Welcome to the first of our regular Friday lunchtime articles looking at FanDuel’s games and key picks. Each round we’ll be putting forward a proposed eleven within the 100 million budget that is available and highlighting some of the key players we think should prosper in the Gameweek’s action according to FanDuel’s unique scoring system.

The opening slate of fixtures includes a kind away tie for last season’s Champions Leicester City, who travel to an injury struck Hull side. Manchester City also look set to get off to a winning start as they host David Moyes’ Sunderland.

Elsewhere, Southampton will also be planning to take advantage of a tidy home fixture as they face Watford – the Saints provide three players for our first squad of the campaign.

To get started register for a free account via this link.

When you sign up, enter the promocode “SCOUT” and FanDuel will refund your first paid entry fee, up to £10, as free entry credit if you don’t win cash

There’s also a strategy guide available, which examines the players to target in the various positions based on the average scores they would have accrued if the scoring was applied to last season.

My Team

Tom Heaton (7.4)

George Friend (6.3)

Antonio Valencia (7.2)

Virgil Van Dijk (9)

Pierre Emile Hojbjerg (4)

Nathan Redmond (8.5)

Eden Hazard (11)

Kevin De Bruyne (14)

Andre Gray (7.4)

Jamie Vardy (11)

Sergio Aguero (14)

Key Picks

Tom Heaton excelled at shot-stopping in his last top flight campaign back in 2014/15, making 130 saves while playing every minute for the Clarets. With three points available per save and ten points for a clean sheet against a Swansea side, which have lost their top-scorer Andre Ayew, Heaton looks primed for points.

As we highlighted in this week’s Weekly Shop, Virgil Van Dijk ticks all the boxes when it comes to looking for suitable defensive picks in FanDuel, the Dutchman was in the top five defenders last season for both clearances, blocks and interceptions (CBI) and shots on target, which bodes well for his potential as Watford travel to St Mary’s. Alternatively, if Jan Vertonghen starts for Spurs he could prove a great value alternative at 5.7. Yesterday Mauricio Pochettino surprised the FanDuel price setters by revealing he could be in contention at Everton, despite only just recovering from injury. Last season his points per game average was a very reasonable 18.34. I’m certainly considering Vertonghen in some of my other FanDuel squad entries.

Kevin De Bruyne is another player whose talents appear geared towards the FanDuel scoring matrix. The Belgian’s all-round capabilities as a reliable passer and ball-winner, who will also contribute his fair share of the more traditional points sources of assists and goals, should be worth his hefty price-tag most weeks, especially at the Etihad against teams like Sunderland, which are likely to be dominated in possession by Pep Guardiola’s side. There is a caveat though, as with a  limited pre-season the Belgian may be eased into action from the bench. For those who prefer a little more certainty Dele Alli (priced at 11.8), who travels to Everton, looks a more than able premium midfield replacement. The Tottenham man had an impressive points per game average of 29.11 points during a 2015/16 campaign where he scored eight of his ten goals away from home.

Andre Gray’s presence the key picks may appear unusual, though the top scorer in the Championship last term will be facing a disjointed Swans side that has also lost Ashley Williams, to Everton, this week. It’s worth considering differentials in the fringes of your 11 especially when making multiple squad entries. Crystal Palace’s Conor Wickham (7.0) is another budget friendly alternative here that could provide an edge over your rivals.

This Week’s Games

For the Saturday 3pm and 5.30pm kick-offs, FanDuel have started the season with a generous 15k guaranteed pot on offer, it’s £7 to enter with £1000 going to the first placed entry.

Then for high-rollers there’s also a 5k opening day special with a £25 entry fee and a £3.5k ‘Big One’ which has a £200 buy-in.

If you’re unwilling to part with that much cash but want to try the game out, there are a host of smaller fee and free-roll contests. The £2k opening day special stands out here, a £2 entry fee with first place set to win £200.

There’s also a chance to win part of £25 in the Fantasy Football Scout freebie game.

Once again here is a reminder that you can register for a free account via this link.

After that, you can enter any of the opening weekend’s contests and then begin creating your first line-up.

In addition to a free-for-all contest, we’ve also set up a Fantasy Football Scout contest that offers a total of £200 in prizes for Saturday’s 3pm to 5:30pm kick offs

This costs just £1 to enter and is available for 230 entrants – the top 57 places will collect at least £2, with the winner earning £25 and runner-up collecting £15.

This will be the first of several special contest options we’ll be offering over the season.

There are also three contests that cover all of the weekend’s fixtures. The Football Republic Challenge has £200 up for grabs with a £1 entry fee. A £180 contest where the top half of entrants win, with 20 places available and also a £35 little one that requires a £2 buy-in.

FanDuel will also be offering Sunday and Monday specific games so check the site for updates if you have an eye on those fixtures.

All prize pools for Gameweek 1’s fixtures are guaranteed.

To get started with FanDuel, register for a free account via this link.