Manchester City striker Erling Haaland tops artificial intelligence player predictions for Gameweek 1 as Fantasy Premier League managers prepare for the opening deadline of the new season.
Fantasy Football Hub expert Holly Shand has detailed the artificial intelligence tools, player selections, and fixture analysis available to assist managers ahead of the opening deadline. The analysis outlines top defensive and attacking options, fixture ticker rankings, and potential chip strategies for the starting gameweeks.
Opening Fixture Schedule and Ticker
The opening five gameweeks take place prior to an extended international break in mid-September. The Fantasy Football Hub fixture ticker ranks Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United as having the most appealing fixture schedules during this period.
Arsenal kick off the season in the opening fixture by hosting Championship winners Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium. Chelsea are the other visiting side at the Emirates over the opening five gameweeks.
Brentford top the overall fixture ticker with three home matches across the first five gameweeks. The Bees begin their campaign against Tottenham Hotspur, who finished 17th in the Premier League table last season. Nottingham Forest also play three home fixtures in this opening stretch as they look toward a resurgence under new manager Oliver Glasner.
Manchester United start their campaign with consecutive matches against promoted teams, travelling to Hull City before entertaining Ipswich Town. Manchester City host Coventry City in Gameweek 3 before visiting Old Trafford for the Manchester derby against Manchester United in Gameweek 4.
Early Bench Boost Strategy
Fantasy managers are considering playing their Bench Boost chip during Gameweek 1 or Gameweek 2. Because rules restrict managers to using only one chip per gameweek, managers cannot combine a Wildcard and Bench Boost in the same week. However, unlimited transfers prior to Gameweek 1 allow managers to set up an optimal 15-player squad immediately.
Selecting 15 starting players for Gameweek 1 presents challenges due to lineup uncertainty caused by new manager appointments and players returning late following the World Cup. Gameweek 2 offers an alternative Bench Boost opportunity, highlighted by Championship winners Coventry City hosting play-off winners Hull City. That fixture ended 0-0 home and away last season, with budget defensive picks available at 4.0 million pounds from both clubs.
Playing an early Bench Boost enables managers to activate their first Wildcard shortly afterwards to shift funds from bench players into their core starting lineup. An injury to an expensive player later in the season could also open up funds to deploy a Bench Boost in a subsequent gameweek.
Artificial Intelligence Team Selection
Artificial intelligence assistants recommend starting the season in a 4-4-2 formation, influenced by new defensive contribution points. Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, priced at 6.0 million pounds, joins an Arsenal triple-up after recording 19 clean sheets last season. Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, priced at 5.0 million pounds, is included in the backline ahead of favorable opening fixtures.
In midfield and attack, Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye, priced at 6.0 million pounds, is expected to take penalties if he remains at the club through the transfer window. Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross, valued at 5.5 million pounds, is also highlighted as a potential spot-kick taker following the departure of striker Danny Welbeck.
Fantasy Football Hub offers a free AI team rating tool where managers can upload a screenshot of their draft squad to receive a percentage score out of 100 alongside transfer suggestions and captain advice. The AI-managed team at Fantasy Football Hub has finished in the top 0.5 percent of managers in two of its three seasons.
Top Defensive Fantasy Options
Arsenal defender Gabriel tops the AI predictions for defenders with 28.9 predicted points after finishing last season as the third highest scoring player overall. Despite a 2.0 million pound price increase raising his cost to 8.0 million pounds, he provides consistent routes to points through goals, clean sheets, bonus points, and defensive contribution points.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk ranks second among defenders with 27.9 predicted points. Van Dijk played all 3,420 minutes in the 2025-26 season, registering 10 clean sheets and 15 defensive contribution performances. He recorded a career-best six goals and led all defenders with 12 big chances.
Chelsea defender Maxence Lacroix ranks third among defenders with 25.2 predicted points following his summer move to the club. Lacroix earned defensive contribution points in 21 of 35 appearances last season. Chelsea are managed by Xabi Alonso and will compete without European fixtures this campaign.
Newcastle United defender Malick Thiaw ranks fourth with 24.9 predicted points following the departure of manager Eddie Howe. Thiaw scored four goals in 2025-26 and earned defensive contribution points in 12 of 28 appearances.
Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol ranks fifth with 23.9 predicted points. New manager Enzo Maresca, who replaced Pep Guardiola, described Gvardiol as one of three pillars in his squad. Gvardiol has averaged five goal involvements per season and picked up defensive contribution points in three of 17 starts last campaign.
Top Attacking Fantasy Options
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland leads all attacking picks with 37.8 predicted points, having finished last season as the top scoring player in fantasy football. Haaland received a 1.5 million pound price increase to 15.5 million pounds, becoming the most expensive player in fantasy history. He recorded 27 goals and eight assists last season before returning to training on August 11 following World Cup quarter-final duty with Norway.
Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes ranks second among attackers with 31.2 predicted points. Under manager Michael Carrick, Fernandes recorded four goals and 17 assists in 18 appearances late last season, winning the Playmaker Award while leading the league in key passes with 136 and big chances created with 33. He takes set pieces and penalties, starting with games against promoted Hull City and Ipswich Town.
Arsenal midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, signed from Newcastle United during the current transfer window, ranks third among attackers with 30.1 predicted points. Guimaraes registered 16 goal involvements last season and joins an Arsenal team that kept 19 clean sheets last campaign.
Manchester City winger Antoine Semenyo ranks fourth with 27.1 predicted points, coming in 1.5 million pounds higher at 8.5 million pounds. Semenyo recorded five assists in three pre-season matches after amassing 17 goals and six assists last season across appearances for Bournemouth and Manchester City.
Brentford striker Igor Thiago ranks fifth among attackers with 26.7 predicted points. Thiago scored 22 goals last season while competing with Haaland for the Golden Boot. Taking penalties for Brentford, Thiago opens the campaign with home games against Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland, and Chelsea.
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