The start of the 2025/26 Premier League season also means the hugely popular Fantasy Premier League (FPL) competition gets underway this weekend.
Many FPL players will have assembled their squads and picked one of their favourite fantasy football team names several weeks in advance.
However, savvy FPL players know that waiting until the last minute to finalise their team is generally a shrewd move to ensure they don’t miss any last-minute transfer moves.
If you fancy pitting your wits against the Football Today team this season, you can join our Fantasy Premier League game by clicking this link.
In the spirit of fair play, we’ve also scoured the Premier League squads to identify one player to pick and one to avoid from each team.
Arsenal
Pick – Bukayo Saka, Avoid – Declan Rice
After topping the 200-points mark in two consecutive seasons, injury prevented Bukayo Saka from making it three in a row last term. If he stays fit, he is a must-have in FPL.
Declan Rice has been steady rather than spectacular in previous FPL seasons. The introduction of a new defensive metric makes teammate Martin Zubimendi a more viable option.
Aston Villa
Pick – Youri Tielemans – Avoid – Alex Moreno
Youri Tielemans is likely to be Villa’s designated penalty taker this season, which makes him an invaluable midfield option at just £6m.
FPL players looking for a cheap defensive option may be tempted by Alex Moreno at £4m, but he is only the third choice behind Lucas Digne and Ian Maatsen.
Bournemouth
Pick – Djorde Petrovic, Avoid – Evanilson
Goalkeeper Djorde Petrovic is a tempting proposition at £4.5m, although it may be worth waiting to see if Bournemouth strengthen the defence ahead of him before selecting him.
Evanlison scored 10 goals in 28 starts last season, but may struggle to hit double figures this term given that Bournemouth’s squad looks weaker.
Brentford
Pick – Kevin Schade, Avoid – Nathan Collins
Kevin Schade was the 14th highest-scoring midfielder with 11 goals last season, and he could improve on that tally with Bryan Mbeumo now out of the equation.
Defender Nathan Collins looks overpriced at £5m, particularly as Brentford may struggle to keep clean sheets during what could be a disappointing season.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Pick – Kaoru Mitoma, Avoid – Georginio Rutter
Mitoma was Brighton’s joint-top scorer with ten goals last season and could improve that tally now Joao Pedro has joined Chelsea. However, he will need to steer clear of injuries.
Georginio Rutter may look tempting at £6m, but he underwhelmed last season and should be avoided unless he starts showing he can cut it in the Premier League.
Burnley
Pick – Jaidon Anthony, Avoid – Aaron Ramsey
Burnley are expected to struggle on their return to the Premier League, so their players are best avoided. Jaidon Anthony could be the pick of a bad bunch.
Aaron Ramsey will be a popular pick for FPL players looking for £4.5m midfield squad fillers, but he has yet to prove he can shine at this level.
Chelsea
Pick – Cole Palmer, Avoid – Liam Delap
Cole Palmer has recorded 458 points over the past two seasons. He still looks decent value at £10.5m and should be the cornerstone of every FPL team.
Liam Delap did well with Ipswich Town last season, weighing in with 12 goals, but he may play second fiddle to Pedro this season.
Crystal Palace
Pick – Eberechi Eze, Avoid – Tyrick Mitchell
Eberechi Eze is one of Crystal Palace’s standout performers. If he joins another Premier League club before the transfer window closes, he would be even more tempting.
While Tyrick Mitchell has been relatively steady in FPL over the past few seasons, there are several better options in the £5m price bracket.
Everton
Pick – Jack Grealish, Avoid – Beto
Jack Grealish has landed at Everton with a point to prove after falling out of favour at Manchester City. He will relish being a big fish in a smaller pond.
Striker Beto looks appealing at £5.5m, but may not feature too much now the Toffees have signed Thierno Barry from Villarreal.
Fulham
Pick – Alex Iwobi, Avoid – Rodrigo Muniz
Alex Iwobi weighed in with 15 goal involvements to accrue 156 points last season and is a shrewd buy in the £6.5m midfielder category.
