Captain Sensible

Who is the best captain for FPL Gameweek 1?

15 August 2025 736 comments
FFScout Tom FFScout Tom
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Once again, as we begin a new Fantasy Premier League season, the question for FPL managers is whether or not to back Mohamed Salah (£14.5m) as captain in Gameweek 1.

The Egyptian faces Bournemouth at Anfield on the opening night, while the most-selected player in the game, Cole Palmer (£10.5m), hosts Community Shield victors Crystal Palace. There are other potentially tempting assets with decent fixtures, too

To do this, we assess the on-site captain poll, the player and team statistics and Rate My Team (RMT)  ahead of Friday’s 18:30 BST deadline.

Captaincy Poll

Gameweek 1 captain best

It will come as little surprise that a certain Mohamed Salah tops the captaincy poll. What is perhaps surprising is that his lead is a whopping 1,500 votes, or 44%. At the time of writing, 55% of voters intend to captain last season’s top Fantasy points-scorer.

Salah’s Gameweek 1 record in a Liverpool shirt is nothing short of incredible. He has never blanked on the opening day. In eight appearances, Salah has notched 99 points, including six double-figure hauls.

Despite Manchester City’s truncated pre-season, Erling Haaland (£14.0m) sits in second place in the standings with just over 11% of the vote. The Golden Boot favourite is away at Wolves, a team many pundits are tipping to be involved in a relegation battle.

Florian Wirtz (£8.5m), Cole Palmer and Ollie Watkins (£9.0m) are all backed by more than 5% of responders, with all three players impressing in pre-season. Jarrod Bowen (£7.5m) and Hugo Ekitike (£8.5m) are the only other players to pick up more than 2% backing among Fantasy Football Scout users. 

Player Stats (2024/25)

 

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The rest of this article below is completely free to read but requires a Fantasy Football Scout user account for access – you can get yours at no cost here

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FFScout Tom <p>Deputy General Manager. Forever chasing the top 10K. Chelsea fan.&nbsp;</p> Follow them on Twitter

736 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Jrot94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    Getting real huh !! I think I’m going 5 rotating cheapish, high upside defenders to give me this starting 8 up front

    Salah. Palmer Wirtz Rogers Mitoma
    Watkins. Wood

    Will get 3 good starts out of a VDV. Neco. De cuyp. Konsa. Truffert rotation

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    1. The Pretender
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      Is Guiu your 3rd FWD? I don't like Wood after NFO preseason. Love Mitoma!

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      1. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 10 days ago

        How many times have good pre season players done poorly start of season and vice versa

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        1. Jrot94
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          1 year, 10 days ago

          Agree with this..first three of this

          Brentford
          @ Palace
          Wham

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        2. Benedict_Alexander_Arnold
          • 1 Year
          1 year, 10 days ago

          37?

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      2. Jrot94
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 10 days ago

        Yes I’ve got the normal 5.0 / dubs goalie combo and guiu

        Wood is not a season play, but just can’t see beyond Chelsea rotation and palaces fixtures for first few.

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        1. sozopol
          • 14 Years
          1 year, 10 days ago

          How about Strand Larsen? For me, better prospect even besides the cheaper price

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  2. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    Will Rogers play?
    Start Rogers or Reinjnders?

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    1. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      Think Rogers will play but Reindeers is a watch this space I feel.

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      1. Albrightondknight
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 10 days ago

        Cool I got Roger on the bench for now but that feels like playing it too safe. If last year is anything to go by he will just play. Thanks.

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      2. Jrot94
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 10 days ago

        Reindeer will either the most owned player or a casualty of pep roulette, half the people here going with him…I’m gonna watch him for a bit

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  3. Edalock
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    Start Evanilson (liv) or Guiu (WHU)

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    1. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      Evanilson. Great fixtures after the first game too. Liverpool ain’t going to have the double pivot in front of that defence so a CS is not a sure thing for them.

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  4. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    Is this way beyond silly?

