Pro Pundits
14 August 2025 697 comments
zøphar zøphar
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With the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Gameweek 1 deadline just a day away, our pundits are sharing their teams with us.

Here, eight-time top 10k finisher Zophar talks us through three-way defensive rotation and reasons for overlooking Bruno Fernandes (£9.0m).

Make sure you sign up for the new season to get all the Member-only articles, tools and features to make 2025/26 your best FPL campaign yet!

FPL 2025/26 first draft team reveals: DC magnets + Bench Boost 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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FPL pre-season: Malen + Watkins again, Xhaka debut, secretive Man City 2
697 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 months, 23 days ago

    How is she looking?

    Kelleher
    Virgil Nico Diouf
    Salah Palmer Wirtz Rogers Anderson
    Watkins Bowen

    Dub / Konsa Guiu Esteve

    1. AAAFootball
        3 months, 23 days ago

        Better than zophar tbh

        Why start rodon?

        1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
          • 9 Years
          3 months, 22 days ago

          It's against Everton

        2. Kiwivillan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 months, 22 days ago

          At home vs Everton

          1. AAAFootball
              3 months, 22 days ago

              No cs and probably not much defcon

        3. The FPL Units
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          3 months, 23 days ago

          Virgil & Williams to Porro & Murillo

          1. Weak Become Heros
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 months, 22 days ago

            Ohhh, I like that, thanks.

            1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
              • 9 Years
              3 months, 22 days ago

              Virgil to Porro, Kelleher to Sels

              1. FC Hakkebøf
                • 8 Years
                3 months, 22 days ago

                This

        4. Swills
          • 8 Years
          3 months, 23 days ago

          Solid

      • Ian Davis
        • 15 Years
        3 months, 23 days ago

        A) Frimpong/Ait-Nouri / A Ramsey (bench) / Mateta

        or

        B) Aina / KDH (5th mid on bench) / Bowen

        1. Weak Become Heros
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 months, 23 days ago

          B

        2. The FPL Units
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          3 months, 23 days ago

          B with Murillo and Mateta

      • Emiliano Sala
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 23 days ago

        No way it will be the final team
        Classic team reveals

        1. FPL Brains
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          3 months, 23 days ago

          Yeah looks distinctively average.

          1. The FPL Units
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            3 months, 23 days ago

            Over thinking it

        2. Boxwoods
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 months, 23 days ago

          Which pics do you disbelieve?

      • adidasOriginals
        • 10 Years
        3 months, 23 days ago

        Konsa isn't a good pick is he really?

        1. Winston.
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 months, 23 days ago

          Good fixtures but no defcons… so probably not. Some models still rate him at that price fairly ok…

        2. The FPL Units
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          3 months, 23 days ago

          Agree, staying away.

        3. Weak Become Heros
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 months, 22 days ago

          Konsa always does me well.

      • Winston.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 months, 23 days ago

        Which one ?

        A. Sarr, Reijnders, Watkins or
        B. Eze, Rogers, Evanilson

        1. AAAFootball
            3 months, 23 days ago

            A

          • Weak Become Heros
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 months, 22 days ago

            A

        2. FC Hakkebøf
          • 8 Years
          3 months, 23 days ago

          Selz or Sanchez?

          Torn between those two. My last decision.

          1. AAAFootball
              3 months, 23 days ago

              Yeah same

            • royals forever
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 16 Years
              3 months, 23 days ago

              Sels

          2. royals forever
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 16 Years
            3 months, 23 days ago

            Your help is needed please

            KDH or Reijnders for this team

            Verbruggen Dubravka
            Porro Murillo Rodon Konsa Andersen
            Salah Palmer Anderson Rice xxxxxxxx
            Watkins Mateta Bowen

            No BB1
            FH GW4 after IB

            Any ideas would be greatly appreciated

            1. AAAFootball
                3 months, 23 days ago

                Both fair picks tbh, r more threat but k more nailed

                Not much in it

              • The FPL Units
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 15 Years
                3 months, 23 days ago

                Reij has bigger upside and you have good bench cover.

            2. Tonyawesome69
              • 6 Years
              3 months, 23 days ago

              Might play Pep roulette with Reijnders over Anderson...

