For football fans, it’s that time of the year again when they’re mulling over picks for their fantasy teams. Dream Team managers are filled with viable options given the abundance of quality various teams possess, although not every player is necessarily worth selecting in the opening stages of the campaign.
To gain an edge over your opponents, getting off to a strong start is a must. An uninspiring opening few weeks can leave managers feeling deflated and with a mountain to climb. While it isn’t impossible to turn things around, it’s a blow many managers don’t want to experience it so early in the season. Alongside fine-tuning any strategies for online slots like 11 Champions and assessing the best Football Manager talents to snap up, football gamers everywhere will be desperate to start the fantasy season well.
So, with that in mind, let’s assess some of the best opening picks to consider for your fantasy team, with these players having relatively kind fixtures in the early stages of the season.
Isak and Salah are potentially dangerous
While there will be some doubts over just how Arne Slot’s new-look Liverpool side will fare this season, it’s almost impossible to write off Mohamed Salah, given his influence on the Reds’ team. If Liverpool are scoring goals, then Salah will almost certainly be involved. With 18 goals and 10 assists to his name last season, Salah delivered once again. Given that it’s likely to be his last season at Anfield, Liverpool’s Egyptian King might be desperate to sign off in style.
Newcastle’s Alexander Isak is another attacker to look at here, with the Swedish goalscorer kicking off the campaign with some enticing fixtures, particularly at home to Southampton on the opening day of the season. Isak’s quality is evident, with his home form particularly standing out last campaign. In fact, Isak scored 14 of his 21 goals at home last season. If you’re in need of a reliable striker in your squad, then Alexander Isak could be the man.
Haaland, Palmer and Foden are a must
A somewhat obvious inclusion, Erling Haaland is a must for managers, especially when looking at City’s first few fixtures. Pep Guardiola’s side face an unknown quantity in Chelsea (A) on the opening day, while Ipswich (H), West Ham (A), and Brentford (H) represent the perfect opportunities for their Norwegian goal-getter to bag plenty of goals. With 27 goals and five assists in the Premier League last season, the former Borussia Dortmund striker is a lethal pick despite his hefty price tag.
Haaland’s City teammate, Phil Foden, is another popular pick for managers, although whether or not he starts the season following his Euro 2024 exploits with England is unknown at this stage. Regardless, when Foden is available, he’s more than likely to contribute. For $6.5m, the Manchester City academy graduate is well worth the investment.
Cole Palmer is another inclusion managers will be keen to make. While it might be hard to fit everyone in, there is a stronger case for Palmer than most. The former Manchester City player is a key cog in Chelsea’s wheel, taking any penalties the Blues win and delivering match-winning moments on numerous occasions. Of course, Palmer might not replicate last season’s showings, and that’s something managers will have to consider, but if Enzo Maresca’s Blues are to do anything this season, then Palmer will need to be at it.
A few other names to consider
Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz, Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta, Man City’s Josko Gvardiol, Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken, and Southampton’s Taylor Harwood- Bellis are also worth considering.
