Big Man Bakar’s GW1 Draft Tips

 

The final hours before the Gameweek 1 deadline can be a dangerous place for Fantasy Premier League managers. The excitement is at its peak, the tinkering never stops, and the temptation to lock in your squad early can be overwhelming. But rushing your decisions without thinking them through could leave you playing catch-up from the very first whistle.

FPL ownership/EO – Don’t fall for it:

One of the easiest traps to fall into is letting ownership dictate your thinking. A player sitting in 60% of squads might make you nervous, but fear of missing out is rarely a good reason to buy. If you don’t truly believe they’ll deliver in the short term, they’re not a must-have for your team. Playing your own game and backing your research is far more valuable than copying the crowd.

New transfers – Don’t overate them:

Another danger is overloading on shiny new toys. A summer signing from abroad or a Championship star stepping up might feel like the key to unlocking your team’s potential, but history shows plenty of these players need weeks — sometimes months — to adapt. If their role and minutes aren’t locked in, you’re better off keeping them as watchlist material rather than cornerstone picks.

Flexibility is key:

Flexibility might be the most underrated asset you can have in the early weeks. Leaving a little money in the bank or avoiding awkward price structures makes it far easier to react to injuries, price changes, and emerging bandwagons. It’s no fun tearing up your squad just to fund one essential transfer because you boxed yourself in on deadline day.

Avoid falling for pre-season hype:

Pre-season form can be another dangerous distraction. We’ve all seen it — a player racks up goals in friendlies and suddenly finds themselves in every template draft. But these matches are often against weaker opponents, with experimental tactics and constant substitutions. The smarter play is to focus on what pre-season really tells you: which players are getting the most minutes, who’s on set-pieces, and where they’re actually playing on the pitch.

Fixtures:

The fixture list should never be ignored, especially early on. A premium asset might be fixture-proof in theory, but a tough opening run can limit their explosiveness. Conversely, mid-priced players with soft early schedules can provide exactly the kind of early momentum that pushes you ahead of the pack.

Don’t overlook the value of calculated risks either. Playing it safe can protect you from disaster, but one or two well-judged differentials can transform your start. The key is picking them for solid reasons — a great run of fixtures, a nailed role, or being underpriced — not just because they’re low-owned.

Final thoughts:

And finally, remember that guaranteed starters are gold dust in August. The early part of the season is not the time for rolling the dice on rotation-prone players, no matter how tempting they look. Bank those steady minutes now and you’ll have the security to make aggressive moves later.

If you can resist these traps, you’ll walk into Gameweek 1 with a squad built to adapt, survive, and thrive — while others are already planning their first rage transfers before the season has even started.

 

Check out some of Big Man Bakar’s other great GW1 content such as his top GW1 differentials, his super premium Salah, Palmer, Bruno & Watkins draft as well as his take on the Salah vs Haaland debate.