Targeting teams with favorable opening schedules is one of the most effective strategies to build initial momentum, gain early rank rises, and capitalize on price increases.
Below is the complete analysis of the best and worst fixture runs for the first six Gameweeks of the 2026/27 Fantasy Premier League campaign.
Teams to Target (GW1–GW6)
1. Manchester United
Fixtures: Hull City (A), Fulham (H), Burnley (A), Everton (H), Brentford (H), Chelsea (A)
Why Target: Opening against promoted opposition makes Manchester United assets essential early on. Bruno Fernandes (£12.0m) offers huge early captaincy potential, while Bryan Mbeumo (£8.0m) provides strong mid-price attacking coverage.
2. Arsenal
Fixtures: Wolves (H), Aston Villa (A), Brighton (H), Tottenham (A), Manchester City (A), Leicester (H)
Why Target: Despite two tougher fixtures in GW4 and GW5, Arsenal’s home games are elite defensive matchups. Gabriel (£8.0m) remains a top defensive anchor with threat from set-pieces.
3. Nottingham Forest
Fixtures: Bournemouth (H), Southampton (A), Wolves (H), Liverpool (A), Brighton (A), Fulham (H)
Why Target: Under Oliver Glasner, Forest boast an outstanding initial run of defensive and attacking matchups. Ola Aina (£4.5m) is an ideal budget defender, while Igor Jesus (£6.0m) is proving to be a high-upside forward enabler.
🔴 Teams to Avoid (GW1–GW6)
1. Ipswich Town & Promoted Sides
Fixtures: Heavy early clashes against top-half opposition.
Why Avoid: Defensive assets face a baptism of fire. Limit selections to cheap £4.0m bench enablers rather than starting options.
2. Newcastle United
Fixtures: Challenging mix of away fixtures and early top-six encounters.
Why Avoid: High price tags across their midfield and defense make them risky holds until their fixture run softens around Gameweek 7.
💡 Key Takeaways for Your GW1 Draft
Prioritize Man Utd Attackers: A double-up on Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo provides direct access to the best opening fixture ticker.
Rotate Cheap Defenders: Pair a £4.5m Forest defender like Ola Aina with another £4.0m/£4.5m option to guarantee favorable home matches every week.
Save Your Wildcard: Attack GW1–GW6 with fixtures, then use your Wildcard to shift toward emerging form and European rotation trends.
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