Scout Squad

The Scout Squad: Our top picks for FPL Gameweek 1

20 August 2026 76 comments
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All of our regular content is returning for Gameweek 1 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) this week – and the Scout Squad is no exception.

In this article, our in-house team of Sam, Marc, Tom and Neale will discuss who they think the best FPL players are for the upcoming Gameweek in isolation.

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MORE ABOUT THE SCOUT SQUAD

Scout Squad Gameweek 1

The focus is only on the upcoming Gameweek with the Scout Squad, so there’s no medium-term planning involved.

The players who get the most votes are much more likely to make the Scout Picks, although the final XI can’t exceed £83.0m – so occasionally, cheaper alternatives have to be found.

Each of our writers must meet the following requirements for this feature:

  • At least one sub-£5.0m goalkeeper
  • At least one sub-£5.0m defender
  • At least one sub-£6.0m midfielder
  • At least one sub-£7.0m forward
  • No more than three players from the same club

SCOUT SQUAD: BEST FPL PLAYERS FOR GAMEWEEK 1

 

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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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76 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. marpy016
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    49 mins ago

    G2G BB1?

    Verbruggen
    Calafiori - Maguire - Ajaer
    Bruno - Mbuemo - Tzolis - Gross
    Haaland - JP - DCL

    Kinsky - N'Diaye - Muharemovic - O'Nien

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    1. BR510
      2 mins ago

      Yep gtg, prefer Schade to Ndiaye but just personal preference

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    2. Beto Hall Tzol
      • 9 Years
      just now

      Looks good. Ballard v Muhar’ for proven PL / early mins. Schade higher output team v Ndiaye.

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  2. Saka White Rice
    • 11 Years
    47 mins ago

    Ajer or Rodon?

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    1. BR510
      35 mins ago

      Rodon

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    2. Beto Hall Tzol
      • 9 Years
      32 mins ago

      Ajer - should have mins and more DC upside

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    3. Winging it
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 min ago

      Rodon

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  3. BR510
    43 mins ago

    If Vuskovic starts against Tromso, does that make him less or more likely to start against Villa?

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    1. Mr Turnip 1
      • 1 Year
      10 mins ago

      Don’t know. Probably depends on whether the rest of the team looks like first choice or a second string. Probably safest to start with another 5.0 DefCon mid and pivot to Vuskovic if you need to in a few weeks

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    2. Gentlemen In Kilts
      8 mins ago

      Good question his performance may determine the outcome I would say

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    3. Rodney
      • 12 Years
      just now

      If he doesn't start I'd be certain he's going to start this week. So I guess the opposite should apply for me if he does start.

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  4. In Carrick we trust
    • 9 Years
    43 mins ago

    Hi everyone, need abit off advice would you bench boost this team??

    Lammens
    White, Maguire, van Dijk
    Rogers, mbeumo, tzolis, szoboszlai
    Haaland, Pedro, DCL,

    Bench, verbruggan, schade, ajer, ballard

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    1. BR510
      35 mins ago

      Yes

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    2. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
      • 11 Years
      34 mins ago

      Deffo

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    3. Jstap94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      30 mins ago

      No point in not bench boosting if you are going to spread the money around like that

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    4. Beto Hall Tzol
      • 9 Years
      27 mins ago

      Yes, v strong. Downside is Bruno money spread over 15 players - hard to undo and a lot of £££ on bench each week. Possible to focus on strong 13 say and couple of others and still a viable BB?

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      1. In Carrick we trust
        • 9 Years
        just now

        100% see what you mean, it's very hard at the start off the season to judge how players will play, so I always like taken a gamble with my team at the start off the season, and if it doesn't work out, because wer have a bit more information then you can play your wildcard

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    5. Doolittle
      • 14 Years
      15 mins ago

      Yes

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  5. philmoonpig
    • 13 Years
    42 mins ago

    Please could you rate my team

    Kinsky
    Gabriel, Maguire, Konsa
    Bruno, Mbeumo, Wirtz, Gross, Sangare (Bre)
    Harland, Joao Pedro

    Dubravka, Diop, Thomas, Walle Egeli

    I am gambling on the Konsa to Arsenal deal going through and him going straight into the starting 11 probably from GW2. I would appreciate people's thoughts on this, do you think it's a good move? Or do you think he won't be a regular starter.

    Thanks

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  6. Falafel333
    • 4 Years
    38 mins ago

    It all comes down to these two options

    A: Mbuemo, Gabriel, Semenyo, Gomez
    B: Bruno F, Muharemovic, Foden, Gross

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    1. Mr Turnip 1
      • 1 Year
      2 mins ago

      A if you’re captaining Haaland whatever

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    2. Beto Hall Tzol
      • 9 Years
      just now

      All good options except Foden. Would not want to rely on Gomez each week so full team is relevant.

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  7. Dutchy
    • 8 Years
    38 mins ago

    Have my fall back draft with Haaland but jesus this looks tempting.

    Lammens
    Maguire Muharemovic Calafiori
    Bruno Mbuemo Semenyo Ndiaye
    Pedro Thiago Isak

    Verbruggen Gomez Colwill Tarkowski

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    1. Mr Turnip 1
      • 1 Year
      1 min ago

      Nice team. I’m going no Haaland. I think it’s worth it!

