As FPL Gameweek 1 approaches, you must look at players you can bring into your FPL team. In this blog, we will give you a few players and teams that you can target for the start of the season (Gameweek 1-6)
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Link to all our 2023/24 Pre-Season articles including all team pre-season friendly updates, team previews, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, differentials, players to target, budget enablers and more. Completely free to access as well!
FPL Fixture Ticker from Gameweek 1 to 6
Chelsea
| Team | GW1 | GW2 | GW3 | GW4 | GW5 | GW6 |
| Chelsea | LIV (H) | WHU (A) | LUT (H) | NFO (H) | BOU (A) | AVL (H) |
Nicolas Jackson (FWD)
Nicolas Jackson has been on fire in pre-season getting 2 goals and 3 assists, and the injury to Nkunku makes him worth a discussion. There are mixed reviews regarding the same. On the one hand, it increases his chances of getting more minutes and becoming Chelsea’s main attacker. On the other hand, it significantly weakens the Chelsea attack. Chelsea still has the best-attacking fixtures from GW1-6, and Jackson can be a great 2nd striker option.
Further Read: Best Mid-Priced FPL Forwards (£7.0 – £8.0m)
Reece James and Ben Chilwell (DEF)
The first set of players to target from Chelsea is the defensive duo of Ben Chilwell and Reece James. Despite having troubles with injuries, Reece James can be a viable FPL pick. He started only 14 games last season, scoring 1 goal and providing 2 assists with an xG of 1.09 and xA of 2.14. He also took 16 shots, with 6 coming from inside the box, while creating 21 chances and 3 big chances. It will be interesting to see how Chelsea line up under Mauricio Pochettino and if James can keep fit.
Ben Chilwell is another Chelsea full-back who is expected to do well under the new manager Mauricio Pochettino. Chilwell also started only 15 games for the Blues last season but scored 2 goals and assisted 3. He took 16 shots, with 11 coming from inside the box, and created 21 chances and 1 big chance for Chelsea.
While James didn’t feature much in pre-season, Chilwell has looked good getting into very advanced positions despite playing in a back four instead of a back three last season. With Chelsea facing Luton, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth in the first 6 games, there is also potential for clean sheets.
Further Read: Best £5-£5.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2023/24 FPL Season
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Brighton
| Team | GW1 | GW2 | GW3 | GW4 | GW5 | GW6 |
| Brighton | LUT (H) | WOL (A) | WHU (H) | NEW (H) | MUN (A) | BOU (H) |
Jason Steele (GKP)
Brighton had a great season last year, where they managed to keep 12 clean sheets (6th highest among all teams).
In the 2022/23 season, Jason Steele kept 6 clean sheets in 16 appearances, picking up 8 bonus points and getting an assist. Steele became the first choice towards the end of last season and is likely to remain Brighton’s number 1 for the start of this season. However, it is worth noting that a few weak performances and the new goalkeeper signing Bart Verbruggen can easily take his place.
A certain element of risk is involved in this pick, but he is a good 4.5m keeper option.
Further Read: Best FPL Goalkeepers to Target For The 2023/24 FPL Season
Pervis Estupiñán (DEF)
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The next player on our Brighton list is the heavily popular defender Pervis Estupiñán. The Brighton left-back was an FPL favourite last season, getting 31 starts last season, getting 1 goal and 7 assists while keeping 10 clean sheets.
He had an xG of 1.8 and an xA of 3.88. He attempted 18 shots from inside the box (almost 1 every other game), 74 touches in the box, and 462 final third passes. He also created 49 chances, and this highlights his creativity potential.
He is currently owned by more than 50% of managers in the game. With Brighton facing teams like Luton (H), Wolves (A) and West Ham (H), you can’t go wrong with his selection.
Further Read: Best £5-£5.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2023/24 FPL Season
Solly March & Kaoru Mitoma (MID)
This is one of the biggest debates this season as well – how many Brighton players to get, and which one of them?
Brighton was in red-hot form in the 2nd half of last season, ranking 1st for shots, shots on target, shots in the box, big chances and overall XG. The biggest issue with them was to predict which attacker would get the majority of returns. Pascal Groß, Solly March & Kaoru Mitoma had similar returns getting 17,16,16 attacking returns respectively.
The problem remains. With no obvious talisman, attacking returns will get shared among all three, adding Enciso and the likes of Ferguson and Joao Pedro in the mix.
