Team Guides
12 August 2025 374 comments
FPL Marc FPL Marc
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Our Fantasy Premier League (FPL) 2025/26 team previews continue with Graham Potter’s West Ham United.

Here, their best FPL picks for the upcoming campaign are discussed. We’ll also attempt to predict the line-up for Gameweek 1, review pre-season, detail the best players for defensive contributions (DC) and more.



REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL

3pm team news: First league starts for Fullkrug + Gruda 2

BOWEN + FULLKRUG IN TANDEM

Having replaced Julen Lopetegui in January, head coach Potter has now had a full summer to work with his team. Most of last season’s late months were spent lingering in 16th and 17th place but two wins in the final three took West Ham up to a lofty 14th.

What’s filling fans with summer optimism is the blossoming partnership between Jarrod Bowen (£8.0m) and Niclas Fullkrug (£6.0m).

The German’s first year in English football has been decimated by injury, but he finally seems ready to be unleashed. Between them, the pair have collected five goals and two assists in pre-season friendlies, combining to score the opener against Bournemouth.

“I think you can see the link-up is very good. I try to bring the ball to him in his strongest situation, where he can go one-on-one or go in behind. You could see also today, I think there were three or four situations where we linked up very well. He tried to do the same for me.

“Also, when I scored the goal, we worked very well against the ball. That’s also important for strikers. We are the defenders, we recognise it too. I love this guy. He’s my skipper.” – Niclas Fullkrug, speaking about Jarrod Bowen

DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT UNDER POTTER

Not exactly renowned for his defence-first approach, Potter nevertheless got more of a tune out of the West Ham backline than Julen Lopetegui did.

As you can see from the graphic above, West Ham’s rolling xGC average went in the right direction after the change in manager.

A tally of 23 goals conceded in 18 games under Potter was the joint-eighth best in the league.

Only three sides allowed the opposition fewer big chances (33) in that time, too.

It didn’t translate into an upturn in clean sheets (just three in 18) but at least the green shoots of recovery are there.


REASONS TO BE FEARFUL

WEAK UNDERLYING ATTACKING NUMBERS

FPL Marc Broadcaster, writer and overthinker. Hoping that ‘differential potential’ will catch on.

374 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    3 months, 24 days ago

    Appalling communication from FPL. Is there a problem? Just speak FFS. Pathetic

    1. Qaiss
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 24 days ago

      They’re losing sign-ups so it’s their loss

    2. The Big Fella
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 24 days ago

      What communication?

    3. Hey_Arnold
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 24 days ago

      Poorly communicating about poor communication. Left us all confused.

  2. sirmorbach
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 24 days ago

    Tarkowski, Milenkovic or Porro?

    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 24 days ago

      Aina.

    2. I Member
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 24 days ago

      Milenkovic

    3. Ser Davos
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 24 days ago

      Milenkovic

    4. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 24 days ago

      Tarkowski. The early fixtures are good, he'll probably start most games on 4 points.

  3. Letsgo!
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 24 days ago

    Sels
    Gtg?
    Diouf cucu decuyper
    Salah palmer reijnders damsgaard
    Gyokeres watkins bowen

    Subs dub pmsarr konsa hoever

    Not sure to start with haaland or salah for the season though..

    1. sirmorbach
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 24 days ago

      Not sure about Damsgaard, very good otherwise

  4. sirmorbach
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 24 days ago

    Fullkrug is a trap, right?

    1. Letsgo!
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 24 days ago

      Totally. Maybe injured after 1 game

    2. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 24 days ago

      Has potential. Sick as a small hospital last season.

    3. Ser Davos
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 24 days ago

      I don't mind WHM's fix for a 4.5 defender, but not sure on attack

    4. 3 A
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 24 days ago

      Can change him to Barry, Thiago, Mayenda and Piroe if something happen. Just dont expect much from that price point.

  5. MIGHTY JOE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 months, 24 days ago

    A) VVD, Cucu & Gakpo

    B) Lacroix, Milenkovic & Bruno

    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 24 days ago

      A

    2. teddy.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      3 months, 24 days ago

      Both excellent options. Probably depends on team structure

      1. MIGHTY JOE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 months, 24 days ago

        Rest per now:

        Sels
        AWB
        Salah Palmer Kudus Reinjders
        Bowen Watkins

        1. teddy.
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          3 months, 24 days ago

          A then, for balance

    3. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 24 days ago

      I prefer B

  6. rozzo
    • 12 Years
    3 months, 24 days ago

    Is this mental?

