Fantasy Premier League (FPL) is an online game where players from around the world build a team consisting of 15 players. You get to field a team of 11 players each week and choose a captain. You can make transfers every week to bring in new players who seem to be in form. Your players give you points depending on their performance in the game and how crucial they were in helping their team get the result. This article talks about the captaincy picks and the best differential transfers you can do this week to finish at the top.
Mohamed Salah was the top scorer in the Fantasy Premier League season, which is why it is not surprising at all that he is our top pick for Gameweek 1. He managed to score 29 goals and provided 18 assists in the Premier League last season, and scored a total of 344 points. While some FPL managers think that Salah committing to a wider role this season may hamper his output, given how consistent he has been in the FPL, it only makes sense to trust him with the captaincy band. Salah plays Bournemouth in Gameweek 1, a team that has lost most of their defenders from last season, and Salah may end up hauling against them.
Erling Haaland has been phenomenal in the Premier League since joining Manchester City in the 2022/23 season. He has managed to score 36 goals, 27 goals, and 22 goals in the three seasons he played in. He is a goal-scoring machine, and it will not be surprising if he ends up starting the 2025/26 Premier League season with a bang. Manchester City face Wolverhampton Wanderers in their first Premier League fixture of the season. This is a favourable matchup for Haaland, which is why he is one of the top captain candidates for this week.
Cole Palmer has been one of the best players in the English Premier League since he joined Chelsea two seasons ago. He managed to score 22 goals and provide 13 assists in the 2023/24 season and backed it up by scoring 15 goals and providing 10 assists last season. He has been Chelsea’s best player since he joined, and he will surely keep performing well for them. He is one of the best Fantasy Premier League assets, and it is no surprise that he has been named as one of the best captain choices. Chelsea faces Crystal Palace in their first game of the season, and it will not be surprising if Palmer hauls against them.
TWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET
Mohammed Kudus has transferred from West Ham United to Tottenham Hotspur, and he will surely be one of Spurs’ best-performing FPL players this season. Kudus was phenomenal for West Ham last season, and he will surely be even more threatening in an attacking team like Spurs. An injury to James Madisson means that Kudus will get a lot of game time from the start of the season, and given that Spurs play Burnley in Gameweek 1 of the Fantasy Premier League, Kudus can end up being a fantastic differential captain.
Jarrod Bowen has been a brilliant Fantasy Premier League asset for many years now, and it is likely that this year will be no different. While West Ham United have lost a key player in Mohammed Kudus, they have a variety of players who can fill in and do a fantastic job. The club will once again rely on Bowen for their goal-scoring output, and given the quality of the English forward, it is likely that he will step up and play brilliantly. West Ham United faces Sunderland in Gameweek 1 of the Fantasy Premier League, and Bowen can end up being a brilliant differential captain pick for this week.
ALSO READ: 10 Best Players With Most Points In Fantasy Premier League History
Credit: Manchester City FC
Manchester City signed Rayan Cherki as a replacement for Kevin de Bruyne ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season. While people cannot expect a return like that of De Bruyne right from the start of the season, he is a quality player and will quite likely start for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Despite his advanced role in an attacking team like Manchester City, Cherki is owned by just 7.6% of Fantasy Premier League managers, making him an outstanding differential to have in your team for Gameweek 1.
Brennan Johnson had a phenomenal season in the Premier League last year and hopes to thrive under the tutelage of new manager Thomas Frank. The talented winger was involved in 17 goals last season, and he hopes to do even better this year and cross the 20 G/A mark. Despite the talent he showed last season, Johnson is owned by just 3.6% of Fantasy Premier League players, which makes him one of the best differentials to have in your team for the first Gameweek, given that Tottenham Hotspur face Burnley.
Yoane Wissa 2024/25
He has pace, scores with both feet, has a brilliant leap, scores clever finishes, in the right place at the right time for tap ins.
19 PL goals ALL from open play last season with 4 assists.
Anything around £35m is a deal 👍🏻 #nufc pic.twitter.com/NIeTziSNfQ
— 𝑅𝐸𝐺𝐼𝑆𝑇𝐴 (@Tonali_FPL) July 17, 2025
Yoane Wissa was simply phenomenal in the Premier League last season and managed to score 18 goals and provide six assists. However, some fans feel that now that his ‘Dynamic Duo’ partner, Bryan Mbeumo, has left to join Manchester United, Wissa will not be able to perform on the same level as last season. However, Wissa is still incredibly talented, and since one of the best FPL assets from last season is owned by just 5.5% of Fantasy Premier League managers, he can make an incredible differential player to have in your squad.
Jack Grealish was renowned as one of the most talented wingers in the Premier League during his time with Aston Villa, but his stock took a major hit after his transfer to Manchester City. He spent the majority of his time at the club on the bench, but has now managed to find a way out for the club and has joined Everton. Grealish will hope to find the spark he had at Villa and revive his career while playing for Everton. The talented winger is owned by just 2.7% of Fantasy Premier League players and can be a fantastic differential pick for when Everton face Leeds United in their first game of the season.
Danny Welbeck will take over as Brighton’s primary striker now that Joao Pedro has left the club to move to Chelsea. Welbeck had quite a good season last year, but was not a regular starter for the club. However, this will most likely change now that Pedro has left Brighton, and the club will start looking towards Welbeck as their main source of goals. Danny Welbeck is owned by just 5.6% of Fantasy Premier League managers, and he can end up being a brilliant differential FPL asset to have in your team this year.
For more news and updates on Fantasy Premier League, keep reading GutshotMagazine.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Telegram.
Guransh Machra is a sportswriter at Gutshot Magazine. He covers football news from local leagues like the Indian Super League as well as international leagues like the Premier League. He follows various sports like Football, Cricket, Formula 1, and Tennis. Apart from sports, Guransh is also enthusiastic about reading and gaming.
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