Mitoma is the most nailed pick, followed by Groß and then March. 38% of managers own Mitoma; if you want to go safe, you go with him. If you are okay with taking some risk, you can go with March (currently owned by 3.8% of managers).
Further Read: Best £6.5m FPL Midfielders- Stats, Comparison ahead of GW1
João Pedro (FWD)
Joao Pedro has featured in BHA’s recent friendlies scoring 2G+1A, notably taking a penalty. With a price tag of £5.5m and penalties in his locker, he becomes a decent striker option who can be your 3rd striker. There is every possibility that he gets rotated even if he is getting started, so do keep that in mind.
Further Read: 2023/24 Pre Season Summary of All 20 Premier League Teams
Brentford
| Team | GW1 | GW2 | GW3 | GW4 | GW5 | GW6 |
| Brentford | TOT (H) | FUL (A) | CRY (H) | BOU (H) | NEW (A) | EVE (H) |
Mark Flekken (GKP)
With David Raya moving to Arsenal, Mark Flekken is expected to take over the reins. Brentford is a solid defensive team, especially at home. They conceded just 18 goals in 19 matches at home, keeping 7 clean sheets.
Brentford faces Palace, Bournemouth, and Everton at home between GW 3-6 and, ideally, can easily get a few clean sheets in those games.
If he can keep his place in the starting XI, I think he can be an excellent budget-keeper option (£4.5m)
Further Read: Best FPL Goalkeepers to Target For The 2023/24 FPL Season
Bryan Mbeumo (MID)
For a good reason, Mbeumo is Brentford’s most popular pick in the game right now. With Toney suspended, he is expected to take up a talisman role in the attack. He is also likely to be on penalties which adds to his overall appeal.
He has performed whenever he has played without Toney, getting 6G+3A in 10 games. Brentford has good attacking fixtures and can be a high-value pick in the crowded budget midfielder category. Fixtures are kind too.
Mbeumo was listed as a forward last season, getting 18 attacking returns. This year he is a midfielder, which will give him extra points for goals scored and clean sheets. Until Brentford doesn’t sign a proper no9, he is a great pick.
Note: Mbeumo suffered a dead leg in a pre-season game against Fulham and was taken off early.
According to manager Brentford Thomas Frank, it was a precautionary substitution, and he is okay. He was also pictured in Brentford’s latest training session and is expected to be fine for GW1.
Further Read: Best £6.5m FPL Midfielders- Stats, Comparison ahead of GW1
Yoane Wissa (FWD)
Brentford attacker Yoane Wissa is definitely being overlooked. His major appeal is the absence of Ivan Toney from the main team. In the striker’s absence last season, Wissa got 6 attacking returns in 5 matches (4G+2A). Wissa is listed as a forward in the game, and at 6m, he is a genuine option for your 3rd striker and 2nd cheap striker alongside Haaland.
He has clearly shown that he can score goals and provide assists, and his minutes, at least at the start of the season, look very promising. Brentford is up against weaker defenses initially, and Wissa can provide some serious value in those games.
Further Read: Best FPL Forwards in The £6.0 & £6.5M Price Bracket
Arsenal
| Team | GW1 | GW2 | GW3 | GW4 | GW5 | GW6 |
| Arsenal | NFO (H) | CRY (A) | FUL (H) | MUN (H) | EVE (A) | TOT (H) |
Gabriel Magalhaes (DEF)
Arsenal’s centre-back Gabriel is only priced at £5m at the start of the season and provides excellent value in that price range. He started all 38 games in the league last season and had an xG of 5.04 (2nd highest among all defenders). He also had the third-highest shots among defenders taking a total of 32.
Arsenal starts the season with excellent fixtures against Forest (H), Crystal Palace (A), and Fulham (H), and one can expect to keep it tight at the back. For a defender from a top team having a good goal threat, he is a great buy, and you should consider it for your Gameweek 1 team.
Further Read: Best £5-£5.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2023/24 FPL Season
Bukayo Saka (MID)
Arsenal had a great season last year and looked solid in attack. They ranked among the top 5 teams for xG and should continue the same form this year. Saka, in particular, looked sharp, getting 25 attacking returns (14G+11A).
He was a regular in the Arsenal XI, getting the most minutes among all Arsenal attackers. He is expected to be as nailed as it gets and is an excellent pick in midfield.
One thing to note is that he is priced at £8.5m, which is 0.5m more than Martinelli, but the possibility of more minutes and him being the team’s penalty taker make him a more attractive proposition.
