Top picks for GAFFR Gameweek 1

The new Championship campaign is under a week away which means the fantasy game is too! Because of this we pick out the top picks for GAFFR Gameweek 1 with the help of our expert GAFFR manager @TomP_FF.

Looking through the top picks for GAFFR Gameweek 1 can be extremely useful for other managers within the Championship Fantasy community. Knowing who the best players to pick are will help managers finalise their final drafts for the first round.

Goalkeepers

Seny Dieng (£4.5m) – Middlesbrough’s starting keeper, an absolute no brainer for £4.5m. You can pair him with a £4.0m keeper as a backup and use him as a set and forget, or rotate him as he’s so cheap.

Freddie Woodman (£5.5m) – I really like Woodman. Preston are predominantly known to not concede many goals. They’ve also got some great games to start with, he’s going under the radar.

Defenders

Ryan Manning (£7m) – A combination of attacking returns and good bonus potential, whilst playing for Southampton. He is the standout defender for me at the premium price. He’s also been favoured in pre- season.

Ricardo Pereira (£6.5m) – Playing the inverted full back role under Maresca, he seems like he will be starting the season. He reminds me of Roberts at Burnley last season. He will be involved in a lot of attacks and as he’s inverted and will get a lot of the ball.

Nathan Ampadu (£6m) – Has featured in midfield and in defence so far in pre season. A viable alternative to Drameh who seems to be injured and missed the last pre-season game at the time of writing. He is not as attacking as others on the list, but he is a way into the Leeds defence.

Leif Davis (£5m) – His stats in league 1 make him stand out as a bonus machine. Ipswich look like a dark horse for a decent finish and he’s one of the only players who I’d consider locked in my team barring any late injuries.

Midfielders

Luis Sinisterra (£9m) – With Harrison not fit to start the season, I really like Sinisterra. He seems like the safest way into the Leeds attack and looks great, injuries hampered him last season. He has looked good in pre-season and again is a way into that Leeds attack if you don’t fancy Bamford.

James Ward-Prowse (£11m) – It seems he’s not guaranteed to leave so he had to be on this list. He will be great for bonus, is on set pieces, penalties and will be nailed for Southampton if he stays. Definitely captaincy potential for GW1 and seems the safest option if he’s still around.

Patrick Roberts (£8m) – The dribble machine, he will pick up bonus and looks great being part of a potent Sunderland attack. He also has the potential to play CF and can slot in anywhere across the three behind the striker, emphasising his flexibility.

Jack Clarke (£9m) – The Burnley interest seems to have cooled down, but obviously one to watch. Clarke over performed his stats last season but nothing can deny that he’s a great pick. I’d be interested to see who’s on set pieces and penalties for Sunderland with Stewart out for the start of the season, because that could make him even better.

Forwards

Patrick Bamford (£10m) – However you see Bamford, he will get chances in this league, as proved last time he was in the Championship. He’s part of one of the best attacks on paper who have great fixtures and is definitely in my thoughts especially after his goal against Forest in pre-season.

Che Adams (£11m) – Another one who will score goals in this league with the service he will be getting from Southampton’s attack and their great full backs. He’s a volume shots kind of striker, he will pick up bonus and is one of those when he scores he will grab a couple of bonus as well.

Adam Armstrong (£10m) – Extremely similar to Adams, he’s torn up the league before for Blackburn. He will score you goals, and I can see him deployed behind Adams.

Joel Piroe (£10m) – he’s looking good at the moment in pre-season and seems to be staying at Swansea. He’s also been a great asset in previous seasons.