Captain
Haaland
Erling Haaland
FWDMCIH BOU
Home to BOU (FDR 3). 239 pts last season. 69.7% owned — template.
£15.5m · 69.7% selected · 4.0 xPts
Premier League 26/27 · Gameweek 1 · Season opener
Haaland's armband. ARS host COV.
Season 26/27 opens Fri 21 Aug, 18:30 BST. Draft the minutes, not the narrative.
Deadline Friday 21 August at 18:30 BST
—
Season openers reward nailed minutes and a kind first fixture, not last week's hype. Arsenal host Coventry City — the cleanest opener on the slate. Haaland is the default armband; B.Fernandes is the strongest alternative. If you want off-template, Saka is the desk's differential captain. Hold the chips.
Upload your squad — or a rival’s — for a £100.0m transfer plan
Vice
B.Fernandes
Away to HUL (FDR 2). 235 pts last season. 49.7% owned — template.
Differential
Saka
Home to COV (FDR 2). 157 pts last season. 9.4% owned — off-template.
This weekend
The slate
ARS v COV
Fri 20:00
ARS 2COV 5HUL v MUN
Sat 12:30
HUL 4MUN 2EVE v CRY
Sat 15:00
EVE 3CRY 3IPS v SUN
Sat 15:00
IPS 2SUN 2NFO v LEE
Sat 15:00
NFO 2LEE 3BRE v TOT
Sat 17:30
BRE 3TOT 3BHA v AVL
Sun 14:00
BHA 3AVL 3MCI v BOU
Sun 14:00
MCI 3BOU 5NEW v LIV
Sun 16:30
NEW 4LIV 3FUL v CHE
Mon 20:00
FUL 4CHE 3
Draft board
XI to build around
Spine
Template XI
Raya
GKPARSH COV
Home to COV (FDR 2). 162 pts last season. 35.6% owned — template.
£6.0m · 35.6% selected · 4.0 xPts
Gabriel
DEFARSH COV
Home to COV (FDR 2). 209 pts last season. 29.3% owned — template.
£8.0m · 29.3% selected · 4.0 xPts
O'Reilly
DEFMCIH BOU
Home to BOU (FDR 3). 160 pts last season. 21.5% owned — template.
£6.5m · 21.5% selected · 3.1 xPts
Virgil
DEFLIVA NEW
Away to NEW (FDR 3). 175 pts last season.
£6.5m · 18.4% selected · 3.1 xPts
B.Fernandes
MIDMUNA HUL
Away to HUL (FDR 2). 235 pts last season. 49.7% owned — template.
£12.0m · 49.7% selected · 4.0 xPts
Saka
MIDARSH COV
Home to COV (FDR 2). 157 pts last season. 9.4% owned — off-template.
£9.5m · 9.4% selected · 3.2 xPts
Semenyo
MIDMCIH BOU
Home to BOU (FDR 3). 202 pts last season. 26.5% owned — template.
£8.5m · 26.5% selected · 2.9 xPts
Gibbs-White
MIDNFOH LEE
Home to LEE (FDR 2). 188 pts last season.
£8.0m · 12.0% selected · 2.8 xPts
Haaland
FWDMCIH BOU
Home to BOU (FDR 3). 239 pts last season. 69.7% owned — template.
£15.5m · 69.7% selected · 4.0 xPts
Thiago
FWDBREH TOT
Home to TOT (FDR 3). 181 pts last season.
£8.0m · 17.8% selected · 2.5 xPts
Watkins
FWDAVLA BHA
Away to BHA (FDR 3). 167 pts last season.
£8.0m · 11.7% selected · 2.5 xPts
Value
Under £6.5m
Raya
GKPARSH COV
Home to COV (FDR 2). 162 pts last season. 35.6% owned — template.
£6.0m · 35.6% selected · 4.0 xPts
Donnarumma
GKPMCIH BOU
Home to BOU (FDR 3). 135 pts last season. 9.1% owned — off-template.
£5.5m · 9.1% selected · 3.3 xPts
Roefs
GKPSUNA IPS
Away to IPS (FDR 2). 136 pts last season. 4.7% owned — off-template.
£5.0m · 4.7% selected · 2.6 xPts
Pickford
GKPEVEH CRY
Home to CRY (FDR 3). 135 pts last season. 8.3% owned — off-template.
£5.5m · 8.3% selected · 3.3 xPts
Benitez
GKPCRYA EVE
Away to EVE (FDR 3). 7 pts last season. 0.1% owned — off-template.
