The Hard Tackle lists the five best options to consider to bring into your team heading into FPL Gameweek 1 of the 2026/27 season.
The wait is finally over, and a brand-new Premier League season is upon us. As the twenty clubs prepare to step onto the pitch for Gameweek 1, the overarching theme across every training ground is momentum. In the English top flight, you cannot afford a slow start; teams must hit the ground running to establish their dominance and outline their seasonal ambitions from the very first whistle. A clinical opening match shapes public perception, builds internal confidence, and sets a ruthless tone that can carry a club through the grueling autumn months.
Just like the managers pacing the technical areas, FPL managers face the exact same high-stakes pressure. Campaigns are frequently won or lost based on how effectively you navigate the initial chip strategy and captaincy calls. Relying too heavily on unproven differentials can leave you chasing your mini-league rivals before August even concludes.
To truly set a dominant tone for your FPL campaign, your opening squad needs a seamless blend of elite, bulletproof captains and high-value, tactically secure assets who possess explosive individual fixtures. The basis of selecting our core five-player structure for the 2026/27 opening day is rooted in three fundamental pillars: guaranteed underlying minutes, historical attacking or defensive efficiency, and favourable immediate schedules.
Rather than gambling on entirely speculative punts, this selection balances heavy-hitting marquee talents with mid-priced enablers who are primed to outperform their price tags. By spreading the budget across two robust defenders, two dynamic midfielders, and an elite talismanic forward, this blueprint offers an incredibly balanced foundation. Let’s dive into the five players you must target for Gameweek 1.
Gabriel Magalhaes
Arsenal’s defensive record under Mikel Arteta has consistently set the gold standard in the Premier League, making Gabriel Magalhaes an essential, set-and-forget premium anchor for your backline. The Brazilian centre-back was a towering presence throughout the 2025/26 campaign, where he helped the Gunners secure a staggering 17 clean sheets.
Beyond his exceptional defensive solidity, Gabriel remains arguably the most dangerous aerial threat in the entire league from dead-ball situations. With Arsenal consistently breaking records for set-piece goals from corners, His knack for popping up with crucial goals and assists provides an unmatched fantasy ceiling for a defender. Starting the season with him ensures an elite baseline of clean sheet potential alongside explosive attacking threat.
Harry Maguire
If you are looking for an optimal budget-friendly enabler in defence to free up vital funds for your premium attackers in FPL, Harry Maguire is a highly lucrative option. Under the stewardship of Michael Carrick at Manchester United, the experienced English center-back enjoyed a notable mini-resurgence toward the back end of last season.
With United working hard to maintain their late-season defensive momentum into the 2026/27 campaign, Maguire represents a secure route into a traditional “Big Six” backline. He dominates aerial duels, clearing the ball efficiently to rack up baseline BPS metrics, while remaining a top target on offensive set-pieces. At his current price point, Maguire allows excellent squad flexibility without compromising on a major club presence.
Morgan Rogers
Following his blockbuster, record-breaking summer transfer from Aston Villa to Chelsea, Morgan Rogers is the most anticipated mid-priced FPL midfielder of the season. The 23-year-old dynamic attacker enters Stamford Bridge on the heels of a spectacular individual campaign, where he was named the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League Player of the Season after ending Villa’s 30-year European trophy drought.
Having immediately hit the ground running by scoring in Chelsea’s pre-season friendlies, Rogers looks perfectly integrated into his new tactical system. His unique blend of physical power, direct dribbling, and clinical finishing makes him an incredibly explosive asset who could easily embarrass managers who opt to skip his Gameweek 1 debut.
Florian Wirtz
After enduring a somewhat adjusting and underwhelming debut year on Merseyside following his big-money arrival from Bayer Leverkusen, Florian Wirtz is primed for a massive redemption campaign. The German international has openly expressed his desire to permanently make the clinical No. 10 role his own this season.
He has been heavily utilised in that exact creative pocket throughout pre-season by Andoni Iraola. Wirtz possesses world-class vision, and with a full Premier League pre-season under his belt, he will serve as the primary creative engine for a highly explosive Liverpool attack. Backing him for Gameweek 1 in FPL allows you to buy into an elite ceiling before his market value inevitably skyrockets.
Erling Haaland
When it comes to the ultimate, uncompromising anchor for Gameweek 1 in FPL, Erling Haaland remains entirely non-negotiable. The Norwegian talisman continues to completely warp the landscape of FPL with his unmatched expected goals (xG) metrics and ruthless efficiency inside the penalty box.
City traditionally start their domestic campaigns in an incredibly aggressive, high-scoring fashion, and Haaland is always the focal point of their final-third possession. Going without him on opening day is an immense structural risk that can leave your overall rank severely damaged if he bags an expected hat-trick. Lock him in as your captain, secure your captaincy baseline, and let the rest of your squad handle the differentials.
Honourable Mentions
While the core five players mentioned above form the perfect spine, navigating a full 15-man squad requires highly capable secondary targets. With that in mind, Marc Guehi, Riccardo Calafiori. Milos Kerkez, Bruno Fernandes, Christos Tzolis, Antoine Semenyo, Ismaila Sarr, Joao Pedro, Alexander Isak, and Evanilson are the players to keep an eye on to fit your team.