              Nottingham Forest looking to finalise FOUR deals as we approach first weekend of the season; Arnaud Kalimuendo, James McAtee, Omari Hutchinson and Douglas Luiz

              https://x.com/SkySportsLyall/status/1956076135550509218?t=i_NdCcJJe1SSZ8DD006vSg&s=19

              1. Qaiss
                • 9 Years
                3 months, 23 days ago

                Do you think Luiz would affect Anderson?

              2. FPL Brains
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 14 Years
                3 months, 23 days ago

                Quality signings.

              3. Weak Become Heros
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                3 months, 23 days ago

                Doug Luiz is a worry as an Anderson owner. Maybe I’ll look to go Reij.

              4. Tonyawesome69
                • 6 Years
                3 months, 23 days ago

                Forest have been rotating between 4231 (usual setup) and 442 in preseason. These are the options I think Nuno has for each setup.

                4231:
                CM - Anderson, Yates, Singare, Luiz, McAtee (8)
                CAM - MGW, McAtee

                442:
                CMs - MGW, Anderson, Yates, Singare, Luiz

            3. Vague88
              • 12 Years
              3 months, 23 days ago

              A) Rejnders, Fullkrug, Haaland

              Or

              B) Gakpo, Gyokeres, Watkins?

              1. Swills
                • 8 Years
                3 months, 23 days ago

                A

              2. Weak Become Heros
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                3 months, 22 days ago

                A!

              3. FC Hakkebøf
                • 8 Years
                3 months, 22 days ago

                B

            4. Swills
              • 8 Years
              3 months, 23 days ago

              Final RMT
              Kelleher / Dubravka
              Milenkovic AWB VDV Konsa Esteve
              Salah(c) Bruno Palmer Ndiaye Adingra
              Watkins Mateta Fullkrug

              Thanks for any replies

            5. Skout
              • 6 Years
              3 months, 23 days ago

              Is Bowen worth the 0.5 over JPedro?

              1. Swills
                • 8 Years
                3 months, 23 days ago

                Less rotation risk

              2. Weak Become Heros
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                3 months, 22 days ago

                Star man.

            6. Pedram
              • 12 Years
              3 months, 23 days ago

              Watkin and Bowen or Gyokeres and Pedro?

              1. royals forever
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 16 Years
                3 months, 23 days ago

                WB

              2. FC Hakkebøf
                • 8 Years
                3 months, 23 days ago

                Watkins and pedro

            7. Davido989
              • 15 Years
              3 months, 23 days ago

              Best 2 rotating 4.5m defenders?

            8. Emiliano Sala
              • 9 Years
              3 months, 23 days ago

              Which one?

              A) KDH, Sanchez, Aina
              B) Reijners, Sels, Diouf

              1. Davido989
                • 15 Years
                3 months, 22 days ago

                B for me

                Reasons:
                - Hard to move away from KDH
                - Chelsea in the market for a GK

                1. Emiliano Sala
                  • 9 Years
                  3 months, 22 days ago

                  Second is not right tbh
                  Agree on first one, but consider I’m playing wc early
                  What now?

                2. Weak Become Heros
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 7 Years
                  3 months, 22 days ago

                  Are Chelsea really in the market for a GK? I thought they declined on Donnaruma?

                  1. Davido989
                    • 15 Years
                    3 months, 22 days ago

                    I read today they were in the market for one

                  2. Emiliano Sala
                    • 9 Years
                    3 months, 22 days ago

                    They are not, as latest news

            9. LangerznMash
              • 9 Years
              3 months, 23 days ago

              Here's a tricky one for ya...
              a) Gakpo
              b) Pedro

              1. Weak Become Heros
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                3 months, 22 days ago

                A

              2. Tomerick
                • 11 Years
                3 months, 22 days ago

                I have Gakpo and no Pedro but I’m surprised that others agree. Gakpo seems to have high potential as a bargain now there is less competition for the left wing.

