasons. Unfortunately not among top defenders for defensive contributions
• Lacroix – good at DEFCONs
• Sarr – was among the underperformers last season and I am pretty bulish on Crystal Palace players for 25/26
• Thiago – If Wissa leaves, keep an eye on Brentford striker

Players I am avoiding:

• Wan Bissaka – perhaps I overlooked something, but I really do not get his ownership. West Ham had just 7 clean sheets last season, and there are better 4.5m picks.
• Haaland – unfortunately, with his price and the fact that DEFs and MIDs will benefit from defensive contributions, I just do not see a scenario where he would be in my GW1 team. But he will bang goals and hat-tricks, you must accept that. Your overall team without him, just needs to score more points than the unbalanced team with him.
• Joao Pedro – yes, he is banging goals in preseason, but I still do not consider him to be a reliable fantasy asset, and now, he will not be even on penalties
• Spurs defenders (apart from Pedro Porro) – I do not trust Spurs’ defense. But I somewhat consider Pedro Porro due to his attacking potential and set pieces (with Maddison injury).

Read more:

• • Best FPL Goalkeepers to pick in 2024/25
  • Goalkeepers with the most saves over the last 3 seasons
  • How to pick the Best FPL Defenders
  • How to pick the Best FPL Midfielders
  • How to pick the Best FPL Forwards

 

4. Fixtures to target in Gameweek 1

In which fixtures we could expect a lot of fantasy points? Fixtures to target in GW1 according to bookies odds:

• Liverpool vs. Bournemouth: The Reds 74 % to win, 48 % to score 2.5+ goals
• Spurs vs. Burnley: Spurs 71 % to win, 38 % to score 2.5+ goals
• Wolves vs. Man City: Man City 67 % to win, 36 % to score 2.5+ goals
• Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace: The Blues 61 % to win, 32 % to score 2.5+ goals

Find 2.5+ goals odds for all teams in our article: Premier League Over 2.5 Goals Odds.

Teams to target over the next few gameweeks

• Liverpool, Arsenal, Man. City – players from top teams should be delivering points regardless of the fixtures
• Aston Villa – pretty good fixture run up to GW8
• Everton – good opening fixtures, I whink you should have one of Pickford/Tarkowski
• Chelsea – also solid fixtures until GW6
• West Ham – Bowen is currently in my team, I think that all fixtures up to GW7 have points potential

5. Best captain pick in Gameweek 1

Do not overcomplicate the captaincy pick in the Gameweek 1. Just pick the best player in the game or the player you think will score the most points.

We are currently on Salah captain – the fixture is great, and so far, he always delivered fantasy points in GW1 since playing for Liverpool. Wirtz could be differential captain for bold ones – but that feels more like gamble.

If you want to learn more about picking a captain in the Fantasy Premier League, go to our article: How to pick a captain in FPL.

Another captaincy options: Haaland against Wolves, Bowen vs. Sunderland

Note: Make sure you are planning your captaincy for GW1, GW2, GW3 as well.

6. What bookies odds say about GW1

At Fantasy Football Reports, we often use bookmakers odds to help us with our fantasy decisions.

We convert them into probabilities with our Odds to probability calculator, to get an overview of: who is most likely to score each GW, and which teams are most likely to keep a clean sheet.

Clean Sheet Odds for GW1

You can check the GW1 clean sheet odds here. Bookies favor mainly  Tottenham, Man. City, Liverpool and Chelsea to perform well defensively in the first gameweek of the season.

They also expect only 4.91 clean sheets in the GW1, which is more than 4.68 clean sheets per gameweek that we witnessed last season.

That suggests that there could be more clean sheets in the GW1 than we are used to in an average gameweek of the last season.

Speaking about clean sheets, we found out that there are teams that are able to keep almost the same amount of clean sheets every season. They could be greate source of defensive points in FPL. Check which teams we talk about in the article: Most stable defensive teams.

Goalscoring odds for GW1

Nothing new here. Salah leads the odds. Check any time goalscoring odds for GW1 here: Premier League Goalsocring Odds.

7. Scout team selection for FPL GW1

Here is our current selection for the start of the season (for GW1 and beyond). Salah – Saka – Fernandes is the captaincy sequence for GW1- GW3.

8. Fantasy Premier League Tips

Find more tips, strategies and picks for Fantasy Premier League in these articles:

• Beginner? Read our guide: How to play Fantasy Premier League
• Confused about the rules? Read the Official rules of the game or check our FAQs
• Want to beat your mini-league rivals? This article is for you: 7 Key Tips for Fantasy Premier League Success
• Interested in improving your decision-making process when picking players to your fantasy team? Check out Books that will help you to improve your FPL skills

Hopefully, our FPL GW1 Tips helped to get you in the picture before the first kick-off. However, at the end of the day, it is all about you and your decision-making process. We want to inspire you, show you things to focus on and what to not overlook.

Now it is up to you to make your own research to complete your GW1 squad and make the right decisions about your FPL team.

Good luck in Gameweek 1!