Fantasy EFL Gameweek 1 Top Picks
Looking for some options to fill your team? We take a look at the Fantasy EFL Gameweek 1 top picks. To do this we brought in our expert @FPLEdgeworth.
Knowing who the best picks are week in week out can be hugely helpful and ultimately contribute towards the success of your season, so let’s get into it!
Goalkeepers
Sam Tickle – Wigan Athletic
Tickle kept 18 clean sheets last season and opens the new campaign at home to Northampton – a side that only just survived the drop, finishing 19th. With many tipping them for relegation this time around, Tickle looks a strong bet for an early clean sheet.
Matt Macey – Colchester United
Colchester boasted the second-best defence in League Two last season, with Macey keeping 21 clean sheets. They kick off at home to Tranmere, who scored just 45 goals last year – averaging less than one goal per game. A shutout looks firmly on the cards.
Defenders
Oliver Casey – Blackpool
Casey was last season’s highest-scoring defender across both League One and League Two. He ranked top three for clearances and starts the new season at home to a Stevenage side that struggled for goals. He’s a standout option once again.
Mark McGuinness – Luton Town
Despite Luton’s relegation, McGuinness faces a favourable home fixture against AFC Wimbledon, one of the pre-season relegation favourites. Wimbledon haven’t made a signing in nearly a month, and Luton will look to start strong – making McGuinness a solid clean sheet pick.
Fantasy EFL managers should also check out all of the key changes in the game, to help get a better understanding ahead of the new season.
Midfielders
Luke Molyneux – Doncaster Rovers
Back in the spotlight is Molyneux, now in League One with Doncaster after helping his side secure promotion. With 16 goals and 14 assists last season, he faces an Exeter team tipped to struggle. He’s currently the most-owned player in the game at 51.1%, and for good reason.
Albie Morgan – Blackpool
A late-season breakout star, Morgan ended last campaign in style. He racked up 13 goal contributions, 48 interceptions, and 61 key passes in just 36 games – showing he can deliver fantasy returns in multiple ways. Against Stevenage, he could pick up where he left off.
Forwards
Yousef Salech – Cardiff City
Despite Cardiff’s relegation, Salech made an impression with 10 goal contributions in 20 games. A proven threat, he’ll be eager to start the season strong against Peterborough – and could easily find the net once or twice.
Alfie May – Huddersfield Town
Newly signed from Birmingham, where he bagged 18 goals and 10 assists, Alfie May kicks off with a tricky home clash against Leyton Orient. But if there’s one thing May does, it’s score goals. He’s a reliable forward to round out this week’s top picks.
Teams to Target
Notts County
County travel to Newport, a side that barely avoided the drop to the National League. With County making the playoffs last season, this fixture looks like a strong opportunity to kick off their promotion push with a win – and plenty of fantasy points.
Gillingham
Gareth Ainsworth takes charge of Gillingham, who visit an Accrington Stanley side that just avoided relegation. Ainsworth’s teams tend to start fast, and this looks like a prime chance for a win and clean sheet on opening weekend.
Luton
Opening up their schedule against AFC Wimbledon, the Hatters are major favourites to win and keep a clean sheet. Luton should hit every points allocation in Gameweek 1, so feel like a shoo-in.
Cardiff
Similar could be said for Cardiff. The Welsh side will be looking for promotion back to the Championship after being dumped out last season. They have a great opportunity against Peterborough who were woeful defensively last time out and have lost several key players in attack.
