Home » Fantasy Football Tips Player Power Rankings For Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 1 Player Power Rankings For Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 1

Finding talented players for your Fantasy Premier League squad is never an issue. What is an issue, however, is selecting the right ones. Perhaps one of the hardest aspects of FPL is gauging how a certain player’s value fluctuates on a weekly basis. Depending on their form, fixture and several other criteria, a player can go from being a must have option to an option that you should avoid at all costs.

To help you effectively navigate through your Fantasy Premier League or Daily Fantasy Football dilemmas, we have created weekly player power rankings for each position. So instead of flipping a coin to help pick your team, you can come to us to see which players are more valuable than the rest for that given week.

For Gameweek one we’re going to use how talented the player is, their opposition’s ability to attack or defend and finally their preseason form. After that, attention will focus more on player form and team form.

The goal of these power rankings will be to help you keep track of who’s hot and who’s not, and when you should utilize them in fantasy. From the superstars of the league, to the hidden gems, these rankings will sort which players have the best chance of bringing you huge fantasy returns for a specific week.

Without further ado, here are Sam Horbal’s player power rankings for gameweek one.

Forwards

1) Sergio Aguero

When Aguero is healthy, Aguero scores goals – a lot of them. Considering that the Argentinian forward made it through Copa Centenario and preseason without being taken off on a stretcher, all FPL managers should be jubilant that Aguero is available for selection. He’s scored twice in three pre-season matches, and City’s first match of the season is against a David Moyes controlled Sunderland. Don’t be surprised if you hear the announcers shouting, “AGEURROOOOOOO,” throughout the day.

2) Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not familiar with the term “quiet season.” Even on an off-day, Ibra still has a great chance of finding the back of the net. Take the Community Shield for example. The Swedish striker was blanketed by Wes Morgan throughout the entire game, but when Manchester United needed a goal he rose to the occasion and nodded the ball into the corner of Leicester’s net. I don’t expect Zlatan to have nearly as hard of a time scoring against Bournemouth, which was the side that let in the second highest number of goals last season.

3) Andre Gray

Burnley striker Andre Gray simply won’t stop scoring goals. He led the Championship with 23 goals last season and now has went on to put away nine more in the preseason. Gray takes penalties and is an excellent finisher. Next in the crosshairs is Swansea, who may not have a chance of stopping the in-form Gray. What’s not to love?

4) Harry Kane

After a rough time in the Euros, Kane has not been given much love by FPL managers. However, managers should start to take note of Kane again, considering he has already gotten back on track. The Tottenham striker showed us that he has indeed not lost his sublime finishing skills in a friendly against Inter. In that same match he also drilled in a penalty kick and provided an assist. While Everton will be harder to breakdown under Ronald Koeman, Spurs should be able to handle their week one task.

5) Jamie Vardy

This one is pretty simple. Vardy is the only pegged on striker for Leicester and he’s facing Hull City. Even if he isn’t as prolific as last year, Vardy is still good for a handful of goals, and Hull City shouldn’t be much of an obstacle.

Midfielders

1) Eden Hazard

When Hazard is at his best he is nearly impossible to stop. Since the end of an abysmal 2015/16 campaign, we’ve seen Hazard fine-tuning his game throughout the Euros and International Champions Cup. Over both of these tournaments the Belgian has racked up four goals and four assists, which nearly matches his entire output from the 2015/16 season. Hazard has a lot to prove this season and he’ll want to get off to a good start.

2) Alexis Sanchez

Someone who comes as a bit of a surprise for this week’s rankings is Alexis Sanchez. Sanchez suffered a nasty looking ankle injury at the Copa America, and for a while was expected to miss the first week. But then Sanchez recovered swiftly, appeared in a friendly against Manchester City as a striker and was even able to pick up an assist. Now that he’s available, his next task will be to break down Liverpool’s defense. Liverpool is a talented team this year, but their high-pressing style leaves them vulnerable at the back at times. Sanchez is a player who doesn’t hesitate to capitalize on opportunities, and he’s bound to get a few.

3) Sadio Mane

One of the most impressive players during Liverpool’s preseason tour has been Saido Mane. The Senegalese forward fits perfectly into Klopp’s system. He can press the opposition, spark a counter-attack by breaking down the wing and cut in and have a go at goal. Mane has already recorded a goal and a few assists in a Liverpool outfit. With Arsenal’s backline depleted at the moment, the winger can continue to impress as a Red on opening day.