£4.5m · 0.1% selected · 1.9 xPts
Kelleher
GKPBREH TOT
Home to TOT (FDR 3). 143 pts last season. 5.9% owned — off-template.
£5.0m · 5.9% selected · 2.6 xPts
Owned less
Differentials
Saka
MIDARSH COV
Home to COV (FDR 2). 157 pts last season. 9.4% owned — off-template.
£9.5m · 9.4% selected · 3.2 xPts
Palmer
MIDCHEA FUL
Away to FUL (FDR 3). 114 pts last season.
£9.5m · 10.5% selected · 3.2 xPts
Cunha
MIDMUNA HUL
Away to HUL (FDR 2). 143 pts last season.
£8.0m · 10.9% selected · 2.8 xPts
Bruno G.
MIDARSH COV
Home to COV (FDR 2). 154 pts last season. 8.5% owned — off-template.
£7.0m · 8.5% selected · 2.5 xPts
Enzo
MIDCHEA FUL
Away to FUL (FDR 3). 157 pts last season. 5.2% owned — off-template.
£7.0m · 5.2% selected · 2.5 xPts
The street
Most used, and the tip sites
Ownership from the official Fantasy Premier League game. Names also pulled from Fantasy Football Scout, BBC Sport FPL, and The Independent.
Official FPL
Most selected
Haaland
FWDMCIH BOU
Home to BOU (FDR 3). 239 pts last season. 69.7% owned — template.
£15.5m · 69.7% selected · 4.0 xPts
João Pedro
FWDCHEA FUL
Away to FUL (FDR 3). 177 pts last season. 61.5% owned — template.
£7.5m · 61.5% selected · 2.3 xPts
B.Fernandes
MIDMUNA HUL
Away to HUL (FDR 2). 235 pts last season. 49.7% owned — template.
£12.0m · 49.7% selected · 4.0 xPts
Szoboszlai
MIDLIVA NEW
Away to NEW (FDR 3). 160 pts last season. 41.4% owned — template.
£7.0m · 41.4% selected · 2.5 xPts
Raya
GKPARSH COV
Home to COV (FDR 2). 162 pts last season. 35.6% owned — template.
£6.0m · 35.6% selected · 4.0 xPts
Mbeumo
MIDMUNA HUL
Away to HUL (FDR 2). 148 pts last season. 33.0% owned — template.
£8.0m · 33.0% selected · 2.8 xPts
Calafiori
DEFARSH COV
Home to COV (FDR 2). 109 pts last season. 30.7% owned — template.
£5.5m · 30.7% selected · 2.5 xPts
Gabriel
DEFARSH COV
Home to COV (FDR 2). 209 pts last season. 29.3% owned — template.
£8.0m · 29.3% selected · 4.0 xPts
Calvert-Lewin
FWDLEEA NFO
Away to NFO (FDR 3). 142 pts last season. 28.5% owned — template.
£6.0m · 28.5% selected · 2.0 xPts
Semenyo
MIDMCIH BOU
Home to BOU (FDR 3). 202 pts last season. 26.5% owned — template.
£8.5m · 26.5% selected · 2.9 xPts
Tip sites
Named this week
Haaland
69.7% owned
Official FPL · Fantasy Football Scout · BBC Sport
João Pedro
61.5% owned
Official FPL · Fantasy Football Scout
Szoboszlai
41.4% owned
Official FPL · Fantasy Football Scout
Raya
35.6% owned
Official FPL · Fantasy Football Scout
Mbeumo
33.0% owned
Official FPL · Fantasy Football Scout
Fernandes
2.2% owned
Fantasy Football Scout · The Independent
B.Fernandes
49.7% owned
Official FPL
Calafiori
30.7% owned
Official FPL
Shaw
21.8% owned
Fantasy Football Scout
Verbruggen
19.6% owned
Fantasy Football Scout
- Fantasy Football Scout · FPL 2026/27 – Liverpool: Best players, set-piece takers, predicted XI + more
- Fantasy Football Scout · FPL 2026/27 – Leeds: Best players, set-piece takers, predicted XI + more
- Fantasy Football Scout · FPL General’s Gameweek 1 team reveal: Bench Boost active
- Fantasy Football Scout · FPL Gameweek 1 team news: Wednesday’s injury updates
- Fantasy Football Scout · FPL 2026/27 – Fulham: Best players, set-piece takers, predicted XI + more
By position
gkp
Raya
GKPARSH COV
Home to COV (FDR 2). 162 pts last season. 35.6% owned — template.