    Sels
    Frimpong Ait Noiri Tarkowski Munoz Neco
    Palmer Bruno Wirtz
    Haaland Pedro

    Dubravka 4.5 4.5 4.5

    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 24 days ago

      No. I like it, it's different.

    2. Ser Davos
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 24 days ago

      would have Cucu / Gab in there personally, but could be genius

      1. Ser Davos
        • 10 Years
        3 months, 24 days ago

        I'm really starting to have doubts over the cheap attackers as well...

        I tell myself that they'll emerge, but the likes of Thiago and Fullkrug and Everton forwards...

        1. rozzo
          • 12 Years
          3 months, 24 days ago

          Oh yeah, the likes of Tarkowski. Munoz and forest defence makes most of the sub 8mil players redundant

          Question is have Haaland or Salah or go without and get an extra attacker

        2. AAAFootball
            3 months, 24 days ago

            As an Everton fan stay away from our towards

            Go KDH if you want cheap efc attack

    3. Moon Dog
        3 months, 24 days ago

        I feel for James Trafford. Thinking you're the Ederson successor only for Donnarumma to come in the same window.
        https://x.com/433/status/1955383558996103571

        When are City going to be relegated to League 2? Would be funny seeing one of the best goalkeepers in the world play there.

      • hazza44
        • 13 Years
        3 months, 24 days ago

        Hi all,
        Feedback on my team appreciated. Think I am nearly settled, but contemplating moving Sarr to Bruno and downgrading VVD & Murillo to 2x £4.5 defenders.

        Kelleher (Dubruvka)
        VVD VDV Murillo (Diouf Richards)
        Salah Palmer Wirtz Sarr Rejinders
        Pedro Watkins (Guiu)

        Cheers!

        1. Albrightondknight
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 months, 24 days ago

          I like it a lot as it is. Just watch the goalkeeper injury situation you need to be sure Kelleher starts.
          Bruno may turn out to harvest DC and still have attacking options but I would rather wait and see after first few difficult fixtures.

        1. The Pretender
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 months, 24 days ago

          I am going JSL as the known commodity, too many good 5.0-5.5's in MID to take that type of risk GW1. Watchlist for sure.

        2. 3 A
          • 10 Years
          3 months, 24 days ago

          that fixtures and shortage of quality fulback ........

          1. GreennRed
            • 14 Years
            3 months, 24 days ago

            He can still do well even if fixtures don't look like wins for Wolves.

      • Pep Roulette
        • 8 Years
        3 months, 24 days ago

        Are Enzo & Rice exactly similar kind of picks priced exactly same?

        1. GreennRed
          • 14 Years
          3 months, 24 days ago

          I think Rice will have more attacking threat than Enzo this season.

      • Ser Davos
        • 10 Years
        3 months, 24 days ago

        You know its Tinker Season when you suddenly start considering starting with Everton players

        1. GreennRed
          • 14 Years
          3 months, 24 days ago

          Grealish?

          1. Ser Davos
            • 10 Years
            3 months, 24 days ago

            no Tarkowski. Been dismissive as Everton start poorly out of the blocks, but these DCs have potentially mixed things up

      • funny money
        • 16 Years
        3 months, 24 days ago

        I can't decide which big hitter, so I have gone with 3 (Haaland, Salah, Palmer). Will drop one according to early season form. Around them I have biased toward DC magnets and high upside cheapies. Feel free to tell me how daft I am being (please)

        Sels Dubravka
        Tarkowski Milenkovic Diouf De Cuyper Reinders
        Salah Palmer Caicedo Anderson King
        Haaland Pedro Guiu

        1. Camzy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          3 months, 24 days ago

          This is the one draft I can't get behind. The triple premium.

          The supporting cast is really bad because the 3 players suck up so much of the funds.

          1. funny money
            • 16 Years
            3 months, 24 days ago

            yeah - it sucks when you HAVE to play caicedo & anderson

            1. Camzy
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 15 Years
              3 months, 24 days ago

              Don't like it.

              I like Salah drafts, I like Haaland drafts, I like some Salah + Haaland drafts. But if it's the latter it can't have Palmer imo.

              1. funny money
                • 16 Years
                3 months, 24 days ago

                i hear you .....

