In this article, we identify the must-have players you need to own for the start of 2025/26 Fantasy Premier League (FPL).
TOP FIVE MUST-HAVE PLAYERS FOR FPL 2025/26
Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah (£14.5m) is the most expensive player in FPL 2025/26. It’s no surprise.
The Egyptian smashed the all-time FPL points record last time around, with his 28 goals and 19 assists helping him to 344 points. It means he has produced 200 points or more in eight consecutive seasons, highlighting his consistency.
Despite a rise in price to £14.5m, Salah is currently the third most-owned player in FPL, found in over 53% of squads.
Key to his appeal is his reliability as a captain.
He’s typically quick off the blocks, too, having returned in Gameweek 1 in each of his eight seasons at Anfield.
Cole Palmer
Despite a barren spell in early 2025, Cole Palmer (£10.5m) showed everyone exactly how good he is in the FIFA Club World Cup final.
In an inspired display, the former Manchester City man produced two goals and an assist to help lift his team to victory over Paris Saint-Germain.
FPL managers have taken notice, as Palmer is currently the most-owned player in Fantasy, with an ownership of 62%.
Admittedly, he only produced one goal and three assists during his final 16 Premier League appearances in 2024/25, but Palmer has delivered back-to-back 200+ point seasons, finishing among the top-three scoring Fantasy players in each of his two campaigns at Stamford Bridge.
Like Salah, Palmer has penalties in his locker.
Chelsea also avoid all of last season’s top seven clubs over the first six Gameweeks, with London clashes against Crystal Palace, West Ham United, Fulham and Brentford up first.
Ollie Watkins
After facing Newcastle United on the opening weekend, Aston Villa’s following fixtures are so good that they’re on top of our Season Ticker until Gameweek 7.
Even against the Magpies, Watkins has scored four goals and registered three assists in his last four starts.
Last season, Watkins didn’t quite match the levels shown when he was 2023/24’s best FPL forward.
Yet he still racked up 186 points in total, thanks to 16 goals and eight assists in 31 starts and seven substitute appearances.
He has plenty of momentum heading into Gameweek 1, too, having found the net five times in pre-season.
Nikola Milenkovic
Had we had defensive contribution (DC) points last season, Nikola Milenkovic (£5.5m) would have finished as FPL’s top-scoring defender.
At 6ft 5in, the towering centre-half carries plenty of goal threat.
He chalked up five goals in the 2024/25 season and also ranked joint-top among defenders for headed goal attempts (21).
Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, have one of the best schedules in Fantasy over the first six Gameweeks.
Crucially, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are the only club to face two newly-promoted opponents in this period, with back-to-back clashes against Burnley and Sunderland in Gameweeks 5 and 6.
Home matches against Brentford and West Ham United further lift his appeal.
Martin Dubravka
Martin Dubravka (£4.0m) has joined Burnley this summer, departing Newcastle United after seven years.
Admittedly, he hasn’t featured since Newcastle’s July 19 friendly against Celtic and missed the Clarets’ final pre-season match against Lazio last weekend.
Nonetheless, the long-term expectation is that Dubravka will be the cheapest starting goalkeeper in FPL 2025/26.
Thus, for a mere £4.0m, you can essentially keep him on your bench without impacting your budget and call upon him in emergencies.