Further Read: Best Premium FPL Midfielders (£8.0 -£12.5 Million) | 23/24 Season
Gabriel Martinelli (MID)
Martinelli was the 5th highest-scoring midfielder in the game despite playing slightly less than those around him. He secured 24 attacking returns last, which included 15 goals and 9 assists, making him the best budget pick in attack. He outscored Saka for most attacking metrics last season, yet Martinelli’s appeal has lessened this year.
The narrative has changed a bit. He is only owned by around 14% of managers in the game right now, making him an exciting alternative to Saka. Arsenal signing Havertz has also contributed to the same, but with Jesus out for a while, Martinelli’s minutes may be secured, and he can be an explosive option at £8m.
If you are okay going against the crowd or need more funds to get in Saka, Martinelli is a more than able replacement.
Further Read: Best £5-£5.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2023/24 FPL Season
Man City
| Team | GW1 | GW2 | GW3 | GW4 | GW5 | GW6 |
| Man City | BUR (A) | NEW (H) | SHU (A) | FUL (H) | WHU (A) | NFO (H) |
John Stones (DEF)
Stones and Ruben Dias are the most nailed defender in this City side. Stones is playing a more advanced role in Pep’s new system, making him an even better pick overall.
Stones’ numbers were impressive last season, getting 2G+2A and helping Man City keep 7 clean sheets. He took 11 shots last season, with 10 of them coming from inside the box. He also created 7 chances and 2 big chances, plus he is a threat from set-pieces. Stones is owned by 29% of managers in the game right now, and that ownership is set to increase if he can nail a spot in Pep’s XI.
Further Read: Best £5-£5.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2023/24 FPL Season
Ruben Dias (DEF)
He is another defender likely to get majority minutes despite Gvardiol signing for the Citizens. Like Stone wrt price, he will occupy the central position in the heart of Man City’s backline. Dias outscored Stones when it comes to minutes. He also had a higher XG highlighting his slightly superior goal threat.
If you are unconvinced with Stones as a nailed pick, you can consider Dias an excellent alternative option from Man City.
Phil Foden (MID)
Foden struggled to cement his place in City’s attack last season. Despite all his problems, he managed to put across some really impressive numbers. He managed to get 18 attacking returns (11G+7A). He was top among all City MIDs for shots on target and shots attempted in the box. He came 2nd for big chances, xG, goals scored, xGI and overall FPL points.
It is challenging to predict if Foden will be nailed in City’s attack, but with Mahrez and Gundogan leaving and KDB likely to miss the first few games, it’s a risk worth taking.
Further Read: Best £6.0 -£7.5 Million FPL Midfielders | 2023/24 Season
Erling Haaland (FWD)
Coming to the most obvious pick in FPL right now – Erling Haaland. There is not much left to talk about the Man City forward. He scored a record-breaking 36 goals and is expected to do even better this season. It’s not worth it to go without him. Considering his massive ownership and Man City having good attacking fixtures, keep it simple and have him in your FPL team for GW1.
Further Read: 2023/24 Pre Season Summary of All 20 Premier League Teams
Manchester United
| Team | GW1 | GW2 | GW3 | GW4 | GW5 | GW6 |
| Man United | WOL (H) | TOT (A) | NFO (H) | ARS (A) | BRI (H) | BUR (A) |
André Onana (GKP)
Man United were strong at the back last season, keeping 17 clean sheets. But with David De Gea gone, the Red Devils have signed André Onana as a suitable replacement. He has already shown what he is capable of and can bring to the Man Utd backline. He boasts better passing accuracy than De Gea, which is also great for bonus points potential.
Currently, he is the 2nd most owned keeper in the game, behind Areola, who is a popular 2nd keeper choice. Whether he can avoid mistakes and keep clean sheets is still an unknown, but if you are looking at the cheapest entry point in the United defense, he is the one to consider.
Further Read: Best FPL Goalkeepers to Target For The 2023/24 FPL Season
Luke Shaw (DEF)
The second player to consider from Man Utd is Luke Shaw. He is priced £0.5m more than Onana but is playing a much more advanced role. He is pretty nailed in that LB spot for United and can be very effective on both ends of the pitch.
