Best fantasy football players can make a huge difference to your Fantasy Premier League season, especially when you are trying to build a competitive squad within the £100 million budget. For the 2026/27 campaign, managers have several premium stars, reliable defenders and exciting value options to consider before making their opening selections.
The key is not simply choosing the biggest names. Fixtures, expected minutes, attacking involvement, defensive contributions, form and price all matter when building a balanced FPL squad.
Erling Haaland – The Premium Captaincy Option
Erling Haaland remains one of the most important players to consider in Fantasy Premier League. Manchester City’s forward has been priced at a record £15.5 million for 2026/27 after finishing the previous campaign as the highest-scoring FPL player with 239 points.
His goalscoring record makes him particularly attractive as a captaincy option. The official FPL Scout has also identified Haaland as a major must-have for the opening part of the season.
For managers comfortable spending a large portion of their budget on one forward, Haaland offers a clear route to explosive Gameweek returns.
Bruno Fernandes – Midfield Consistency
Bruno Fernandes is another standout choice for the new FPL season. The Manchester United midfielder finished 2025/26 with 235 points and became one of the most reliable sources of midfield returns.
His appeal is not limited to goals. Fernandes can contribute through assists, goals, bonus points and other Fantasy returns. His opening fixtures also make him particularly interesting for managers planning their initial squad.
With Manchester United facing promoted opposition in their opening two Gameweeks, Fernandes could also be considered for captaincy in the right circumstances.
Gabriel – A Premium Defender Worth Considering
Defenders can sometimes be overlooked when managers focus heavily on attacking players, but Gabriel offers several ways to collect FPL points.
The Arsenal centre-back recorded three goals, five assists and 18 clean sheets during 2025/26, finishing the season with 209 Fantasy points. The Scout ranked him as Arsenal’s best FPL pick and highlighted his defensive and attacking potential.
His combination of clean-sheet potential, attacking threat and defensive contribution makes him one of the premium defenders to monitor.
João Pedro – An Exciting Forward Pick
João Pedro is another name attracting significant attention among FPL managers. He was ranked fourth overall in The Scout’s recent FPL Draft player rankings and was also identified as one of the must-have options for the beginning of the campaign.
Compared with the most expensive forwards, a player in his price range can give managers additional flexibility when balancing premium midfielders and forwards.
Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka
Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka remain important midfield options for managers looking for proven attacking quality.
Both players are priced at £9.5 million for the new campaign, putting them below Bruno Fernandes but still firmly within the premium midfielder category.
The decision between premium midfielders should depend on fixture runs, expected minutes, team form and how the rest of your squad is structured rather than simply choosing a player because of reputation.
Value Picks Can Make or Break an FPL Squad
Selecting premium players is only one part of successful Fantasy Premier League planning. A strong squad also needs affordable players who can provide regular minutes and useful returns.
The official FPL Scout has highlighted options such as Bryan Mbeumo at £8.0 million, Pascal Gross at £5.5 million and Mamadou Sangare at £5.5 million as players worth considering for value.
Budget defenders can also become important squad enablers. For example, promoted defenders are priced at £4.0 million, potentially allowing managers to invest more money in premium attacking players.
How to Choose the Best Fantasy Football Players
There is no single formula that guarantees FPL success. Instead, managers should assess several factors before selecting their squad.
1. Check the Fixtures
A great player can become an even better Fantasy option when his team has favourable fixtures. The opening six Gameweeks should be considered when building an initial squad.
Manchester United and Manchester City were among the teams highlighted for favourable early schedules, making players such as Fernandes and Haaland particularly appealing.
2. Look at Expected Minutes
A player cannot score Fantasy points from the bench. Before selecting a footballer, consider whether he is likely to start regularly and whether there are rotation concerns.
3. Consider Multiple Routes to Points
Midfielders and forwards who can score and assist often provide more opportunities for returns. Defenders can also be valuable when they combine clean sheets with goals, assists and defensive contribution points.
4. Do Not Ignore Value
Spending the entire budget on famous players can leave a squad weak elsewhere. Finding reliable mid-priced and budget options can allow managers to create a stronger overall team.
Final Thoughts
The best fantasy football players for 2026/27 are not necessarily the same for every FPL manager. Haaland offers enormous captaincy potential, Fernandes provides midfield consistency, while Gabriel represents an attractive premium defensive option. João Pedro, Palmer, Saka and several mid-priced players can provide further flexibility.
The smartest approach is to combine premium talent with value picks, monitor fixtures and keep an eye on team news throughout the season. Rather than building a squad purely around reputation, successful FPL managers continually assess form, minutes, fixtures and potential returns.
With the 2026/27 season underway, keeping your squad flexible could be just as important as getting the initial Gameweek 1 selections right.
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