As the new Fantasy Premier League season approaches, savvy managers are already strategizing their draft picks. But not every player who appears enticing on paper will deliver on the pitch. To help you avoid common pitfalls, this article outlines several players who might be best left out of your Gameweek 1 FPL squad.
Note: All player selections are based on the author's analysis and opinion, and individual managers should conduct their own research before making any decisions.
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Jean-Philippe Mateta (TSB: 8.0%)
Mateta enjoyed a strong finish to last season with 10 goals and 2 assists in his final nine appearances. However, his involvement with France in the Olympics could lead to a delayed start to his Premier League campaign. If France reaches the final on Thursday, 8th August, Mateta may miss the beginning of the season altogether, making him a risky pick for Gameweek 1.
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Phil Foden (TSB: 30.2%) / Kevin De Bruyne (TSB: 6.9%)
Pep Guardiola has confirmed that both Foden and De Bruyne, along with Walker and Rodri, will miss the Community Shield. They will be gradually reintroduced to the team, suggesting a likely start from the bench in Gameweek 1.
Guardiola stated: âWe will be late. Not against United [they wonât feature in the Community Shield]. Against Chelsea, against Ipswich [they will be reintroduced]â¦â
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Scott McTominay (TSB: 5.5%) / Other Central Midfielders
Players like McTominay, Rice, and Rodri are valuable assets to their respective teams. However, unlike Euro Fantasy, Fantasy Premier League does not reward ball recovery points. This makes it more beneficial to invest in more attacking players in that price range.
For instance, at £6.5 million, you could choose Nkunku, Gibbs-White, or Bailey, who offer more attacking threat. Alternatively, McTominay's price point allows for alternatives like Elanga, Hudson-Odoi, Smith Rowe, Minteh, or Rogers, all of whom operate higher up the pitch.
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Matt Turner (TSB: 24%)
Matt Turner is currently the most owned goalkeeper in Fantasy Premier League. However, with Forest's recent signing of Miguel and the presence of Sels, Turner is likely to be relegated to third-choice goalkeeper. As managers realise this, his price will likely drop, negatively impacting team value.
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Kieran Trippier (TSB: 14.4%)
Trippier has not travelled with the Newcastle squad for their pre-season tour of Japan. His extended break following the Euros, coupled with transfer rumours linking him to other clubs, create uncertainty about his availability and starting position for the beginning of the season.
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Rasmus Højlund (TSB: 5.8%)
Højlund is ruled out for six weeks with a hamstring injury, making him an obvious avoid for Gameweek 1.
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Jarrod Bowen (TSB: 7.3%)
Bowen has been a consistent performer in Fantasy Premier League, but West Ham faces a tough run of fixtures to start the season. Players like Gordon and Eze, who offer similar value at a comparable price point, have more favourable early fixtures. While Bowen is a great option from Gameweek 6 onwards, he may not be the best choice for the opening rounds.
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Pedro Porro (TSB: 25.6%)
Porro possesses significant attacking potential, but Tottenham's struggles to maintain clean sheets make him a risky investment. Clean sheet potential should be a primary consideration when selecting defenders, and his price point (£5.5 million) makes it difficult to bench him if necessary. While he could be a short-term option for the first two fixtures against Leicester and Everton, booking transfers so early in the season can be unwise.
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Other Players to Watch:
These players may not be automatic avoids, but pre-season performances and squad decisions will be crucial to their FPL prospects.
Burn: Could be rotated or benched due to competition from Kelly and Hall. Livramento (£4.5 million) may offer better value if Trippier departs.
Martinelli: Competition from Trossard could limit his starting opportunities and playing time.
Gakpo / Darwin / Jota: The first-choice striker for Liverpool is unclear. Only two of these three are likely to start and minutes will be shared. However, with Liverpool's strong early fixtures, one of them could be a good short-term option if their starting roles are confirmed.
Branthwaite: Mykolenko offers similar attacking output at £4.0 million, making Branthwaite's £4.5 million price tag less appealing.
Stay tuned to AllAboutFPL for more pre-season analysis and insights as the Fantasy Premier League season kicks off!