The creator advises starting Gameweek 1 with Erling Haaland despite his £15.5m price and some uncertainty over Manchester City's early-season minutes management.

Reasoning: He says Haaland has been in all his drafts, plans to start him, and believes he scores heavily and tends to start seasons well, while acknowledging his minutes may be less secure than previously.

Players/teams: Manchester City (Team context), Erling Haaland (Subject)

I do have Erling Harland in my draft... I do plan on starting gameweek one with him... his minutes are maybe not quite as rigid and 100% nailed to play 90 every week... I would advise going with him.

Managers who omit Erling Haaland should have a clear route to buy him by Gameweek 3 because the creator expects him to become a desired asset for Manchester City's fixture run.

Reasoning: The creator specifically warns that going without Haaland creates transfer, Wildcard or chip pressure before Gameweek 3.

Players/teams: Manchester City (Team context), Erling Haaland (Subject)

But in gameweek three... you will want to find a route to buy him... by game week three, you will... want Harland in your team.

The creator advises against omitting both Erling Haaland and Bruno Fernandes from a Gameweek 1 squad.

Reasoning: He presents the two premium players as the key structural choices and says managers should back against one rather than both, because replacing either after a strong start could be difficult.

Players/teams: Bruno Fernandes (Alternative), Erling Haaland (Alternative)

There is no world where I think you need to go against both Bruno Fernandez and Erling Harland... you're either backing against Harland or you're backing against Bruno.

The creator views Bruno Fernandes as overpriced at £12m for the long term because he is not convinced by his open-play goal threat, although he still wants him for the opening games.

Reasoning: He questions Bruno's value and says he may not be owned all season, but also highlights his secure minutes and favorable first two fixtures.

Players/teams: Bruno Fernandes (Subject), Manchester United (Team context)

I actually think that Bruno is overpriced... 12 million is a lot for a player who I actually don't think has that much open play goal threat... He's in my team alongside Harland, but again, I don't think we'll own him for the whole season.

The creator currently prefers Bruno Fernandes as the Gameweek 1 captain over Erling Haaland, but considers the decision extremely close.

Reasoning: He explicitly says Bruno has moved above Haaland and cites Manchester City's potentially slower start against Bournemouth, while acknowledging Haaland's home fixture and strong early-season record.

Players/teams: Bruno Fernandes (Subject), Manchester City (Team context), Erling Haaland (Alternative)

For the first time, I've moved Bruno Fernandez above Erling Harland... I am currently now on Bruno Fernandez captain... Bruno or Harland is really close.

The creator believes every Gameweek 1 squad should contain either Bruno Fernandes or Erling Haaland.

Reasoning: He limits the recommended captaincy and premium coverage to those two players for the opening gameweek.

Players/teams: Bruno Fernandes (Alternative), Erling Haaland (Alternative)

I think every single team should have either Bruno or Harland in it which means there should only be two captaincy options this week.

The creator no longer recommends starting Brighton defender Vuskovic in Gameweek 1 because he expects Lewis Dunk to return and compete for the defensive place.

Reasoning: Vuskovic started the qualifier but the creator expects Dunk to start after the quick turnaround, making Vuskovic the biggest minutes risk.

Players/teams: Luka Vušković (Subject), Brighton & Hove Albion (Team context), Lewis Dunk (Alternative)

Buskovic is no longer in my team because he comes with the biggest risk. I expect Dunk at Brighton to come back into the lineup... I would not be chancing Voskovic unless you don't have to start him in gameweek one.

The creator expects Pascal Groß and Brighton midfielder Gomez to start Gameweek 1, making them viable cheap midfield options despite Brighton's midweek fixture.

Reasoning: He says Gross should start because Brighton lack midfield depth and also expects Gomez to start after returning to the squad.

Players/teams: Simon Adingra (Alternative), Pascal Groß (Subject), Brighton & Hove Albion (Team context)

Pascal Gross... I do expect him to start... he should start as should Gomez at 5 million. If you need a cheap 5 million midfielder, he is right up there.