Last season, he scored 1 goal and got 4 assists, along with 12 clean sheets. He had an xA of 2.90 and xG of 1.09, creating 33 chances and 7 big chances for his team. If you are looking for a slightly long-term pick, he is definitely in the mix, as he only has 3 very tricky fixtures in the first 16 games of the season. We don’t know whether he remains on set-piece duty, but at £5.5m, you are getting a solid defender pick.
Further Read: Best £5-£5.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2023/24 FPL Season
Marcus Rashford (MID)
Rashford had his best attacking season in a Man United shirt last year. He scored an impressive 30 goals across all competitions, of which 17 were in the Premier League. He also showed his creative side by getting 7 assists across the season. Man United have a good set of attacking fixtures, and Rashford can once again prove to be a great pick in attack.
With Man Utd signing Rasmus Højlund, he may be forced to play out wide, and that might lessen his appeal, but at least for the season start, Rashford is a great attacker to own.
Further Read: Best Premium FPL Midfielders (£8.0 -£12.5 Million) | 23/24 Season
Bruno Fernandes (MID)
Bruno Fernandes has been a mainstay in the team since joining in 2020. He has been the creative engine in midfield and will continue to do this season. Last year, he was 2nd among all MUN players for points scored, getting 17 attacking returns (8G+9A). Man United has signed Mason Mount, and it will be interesting to see if that changes Bruno’s overall positioning.
Still, at the start coming in at just £8.5m, he looks a bit of a bargain this year. He is expected to be on penalties and should get a fair share of free kicks and corners. There’s no doubt Bruno is an elite asset, and his key stats tell us the same story. If you can’t afford Rashford for some reason and still want a Man Utd attacker, Fernandes is undoubtedly worth a go for GW1.
Further Read: Best Premium FPL Midfielders (£8.0 -£12.5 Million) | 23/24 Season
Crystal Palace
| Team | GW1 | GW2 | GW3 | GW4 | GW5 | GW6 |
| Palace | SHU (A) | ARS (H) | BRE (A) | WOL (H) | AVL (A) | FUL (H) |
Sam Johnstone (GKP)
Palace has a good set of opening fixtures playing Sheffield United, Brentford, Wolves, Fulham and Nottingham Forest in their first 8 games.
Sam Johnstone is an intriguing pick for managers at just 4.5m. He became a regular in the latter part of last season, keeping 3 clean sheets in 9 games and scoring 36 points. Since Hodgson’s appointment as manager, Palace kept things tight at the back, conceding just 11 goals (3rd best among all teams for the time period).
He can be of great value if Palace can replicate a similar form and is worth considering if you consider a budget-keeper option.
Eberechi Eze (MID)
The Crystal Palace midfielder is owned by more than 20% of managers right now. He has a good pre-season scoring 2 goals and getting 5 assists. With Zaha gone, there is a high possibility that Eze takes up that talisman role and is expected to be on penalties.
It’s still a risk as it’s Eze and Palace we are talking about. We need to temper our expectations and know the risks involved. The fixtures are okay from an attacking sense, and you can go for Eze to save up some cash and invest that additional money elsewhere.
Further Read: Best £6.5m FPL Midfielders- Stats, Comparison ahead of GW1
Tottenham
| Team | GW1 | GW2 | GW3 | GW4 | GW5 | GW6 |
| Spurs | BRE (A) | MUN (H) | BOU (A) | BUR (A) | SHU (H) | ARS (A) |
Harry Kane (FWD)
Kane is the most important player at Tottenham by a distance, and there is already a lot of speculation about him moving to Bayern this summer. If he stays, he can still be a great pick in attack, especially if you are unconvinced with Salah as your 2nd premium.
Kane had a great season last year, finishing on 263 points (only 9 behind top scorer Haaland). He ended the season with 30 goals and 9 assists. With Maddison coming into the team, Kane may be fine with dropping too deep and creating plays. This could lead to more goal-scoring opportunities and, hopefully, more goals.
James Maddison (MID)
He is another highly overlooked FPL pick from Tottenham. Maddison joined Tottenham from Leicester City after they got relegated last season. We know he possesses a lot of creative threat and has looked in good touch during Tottenham’s pre-season.
He ranks top for most attacking metrics (xA, big chances created, key passes, goal involvement, goals scored, shots attempted) compared to all Spurs MIDs last season. He indeed adds a lot of creativity in attack, and it will be interesting to see how he goes about with his new club.
If Kane leaves, he might lose some appeal as the Tottenham attack will significantly weaken. Still, with only 13% ownership, you can get on him early and reap the benefits.
