Fantasy Premier League Insights: Expert Picks and Avoids
As Fantasy Premier League managers prepare their teams ahead of Friday's deadline, our team of experts has evaluated all 20 clubs and ranked key players.
Our panel, consisting of Pras, FPL Heisenberg, Gianni Buttice, and Holly Shand, has each identified:
A differential pick - a low-owned player who has the potential to shine in FPL.
A player to avoid - a player unlikely to deliver value based on their price or productivity.
Additionally, BBC Sport has spotlighted each club's talisman - the standout player for the team.
Join the BBC Sport League in the official Fantasy Premier League by using the code bbcfpl or by clicking here.
Arsenal
Talisman: Bukayo Saka (£10m)
Last season marked the first time since 2020-21 that Saka did not achieve 20 goal involvements in the Premier League, finishing with 17 after missing nearly half the season due to injury. Questions remain regarding his playing time this season and whether new striker Viktor Gyokeres will take penalties, but if fit, Saka is likely to score around 200 FPL points.
Differential: Declan Rice (£6.5m)
Holly: Midfielder Rice is particularly appealing this season due to the introduction of defensive contribution points, having already been involved in set-pieces for Arsenal. He had 11 goal involvements last season and would have gained an additional 18 points under the new system. Arsenal's match against promoted Leeds United in Gameweek 2 adds to his appeal.
Player to avoid: Gabriel (£6m)
Holly: The center-back was a popular choice when the game launched in mid-July, but he has only played 28 minutes in pre-season. While Mikel Arteta has indicated he could be available for Gameweek 1, further confirmation is needed before investing, especially given the defensive options available to Arsenal.
Aston Villa
Talisman: Ollie Watkins (£9m)
Watkins has proven to be a reliable FPL asset, scoring 50 goals and providing 34 assists over the past three seasons, with FPL points totaling 178, 228, and 186. His only drawback is that he is unlikely to take penalties, which will likely fall to Youri Tielemans. However, his price remains attractive.
Differential: Donyell Malen (£5.5m)
Heisenberg: The Netherlands midfielder has displayed excellent form in pre-season, costing only £5.5m and showing great potential for goals. If Watkins is injured or substituted early, Malen may even play as a center-forward. While his minutes may be uncertain, he presents a worthwhile gamble at this price point.
Player to avoid: Alex Moreno (£4m)
Heisenberg: Moreno is currently the fourth-most-owned Villa player in over 11% of FPL teams. However, he is third-choice left-back behind Lucas Digne and Ian Maatsen, which limits his chances of playing. While he is priced at £4.0m, other low-cost defenders like Maxime Esteve (Burnley), Reinildo Mandava (Sunderland), or Gabriel Gudmundsson (Leeds) are likely to be regular starters.
Bournemouth
Talisman: Evanilson (£7.5m)
The Brazilian striker netted 10 goals in 28 starts last season, underperforming his expected goals by nearly three, suggesting he has untapped potential. He was involved in 35% of his team's goals when on the pitch. With Justin Kluivert's fitness uncertain, Evanilson could also take penalties, making him a strong candidate for a productive season.
Differential: Antoine Semenyo (£7m)
Pras: Semenyo had a strong 24-25 season, scoring 11 goals and providing seven assists in 37 matches. With only 5.5% ownership, he has the potential to outperform his £7m price tag, especially if he improves on his 8.8% shot conversion rate.
Player to avoid: Marcos Senesi (£4.5m)
Pras: With Bournemouth's recent player exits, including Dean Huijsen, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Milos Kerkez, the team's defensive stability is in question. Although Senesi appears tempting at his price, the lack of a settled defense makes him a risky investment.
Brentford
Talisman: Kevin Schade (£7m)
Surprisingly, Schade was the 14th highest-scoring midfielder last season. With Bryan Mbeumo's departure, Brentford will be counting on him to fill the creative void. Schade scored 11 goals last season, with seven coming from January onwards, making him an appealing option at £7m.
Differential: Igor Thiago (£6m)
Gianni: Thiago joined Brentford for a club-record £30m but has only made eight appearances due to injury. Now fully fit, he is expected to lead the line this season. With less than 1% ownership, he could be an excellent value pick at £6m.
Player to avoid: Nathan Collins (£5m)
Gianni: Collins is the highest-owned but also the most expensive Brentford defender. While he contributes defensively with two goals and seven assists last season, £5m is excessive for a defender likely to struggle with clean sheets and has only five league goals in the last four seasons.
Brighton
Talisman: Kaoru Mitoma (£6.5m)
The Japanese forward could be an FPL gem if he can maintain his fitness. Mitoma was Brighton's joint-top scorer with 10 goals and led in key passes and big chances created, all from just 28 starts, making him a valuable asset.
Differential: Danny Welbeck (£6.5m)
Pras: Welbeck is in only 7.8% of teams and is one of the few forwards under £7m playing for a top-10 team. Likely to take penalties following Joao Pedro's departure, he contributed 10 goals and four assists last season while logging over 2,000 minutes on the pitch.
Player to avoid: Georginio Rutter (£6m)
Pras: Rutter was expected to make a significant impact after his club-record signing from Leeds, but he has disappointed, scoring fewer than 100 FPL points and playing less than 2,000 minutes last season.