    Sanchez

    RAN Frimpong Cucurella Porro Milkenkovic

    Palmer Wirtz Gapko Rodgers

    Haaland

    Dub Reinjnders Guin Kroupi.Jr

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    1. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      I am actually going to start with this. So any advice welcome, including - don’t do it.

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      1. AAAFootball
        • 1 Year
        1 year, 10 days ago

        No, fair enough

        Nothing ventured, nothing gained

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    2. Benedict_Alexander_Arnold
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 10 days ago

      That’s one hell of an expensive defence

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  5. Mother Farke
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    Sels
    Cucurella Porro De Cuyper
    Wirtz Palmer Gakpo Semenyo* Reijnders
    Haaland (C) Watkins

    Dubravka Konsa Hartman Guiu

    * Stick or have a cheeky punt on Brennan Johnson?

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    1. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      I would stick. Spurs a total wait and see for me, ok I got Porro but that’s pretty short term will bench in GW2 and probably look to get rid soon after. It’s whether you want to punt for a 1 week and know it’s probably a transfer you need to use.

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      1. Mother Farke
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 10 days ago

        Good rationale. I think I'll stick with Semenyo. I like his fixtures and I think Bournemouth are going under the radar somewhat.

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        1. AAAFootball
          • 1 Year
          1 year, 10 days ago

          TBH its the loss of kluivert that threw me.

          I had a double untill he was injured, but now i dont really trust them at all.

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      2. AAAFootball
        • 1 Year
        1 year, 10 days ago

        Hmmm.

        Semenyo missing his partner Kluivert, while Kudus (that is who i reccomend) has a lot of quality around him.
        Spurs always start like a house on fire ("we've won the league by september" etc...)
        And I prefer the tottenham fixtures as well

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  6. Mnif otb
    • 1 Year
    1 year, 10 days ago

    Anderson ,, reijnders ?

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    1. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      Safe …. Riskier ?

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    2. sozopol
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      Polar opposites in terms of play style/vibes. One will tick along, require patience, the other, emotional roller coaster, lower floor/higher ceiling.

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      1. AAAFootball
        • 1 Year
        1 year, 10 days ago

        I did play the now defunct Serie A fantasy and Reijnders was a legend.

        He carried me to first in my country with Di Lorenzo and Rrahmani.

        (although my country only had~40 players)

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        1. sozopol
          • 14 Years
          1 year, 10 days ago

          Dying to know what country

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          1. AAAFootball
            • 1 Year
            1 year, 10 days ago

            New Zealand

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            1. AAAFootball
              • 1 Year
              1 year, 10 days ago

              What about you?

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              1. sozopol
                • 14 Years
                1 year, 10 days ago

                New York City

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                1. AAAFootball
                  • 1 Year
                  1 year, 10 days ago

                  Well that is a long way away

                  I have an uncle who lives in San Francisco and I went to his wedding once
                  But I was only about 5

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                  1. sozopol
                    • 14 Years
                    1 year, 10 days ago

                    I've been to SF a few times, lovely part of the world. 6 hour flight from me. Never been anywhere near your part of the world!

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                    1. AAAFootball
                      • 1 Year
                      1 year, 10 days ago

                      Yeah

                      Its weird who you meet on the internet

                      When you think about how someone else on the other side of the world sending messages to you

                      And you dont know their name, their gender, their background, where they are right now

                      I wont say my name but i am 16yo boy sitting on a beanbag in my room
                      What about you?

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              2. AAAFootball
                • 1 Year
                1 year, 10 days ago

                Team name was "Lautaro Martinez"

                Not very original unfortunately

                You can see my history if you want

                You will also see that i finished about 850 in the world and played my WC gw38

                I just liked my squad the whole season and never wanted to redo it

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    3. AAAFootball
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 10 days ago

      Donyell malen if you want to be a real adrenalin junkie

      (if we can call a guy who agonises about FPL an adrenalin junkie)

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  7. dansmith1985
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    A)Sels,Anderson
    B)Sanchez,Ndiaye

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    1. AAAFootball
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 10 days ago

      Sels and Kudus

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  8. dansmith1985
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    Sorry not Sanchez,Kelleher

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    1. AppleDunk
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      A

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    2. AAAFootball
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 10 days ago

      Oh. In that case, Sels and Reijnders

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  9. AppleDunk
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    Best 7.0ish mid?
    A. Rogers
    B. Sorry
    C. Mitoma
    D. Neto
    E. Others?

