Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 1: Expert tips and differential picks ahead of deadline
As the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Gameweek 1 deadline approaches, managers are finalising their squads. Expert Wes Prickett, known as Heisenberg, has offered insights and answered questions, while reigning FPL Challenge champion Elias Enback has shared his team selections.
The deadline for making changes to FPL teams is tonight at 18:30 BST. This season’s opening gameweek is considered particularly challenging due to significant transitions across the Premier League, including new managers at Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea, along with new signings and newly promoted teams.
Expert Recommendations and Strategies
Wes Prickett, who has achieved seven top 30k overall finishes and a best finish of 836th in the world, provided guidance on various player selections and strategies. When asked about goalkeeper choices, Prickett stated a preference for Kinsky and Verbruggen, noting they are cheaper and play for teams with a higher likelihood of clean sheets compared to James Trafford. He also suggested that Petrovic could be a good option from Gameweek 7 onwards, especially for managers planning an early Wildcard.
For budget-friendly, surprise players, Prickett highlighted Pascal Gross and Iliman Ndiaye as good value options who could also be on penalties. He also mentioned Mamadou Sangare of Brentford as a player he likes. Regarding defensive picks, Prickett considered Andy Robertson as a potential differential but noted that with Kinsky already in his team, he would not consider other Tottenham Hotspur defenders. He also suggested Calafiori as a way to save funds in defence, allowing for investment elsewhere in the squad.
Prickett confirmed he would be using his bench boost in Gameweek 1. On the topic of captaincy, he acknowledged the risk of leaving out Erling Haaland but noted that the money saved could lead to a stronger overall squad. However, he will be sticking with Haaland for his own team, particularly for fixtures against newly promoted sides in Gameweek 3 and Gameweek 7. He also mentioned Bruno Fernandes and Pedro as solid captaincy alternatives for Gameweek 1.
From newly promoted teams, Prickett identified Leif Davis as a £4m defender with some attacking threat shown in pre-season, though he advised caution against targeting too many players from these sides immediately.
FPL Challenge Champion’s Picks
Elias Enback, the 2025/26 FPL Challenge champion, revealed his Gameweek 1 team for the “Instant Impact” challenge, which awards double points for all summer signings. Enback emphasised maximising this opportunity, leaning towards including five new recruits in his six-a-side team, which has an unlimited budget and a maximum of one player per club.
His goalkeeper selection is Kjell Scherpen of Ipswich Town, who is expected to be the first-choice goalkeeper following his move from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. In defence, Enback chose Luka Vuskovic, Brighton & Hove Albion‘s new centre-back, who joined from Tottenham Hotspur after a loan spell with Hamburg. Vuskovic scored six goals in 28 Bundesliga matches last season and is considered a threat on set-pieces.
For midfield, Enback selected Morgan Rogers of Chelsea, who recently joined the club and scored in a pre-season match against Real Sociedad. He also picked Christos Tzolis from Arsenal, describing him as a “spicy” option who impressed in pre-season and registered two assists in the Community Shield against Manchester City. Mamadou Sangare of Brentford, a new signing from Lens, was also included for his potential to collect defensive contribution points.
Despite not being a new signing, Erling Haaland was Enback’s choice for forward, citing his pedigree and tendency to score in Gameweek 1. Enback considered Gonzalo Garcia, Fulham‘s new striker, but opted for the established choice.
Low-Owned Differential Picks
Several low-owned players are being considered as differential picks for Gameweek 1. These include players from Sunderland, Everton, and Leeds United.
- Dan Ballard (Sunderland): With an FPL ownership of 5.3% and priced at £5.0m, Ballard is seen as a decent under-the-radar pick, especially with upcoming fixtures against Ipswich Town and Fulham. He averaged 10.98 defensive contributions per 90 minutes in 2025/26 and scored twice from set-pieces last season.
- Thierno Barry (Everton): Owned by only 1.3% of managers and priced at £5.5m, Barry is a cheap forward option. He scored three goals and provided one assist in pre-season and appears to have moved ahead of Beto in the striker pecking order. Everton‘s first six matches are considered favourable.
- Anton Stach (Leeds United): With an FPL ownership of 0.9% and priced at £6.0m, Stach averaged 4.9 points per start last season. He scored five goals and supplied six assists in 29 matches, also creating 63 chances for teammates. Leeds United‘s early fixtures, including a visit to Nottingham Forest in Gameweek 1, offer encouragement for his potential.
Managers have less than three hours to make their final adjustments before the deadline at 18:30 BST tonight.
Source: bbc.co.uk
Nathan Crowley is the Sports News Writer at NewsUK, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with six years of reporting experience. He moved from regional newspapers into digital sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Cardiff University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Cardiff, he plays amateur rugby and follows the Six Nations closely. “Speed and accuracy are not a trade-off in sport news.”