The creator prefers Thiago over Alexander Isak as a forward to start the season because Isak's fitness and minutes are too uncertain.

Reasoning: He explicitly says he is not confident enough to pay £9m for Isak and considers Thiago the better starting pick.

Players/teams: Igor Thiago (Subject), Alexander Isak (Alternative)

I think Thiago is a better pick to start the season than going for Isak. He just feels too uncertain... on his fitness, on his minutes.

The creator considers Brentford forward Thiago one of only four forwards he is seriously considering for the start of the season.

Reasoning: He lists Haaland, João Pedro, Calvert-Lewin and Thiago as his main opening-season forward options.

Players/teams: Igor Thiago (Subject), Brentford (Team context)

Really the only four forwards that I'm really considering for the start of the season are Harland, Ja Pedro, Calvin Leuen, and Thiago.

The creator views an early Bench Boost in Gameweek 1 or 2 as viable because cheap players have favorable opening fixtures, but says saving the chip is also acceptable.

Reasoning: He highlights cheap defensive options for Ipswich and Coventry and says he plans to play the Bench Boost early, while explicitly rejecting the idea that managers must do so.

Players/teams: Ipswich Town (Team context), Coventry City (Team context)

There is a nice way to have cheap options on your bench... that allows you to bench boost in gameweek one or gameweek two... I do plan on playing it early, but there is definitely no need.

The creator recommends prioritizing season-long squad quality over selecting a weaker £4.5m defender solely for one Bench Boost fixture.

Reasoning: He argues that a defender held for many weeks should be chosen for sustained value rather than a single favorable gameweek.

You want to pick your five defenders that you think are the best over the course of the season, not the ones that might have the best fixture in one specific game week.

The creator expects the first Wildcard to be most attractive around the international break between Gameweeks 5 and 6, unless a manager is intentionally Wildcarding earlier.

Reasoning: He says teams can generally carry their goalkeepers, defenders and forwards until at least Gameweek 6 and identifies that break as his planned Wildcard window.

Unless you're committing to a really early wild card, you do want to be carrying probably until at least game week six... the perfect opportunity... to play that first wild card and it's actually when I plan on playing it.

The creator is willing to use short-term midfield punts such as Bryan Mbeumo or Solly March because he expects to make several early midfield transfers.

Reasoning: He believes these players can perform over the first couple of weeks but may later become problems, so he prefers exploiting their early prospects rather than seeking long-term holds.

Players/teams: Solace (Alternative), Bryan Mbeumo (Subject)

Going for someone like a Brandon Burmo or a Solace who I think will do well over the first couple of weeks but then become an issue and I can buy the next best thing.

The creator considers Micky van de Ven? No—he instead identifies Kinsky as an underpriced £4.5m goalkeeper option because Tottenham have strengthened defensively.

Reasoning: The transcript explicitly presents Kinsky as underpriced and contrasts him with the £6m cost of David Raya, especially for managers not Bench Boosting in Gameweek 1.

Players/teams: Tottenham Hotspur (Team context), Antonin Kinsky (Subject), David Raya Martín (Alternative)

Kinsky at 4.5 is underpriced with the way that Spurs have strengthened defensively this season... if you are looking to bench boost in gameweek one, going with David Ry and a 4.5 million goalkeeper... is just a lot to spend.

The creator advises avoiding Ezri Konsa in Gameweek 1 because he has not played preseason minutes and may not be ready to start until Gameweeks 4 or 5.

Reasoning: He explicitly says Konsa is not ready, will not be seen in Gameweek 1, and should not be selected despite a possible future ownership opportunity.

Players/teams: Arsenal (Team context), Ezri Konsa Ngoyo (Subject)

Ezri Konza is not going to be ready for the start of the season... We won't see him in gameweek one... I actually probably expect it will be gameweek four or five at the earliest.

