While it is advisable to include a few differential options in your team, it is worth noting who the most popular choices are in each position. Some FPL managers even choose to pick a template squad to begin the season, ensuring that they won’t be too far behind the pack even if their players don’t perform. The thinking is that they will be able to better identify differential assets once a few fixtures have taken place.
Below is an example of a template XI for Gameweek 1:
The two highest-owned shot-stoppers at present, a goalkeeping duo of Andre Onana (£5.0m) and Alphonse Areola (£4.0m) is proving very popular among FPL managers. Onana comes in as Man Utd’s number one and many think he is underpriced at £5.0m, while Areola is one of a small number of £4.0m-rated goalkeepers who could start Gameweek 1.
Pervis Estupinan (£5.0m) is comfortably the highest-owned defender with over half of all managers selecting the Brighton full-back, while defenders from last season’s title protagonists in the form of Gabriel (£5.0m) and John Stones (£5.5m) have been highly coveted by FPL managers in the run-up to Gameweek 1. Newcastle’s Sven Botman (£4.5m) – a popular choice last season – appears underpriced, while George Baldock (£4.0m) is the highest-owned £4.0m-rated defender right now.
England internationals Marcus Rashford (£9.0m) and Bukayo Saka (£8.5m) have been brought in by droves of FPL managers after excellent 2022-23 campaigns, while premium option Mo Salah (£12.5m) just about squeezes into the template, although his ownership is admittedly lower than previous seasons. Kaoru Mitoma (£6.5m) features in close to 40% of squads, while Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze (£6.5m) is creeping up in the ownership stakes off the back of some impressive pre-season performances.
Erling Haaland (14.0m) is the most obvious template pick in the history of FPL, with almost 90% of managers opting to select the Norwegian striker. Joao Pedro (£5.5m) completes the trio of Brighton assets with the new recruit set to be on penalty duty for the Seagulls, while West Ham’s Divin Mubama (£4.5m) is a budget-enabler who will warm the benches of many FPL teams on Gameweek 1.