Big Man Bakar’s Ultimate GW1 Bench Boost Team

The big man himself Big Man Bakar discussed the debate around a GW1 or early bench boost vs saving your bench boost for a Double Gameweek with our readers recently, and if you found yourself coming down on the side of activating your Bench Boost for GW1, then this team build designed to maximise the Bench Boost chip in GW1 is for you!

Best Bench Boost Gameweek 1 Team:

Every FPL season begins the same way. Unlimited transfers. Fit players. A blank canvas. For most managers, the focus is on crafting the perfect starting eleven. But in Gameweek 1, the real opportunity lies deeper in your squad. It’s the only moment in the season when you can confidently expect all fifteen players to start, and that’s some of you are tempted to activate the Bench Boost from the start.

The new defensive contributions rule makes this approach even more appealing. In the past, your budget defenders were simply filler. Now, even if they concede, their defensive work — clearances, blocks, and interceptions — can still deliver points. It means your “weaker” assets aren’t dead weight, and every single player can make an impact.

Goalkeepers:

To maximise this, I’ve built a squad with no passengers. In goal, Robert Sánchez is my number one. Chelsea have the second-best defensive record for expected goals conceded in 2025, and their fixtures are encouraging. He’s joined by Bart Verbruggen, who gets the nod ahead of Dubravka given doubts over his fitness for the opener.

Defenders:

At the back, I’m doubling up on both Spurs and Nottingham Forest. Pedro Porro is the standout Spurs defender, with an attacking game and set-piece threat that becomes even more important while Maddison is sidelined. Murillo from Forest is a bonus point magnet, topping the league for defensive contributions per ninety minutes last season. Cristian Romero and Neco Williams are both secure five-million picks, while Joachim Andersen offers a budget route with strong numbers for clearances and blocks.

Midfielders:

Midfield is where the firepower lies. Mohamed Salah remains in my side despite some managers looking to go without. His ownership, track record, and enticing fixtures in Gameweeks four and five make him too risky to ignore. Cole Palmer’s penalty duties and prime fixtures make him an obvious inclusion. Bruno Fernandes could thrive under the updated scoring, combining his strong defensive metrics with regular attacking involvement and penalty responsibility. Youri Tielemans is reliable, versatile, and could even be on spot-kicks. Elliot Anderson is now a serious budget option under the new rules, with last year’s data indicating he would have gained a major points boost.

Forwards:

Up front, Jean-Philippe Mateta has become more appealing after Nketiah’s injury and his recent penalty-taking role. Strand Larsen should lead the line for Wolves after Cunha’s departure, offering secure minutes and the possibility of penalties. Joel Piroe completes the forward line, selected over Guiu due to fitness concerns and with a favourable home match to start.

Final thoughts:

This is a team designed for one purpose — to maximise Gameweek 1. Every player is there for a reason, every fixture offers a route to points, and the Bench Boost chip can be used without weeks of awkward planning. In a game where fine margins matter, starting strong could be the difference between chasing and leading from the front.

 

 

Bakar has you covered on all things FPL ahead of GW1. If you are looking for the best premium team builds – check out his Salah and Haaland GW1 draft or alternatively his Salah, Palmer and Bruno GW1 draft. If you are looking for a slightly different premium players draft, then we tried our hand at a wild Salah, Haaland, Palmer and Isak super draft!

If you like the idea of a heavy premium player drafts, but wanted some alternative cheap options to help you build these premium player heavy teams, then look no further than our best budget Defenders, Midfielders and Forwards in FPL 25/26.