The creator believes Ben White's appeal is weakened by Jurrien Timber's expected return around Gameweek 6, although White remains a safe option if Timber does not return to the lineup.

Reasoning: He says Timber's return could create a major selection problem for White, while White is safer in the interim because other Arsenal defensive options also carry uncertainty.

Players/teams: Jurriën Timber (Alternative), Arsenal (Team context), Ben White (Subject)

It does slightly dampen the appeal of Ben White because as soon as Timber is back in the squad, Ben White becomes a major issue in your team. But if you think Timber won't play, then Ben White is nice and safe.

The creator is willing to gamble on Riccardo Calafiori starting the first five Gameweeks because of his attacking threat, despite uncertainty over whether he will play full minutes.

Reasoning: He expects Calafiori to start the first five but notes his 59-minute preseason appearances and hopes he is substituted after securing a clean-sheet point.

Players/teams: Riccardo Calafiori (Subject), Arsenal (Team context)

I think Kalafury will start all of the first five... His attacking threat is great... It's just trusting the minutes. At the moment I am taking that gamble.

The creator's preferred £4.5m defender is Joe Rodon, whom he expects to start all of Leeds' first five matches.

Reasoning: He ranks Rodon first among the £4.5m options and explicitly projects starts through the opening five gameweeks.

Players/teams: Joe Rodon (Subject), Leeds United (Team context)

In terms of 4.5 million options, my number one is Joe Roodon. I do expect him to start all of the first five games.

The creator views Hume as an appealing £4.5m short-term defender because he should play on Sunderland's right wing in the first two Gameweeks, but warns that the fixtures then become difficult.

Reasoning: The player offers an unusually advanced role and favorable opening fixtures, but the creator labels him short term and lists tougher subsequent opponents.

Players/teams: Trai Hume (Subject), Sunderland (Team context)

Hume is a short-term pick. He should start right wing for Sunderland in their first couple of games... Ipsswitch and Fulham in the first two. And then... Brentford away, Arsenal at home, Manchester City away.

The creator prefers Leeds defensive double-ups with Joe Rodon and Muharemovic over Luke Shaw for the opening period.

Reasoning: He criticizes Shaw's attacking and defensive underlying appeal after the first couple of fixtures and specifically recommends the Leeds pair instead.

Players/teams: Joe Rodon (Subject), Tarik Muharemović (Alternative), Leeds United (Team context), Luke Shaw (Alternative)

I would double up on the lead's defense with Roodon and Mormovich over going for Luke Shaw.

The creator ranks Bryan Mbeumo as his preferred premium midfielder for the opening fixtures and cites his strong underlying data as additional support.

Reasoning: He chooses Mbeumo first among premium midfielders specifically to exploit the first couple of games and references a 0.59 xGI per 90 figure from the previous season.

Players/teams: Bryan Mbeumo (Subject), Brentford (Team context)

Number one I'm going with Brian Burma just because I want to take advantage of those first couple of games. His underlying data XGI per 90 of 0.59 last year was great.

The creator considers Morgan Rogers a safe Gameweek 1 starter and likes Chelsea's opening fixtures for him.

Reasoning: He says Rogers returned directly into preseason, started and scored, and therefore expects him to start the opening game.

Players/teams: Morgan Rogers (Subject), Chelsea (Team context)

I quite like the opening Chelsea fixtures... He came straight back into preseason, started and scored. So, I have no doubt he starts gameweek one.

The creator has become negative on Florian Wirtz and prefers safer alternatives such as Liverpool's other premium midfielder or Morgan Rogers.

Reasoning: He does not call Wirtz a bad pick but labels him risky and questions whether he can handle the manager's system compared with the alternatives.

Players/teams: Morgan Rogers (Alternative), Florian Wirtz (Subject)

I've gone off him a lot... Rogers at the same price is also safer just because Vertz doesn't feel like he can handle that Iola system at the moment... Do I think he's risky? Yes.