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  8. Jstap94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    37 mins ago

    A) Haaland, White, Gross, Rodon, Ajer
    B) Isak, Gabriel, Wirtz, Tarkowski, Ballard

    Planning a longer term wildcard. Can FH for triple city in GW3 if they are looking good, or transfer Bruno and Isak to Haaland and Gross.

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    1. Falafel333
      • 4 Years
      12 mins ago

      A, I personally think you can’t go without Haaland

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    2. Mr Turnip 1
      • 1 Year
      9 mins ago

      B

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    3. Doolittle
      • 14 Years
      just now

      A

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  9. LangerznMash
    • 10 Years
    36 mins ago

    The scout's most picked players aren't affordable in one team.
    Lammens
    Gabriel, Calafiori, Maguire
    Bruno Fernandes, Mbeumo, Szoboszlai, Tzolis
    Haaland, Isak, Joao Pedro

    (Verbruggen, £4.5m, Muharemovic, Gross

    There's also 4 x Man Utd players.

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    1. Mozumbus
      • 4 Years
      3 mins ago

      Exactly

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    2. Pompel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      1 min ago

      But then you're merging their teams together. You'll have to consider each writer's team individually, which shall not exceed £83m and only 3 from any club

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  10. Ohh1454
    • 8 Years
    33 mins ago

    Jacquet or Muharemovic ?

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    1. Mr Turnip 1
      • 1 Year
      11 mins ago

      I’m on Muha, but it’s close. There are lots of good 5.0s this year

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      1. Mozumbus
        • 4 Years
        just now

        Muharemovic

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    2. Pompel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      just now

      Jacquet for the flair and upside at slighlty higher risk, Muharemovic for a steady stream of defcons

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  11. Sausage™️
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    29 mins ago

    FPL is so boring with Haaland at nearly £16m, so heres my draft..

    Lammens Kinsky
    Calafori Gvardiol Van Hecke Frimpong Branthwaite
    Szoboszlai Mbuemo Bruno (c) Gros Tzolis
    Pedro Isak Thiago

    Be gentle with your critique..

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    1. Sausage™️
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      20 mins ago

      Might bench boost first game

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    2. TafOnTour1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      12 mins ago

      Sorry mate, Branthwaite at £5.5m is a criminal overpay, and not a good option this season. Wouldn't double up on Spurs defence, either!

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      1. Sausage™️
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        7 mins ago

        Hes 8th for predicted points in the first 6 games..

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      2. Beto Hall Tzol
        • 9 Years
        1 min ago

        Racy - a lot of mins risk in defence. minimum £20m bench implies more hard decisions to be made in optimising the Viking’s saved £££.

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    3. Gentlemen In Kilts
      8 mins ago

      BB1 looks good if no Halland however boring becomes critical going without

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  12. BR510
    28 mins ago

    1. Thiago Hume
    2. DCL Palestra

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    1. Beto Hall Tzol
      • 9 Years
      1 min ago

      A. Thiago resilient, good mins. Hume decent couple of fixtures, prefer Ajer.
      No idea how Palestra will settle.

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  13. Doolittle
    • 14 Years
    25 mins ago

    Final decision: Groß or Sangare (Brentford)?

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    1. el polako
      • 9 Years
      10 mins ago

      I went with Sangare, never had any joy with Gross in the past.

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    2. TafOnTour1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      9 mins ago

      Sangare easily mate.

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    3. Beto Hall Tzol
      • 9 Years
      7 mins ago

      Gone Grob. Will flip if Sangare can do his DC magic in PL.

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    4. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      just now

      It’s a tough one. Gross on most set pieces and penalties vs Defcon monster

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  14. TafOnTour1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    22 mins ago

    Really really torn between Morgan Gibbs-White and Florian Wirtz as the final decision in my team...thoughts guys?!

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  15. Wirtz Nightmare
    • 1 Year
    21 mins ago

    Any opinions on this BB Gw 1 Draft?
    Verbruggen Kinsky
    Maguire White Muhar Ajer Davis
    Bruno F Mbeumo Tzolis Ampadu Schade
    Haaland DCL JP

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    1. Beto Hall Tzol
      • 9 Years
      just now

      Looks good. Just White I’m unsure of now - mins with Konsa, Timber after week 1/2.

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  16. Koflok
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    20 mins ago

    1.
    A) Wirtz
    B) Szoboszlai

    2.
    A) Vuskovic
    B) Muharemovic

    3.
    A) Rodon
    B) Hume

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    1. Ahsieuwbb
      • 4 Years
      1 min ago

      Each decision individually, I'd go ABA. But not sure I'd want double Leeds defence. So probably AAA/ABB.

      Vuskovic would def be in my team if I wasn't a little wary of minutes. He'll probably play every minute of the season, but young centre back at a new club with 5 players vying for 2 spots...