£6.0m · 35.6% selected · 4.0 xPts
Donnarumma
GKPMCIH BOU
Home to BOU (FDR 3). 135 pts last season. 9.1% owned — off-template.
£5.5m · 9.1% selected · 3.3 xPts
Pickford
GKPEVEH CRY
Home to CRY (FDR 3). 135 pts last season. 8.3% owned — off-template.
£5.5m · 8.3% selected · 3.3 xPts
A.Becker
GKPLIVA NEW
Away to NEW (FDR 3). 91 pts last season. 3.8% owned — off-template.
£5.5m · 3.8% selected · 3.3 xPts
By position
def
Gabriel
DEFARSH COV
Home to COV (FDR 2). 209 pts last season. 29.3% owned — template.
£8.0m · 29.3% selected · 4.0 xPts
O'Reilly
DEFMCIH BOU
Home to BOU (FDR 3). 160 pts last season. 21.5% owned — template.
£6.5m · 21.5% selected · 3.1 xPts
Virgil
DEFLIVA NEW
Away to NEW (FDR 3). 175 pts last season.
£6.5m · 18.4% selected · 3.1 xPts
Guéhi
DEFMCIH BOU
Home to BOU (FDR 3). 179 pts last season.
£6.0m · 19.2% selected · 2.8 xPts
By position
mid
B.Fernandes
MIDMUNA HUL
Away to HUL (FDR 2). 235 pts last season. 49.7% owned — template.
£12.0m · 49.7% selected · 4.0 xPts
Saka
MIDARSH COV
Home to COV (FDR 2). 157 pts last season. 9.4% owned — off-template.
£9.5m · 9.4% selected · 3.2 xPts
Semenyo
MIDMCIH BOU
Home to BOU (FDR 3). 202 pts last season. 26.5% owned — template.
£8.5m · 26.5% selected · 2.9 xPts
Gibbs-White
MIDNFOH LEE
Home to LEE (FDR 2). 188 pts last season.
£8.0m · 12.0% selected · 2.8 xPts
By position
fwd
Haaland
FWDMCIH BOU
Home to BOU (FDR 3). 239 pts last season. 69.7% owned — template.
£15.5m · 69.7% selected · 4.0 xPts
Thiago
FWDBREH TOT
Home to TOT (FDR 3). 181 pts last season.
£8.0m · 17.8% selected · 2.5 xPts
Watkins
FWDAVLA BHA
Away to BHA (FDR 3). 167 pts last season.
£8.0m · 11.7% selected · 2.5 xPts
João Pedro
FWDCHEA FUL
Away to FUL (FDR 3). 177 pts last season. 61.5% owned — template.
£7.5m · 61.5% selected · 2.3 xPts
Chips
Hold every chip
Gameweek 1 is for setting a squad, not spending chips. Triple captain and bench boost get better on a double gameweek. Both wildcards open from GW2 — do not burn one on an opener.
Unavailable
Injured and suspended
Official FPL status, updated 19 Aug, 19:00 BST. Return dates drive the six-week transfer plan.
Christie BOU· Suspended until 29 Aug
Suspended until 29 Aug
Plan: out through 29 Aug. Do not transfer them in until then.
Fofana CHE· Suspended until 6 Sep
Suspended until 6 Sep
Plan: out through 6 Sept. Do not transfer them in until then.
Andersen FUL· Suspended until 30 Aug
Suspended until 30 Aug
Plan: out through 30 Aug. Do not transfer them in until then.
Kroupi.Jr BOU· Injured
Foot injury - Unknown return date
No return date — treat as out of the next run.
Madjo AVL· Injured
Unspecified injury - Unknown return date
No return date — treat as out of the next run.
Manzambi AVL· Injured
Knee injury - Unknown return date
No return date — treat as out of the next run.
Wright COV· Injured
Thigh injury - Unknown return date
No return date — treat as out of the next run.
Saliba ARS· Injured
Back injury - Unknown return date
No return date — treat as out of the next run.
Van den Berg BRE· Injured
Unspecified injury - Unknown return date
No return date — treat as out of the next run.
Hughes HUL· Injured
Groin injury - Unknown return date
No return date — treat as out of the next run.
Column
This week's desk note
The live board above is computed from official FPL prices, ownership, expected points and this week's fixtures. Sign in to commission a written column for the gameweek — it is stored once and shared with everyone.
Ownership and prices from the official Fantasy Premier League API. Transfer names also drawn from Fantasy Football Scout, BBC Sport, and The Independent. Tips are a model, not medical or guaranteed returns. Updated 20/08/2026, 02:07:58.