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    1. AppleDunk
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      B is Sarr

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      1. the dom 1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 10 days ago

        A & B

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        1. AAAFootball
          • 1 Year
          1 year, 10 days ago

          Yeah

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    2. AppleDunk
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      Thanks guys

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  10. sozopol
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    Almost there......

    A:
    Cucurella
    Wirtz, Anderson, Reijnders
    Strand Larsen

    B:
    Bijol
    Palmer, Dewsberry Hall, PM Sarr
    Mateta

    When I go through a player-by-player comparison I land on A, but my "gut" is leaning toward B

    Any input much appreciated!

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    1. AAAFootball
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 10 days ago

      B if you can bench some of them

      Other wise, sacrifice Mateta for Fullkrug and get Lacroix/Reijnders for bijol and sarr

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      1. sozopol
        • 14 Years
        1 year, 10 days ago

        Dewsberry Hall and Bijol would be on bench for GW1

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        1. AAAFootball
          • 1 Year
          1 year, 10 days ago

          Sounds good then.

          Consider KDH and PMS to potts and Reijnders?

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          1. sozopol
            • 14 Years
            1 year, 10 days ago

            Wait and see after GW1. Both are intriguing, especially Reijnders

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  11. Pomp and Circumstance
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    have Cunha in my team; does anyone else have him in current teams?

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    1. AppleDunk
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      Amorin's

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  12. dansmith1985
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    Konsa or Diouf?

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    1. sozopol
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      Diouf

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    2. AAAFootball
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 10 days ago

      Diouf gw1 otherwise konsa

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    3. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      Diouf

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    4. Valar(Keith)
      • 16 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      I had Fullkrug and didn't like west hams run. When I removed him and put Diouf in I suddenly liked their run since most of them are good fixtures for defense ie nfo and eve turned into good ones for example. Would go both if possible but gun to head Diouf for attacking threat

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  13. Fpl_Ludwig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    Grealish/Ndiaye vs Mitoma for BB gw1?

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    1. AAAFootball
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 10 days ago

      Probably Ndaiye as grealish may not start the first game

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    2. sozopol
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      Mitoma, for reasons implicit in the question.

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    3. Kryptonite666
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      Ndiaye I'd say. Against Leeds. Grealish may not be match fit ?

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  14. Valar(Keith)
    • 16 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    Going to start the season with all the big hitters I want and adjust as the season progresses(or maybe swap out the cheaper players for others that stand out and keep all the big hitters if Reijnders, Kdh, Larsen look good).. Due to the really good long runs for defense for teams like Forest, Spurs, West ham and Villa and Larsen being playable till GW 9 I think this is manageable (With KDH rotating with 4th defender)

    Verbruggen (Dubravka)
    Williams Vdv Diouf ( Konsa Esteve)
    Salah Palmer Wirtz Reijnders Kdh
    Haaland Larsen (Guiu)

    Cheers all. Good luck for the season

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    1. Valar(Keith)
      • 16 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      Closer to deadline Salah and Guiu to Saka + Watkins may tempt me but happy with the rest of the team

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    2. AAAFootball
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 10 days ago

      Looks good

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      1. Valar(Keith)
        • 16 Years
        1 year, 10 days ago

        Thanks. It's been sooo many iterations. Last one was Esteve and Wirtz in for Milenkovic and Rogers. Figured my defense can cope as is and i know id want Wirtz in post seeing him tnite so just going with him from the start

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    3. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      Don’t look too bad considering Salah Haaland and Palmer.
      Last year those with Salah and Haaland to start did well. That might repeat but probably not a season long play

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      1. Valar(Keith)
        • 16 Years
        1 year, 10 days ago

        Yup. Plan is just to take a gamble and hope the rest of the team can manage for a few weeks. The way I see it id want to start Reijnders, Kdh and Larsen atleast for 3 weeks. Would then have the necessary transfers to change my team if needed. Seems a waste not using those 3 with their fixtures. Happy with the defense for 6 weeks too. By then I'd probably play my WC anyway so might as well aim to go out of the blocks with the three premiums and adjust as needed

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  15. Sheffield Wednesday
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    Hi. Not planning to make transfers early on if avoidable. Which looks better?