              3. Steirish
                • 11 Years
                3 months, 22 days ago

                B

            10. Skout
              • 6 Years
              3 months, 23 days ago

              Any changes recommended? 0.5itb
              A) Verbruggen could be Sels/Sanchez
              B) JPedro could be Bowen

              Vebruggen
              Porro Milenkovic Diouf
              Salah Palmer Wirtz Kudus Ndiaye
              Watkins JPedro

              Dubravka Guiu Reinildo Esteve

            11. FDMS All Starz
              • 10 Years
              3 months, 23 days ago

              Which combo?

              A) Porro & Richards
              Or
              B) Munoz & VDV

              1. Davido989
                • 15 Years
                3 months, 22 days ago

                I like A.

            12. Dynamic Duos
              • 12 Years
              3 months, 23 days ago

              Porro and Munoz is basically all out attack

              1. Davido989
                • 15 Years
                3 months, 22 days ago

                Can't wait to own both at some point. Munoz is my kind of FPL pick.

            13. DennisTheMenace
              • 3 Years
              3 months, 23 days ago

              Thoughts?

              Sanchez Dubravka
              Gabriel RAN VVD Neco Richards
              Salah Bruno Wirtz Reijnders King
              Watkins Bowen Guiu

              1. Steve McCroskey
                • 12 Years
                3 months, 22 days ago

                Assume this means you're playing 442 most weeks, which statistically is likely to lead to fewer points that 352 or 343

                1. DennisTheMenace
                  • 3 Years
                  3 months, 22 days ago

                  Yes but i feel defenders will be more important this year due to change with defensive contributions and bonus points. Also there is less money in defence in order to get a top player in that position compared to a poor defender. Only a 2m margin compared to much larger in other positions

            14. Emiliano Sala
              • 9 Years
              3 months, 23 days ago

              U think Kalimuendo may be a threat to wood?

              1. Davido989
                • 15 Years
                3 months, 22 days ago

                £42.5m, he's definitely starting once integrated

                1. Davido989
                  • 15 Years
                  3 months, 22 days ago

                  Sorry that's Outtara price to Brentford

                  I think Wood is nailed tbh

                  1. Emiliano Sala
                    • 9 Years
                    3 months, 22 days ago

                    He is 30m€ joining forest

            15. AAAFootball
                3 months, 23 days ago

                Ki Jana however anyone?
                I have him as a 5th bench def but could play once it twice if I need it

                1. Davido989
                  • 15 Years
                  3 months, 22 days ago

                  Wolves signing a right back

                  1. AAAFootball
                      3 months, 22 days ago

                      Who

                2. Captain Beefheart
                  • 12 Years
                  3 months, 23 days ago

                  Bowen or Wood? I am currently on Wood but the consensus seems to be Bowen

                  1. Davido989
                    • 15 Years
                    3 months, 22 days ago

                    Mateta above both

                  2. Weak Become Heros
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 7 Years
                    3 months, 22 days ago

                    Bowen.

                  3. Steve McCroskey
                    • 12 Years
                    3 months, 22 days ago

                    Bowen comfortably

                  4. statenisland
                    • 10 Years
                    3 months, 22 days ago

                    Definitely Bowen, but Mateta could free up £0.5.

                3. Steve McCroskey
                  • 12 Years
                  3 months, 23 days ago

                  Can anyone explain the logic of picking Guehi as your 4.5 striker when he's very likely to drop because of high ownership (recall a similar issue with Quansah at the start of last season). Why not pick another 4.5m striker with a lower ownership?

                  1. Dynamic Duos
                    • 12 Years
                    3 months, 23 days ago

                    Guehi the CB? Or Guiu the forward? Kroupi Jr an option

                    1. Steve McCroskey
                      • 12 Years
                      3 months, 22 days ago

                      Sorry Guiu the FWD.

                      Can tell it's my first post of the season...

                      1. Yes Ndidi
                        • 6 Years
                        3 months, 22 days ago

                        Looks like you picked the wrong week to start posting....

                  2. Tonyawesome69
                    • 6 Years
                    3 months, 23 days ago

                    Why would folks use a FT to sell their fodder 4.5m FWD?

                  3. Moon Dog
                      3 months, 23 days ago

                      Massive myth. Ownership does not affect price changes because it's percentage based. If a player is owned by 2 players and 1 sells they'll fall in price, because they've lost 50% ownership.

