Here are the best players for FPL Gameweek 1 using Fantasy Football Hub’s AI predicted points.
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Best Midfielder: Mohamed Salah vs Bournemouth (H) - 8.2 predicted points
It’s clear that Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is a must-own to start the season. He produced his best-ever campaign in 2024/25, with 37 goal involvements in 38 appearances, seeing him break his own record for the most points scored in a single FPL season.
Salah is the top captain pick for opening weekend, kicking off the first fixture of the campaign at home to Bournemouth. He has the opportunity to be the first goalscorer of the 2025/26 season and has never blanked in Gameweek 1, averaging 12.25 points per game.
His high prediction of 8.2 points is helped by some key departures in the Bournemouth defence during this transfer window, including centre-back Dean Hujsen to Real Madrid and left-back Milos Kerkez to Liverpool.
Midfield Gem: Yankuba Minteh vs Fulham (H) - 5.2 predicted points
At just £6.0 million, Brighton winger Yankuna Minteh is among the best budget attackers in the game, but is still relatively low-owned, in just 1.3% of sides. Picking him in your Gameweek 1 squad will allow for some premium options elsewhere in your front seven.
The Seagulls midfielder produced 11 goal involvements from 20 starts in his debut season, with six goals and five assists. Minutes were his biggest barrier to points, with a period of injury absence, but he established himself as a starter in the second half of the season.
If he can improve his output from increased starts this season, then he could represent excellent value. His side have an attractive pair of opening fixtures with a home game against Fulham before travelling to Everton and the new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Best Forward: Erling Haaland vs Wolves (A) - 6.8 predicted points
There are plenty of brave managers going without two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner Erling Haaland in Gameweek 1, with the Manchester City striker owned by only 20% of managers, compared to Salah, who sits in 58% of sides, the highest in the game.
It could be a brave or foolish decision to back against a player who has scored in three consecutive opening day fixtures for his side, with five goals in this time and an average of 11 fantasy points per game.
Manchester City have recruited well in this transfer window to bolster their attack, making them the clear favourites for the trip to Wolves. Haaland has scored eight goals in five appearances against them.
Forward Gem: Jean-Philippe Mateta vs Chelsea (A) - 4.6 predicted points
Crystal Palace are seriously overlooked in FPL, given a combination of tricky opening fixtures, plus a compressed schedule which includes the Community Shield and Europa Conference League qualifying.
That sees their top performer from last season, Jean-Philippe Mateta, set to start this campaign as a differential, in just 6.3% of sides. He chalked up 14 goals and two assists in 33 appearances last season.
A trip to Chelsea in Gameweek 1 may appear tough on paper, but the Blues have had a short pre-season due to their Club World Cup success and have already lost their best centre-back, Levi Colwill, to an ACL injury.