Searching for an under-the-radar gem to start out the 2026-27 Premier League season? We’ve crunched the Opta information and picked out 5 potential FPL stars for Gameweek 1.
Strap yourselves in because the Premier League returns for the 2026-27 marketing campaign, and so does Fantasy Premier League.
Double Arsenal defence? Erling Haaland or Bruno Fernandes? Who to captain? Overlook all of that as we’ve received the column that would make all of the distinction in opposition to your mini-league rivals.
Utilizing Opta information, we’ve recognized 5 gamers to contemplate bringing in for the brand new season, regardless of our alternatives presently being picked by fewer than 10% of FPL managers.
GK – Matz Sels | 5.0m | 1.6% Possession
With Oliver Glasner leaving Crystal Palace to take cost on the Metropolis Floor, Matz Sels and the Nottingham Forest defence might profit from the Austrian’s appointment.
You solely have to take a look at Palace’s backline, and particularly Dean Henderson, to grasp the reasoning behind this choice. Solely two goalkeepers saved extra clear sheets than Henderson’s 11 in final season’s Premier League, regardless of Palace ending 15th.
In truth, solely six groups conceded fewer expected goals in opposition to (xGA) than Palace’s 51.9 within the competitors final season. Forest ranked 16th for a similar metric (57.3 xGA), suggesting Glasner will look to repair these points together with his trusted five-man defence.
And if Sels’ fantasy soccer historical past is something to go by, we could possibly be in for a deal with. Beginning at a £4.5m worth level within the 2024-25 marketing campaign, the Belgian saved the joint-most clear sheets (13, together with David Raya) and gathered 150 factors, rating solely behind Jordan Pickford’s 158 amongst all goalkeepers.
There ought to be some long-term warning with Sels, although. A gap assembly at dwelling to Leeds United is inviting for a possible clear sheet, however Forest then journey to Liverpool and Aston Villa both aspect of internet hosting Tottenham.
However with Glasner on the helm, may Sels recreate his earlier FPL heroics and show his price as an under-the-radar decide?
DEF – Dan Ballard | 5.0m | 4.7% Possession
Fantasy Soccer managers around the globe will probably be eager to make a quick begin, and to take action, it might be price benefiting from Sunderland’s opening fixtures.
Travelling to newly promoted Ipswich City in Gameweek 1 earlier than welcoming Fulham to the Stadium of Gentle, Dan Ballard stands out as a prime decide in Regis Le Bris’ backline.
With an extra two factors on supply for defenders in the event that they attain 10 defensive contributions, Ballard’s enchantment turns into larger. He averaged 11 defensive contributions per 90 minutes final season.
Ballard scored factors for that metric in 58.3% of his appearances, with solely 4 present Premier League defenders reaching the edge at a larger success price within the earlier marketing campaign.
He presents haul potential on the different finish of the pitch, too. Ballard scored twice within the competitors final season, whereas no Sunderland defender managed greater than his 25 photographs from contained in the field.
There are different choices in Sunderland’s backline, however Le Bris has already prompt Nordi Mukiele (£5.5m) and Omar Alderete (£5m) could possibly be benched resulting from health considerations. Robin Roefs is one other various, however with solely two goalkeeper slots out there, Ballard is the person to lock in as a differential decide.
MID – Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor | 6.5m | 3.5% Possession
With James Garner an damage doubt and Iliman Ndiaye already picked by 15.6% of managers, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall presents another choice for an Everton aspect with ‘kinder’ opening fixtures.
In keeping with the Opta Fixture Problem Ranking information, Everton have the seventh-kindest begin out of all Premier League groups, opening at dwelling to Crystal Palace earlier than dealing with Bournemouth (A), Manchester United (H), Tottenham (A) and Ipswich (H).
Though David Moyes’ crew are hardly identified for his or her attacking pleasure, you’d anticipate a lot of Everton’s ahead play will undergo Dewsbury-Corridor. He managed a team-leading 12 objective contributions in final season’s competitors (8 targets, 4 assists).
His 37 possibilities created had been additionally bettered by solely two Everton gamers. Nevertheless, Garner (56) is battling a pre-season groin situation, whereas loanee Jack Grealish (38) might not return to Merseyside.
Dewsbury-Corridor’s routes to scoring develop into larger when contemplating that he additionally chipped in with 10 defensive contribution factors and 18 bonus factors, making him a menace from all angles.
At an reasonably priced worth level, Dewsbury-Corridor’s inclusion creates area within the funds for the likes of Fernandes and Antoine Semenyo. Regardless of his cheaper price tag, the Everton midfielder nonetheless has the information behind him to make a flying begin in your XI.
MID – Anton Stach | 6.0m | 1.1% Possession
With final season’s addition of defensive contribution factors, midfielders don’t all the time should be scoring or aiding each week to attain you factors.
Anton Stach is a chief instance of that. The Leeds midfielder collected 137 factors final marketing campaign, averaging a gentle 4.9 factors per begin.
The German reached the defensive contributions threshold – 12 for midfielders and forwards – in 35.7% of his video games and registered 20 factors for doing so.
Having additionally scored 5 targets and equipped six assists, Stach could possibly be one other that sneaks previous a number of managers, regardless of his all-round attributes and set-piece duties.
Harry Wilson’s arrival at Elland Highway may even see Stach play deeper and share corners, though Daniel Farke will nonetheless need him closely concerned going ahead. Stach created 63 possibilities in final season’s competitors, with Brenden Aaronson the next-best Leeds participant on 34.
Leeds’ opening 5 fixtures are removed from intimidating, both. They go to Forest within the aforementioned opener earlier than internet hosting Brentford, Newcastle United and Palace, together with a visit to Brighton.
FWD – Oli McBurnie | 5.5m | 1.5% Possession
In fact, few gamers fall into the 10% Membership on the prime finish of the pitch. Final season’s prime six forwards, primarily based solely on factors scored, are unsurprisingly all chosen by greater than 10% of managers.
The opposite 4 of the highest 10 scoring attackers are both unsure for minutes (Danny Welbeck and Richarlison), injured (Hugo Ekitiké) or have a tricky opening fixture (Evanilson, Bournemouth away to Manchester Metropolis).
So, why not take a punt on Oliver McBurnie? He scored 18 occasions and delivered seven assists within the 2025-26 Championship, regardless of being injured for nearly two months, exhibiting that McBurnie actually has an eye fixed for objective.
His 18 strikes got here from an anticipated targets complete of simply 13.4, suggesting McBurnie could make his possibilities depend for Hull City, though whether or not we see him come again all the way down to earth stays to be seen.
The Scottish striker is predicted to be on penalty-taking duties for Hull, too, and is a person for the massive event after his Ninety fifth-minute winner within the play-off last.
A Gameweek 1 assembly with Manchester United at dwelling does seem daunting, however Michael Carrick’s aspect saved simply eight clear sheets final season. Solely the three relegated sides managed fewer within the Premier League, and Hull ought to have their tails up on their top-flight return.
Plus, with Haaland (£15.5m) already in nearly three-quarters of all FPL groups, McBurnie’s choice will enable your funds to stretch additional. And he may pay dividends in opposition to both United or Coventry Metropolis (A) the next weekend.
*FPL participant values and possession information correct as of 19 August 2026
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