        2. Diles Mavis
          • 1 Year
          3 months, 24 days ago

          I think you can have Salah Palmer Saka Wirtz Watkins but you can't have Salah Haaland without compromising the rest of the team

          1. funny money
            • 16 Years
            3 months, 24 days ago

            just looked at the points tallies from last year.

            I think Palmer underperformed for much of last season, and I do worry about his consistency. However, Salah scored 344 points - that's 100+ more than anyone else. If Haaland repeats 2022/23 then he would be 50 points clear in all likelihood (big IF I accept). I wonder what the outperformance would have to be to justify the double.....

            Anyway, you will find this laughable, but I have "downgraded" palmer to saka and "upgraded" caicedo to Kudus (total punt) - if Rogers is fit I will find the extra 0.5 to bring him in

            Haaland --> Watkins is likely at some point

        3. Tony Moon
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          3 months, 24 days ago

          You have 4 defs and 6 mids too.

          1. funny money
            • 16 Years
            3 months, 24 days ago

            Reinders = reinildo good spot

      • Emiliano Sala
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 24 days ago

        Best gw to WC if you plan to BB gw1 and FH gw2?

        Use WC for Gw4? Or gw7?

        What do you think?

      • FFFoxy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 months, 24 days ago

        Hi guys, quick reply please, would appreciate
        A) Wood + Salah
        B) Haaland + Wirtz
        ?

        1. GreennRed
          • 14 Years
          3 months, 24 days ago

          B

          1. AAAFootball
              3 months, 24 days ago

              Has to be b

        2. Prisoner FC
          • 14 Years
          3 months, 24 days ago

          Rice Manduke or Martinelli

          1. funny money
            • 16 Years
            3 months, 24 days ago

            none

            Rice is dropping much deeper this year as he is rotating with zubimendi
            Madueke will be off the bench to start
            Martinelli is under threat from Madueke and possibly Trossard, and just hasn't been delivering the goods

            1. Prisoner FC
              • 14 Years
              3 months, 24 days ago

              Thanks trying to squeeze a arsenal mid in

          2. GreennRed
            • 14 Years
            3 months, 24 days ago

            Martinelli.

          3. funny money
            • 16 Years
            3 months, 24 days ago

            p.s. go Habs

            1. Prisoner FC
              • 14 Years
              3 months, 24 days ago

              That’s funny!!

              1. funny money
                • 16 Years
                3 months, 24 days ago

                odegaard or saka or zubimendi (assuming he will accumulate lots of DC)

          4. AAAFootball
              3 months, 24 days ago

              Good ole man-duke is always gonna be there for you lol

          5. Iceball
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            3 months, 24 days ago

            5th mid mostly in starting XI but can be rotated with Diouf at times...
            A) Reijnders
            B) Anderson

            1. Bleh
              • 8 Years
              3 months, 24 days ago

              I’ve gone for A. At a max, I’d go for one risky pick.

          6. Bleh
            • 8 Years
            3 months, 24 days ago

            Best trio?

            A. Sanchez, N.Williams, Gakpo
            B. Kelleher, De Cuyper, Wirtz

            1. AAAFootball
                3 months, 24 days ago

                A because I really don't rate de cuyper

                1. Bleh
                  • 8 Years
                  3 months, 24 days ago

                  Cheers!

            2. Dutchy
              • 7 Years
              3 months, 24 days ago

              What do we think? I’m a bit nervous playing two 5.5 mids but they look really nice. What changes would you make?

              Sels
              Cucurella / Porro / Neco
              Salah / Palmer / Bruno / Reijnders / Anderson
              Watkins / Mateta

              Dubravka / Andersen / Esteve / Guiu

              1. AAAFootball
                  3 months, 24 days ago

                  Andersen less than ideal for me

                  Plenty of better picks imo

                • cravencottage
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 14 Years
                  3 months, 24 days ago

                  Spurs defense should be a no fly zone

                • Egg noodle
                  • 15 Years
                  3 months, 24 days ago

                  beautiful team in my opinion

              2. Drop Dead Tsimikas
                • 14 Years
                3 months, 24 days ago

                Good enough for a GW1 BB and likely a soon-ish WC?

