What makes a date special?
Rationally speaking, it is just another day in the otherwise monotonous rotation of the Earth on its axis. The sun is no brighter, the air no fresher, nor are the birds any chirpier. Then why do dates like 1st January, 25th December or your birthday feel so special?
It is because our brains associate certain dates with memories, emotions and hope. Those trigger points unlock countless memories, umpteen emotions and boundless possibilities – that is what makes a day special.
August 21st, 2026, is one such date.
What is, on paper, just another day becomes D-Day for us – the day we bid farewell to the eerie silence and welcome back our weekly cycle of anticipation, celebration and heartbreak. The return of the Premier League. And, with it, our beloved Fantasy Premier League.
Welcome to the first article of the new season – a season that promises plenty. Five of last season’s top six clubs begin with a different manager than who they had in GW1 in the last season, bringing a level of freshness and anticipation we’ve rarely seen in recent years. FPL’s own god, Mohamed Salah, is no longer around, and for the first time in over two decades, Arsenal enter the campaign as defending champions.
In today’s article, we’ll look at some of the best value forwards – not necessarily budget picks, but players whose price tags look particularly generous. So, let’s start the article for this GW, sponsored by …. Well, nobody. We are poor, but you can help here if you want
Link to all our 2026/27 Pre-Season articles including all team pre-season friendly updates, best drafts, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, differentials, players to target, budget enablers and more. Completely free to access as well!
João Pedro (£7.5m) – FWD, Chelsea – 54.6% TSB
After an outstanding 177-point season, João Pedro is available at exactly the same price as last year. That’s remarkable considering Thiago, who scored only four points more, has received a £2.0m price rise.
Pedro remains Chelsea’s talismanic striker, with Welbeck offering far less competition than Delap did last season. Better still, Pedro didn’t go to the World Cup, meaning he enjoyed a proper summer break, and Chelsea begin the season with an excellent run of fixtures.
With the managerial merry-go-round finally behind them, Chelsea could be one of this season’s biggest improvers, free from the distraction of European football. Pedro could become for Xabi Alonso what Patrik Schick was during Alonso’s final season at Leverkusen – a clinical focal point capable of delivering consistently.
Expect the Brazilian to lead Alonso’s attack… and hopefully your FPL team… to unprecedented heights.
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.0m) – FWD, Leeds – 18.1% TSB
- Leeds begin with Nottingham Forest in Gameweek 1 – and DCL scored the last time these two sides met.
- Next up are Brentford. Interestingly, the last goal in this fixture? Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
- Gameweek 3 brings Brighton. Once again, it was DCL who scored the winning goal the last time they faced each other.
- Gameweek 4 sees Leeds take on a Newcastle side currently in turmoil. And yes—you guessed it—DCL scored in the previous meeting.
- Gameweek 5 is Crystal Palace at home. Palace are without Lacroix and, perhaps more significantly, without Glasner. Once again, DCL has happy memories, scoring twice in this fixture last season.
A talisman on penalties, blessed with an attractive opening fixture run and priced at just £6.0m, Dominic Calvert-Lewin deserves serious consideration in every Gameweek 1 draft.
Igor Jesus (£6.0m) – FWD, Nott’m Forest – 5.0% TSB
Jesus ended the season on a strong note with 4 goals and 3 assists in the last 10 games and has picked up from where he left banging in 4 goals in 4 games in pre-season. Forest has a kind fixture to begin with facing Leeds and Spurs in the first 3 GWs. Last season, these two sides conceded the most goals in the league (except the relegated sides).
Forest has a new manager – the magician Glasner. Glasner took charge of Palace since GW26 in 23-24 season, and Mateta scored 13 goals and 2 assists in those last 13 games. Next season, Mateta plundered 14 goals and 2 assists in Glasner’s first full season. Although last season, seems like a failure owing to the noise and his own lofty standards, Mateta still managed 12 goals. If Jesus comes anywhere close to replicating this form, he will make an absolute mockery of that £6.0m price tag.
Further reads from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL GW1 of the 2026/27 FPL Season
FPL Basics:
2026/27 FPL Season – New Rules & Changes | What’s New in FPL?
What is Team ID in FPL? | How to Get a Low FPL Team ID for the 2026/27 Season
Best & Funny FPL Team Names for 2026/27 PL Season
Must Read Articles:
Best FPL GW1 Drafts for the 26/27 FPL Season with Pros & Cons
FPL Chip Strategy Guide- Best Windows to Play Free Hit, Wildcard, Triple Captain and Bench Boost
Ultimate DEFCON Analysis: Top Players & Best Opponents to Target
FPL Rotational Pairs and Combinations for 2026/27 FPL Season
Eight Simple FPL Tips to Secure a High Rank | 26/27 Season
FPL Fixture Analysis for 2026/27 Season- Teams with Best and Worst fixtures
Five Must Own Players in GW1 for FPL 2026/27 season
AK’s FPL First Draft & Team Reveal | 3x Top 5K Finishes
Position Analysis:
GKs and Defenders Series:
Best FPL Goalkeepers to Target based on Stats and Fixtures
Best £4.0 Million FPL Defenders for 2026/27 FPL Season
Best Premium Defenders for 2026/27 season based on Stats and Fixtures
Best £5.0-5.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2026/27 FPL Season
FPL Rotational Pairs and Combinations for 2026/27 FPL Season
Midfielders Series:
Best FPL Premium Midfielders(8.0-12.0) for 2026/27 FPL season
Best Mid-Price FPL Midfielders for the 26/27 Season | £6.5 to 7.5M
Best Value for Money Midfielders for 2026/27 season
Forwards Series:
Best FPL Budget Forwards (£4.5 – £6.0 Million) | 26/27 FPL Season
Best £6m Forwards Comparison for the 2026/27 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 2026/27 Pre-Season articles including all position-wise analysis, team previews, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, and more. Completely free to access as well!
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What’s next from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL Gameweek 1 of the 2026/27 FPL Season?
We’ll be covering FPL team structures, must-own players, player comparisons, differential picks, fixture analysis, captaincy metrics, multiple FPL drafts with pros and cons, chip strategy, rules guide, beginners guide, FPL tips, and more. Keep checking allaboutfpl.com for all our blogs and subscribe to our free newsletter through the link below. We’ll also be posting regularly about the same on our social media accounts, so follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, Threads, and Facebook keep our notifications ON.
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