Rodrigo Muniz is another striker who looks tempting at £5.5m, but he may find it difficult to oust Raul Jimenez from Fulham’s starting XI.
Leeds United
Pick – Dan James – Avoid – Patrick Bamford
Dan James has not broken the 100-point barrier in four previous seasons in the top flight, but is worth gambling on to achieve the feat this time around.
Patrick Bamford tallied 194 points in the 2020/21 campaign, but manager Daniel Farke has confirmed he will not feature this season.
Liverpool
Pick – Florian Wirtz, Avoid – Dominik Szoboszlai
One of the best fantasy football tips in FPL is making Mohamed Salah the regular team captain. However, Florian Wirtz looks to be better value at £8.5m this season.
Dominik Szoboszlai tallied six goals and 10 assists last season, but may struggle for game time now that Wirtz has joined the club from Bayer Leverkusen.
Manchester City
Pick – Erling Braut Haaland, Avoid – Phil Foden
One, both or neither? That is the question many FPL players will be pondering where Salah and Erling Braut Haaland are concerned. A £14m price tag tips the scales towards Haaland.
Phil Foden suffered a sizeable points dip last season and may miss the start of the season through injury. He should be avoided until he demonstrates he is back to his best.
Manchester United
Pick – Patrick Dorgu, Avoid – Harry Maguire
Patrick Dorgu showed signs of promise after joining Manchester United earlier this year. He could be a bargain buy at £4.5m if the Red Devils improve under manager Ruben Amorim.
Harry Maguire has not broken the 100-point barrier in the past four seasons. Despite his affordable £4.5m price tag, he is best left out of your FPL calculations.
Newcastle United
Pick – Anthony Gordon, Avoid – Alexander Isak
With doubts surrounding Alexander Isak’s future, Anthony Gordon makes plenty of appeal. He recorded 183 points in 2023/24 and could top that tally this term.
Isak claims he has no intention of playing for Newcastle again after angling for a move to Liverpool. Leave him out of FPL teams until his future is resolved.
Nottingham Forest
Pick – Chris Wood, Avoid – Taiwo Awoniyi
Chris Wood scored 20 goals last season and finished with 200 points, and should continue to be Forest’s go-to man given the lack of competition in the squad.
Taiwo Awoniyi is now the third choice behind Wood and new signing Igor Jesus. He won’t feature much this season, so he isn’t worth the risk, even at £5.5m.
Sunderland
Pick – Simon Adingra, Avoid – Reinildo
Sunderland have made several shrewd signings this summer, including Ivory Coast international Simon Adingra. He is fancied to top 100 points in FPL.
Reinildo was not prolific during his time in La Liga and Ligue 1. With the Black Cats not expected to keep too many clean sheets, he should be avoided.
Tottenham Hotspur
Pick – Cristian Romero, Avoid – Mohammed Kudus
Tottenham Hotspur have some favourable opening fixtures, making their defenders a tempting proposition. Cristian Romero looks decent value at £5m.
Manager Thomas Frank will believe he can get the best out of Mohammed Kudus, but his underwhelming performances at West Ham United last season are still fresh in the memory.
West Ham United
Pick – Jarrod Bowen, Avoid – Aaron Wan-Bissaka
West Ham United star Jarrod Bowen has frustratingly been reassigned as a forward this season, but is still worth including in FPL teams.
While around one-third of FPL managers have Aaron Wan-Bissaka in their teams, his lack of defensive contribution points last season makes him a risky pick.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Pick – Jorgen Strand Larsen, Avoid – Hwang Hee-chan
With Matheus Cunha joining Manchester United this summer, Jorgen Strand Larsen will be the leading man at Wolves. He is a bargain at £6.5m.
Hwang Hee-chan is Wolves’ most expensive midfielder at £6m, but is unlikely to be a regular starter this season. There is better value elsewhere.
If you fancy pitting your wits against the Football Today team this season, you can join our Fantasy Premier League game by clicking this link.