                      Every season after GW1 a metric butt ton of 0.1% players will drop 0.1m. Happens every season.

                      1. Yes Ndidi
                        • 6 Years
                        3 months, 22 days ago

                        Gotta hope 99% of owners have more important fires to fight.

                  4. SalahFingers
                    • 7 Years
                    3 months, 23 days ago

                    How nailed are Esteve and Rodon?

                    1. Dynamic Duos
                      • 12 Years
                      3 months, 22 days ago

                      Nailed on

                      1. SalahFingers
                        • 7 Years
                        3 months, 22 days ago

                        Thanks

                    2. AAAFootball
                        3 months, 22 days ago

                        Esteve 100%
                        Rodon likely as well

                      • Ball Ake
                        • 1 Year
                        3 months, 22 days ago

                        Esteve yes, Rodon not so much when all Leeds defenders available

                    3. #1 Salah Hater
                      • 1 Year
                      3 months, 23 days ago

                      Any thoughts on this BB1 team would be appreciated:

                      Sanchez // (Verbrug)
                      Aina - Neco - Porro // (VDV, Diouf)
                      Wirtz - Palmer - Reijnders - Gakpo // (KDH)
                      Watkins Haaland // (Fullkrug)

                    4. AAAFootball
                        3 months, 23 days ago

                        Alright lads, this looks like my last craft.
                        Wc7 and konsa for Diouf gw3

                        Sels
                        Porro Murillo Diouf
                        Palmer Rogers Ndaiye Kudus
                        Haaland Watkins Joao Pedro

                        Hegyi Isarr Esteve However

                        Gtg?

                      • tristanabc
                        • 14 Years
                        3 months, 23 days ago

                        G2G with this BB1 team?

                        Perri
                        Murillo Tarkowski Williams
                        Palmer Wirtz Gakpo Xhaka
                        Haaland(c) Watkins Pedro

                        Dubravka KDH VDV Rodon

                      • statenisland
                        • 10 Years
                        3 months, 23 days ago

                        Final draft

                        Sanchez (Dubravka)
                        Porro, Aina, De Cuyper (Guehi, VDV)
                        Bruno, Wirtz, Palmer, Reijnders, Kudus
                        Haaland, Ekitike (Guiu)

                        Feel like it’s balanced, decent bench.

                        Any improvements? Decided to go Haaland over Salah but could switchback relatively easily.

                        1. Fifa las vegas
                          • 13 Years
                          3 months, 22 days ago

                          See I think I like the look of that better than mine with Salah, yet I’ll never do something like that out of fear of that initial Bournemouth game and being behind from GW1!

                      • Fifa las vegas
                        • 13 Years
                        3 months, 23 days ago

                        Misery season is nearly upon us again. Normally don’t do RMTs but I’m going to now anyway for the start of the season.

                        Sanchez
                        RAN, Aina, VdV
                        Salah, Palmer, Wirtz, Rogers, Wilson
                        JP, Beto

                        Dubravka, Mateta, De Cuyper, Dorgu

                        Was seriously toying with the idea of Haaland over Salah and then with neither and getting better forwards (and another premium defender even), but was too scared. Seems wrong benching Mateta for Beto too.

                        1. statenisland
                          • 10 Years
                          3 months, 22 days ago

                          Yeah, I’d go Mateta over Beto

                          1. Fifa las vegas
                            • 13 Years
                            3 months, 22 days ago

                            Ya, seems like if I don’t play Beto this week I might as well just get Guiu and save the money though.

                            1. Fifa las vegas
                              • 13 Years
                              3 months, 22 days ago

                              Which could be a shout

                      • Pedram
                        • 12 Years
                        3 months, 23 days ago

                        Is VVD safer than Frimpong?

                        1. Tonyawesome69
                          • 6 Years
                          3 months, 23 days ago

                          Yes

                        2. #1 Salah Hater
                          • 1 Year
                          3 months, 23 days ago

                          Long-term yes. Unsure when Bradley returns.

                        3. Fifa las vegas
                          • 13 Years
                          3 months, 23 days ago

                          Ya but no fun

                        4. Ady87
                          • 12 Years
                          3 months, 23 days ago

                          Both nailed I’d have thought