That will be all from my side for this one! Do let me know what teams and players are you targeting for GW1-6 in the comments below.
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Check out my team for GW1!
Further reads from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL GW1 of the 2023/24 FPL Season
Pre-Season Friendlies Updates & Fixtures
2023/24 FPL Pre Season: All Clubs Friendlies Fixtures & Updates
2023/24 Pre Season Summary of All 20 Premier League Teams
FPL GW1 Must Read Articles:
FPL GW1 Scout Picks Based On Stats, Analysis, And Matchups
2023/24 Season: Predicted GW1 Lineups of All 20 PL Teams
Top FPL GW1 Differential Picks To Consider Ahead Of GW1 Deadline
FPL GW1 Team Reveal & Strategy – AllAboutFPL
FPL GW1 Tips & Preview – Breaking Down The Key Dilemmas
FPL Players And Teams To Target From FPL Gameweek 1 To 6
Drafts for FPL GW1:
FPL Gameweek 1 Drafts with Haaland + Salah and Trent Trio
FPL GW1 Drafts with 3-4-3 Formation | 2023/24 FPL Season
Initial GW1 Drafts for the 2023/24 Season with Pros and Cons
Top FPL GW1 Differential Picks to Consider Ahead of GW1 Deadline
Four Players Who Have Never Left My FPL GW1 Draft
FPL GW1 Team Reveal & Strategy – AllAboutFPL
FPL Goalkeepers Analysis:
Best FPL Goalkeepers to Target For The 2023/24 FPL Season
Best FPL Goalkeepers at Each Price Point for the 2023/24 Season
FPL Rotational Pairs and Combinations- Defenders and Goal Keepers
2023/24 FPL Season Positional Analysis:
Defenders:
Best £4.0 Million FPL Defenders For The 2023/24 FPL Season
Best £4.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2023/24 FPL Season
Best £5-£5.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2023/24 FPL Season
FPL Rotational Pairs and Combinations- Defenders and Goal Keepers
Midfielders:
£4.5 Million FPL Midfielders Watchlist for the 2023/24 FPL Season
Best £5 & £5.5 Million FPL Midfielders For The 2023/24 FPL Season
Best £6.0 -£7.5 Million FPL Midfielders | 2023/24 Season
Mbeumo vs Mitoma vs Eze vs Diaby- 6.5. FPL Midfielders Comparison and Verdict
Best Premium FPL Midfielders (£8.0 -£12.5 Million) | 23/24 Season
Forwards:
Best Mid-Priced FPL Forwards (£7.0 – £8.0m) | 2023/24 Season
Best FPL Forwards in The £6.0 & £6.5M Price Bracket
Best FPL Budget Forwards (£4.5 – £5.5 Million) | 23/24 Season
Ultimate Guide & FPL Calendar:
Ultimate FPL Pre-Season Guide & Tips for the 2023/24 Season
2023/24 FPL Season Schedule: Key Dates, Information & Timeline
Fixture Analysis:
FPL Fixture Analysis For The 2023/24 FPL Season | PL Fixtures
General FPL Blogs:
FPL Team Structure Guide- 6 Different Team Structures with Drafts, Pros and Cons
Premier League Penalty & Set Piece Takers | 2023/24 PL Season
Best FPL Picks Outside Top 6 Teams | 2023/24 FPL Season
FPL Differentials- Players To Watch Ahead Of The 2023/24 Season
FPL Budget Enablers(Top Budget Picks Position wise)
Under Priced FPL Assets from Big 6 Teams
Best Differential FPL Team For The 2023-2024 Season
Players to Avoid in FPL Ahead of FPL Gameweek 1
Initial Reaction to FPL Player Price Reveals for the 2023/24 FPL Season
List of Free to Join Prize FPL Mini Leagues Ahead of 23/24 Season
FPL Tips and Best Practices to Have an Enjoyable FPL Season
FPL Team ID- What is it? How to get a Low Team ID for 2023/24 FPL Season
Best FPL Team Names for the 2023/24 FPL Season
If you’re new to FPL, here is a link to all our FPL Beginners Guide including FPL Beginner’s Guide- How to play?, Bench boost, Team value, Triple captain, Effective ownership, Price Changes, Free Hit, Bonus Points, and more.
Link to all our 2023/24 Pre-Season articles including all team pre-season friendly updates, team previews, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, and more. Completely free to access as well!
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