The return of top-flight action in English football marks the start of a new Fantasy Premier League season.
Arsenal get us underway in gameweek 1 when welcoming newly promoted Coventry City to the Emirates, with the opening round of fixtures concluding with Chelsea v Fulham under the Stamford Bridge lights on Monday night.
For the first time in nine seasons heavy-hitting FPL premium Mohamed Salah isn't available for selection after moving on from Liverpool, but can you find the next up-and-coming gem to set you apart from the rest in your mini leagues?
We've provided you with the best team, captaincy options and differentials before the FPL gameweek 1 deadline at 18:30 BST on Friday 21st August.
Captaincy options
Erling Haaland - £15.5m (MCI)
Fixture: Bournemouth (H)
Ownership: 69.4%
New season, same logic. Barring a gameweek where Manchester City are travelling to the Emirates to face Arsenal, Erling Haaland simply has to be at the forefront of your mind when it comes to selecting a captain.
Owned by well over half of FPL players, the Norwegian brute is inevitable and has come back to haunt the few managers that have doubted him in recent years.
While there is uncertainty surrounding Man City under the stewardship of Enzo Maresca, you would back Haaland to perform in any team, irrespective of form.
After failing to win the Premier League for a second successive season -- despite netting 27 top-flight goals -- Haaland will be hungrier than ever to deliver and is a must have in FPL, even at a record-high £15.5m.
Gabriel - £8.0m (ARS)
Fixture: Coventry (H)
Ownership: 29.5%
Few defenders over the years have been considered as legitimate captaincy options -- with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson perhaps the exception in their peak Liverpool days -- but Arsenal's Gabriel can't be overlooked.
Only Haaland and Bruno Fernandes recorded more points than the Brazilian in the 2025/26 campaign, with the 28-year-old bettering the second-highest scoring defender's tally (Marc Guehi with 179) by 30 points.
A clean sheet and bonus point magnet with huge attacking upside, Gabriel is the most nailed asset in the Arsenal defence, hence his steep cost.
Gabriel looks a shoo-in to return in gameweek 1 against a newly promoted Coventry side who are playing their first top-flight game since the 2000/01 season. If you're selecting Gabriel as opposed to cheaper Arsenal alternatives, he should definitely be in your captaincy thoughts this week.
Bruno Fernandes
Fixture: Hull City (A)
Ownership: 50.0%
Equalling his highest-ever cost in FPL, Bruno Fernandes' £12m price tag is reflective of an elite 2025/26 campaign, where he broke the record for the most assists in a Premier League season, creating 21 goals.
After playing alongside Casemiro in a two-man pivot under Ruben Amorim, the Red Devils captain reverted to his preferred number 10 role following Michael Carrick's arrival, where he arguably proved himself as the best player in the Premier League in the second half of the campaign.
Man Utd have a favourable run of fixtures to start the season, including back-to-back contests against newly promoted opposition in gameweek 1 and gameweek 2.
Their Premier League opener against a Hull City side who look far from complete is the one that stands out, and those brave enough not to give Haaland the armband will surely be looking in the direction of the Portuguese maestro.
Differentials
Luka Vuskovic - £5.0m (BHA)
Fixture: Aston Villa (H)
Ownership: 2.7%
The emphasis on defenders with potential for DEFCON returns is far greater ahead of the 2026/27 season, and Luka Vuskovic's numbers appeal.
Averaging 12.1 defensive contributions every 90 minutes in 28 Bundesliga appearances for Hamburger SV last campaign, the new Brighton arrival should have few problems adapting to the demands of England's top-flight.
Signing from Tottenham Hotspur for a reported £46m, the Croatian is all but nailed on to start in the Seagulls back line and a gameweek 1 fixture against a depleted Aston Villa side stands out.
Dango Ouattara - £6.5m (BRE)
Fixture: Tottenham (H)
Ownership: 1.3%
While missing out on European football on the final day was frustrating for Brentford fans in the 2025/26 term, a reduced fixture schedule will only aid their pursuit of another excellent campaign under Keith Andrews.
They commence their 2026/27 season at the place they know best, the Gtech Community Stadium. Only Arsenal, Manchester City and Bournemouth lost fewer home games than the Bees last campaign, and they'll be looking to take advantage of their strong record on home turf when facing Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening.
While in the long run Spurs' aggressive style of football under Roberto De Zerbi should aid them, it may create problems against a team like Brentford, who thrive in high-intensity transitions where there's lots of space to run into.
Dango Ouattara is someone who may reap the rewards against Spurs' high-line this weekend, and we're backing the 1.3%-owned midfielder to perform in gameweek 1.
Igor Jesus - £6.0m (NFO)
Fixtures: Leeds (H)
Ownership: 4.7%
There's an overarching sense that -- with no European football -- Nottingham Forest could steer well clear of the relegation zone and instead push for a top half finish under the stewardship of Oliver Glasner.
Barring any late incomings in the centre forward department -- which can't be ruled out -- Igor Jesus looks set to lead the line for East Midlands outfit after an impressive pre-season.
The Brazilian -- who scored 16 goals in all competitions for Forest last term -- will be desperate to get off the scoresheet at the City Ground against Leeds United in gameweek 1, and we're backing him to do so.
Best FPL gameweek 1 team
GK: Antonin Kinsky (TOT)
DEF: Riccardo Calafiori (ARS)
DEF: Cristhian Mosquera (ARS)
DEF: Luka Vuskovic (BHA)
MID: Dominik Szoboszlai (LIV)
MID: Bruno Fernandes (MUN)
MID: Morgan Gibbs-White (NFO)
MID: Christos Tzolis (ARS)
FOR: Erling Haaland (MCI)
FOR: Dominic Calvert Lewin (LEE)
FOR: Joao Pedro (CHE)
SUBS: Dubravka (TOT), Diop (IPS), Shaw (MUN), Hemmings (AST).
