08 Aug, 2025
The big man himself Big Man Bakar brings you his must have FPL players for GW1 of the 25/26 season. Ignore these players in your GW1 draft at your own peril.
Every FPL season there are a few no debate, no questions asked, must-have players who define the season. These are players like Salah from last season, where it becomes nearly impossible to not own them and have a successful season, especially because more than 50% of managers are captaining him every Gameweek with massive returns. Here are my 5 must-have players ahead of GW1 of the 25/26 season.
Choosing to exclude Mohamed Salah is arguably the toughest decision any FPL manager can make. He’s not only one of the most consistent point-scorers in the game, but also a frequent captaincy favourite. With his high ownership, going without him could backfire — especially in key weeks. If you decide to begin the season without Salah, be prepared for Gameweeks 4 and 5, when Liverpool take on Burnley and Everton. These are ideal fixtures for Salah, and he’ll likely be the top captaincy pick in both.
By contrast, if you’ve opted for Erling Haaland instead, you’ll be left hoping he delivers against Manchester United and Arsenal in those same weeks — much tougher tests on paper. That leaves you with three choices: stick without Salah during his best weeks, use early transfers to bring him in by Gameweek 4, or commit to an early Wildcard to restructure your squad around him.
At £10.5m, Cole Palmer is arguably one of the standout options in midfield. He’s Chelsea’s primary penalty taker, has favourable fixtures to start with, and comes into the new season in great form following an impressive showing at the Club World Cup. Palmer is also heavily involved in set pieces and is central to Chelsea’s attacking play — a combination that enhances his points potential considerably.
Considering his price and early run of games, I’d go so far as to say he could match Haaland’s output in the opening few weeks — but at a much more affordable cost. Right now, I’d also pick Palmer over Saka. Arsenal’s initial fixtures are tougher by comparison, and there remains some uncertainty about whether Saka will continue taking penalties.
Bruno Fernandes also deserves serious attention. The changes to the FPL points system could benefit him greatly — particularly because he racks up points in defensive categories like ball recoveries, blocks, and clearances.
Even if he doesn’t operate as a classic No.10, Bruno remains heavily involved in United’s build-up, continues to take penalties, usually plays the full 90, and has looked sharp in pre-season. In Gameweek 3, Manchester United host Burnley at Old Trafford — a fixture that could make Bruno a tempting captaincy alternative, especially as Salah faces Arsenal that same week.
If Yoane Wissa departs Brentford, it could open the door for Igor Thiago to become a hidden gem at just £6.0m. Brentford’s system historically favours their central striker — a role that has consistently produced FPL points, whether it was Ivan Toney or Wissa.
If Thiago inherits that central role, with the potential bonus of penalty duties, he could prove to be an excellent low-cost forward who delivers steady returns and rarely needs to be rotated. For managers looking for budget-friendly options up top, few come close to offering the same value.
Dubravka’s move to Burnley is one of the most impactful developments of pre-season. A starting £4.0m goalkeeper is a rarity — and he would instantly become the ultimate budget enabler.
He’d free up cash for use elsewhere, allow for flexible squad rotations, and make Bench Boost strategies in Gameweek 2 or 8 far more viable — with home games against Sunderland and Leeds lined up. Dubravka is likely to be the only £4.0m keeper expected to play regularly, making him an obvious pick for any value-conscious manager.
Bakar also has you covered if you are looking for the super premium Salah and Haaland team build or with his Salah, Palmer and Bruno GW1 draft. If you are looking for a slightly different GW1 premium players draft, then we tried our hand at a wild Salah, Haaland, Palmer and Isak super draft.
If you favoured our 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.
Big Man Bakar is one of the leaders in the FPL space, previously ranking as high as 4th in the world. Bakar has been a regular and valued contributor to Ingenuity Fantasy since our inception, helping managers around the world win their mini-leagues and climb rankings.
