Most Popular FPL Picks for Gameweek 1

In this article we take a look at the top 10 most popular FPL picks for Gameweek 1. Using the Official Fantasy Premier League ownership data we can find out who the fantasy football community are picking ahead of the new round.

Taking a look at the most popular FPL picks for Gameweek 1 can be hugely enlightening for fantasy managers. Knowing who the majority are selecting within their sides can help you build your team ahead of the first round.

Alexander Isak – 55.2% Selected

The player with the highest ownership is Newcastle striker Alexander Isak (£8.5m). Over half of the game base have decided to bring Isak in ahead of the new season.

Isak ended his previous campaign on a huge high with the Magpies – scoring nine goals and creating two assists in his last 10 Premier League matches. He also ended the 23/24 campaign with an impressive 21 goals and two assists.

Taking into account his end of season form, penalty taking duty and Gameweek 1 fixture against Southampton it’s no surprise Isak tops the list.

Ollie Watkins – 50% Selected

Sitting second amongst the top 10 is Ollie Watkins (£9m) with 50% ownership. The England striker became the highest scoring player in his position last season after bagging a massive 19 goals and 13 assists last season.

Watkins faces a very appealing starting schedule. Arsenal could be limiting for him but prior to that he faces West Ham and after Arsenal he has meetings with Leicester, Everton, Wolves and Ipswich. His form and early fixtures are evidently too difficult to ignore for fantasy managers.

Cole Palmer – 47.7% Selected

Also amongst the most popular FPL picks for Gameweek 1 is Cole Palmer (£10.5m). Palmer has been selected by just under 50% of the game ahead of the new season. This is likely due to the fact he was the highest scoring player in 23/24.

Palmer netted 22 goals and registered 11 assists last campaign and a Gameweek 1 fixture against Manchester City doesn’t seem to have put managers off. In fact, if it wasn’t for his teammate Christopher Nkunku (£6.5m) offering fantastic value for money Palmer’s ownership would likely be even higher.

Erling Haaland – 41.9% Selected

Erling Haaland remains one of the most popular options ahead of the new season even after being given a whopping £15m price-tag.

Manchester City come up against Chelsea in Gameweek 1 but then have meetings with Ipswich, West Ham and Brentford immediately after that.

Haaland has been driving up his own ownership with recent pre-season performances. As well as scoring against both Celtic and Milan recently the Norwegian also banked a hattrick against Chelsea in his latest outing.

William Saliba – 40.1% Selected

Completing the top five is Arsenal’ William Saliba (£6m) with just over 40% ownership. Arsenal kept more clean sheets than any other side in the league last season so go into the new campaign with the most appealing defence.

Arsenal have an interesting starting schedule against the likes of Wolves, Aston Villa, Brighton, Tottenham and Manchester City. For that reason we could see the French centre-back limited in terms of his FPL potential.

The Rest of the Top 10

Liverpool have a great starting schedule with an opening match against Ipswich so Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) rightly features.

The Newcastle frontline impressed last season so joining his teammate Isak is midfielder Anthony Gordon (£7.5m). Gordon also finished last season with an impressive run.

Another side who caught the eye from an attacking perspective was Crystal Palace. That and his early fixtures have given penalty taker Eberechi Eze (£7m) a feature.

After his displays on the left-wing for Manchester City last season Josko Gvardiol (£6m) makes his way into the top 10.

Completing the list is Tottenham full-back Pedro Porro (£5.5m). Tottenham faces newly promoted Leicester, Everton and then Newcastle in the first three matches.