                Sels | Verbruggen
                Frimpong | Tosin | Diouf | VdV | Reinildo
                Salah (c) | Rice | Reijnders | PMSarr | KDH
                Haaland | Watkins | JP

                1. Emiliano Sala
                  • 9 Years
                  3 months, 24 days ago

                  No imo

                2. AAAFootball
                    3 months, 24 days ago

                    Reinildo is 2 pts max
                    Tosin may not start

                3. The Big Fella
                  • 9 Years
                  3 months, 24 days ago

                  Is Frimpong nailed or is it better to go VVD? I am debating four 6m defenders at the back but for it to work, they need to be nailed. Also have doubts about Gvardiol…..

                  1. Bleh
                    • 8 Years
                    3 months, 24 days ago

                    Really can’t see Bradley starting many games in the PL so I’d go with Frimpong for attacking threat.

                    1. cravencottage
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 14 Years
                      3 months, 24 days ago

                      agree

                4. Emiliano Sala
                  • 9 Years
                  3 months, 24 days ago

                  Without KDB there is a big hole in city’s squad which is not filled at all
                  They lack a creative midfielder

                  1. The Big Fella
                    • 9 Years
                    3 months, 24 days ago

                    At least they bought two new goalkeepers though

                  2. The Pretender
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 10 Years
                    3 months, 24 days ago

                    It looks to me like they are going to change tactics and setups slightly to compensate, rather than getting a replacement (who can replace KDB anyway?). Cherki is the guy they are hoping will do so but they aren't banking on it. So Pep's gotten a more traditional WB in RAN, a box crasher in Reijnders and I am assuming will hope that Foden and/or Marmoush can provide enough playmaking off the left with RAN providing the width so they can drop into the left channel hole.

                5. 420king
                  • 11 Years
                  3 months, 24 days ago

                  Serious BB attempt no.3

                  Sels Dubravka*
                  Frimpong Porro DeCuyper Tosin Rodon
                  Palmer Saka Wirtz Kudus Rutter
                  Gyokeres Palmer Ekitike(c)

                  plan:
                  - GW2 bench Porro, Kudus, Rodon & Sels
                  - GW3 FH
                  - GW4 WC (if needed, team looks good enough on paper to continue)

                  1. Bleh
                    • 8 Years
                    3 months, 24 days ago

                    Got two Palmers there. Who’s the third striker?

                    1. 420king
                      • 11 Years
                      3 months, 24 days ago

                      Joao Palmer. My bad.

                      1. Bleh
                        • 8 Years
                        3 months, 24 days ago

                        Pedro?

                        Not sold on either of the Spurs boys if I’m honest.

                        Tosin is a minutes risk.

                        Will Gyokeres start?

                        1. 420king
                          • 11 Years
                          3 months, 24 days ago

                          Yeah.
                          If you check my plan then Spurs & Rodon only play in GW1.
                          Tosin isn't a big minute risk until the IB.
                          Gyokeres will play, could go Watkins here but I prefer to risk it a bit.

                6. Bleh
                  • 8 Years
                  3 months, 24 days ago

                  How’s it looking? Any improvements you’d make?

                  Sanchez
                  Milenkovic, N.Williams, Diouf
                  Salah, Palmer, Bruno, Gakpo, Reijnders
                  Watkins, Mateta

                  (Dubravka, Guiu, Esteve, Hoever)

                  1. 420king
                    • 11 Years
                    3 months, 24 days ago

                    Team is good but I would try to get at least one 4.5 def so you have some actual bench options.

                    1. Bleh
                      • 8 Years
                      3 months, 24 days ago

                      I could downgrade Sanchez to Verbruggen but tbh none of the 4.5s really appeal. I’d rather do N.Williams to Munoz with the extra 0.5.

                  2. teddy.
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 16 Years
                    3 months, 24 days ago

                    Nice team!

                    Maybe Rodon or Reinildo instead of Esteve so it's not double Burnley.

                    1. Bleh
                      • 8 Years
                      3 months, 24 days ago

                      Thanks. Esteve is the only Burnley player I think?

                      1. The Pretender
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 10 Years
                        3 months, 24 days ago

                        Dubravka is the other. I like Rodon if you aren't playing a BB2.

                        1. Bleh
                          • 8 Years
                          3 months, 24 days ago

                          Ah thanks, don’t plan on playing Dubravka much (hopefully). Rodon is on the radar for sure.

                          1. Albrightondknight
                            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                            • 10 Years
                            3 months, 24 days ago

                            Leeds were better on X goals conceded than Burnett . Burnley just way over performed expectations on goals conceded.

