A new season of Fantasy Premier League is upon us, and with it comes all the chaos, triumphs, heartbreaks, and last-minute captaincy changes we know and love, writes FPL expert Blake Hurst. Whether you’re chasing that elusive mini-league win or gunning for your highest-ever rank, one thing matters most early on: a calm, calculated approach. FPL is a marathon, not a sprint. You’ll have good weeks, you’ll have bad weeks. But the best managers are the ones that trust the process and don’t make rash decisions.
Follow these tips and tricks to get you off to the best possible start for the upcoming season that’ll lead to your mini-league rivals wondering how you became an FPL guru overnight.
Build a Balanced Gameweek 1 Team
There’s no perfect draft – only one that works for your strategy and play style. Some managers opt for both Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland and build around them. Others choose one and spread their funds to achieve more depth across the squad. The key point? Focus on nailed starters with favorable early fixtures. You need a good start to the season so trust the reliable players, the 90min men, so you’re not chasing the pack four weeks into the season.
Play It Safe Before Going Bold
Everyone loves a differential, that rogue captaincy call, the random 5.5m 2% owned midfielder who scores a brace… just not in your starting eleven for GW1. Proven picks with solid track records should form the core of your early team. Going too rogue too soon often leads to regret (and an early unnecessary wildcard). Let the early weeks settle. Once you know who’s firing and who isn’t, that’s when calculated risks can shine. Often the best GW1 team is your “boring” team. You have plenty of time for the cheeky differentials.
Fixtures First, Form Will Follow
Form can be misleading early in the season – it’s mostly speculation, especially coming off preseason. Good fixtures, however, create opportunities. Target teams with promising opening schedules, and you might uncover a breakout star before the price rises and everyone jumps on. Once the form becomes real, adapt. Fixtures should guide your initial GW1 draft as this is the most important draft you’ll build all season.
Keep Captaincy Simple Early On
The best FPL managers keep it straightforward in the early weeks. If Salah or Haaland are in your team, chances are they’re your best captain option. Taking armband risks this early comes with high potential for frustration. Use differentials elsewhere in your team – your captain should give you consistency especially in the early weeks. There’s nothing worse than a captaincy blank from a number nine playing against Sunderland while Salah bags a brace against a top-four team where everyone else has captained him. Stay safe with captaincy unless a very good opportunity comes up later on in the season.
Take Advantage of New Defensive Points
With defensive contributions now rewarded, players who make 10+ clearances, blocks, interceptions or tackles can earn you an additional 2 points. This new and exciting rule could make certain centre backs or defensive midfielders more relevant than ever. Do we target defensive contribution CBs or stay with the high risk high reward attacking fullbacks? Stay alert for our defender watch list where we can help target which defenders to look to bring in in your GW1 draft.
Chip Strategy Matters More Than Ever
This season adds a twist with two of each chip available. How you deploy them matters more than ever. Many managers plan to use the Bench Boost chip in one of the first three gameweeks to maximize points before the international break, and then Wildcard around Gameweek 8 or 13. Align your initial squad with your chip plan to fully exploit these advantages. There is no right/wrong strategy.
Salah and Haaland: Both, One, or None?
It’s FPL’s biggest debate at the moment. Going with both gives you guaranteed points but limits squad flexibility. Choosing one frees up funds for a stronger XI, while going without either is extremely bold. You’re going without the two best players in the hope your squad can cover them. If you take that route, make sure you’re investing that budget in players you trust to deliver consistently. Most engaged experts will be going with one of either Salah or Haaland. Whilst the majority will be on Salah, and rightly so, he is the best ever FPL player and has proven that every year, there is an argument to go for Haaland instead. Liverpool bolstered their attack with the signings of Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and the possible addition of Alexander Isak. Does that lead to the goals spread out more and Salah less involved? We all know how good Haaland can be on his day as well. It is risky to go without Salah but there is an argument for it. Get it wrong though and you’re having to restructure your team and already chasing the pack and could regret it for the rest of the season.
Key Habits for a Smarter Start
- Don’t make knee-jerk transfers. Rolling transfers are always handy as you never know what unexpected injuries can occur.
- Avoid transferring goalkeepers – they rarely justify the transfer. Either go for a 4m GK and play your 4.5/5m GK every week. Or look at having a rotating pair of 4.5m GKs. We will go over what to look for in our upcoming GK watchlist.
- Always double check that your captain, vice captain, and bench order are right before the deadline.
- Hold off on making transfers until as late as you can to catch any injury news and team leaks. This will give you an advantage over your mini league rivals
- Prioritise players who play 85+ minutes regularly. Late goals and assists win gameweeks. Last season roughly 60% of goals scored came after the 60th minute. You won’t score points if your player gets subbed early.
- Stay level headed. Even top managers have horror weeks. Trust your judgment and remember why you transferred in the player. Sometimes it takes more than 1 week to get your reward.
Final Thoughts
Fantasy Premier League isn’t just a game – it’s a test of patience, strategy and intelligence. FPL is unpredictable – your captain will blank, your bench will haul, and a last-minute deflection will ruin the clean sheet you so desperately needed. But those who succeed will be the ones who stay steady, trust their decisions, and keep their eyes on the long haul. Remember – FPL is a marathon, not a sprint. This season is your opportunity. Sharpen your instincts, embrace the challenge, and get ready to leave your mark. With our help, your mini-league rivals will be wondering how you became an FPL expert overnight. Here’s to a season filled with smart moves, crazy differentials, and a season filled with green arrows. Your FPL journey starts now – let’s make it legendary.