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    2. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 min ago

      ABB

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    3. OptimusBlack
      • 13 Years
      just now

      B
      B
      B

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  17. Ahsieuwbb
    • 4 Years
    14 mins ago

    A) Gyokeres and Le Fee or
    B) Calvert-Lewin and Mbuemo?

    I may be getting seduced by the idea of Gyokeres improving on decent numbers from last year - and the thought of the main striker at the favourites for the title being only 7.5m. But I also prefer him because he's not as popular as DCL. Mbuemo is likely to be starting up front, with very promising early fixtures.

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    1. el polako
      • 9 Years
      2 mins ago

      There is a reason why he’s not as popular and that reason is Kai Havertz.

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  18. Ricky - it doesn\'t ta…
    • 15 Years
    12 mins ago

    Best 5.0 mid not Gomez? Already have gross

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    1. Ahsieuwbb
      • 4 Years
      2 mins ago

      Until Newcastle sign someone else, I'd take a punt on Jacob Ramsey

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      1. Ricky - it doesn\'t ta…
        • 15 Years
        1 min ago

        Will he start?

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        1. FPL Blow-In
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          just now

          Quite likely as they don’t have many options

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    2. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 min ago

      Go Gomez and Sangare then instead of Gross. Alternatively wait for PC on Noorgards fitness or try Santos but Santos is a waste of a Utd spot l. However if you don’t have 3 already could punt on him

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  19. ididnt
    • 15 Years
    10 mins ago

    Thoughts on this BB team:

    Kinsky (Berbruggen)
    Califiore, Muharemovic, Shaw, (Kadioglu, Diop)
    Odegaard, Mbuemo, Bruno F, Schade, Wirtz
    Haaland, JP (Walle Egeli)

    Should I go Tzolis over Ode?

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  20. El Copo
    • 11 Years
    7 mins ago

    This is my team. Quite template-y.

    Kinsky (Dubravka)
    Califiori Williams Shaw (4m 4m)
    Bruno Mbeumo Semenyo Tzolis (Slater)
    Haaland JP DCL

    Only thing I'm considering is Semenyo (playing wider) down to Wirtz and upgrade defence.

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    1. el polako
      • 9 Years
      6 mins ago

      I would downgrade Semenyo to 7.5m and upgrade Slater to have a playing 5.5m as my first on the bench cover.

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    2. Ninjaa
      • 15 Years
      4 mins ago

      I think Mbuemo and Bruno is overkill. Regardless of fixtures I don't see then scoring that many in opening fixtures. The cash could improve that team a lot

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      1. el polako
        • 9 Years
        1 min ago

        Hull & Ipswich- if you not going to back your players against these two…

        I predict Hull to be Derby County levels whipping boys.

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  21. Ballito
    • 3 Years
    6 mins ago

    Bench Boost GW1

    Shaw, Calafiori, White
    Bruno, Sangare, Mbeumo, Tzolis, Gross
    Haarland, Pedro, Calvert Lewin
    Kinsky, Muharemovic, Diop

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    1. Zero
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 mins ago

      Looks good, weird format though

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  22. CheesyGonzalez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    5 mins ago

    I didn't watch the community shield but was Tzolis that impressive? I had Odegaard in my first draft but should I swap him for Tzolis?

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    1. el polako
      • 9 Years
      3 mins ago

      Odegard was actually the one who impressed more but the general consensus for now is that Ode can be easily replaced by Eze and Tzolis is safer pick until Arteta buys another winger.

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    2. ididnt
      • 15 Years
      3 mins ago

      really like Odegaard at 6.5m personally

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  23. Zero
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 mins ago

    Think I'm almost there:

    Kinksy -- 4.0
    Gabriel -- De Cuyper -- Truffert -- Muharemovic -- 4.0
    Mbeumo -- Tzolis -- Hinshelwood -- Schade -- Sangare
    Haaland -- Isak -- JPedro

    > Truffert from GW2.
    > Hinsh and De Cuyper for Villa attack GW1.
    > Shifted away from other Arsenal defenders, Vusk and NWilliams the only other two that jump out as potentials.
    > No Bruno.

    Thanks for any opinions!

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  24. Ninjaa
    • 15 Years
    3 mins ago

    Thoughts here guys?

    Kinsky Palmer4m
    Vvd Calafiori Maguire / Diop Van Ewijk
    Mbuemo Szob Tzolis Semenyo / Hughes
    Haaland Pedro Isak

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  25. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 min ago

    If Spurs land both Marmoush and Savinho after getting Tonali, Fernandes, Robertson, Senesi and Van Hecke already and no European football, they could blow teams out of it. That’s an incredible window for them. Get Maddison fit at last in a number 10, I think there are loads of value to be had in Spurs once everyone settles in a few weeks time.

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  26. OptimusBlack
    • 13 Years
    just now

    Which is better to have ?

    A- Maguire Keep him short Term then Go to another Defender

    B- Vešović keep him for long term

    The only concern is I start with Verbruggen BB GW 1

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  27. Advanced1
    • 1 Year
    just now

    Almost there - thoughts? Changes?

    Verbruggen/Steele
    Gabriel/Van Ewilk/Fernandez/Tzolis/E.Le Fee
    Haaland/DCL/Brobbey

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