YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO FPL: Expert reveals the best defenders and attackers YOU should target, who tops the fixture ticker, why an early Bench Boost is worth considering - and the three Arsenal stars in AI's best XI

The first FPL deadline of the season is fast approaching and Fantasy Football Hub's HOLLY SHAND has got you covered with her top tips for Gameweek 1, the best defensive and attacking picks in the game and the AI tools to help you win your mini-league!

1. Check out the fixtures for the opening five gameweeks

Fantasy managers often work within two metrics: form and fixtures. However, at the start of the season, it's a risk to take pre-season form as gospel, especially with players returning late to training following the World Cup and an active transfer window to shake things up.

However, we can be equipped to prepare with a solid fixture ticker, and with five gameweeks of action prior to an extended international break in mid-September, we've got a reasonable window to focus our attention.

There are some familiar faces at the top of the Fantasy Football Hub fixture ticker, including all of last season's top three: Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United. Arsenal kick things off with the opening fixture, hosting Championship winners Coventry City at the Emirates. Chelsea are their other visitors over the opening five gameweeks.

Brentford have the best fixtures to start the season over a five-week period, the ticker claims

Manchester United begin the campaign with back-to-back games against promoted teams, travelling to Hull City before entertaining Ipswich Town. Manchester City's most appealing fixture is the visit of Coventry City in Gameweek 3, but then we have a huge Manchester derby in Gameweek 4, with Old Trafford providing the backdrop.

Brentford top the ticker, with three home games in this period. This includes an opener against Spurs who finished 17th in the Premier League table last time around, while Nottingham Forest also have three home games in this period and look set for a resurgence under new manager Oliver Glasner.

2. Consider playing Bench Boost in Gameweek 1

An extended international break in September looks prime for an early Wildcard window and with that in mind, it opens up the Bench Boost strategy in one of the opening gameweeks.

Remember that it is only possible to use one chip per gameweek, so you can't Wildcard and Bench Boost in the same week to fully optimise your squad. However, ahead of Gameweek 1 you have unlimited transfers - so the possibility to set up optimally and play the Bench Boost arises.

The only challenge in Gameweek 1 is picking 15 starters, with uncertainty over the preferred starting lineups. This is exacerbated this season by the sheer number of new managers to the league and the World Cup hangover.

Gameweek 2 also looks to be a solid Bench Boost week, especially with Championship winners Coventry City taking on play-off winners Hull City at home. This fixture ended 0-0 home and away last season, with plenty of appealing defensive picks from either side coming in at the lowest price point of £4.0million.

You can play the Bench Boost early and then use the first wildcard shortly afterwards to redistribute the funds in your squad into the core starting XI each week, stripping value from the bench. An injury to one of the most expensive players in the game would open up funds for a Bench Boost in a later gameweek.

3. Analyse the best AI team to start the season with

AI seems to be taking over the world and it has even infiltrated into Fantasy Premier League. AI assistants have recommended the best team to start the season with and - with defensive contribution points influencing the game - it looks set to begin in a 4-4-2 formation.

David Raya (£6.0m) joins a Gunners triple-up after chalking up 19 clean sheets last season, with Manchester United’s Harry Maguire (£5.0m) in the backline ahead of those plum opening fixtures.

Iliman Ndiaye (£6.0m) looks to be on penalties for Everton if he stays loyal in this transfer window, while Pascal Gross (£5.5m) could also pick up spot-kicks at Brighton following the departure of Danny Welbeck.

There's no room for Bruno Fernandes in AI's team - but Bruno Guimaraes makes it in midfield

4. Get your team rated for free by AI and check out your recommended transfers

Sometimes we can spend so much time tinkering with our drafts ahead of Gameweek 1 that we lose sight of what we were trying to achieve in the first place. It’s useful to sense check those decisions during pre-season.

You can get your latest draft rated for free by AI in seconds over on Fantasy Football Hub. Simply take a screenshot of your team, upload it to the site and the AI will give you a % score out of 100. It’s useful for ironing out any little selection mistakes.

While you’re there, you can access transfer suggestions to improve your team ahead of Gameweek 1, including captain advice. There’s no obligation to follow the advice blindly, but the Fantasy Football Hub team managed by AI has finished in the top 0.5% of managers in two of its three seasons!

5th Place: Josko Gvardiol (£5.5m) - 23.9 Predicted Points

Enzo Maresca takes charge at Manchester City following the departure of Pep Guardiola, and he's already described defender Josko Gvardiol as one of three 'pillars' in his squad. That is a huge confidence boost for a defender in a back-line that consistently keeps clean sheets.