4) Erik Lamela

One of the few Tottenham players that shouldn’t have any questions looming entering week one is Erik Lamela. The Argentinian was decent in the Copa, where he was able to steal playing time away from the likes of Aguero, Higuain, Gaitan and Messi. Ok, maybe not so much Messi, but you get the point. Lamela then carried his form into Tottenham’s pre-season tour. The winger has clicked his team’s attack into gear by carrying the ball forward, picking out the right passes and effortly providing a few goals and assists. Lamela is a crucial component of this Tottenham side and should be involved heavily.

5) Gerard Deulofeu

After a wonderful pre-season in a more advanced role, Gerard Deulofeu rounds off our midfield power rankings for week one. Ronald Koeman has opted to use Deulofeu as a false nine with or without Lukaku on the pitch. The Spaniard has flourished in this new role and has scored three times during the Everton’s friendlies. The Toffees will face Tottenham in gameweek one, and even though they are a strong defensive team, the suspension of Mousa Dembele and absence of Jan Vertonghen will leave them more vulnerable at the back. Deulofeu is a player who possesses the pace and trickery required to break through a weakened Tottenham defense – after all, ‘he’s magic you know.’

Defenders

1) Antonio Valencia

When Mourinho was appointed manager of Manchester United, it was thought to be the end of Valencia’s career as a Red Devil. However, as United’s pre-season got underway he has stamped his mark on the starting XI. He’s finally looked to have completely settled in his right-back position, and continues to whip in fantastic crosses from out wide. Valencia even delivered three assists in a friendly against Galatasaray to help United win 5-2. The United fullback has started to hit top form under Mourinho and that should make fantasy managers very confident about his opening match against Bournemouth.

2) Virgil van Dijk

One of the most important tasks for a new manager is making sure that your solidified at the back. Luckily for new Southampton manager Claude Puel, he has Virgil van Dijk to anchor his defense. The large Dutchman is excellent at shutting down attackers, as well as providing a threat from set-pieces. Van Dijk shouldn’t have too many troubles against a Watford side hugely reliant on Troy Deeney by the end of last season.

3) Wes Morgan

Leicester’s pre-season revealed some weaknesses at the back. However, those weaknesses were exposed by Barcelona and PSG, so it would be a bit harsh to hold that against them. In the Community Shield, however, Leicester’s defense didn’t look half bad. In large part, that was due to Wes Morgan expertly shutting down Ibrahimovic. Zlatan had one moment where he got the best of Morgan and headed in the winning goal, but Morgan had dominated that match-up throughout the rest of the game. Considering Abel Hernandez doesn’t even compare to Ibra, Morgan should be able to help shut down Hull City’s attack.

4) Cesar Azpilicueta

Chelsea’s defense will improve drastically with Conte in charge and Kante on the pitch – Azpilicueta will be the best defender of the bunch. Combine that with the fact that Chelsea have a good chance of facing a Payet-less West Ham on opening day, and Azpilicueta becomes a very tempting option. Last season, West Ham could only average 0.7 goals per game without Payet, and most of those goals came off the back of Michail Antonio, who played in a much more advanced position at the time. Without Payet, West Ham simply can’t score as many goals. Keep an eye out for updates, but for now Azpilicueta remains a fantastic defensive option.

5) Scott Dann

When Palace were struggling last season, there was actually a time when Scott Dann looked to be there biggest attacking threat. He was able to score off of set-pieces, and he’d occasionally make a surging run forward to get on the end of a cross. Crystal Palace should be slightly better off going forward this season, but Dann is still capable of bagging a goal here and there, and he should be able to pick up a clean sheet against West Brom in week one.

Goalkeepers

* Goalkeepers will be judged solely on clean sheet potential. Injuries to defensive players, opposition’s attacking ability and goalkeeper form will be the aspects of focus for our keeper rankings.

1) David De Gea vs. Bournemouth (a)

Jose Mourinho’s appointment is just another positive for selecting De Gea. The United defence will be rigid and the Spanish shot-stopper will build on strong base of 15 clean sheets last season.

2) Kasper Schmeichel vs. Hull (a)

The Premier League holders face an injury plagued Hull side in their opening fixture – a shutout looks very likely after a substantial defensive display, against much stronger opposition, in the Community Shield.

3) Fraser Forster vs. Watford (H)

The keeper set a top-flight record for the longest time without conceding a goal (708mins) in the 2015/16 season. With a new manager comes a new style, however, the big Englishman should come up trumps versus Watford.

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