    A) Sánchez Porro Anderson(mid)
    B) Sels Cucurella KDH

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  16. Who Ate All Depays?
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    BB active
    Sanchez, X
    Porro, Neco, Diouf (VDV, X)
    Salah, Palmer, Wirtz, Reijinder (X)
    Watkins, Pedro, Fulkrug

    A) Sels, Esteve, Sarr/KDH
    B) Verbruggen, Konsa, Sarr/KDH
    C) Verbruggen, Esteve, Andersen
    D) Dubravka, Konsa, Andersen

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    1. Kryptonite666
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      A for me

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  17. Kryptonite666
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    Back here after ages! Hope you all have been well! Thoughts on this team ?

    Sanchez (Dub)
    Milenkovic Porro Diouf (Dorgu) (Esteve)
    Gakpo Reinders Palmer Wirtz (King)
    Haaland (c) Pedro Watkins

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    1. Mozumbus
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      I like it

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  18. 3 A
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    How many Liv players do u have?

    Think

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  19. Raiser153
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    Already have Rogers

    A - Watkins
    B - Gyokores
    C - Sesko

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  20. SpaceCadet
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    Irrespective of price, who score more points the first 5 gws?

    A. Haaland
    B. Watkins

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    1. Avery
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      A

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  21. SomeoneKnows
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    Help me with my final decision...

    A) Sanchez, Tarkowski, Fernandes
    B) Sels, Cucurella, Wirtz

    XX
    Murillo, Pedro Porro, XX
    Salah, Palmer, XX, Anderson, Reijnder
    Watkins, Joao Pedro

    (Dubravka, Guiu, Richards, Esteve)

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    1. Avery
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      B

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    2. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      B

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  22. Tsparkes10
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    Bruno, Rogers, MGW or Marmoush…

    Hmmmmmm

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  23. HHEconometric
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    What do you think mate?
    Areola Kelleher
    VdV DeCuyper Diouf Gudmundsson Reinildo
    Salah Palmer Wirtz Ndiaye Devenny
    Watkins Pedro Bowen

    Please comment.
    Thanks.

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  24. Avery
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    Going back-and-forth…

    A. Watkins & Fullkrug
    B. Pedro & Mateta

    I know a lot of people have Watkins and it’s a huge risk but in isolation between these choices alone, I can’t help but feel B edges things over the first six weeks. What do you think?

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    1. Raiser153
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      B is better balance. But Watkins alone is the safest player.

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  25. Zoostation
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    Good to go!

    Kelleher (Vadi)

    Milenkovic Tarkowski VDV (Diouf, Esteve)

    Salah Palmer Bruno I Sarr Reijnders

    Watkins Bowen (Guiu)

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  26. AppleDunk
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    A. Rogers, Bowen
    B. Bruno, Fullkrug

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    1. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      I've actually got B

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  27. Roy Rovers
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    Would you BB??

    Sels Dubravka
    VDV. Konsa Diouf Reinildo Rondon
    Salah Palmer Bruno Reijnders King
    Pedro Watkins Bowen

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  28. vincentwsho
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    Which is better?

    1) Neco + Anderson
    2) Murillo + KDH/PM Sarr

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    1. sozopol
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      2

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  29. Fpl_Ludwig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    Bowen + Strand Larsen vs Füllkrug + Ekitike for bb gw1?

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  30. Kiwivillan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 10 days ago

    I've added Verb and De Cuyper just to BB gw1. Not sure I want either long term though as Brighton def always suspect

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    1. GoonerByron
      • 15 Years
      1 year, 10 days ago

      I have both on my bench boost, seem the best cheap options to get it out of the way

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      1. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 10 days ago

        Yeah it's just best looking fixture for last 2 spots in my team

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