Gvardiol has amassed an average of five goal involvements per season, while he also picked up defensive contribution points in three of 17 starts last campaign.

4th Place: Malick Thiaw (£5.0m) - 24.9 Predicted Points

It's all change at Newcastle United following Eddie Howe's departure, with hopes a change of personnel could help the Magpies improve on their tally of eight clean sheets last season.

Malick Thiaw scored four goals in 2025-26, highlighting his aerial threat from set pieces, while he also picked up defensive contribution points in 12 of his 28 appearances. He has the routes to points and comes in at an intriguing price point.

Malick Thiaw is tipped to score the fourth-most points among defenders, despite a tricky start

3rd Place: Maxence Lacroix (£6.0m) - 25.2 Predicted Points

Maxence Lacroix got his big money transfer to Chelsea in the summer and has been elevated in the AI defensive predictions, with only four defenders carrying a higher price tag than him.

Defensive contribution points in 21 of his 35 appearances last season ranks him third among defenders, although he may not pick up those actions as readily in this Chelsea side. The Blues should prosper under Xabi Alonso without European distractions.

2nd Place: Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) - 27.9 Predicted Points

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has been one of the most consistent defenders in the game in recent memory. He played all 3,420 minutes of their 2025-26 season, where he was involved in 10 clean sheets and earned defensive contribution points on 15 occasions.

It's his goal threat which really elevates him as a fantasy pick though, managing his best ever tally of six goals in the last campaign, while also topping the charts for big chances with 12.

1st Place: Gabriel (£8.0m) - 28.9 Predicted Points

Arsenal's Gabriel tops the charts once again and it's hard to argue with his lofty AI prediction after he ended 2025-26 as the third highest scoring player in the game.

A £2.0m price hike could dissuade some from investing, especially with other likely starters in the Gunners defence coming in around £2.5 million cheaper. However, Gabriel provides those consistent routes to points through goals, clean sheets, bonus and defensive contribution points.

Gabriel Magalhaes tops the charts once again in terms of predicted points among defenders

5th Place: Igor Thiago (£8.0m) - 26.7 Predicted Points

Igor Thiago ended last campaign on 22 goals and at one point put Erling Haaland under serious pressure to win his third Golden Boot in four seasons.

Some consider Thiago as a 'one season wonder', but Fantasy Football Hub's AI Predictions keep faith that he can prosper for Brentford once again.

Penalties provide a useful route to points, with the Bees opening their campaign with home games against Spurs, Sunderland and Chelsea.

Igor Thiago scored 22 goals last campaign while Erling Haaland netted 27 times for Man City

4th Place: Antoine Semenyo (£8.5m) - 27.1 Predicted Points

With Erling Haaland almost 75% owned in the game, adding an additional Manchester City attacker is one way of still benefiting from their output.

Winger Antoine Semenyo has been one of the form men in pre-season, racking up five assists in three appearances. Last campaign he amassed 17 goals and six assists across appearances for City and Bournemouth, but comes in £1.5 million higher for the start of this season.

3rd Place: Bruno Guimaraes (£7.0m) - 30.1 Predicted Points

The Gunners have signed Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United in this transfer window and AI predictions have instantly elevated him to be among the likely top performers in the game. He has the routes to points, with 16 goal involvements last season, plus he could benefit from additional clean sheet points too. The Gunners kept shut-outs in 19 of their games last campaign.

2nd Place: Bruno Fernandes (£12.0m) - 31.2 Predicted Points

Bruno Fernandes ended last campaign in sensational form under Michael Carrick, with four goals and 17 assists in 18 appearances. He went on to secure the Playmaker Award, having led the way for both key passes (136) and big chances created (33) across the entire season.

He has the routes to points, given his involvement in set pieces, including penalties. United begin the campaign with games against promoted Hull City and Ipswich Town!

Bruno Fernandes has an incredible start in terms of fixtures, with Hull and Ipswich up first

1st Place: Erling Haaland (£15.5m) - 37.8 Predicted Points

It should come as no surprise to see Erling Haaland top the rankings by some margin, having finished 2025-26 as the highest scoring player in the game once again.

He has had a £1.5m price increase for this season, becoming the most expensive player in fantasy history. He produced 27 goals and eight assists last season. He returned to training on August 11, having got to the World Cup quarter-finals with Norway.