                            1. martynteresa
                                3 months, 24 days ago

                                Leeds x goals conceded last season 29. Burnley 39. As a fan of a different championship team and watched not just our two but other Burnley games I have to put it down to sheer fluke that they only conceded 16

                                Lots of people see that number and think Esteve. Leeds have the better defense and they have strengthened it.

                                I keep saying it. If you want a 4m def from a promoted team its Rodon. Leeds have a really good run of games for the 1st 9. Burnleys are awful

                                1. DavvaMC
                                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                  • 4 Years
                                  3 months, 24 days ago

                                  Is Gudo from Leeds also good to go for?

                  3. Manani
                    • 14 Years
                    3 months, 24 days ago

                    Cucu or VVD or Frimpong?

                    1. Freshy
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 15 Years
                      3 months, 24 days ago

                      Going for the Frimpong splash

                    2. Tonyawesome69
                      • 6 Years
                      3 months, 24 days ago

                      Cucurella, Frimpong (assuming Bradley is out long term, ranked last if short term), VVD

                    3. Albrightondknight
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 10 Years
                      3 months, 24 days ago

                      I am going Frimpong but it might be short term I think Bradley will get some starts sooner rather than later. FPL wire did a whole episode on Liverpool a few days ago.

                    4. cravencottage
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 14 Years
                      3 months, 24 days ago

                      Frimpong

                  4. Albrightondknight
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 10 Years
                    3 months, 24 days ago

                    A. Rondon and Caicedo
                    B. N. Williams and 4.5 bench midfielder

                    Hopefully I don’t need to use either Rondon or Caicedo
                    Really looking at DC from last year and Caicedo was a monster. I already have Milkenkovic so N. Williams is a double defence pretty much every week and a 442
                    Caicedo makes it a 352

                    1. Albrightondknight
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 10 Years
                      3 months, 24 days ago

                      Should have been not play Rondon or 4.5 midfielder

                  5. Pomp and Circumstance
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 14 Years
                    3 months, 24 days ago

                    should consider Guehi? if Liverpool get him, as per speculation, would he likely be first choice?

                    1. Albrightondknight
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 10 Years
                      3 months, 24 days ago

                      I would not think so. More cover for an injury prone Konate. And maybe looking medium term to a world without VVD

                      1. martynteresa
                          3 months, 24 days ago

                          Chelsea seem to want Konate now!!!

                          1. Albrightondknight
                            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                            • 10 Years
                            3 months, 24 days ago

                            Didn’t hear that one !!! Heard the Real rumours a few weeks ago

                            1. martynteresa
                                3 months, 24 days ago

                                Chelsea have lodged a £43m offer for 26-year-old Liverpool and France centre-back Ibrahima Konate.
                                On BBC

                        • Hibbopotamus
                          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                          • 11 Years
                          3 months, 24 days ago

                          Konate is just a better center half full-stop, so no, can't imagine Guehi will be more than cover for fixture congestion as it stands now. But if Konate goes for whatever reason, game-breaker

                      2. bingatakesthose
                          3 months, 24 days ago

                          How am I looking?
                          Sanchez, Dubravka
                          Porro, Wan-Bissaka, Murillo, Senesi, Rodon
                          Palmer, Salah, Kudus, Ndiaye, Potts
                          Bowen, Watkins, Wood

                        • cravencottage
                          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                          • 14 Years
                          3 months, 24 days ago

                          how would you rank:
                          A) Tarkowski
                          B) Munoz
                          C) Porro

                          1. Albrightondknight
                            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                            • 10 Years
                            3 months, 24 days ago

                            B C A

                          2. Hibbopotamus
                            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                            • 11 Years
                            3 months, 24 days ago

                            to start the year? C, B, A

                            long term B, C, A but all are excellent

                        • Pep Roulette
                          • 8 Years
                          3 months, 24 days ago

                          After toying with no Salah drafts, BB GW1, WC GW4, I've decided to scrap all that. This is my current draft.

                          Sels Dubravka
                          Cucurella Porro Dorgu Esteve Gudmundsson
                          Salah Wirtz Rice Georginio Reijnders
                          Haaland JP Guiu

                          1. Hibbopotamus
                            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                            • 11 Years
                            3 months, 24 days ago

                            Rutter, Reijnders *and* JP is risky when you've got zero bench cover. certainly high upside but I'd brace for occasional pain

                          2. adidasOriginals
                            • 10 Years
                            3 months, 24 days ago

                            Why are so many people on about early chip tactics?