Best FPL Captain for Gameweek 1: Top Three Picks (2026/27)

Looking for the best Fantasy Premier League captain for Gameweek 1?

Each week, we analyse the leading FPL captaincy options to help you maximise your points and climb your mini-leagues.

For Gameweek 1, we have selected three standout choices:

1. 1️⃣ Fix’s highest-projected captain
2. 2️⃣ A safe option with more than 20% ownership
3. 3️⃣ A bold differential captain with under 20% ownership

These picks cover every type of FPL manager, whether you prefer to follow the crowd or chase early gains with a differential.

• Get 63% off Premium Plus — our BIGGEST DISCOUNT EVER 🚀
• Download the free Fantasy Football Fix mobile app 📱
• Follow every Elite Manager team reveal live 🔍
• Check out our Ultimate FPL Gameweek 1 Guide ⚽

FPL Gameweek 1 Captain Picks

Erling Haaland (BOU)—Highest-Projected Scorer

Erling Haaland scored 15 goals in 17 home appearances last season, more than any other Premier League player.

The Norwegian international also ranked first for shots in the box (56), shots on target (33), big chances (32) and Expected Goals (xG) (16.57) in home matches.

Manchester City scored a league-high 45 goals at home last season. They also ranked first for big chances (75) and xG (45.58) on home turf.

Their Gameweek 1 opponents, Bournemouth, conceded 34 goals in away matches last season. Only Leeds United and West Ham United (35 each), plus Burnley (46), conceded more.

No team allowed their opponents more shots in the box away from home than Bournemouth (229).

Our Player Points Projections tool currently predicts 6.6 FPL points for Erling Haaland in Gameweek 1.

Bruno Fernandes (hul)—The High-Ownership Alternative

Bruno Fernandes set a new FPL assists record with 24 FPL assists last season, including 21 Opta assists.

As shown in the image below from our Opta Stats Sandbox, the Portuguese international also ranked first among all Premier League players for attempted assists (136), big chances created (33) and Expected Assists (xA) (17.04).

Fernandes also produced impressive goal-threat numbers. Only Matheus Cunha (90) and Cody Gakpo (87) attempted more shots than his 85 among midfielders, while no midfielder recorded a higher xG total than his 12.98.

Manchester United scored 69 goals last season. Only Arsenal (71) and Manchester City (77) were more prolific.

The Red Devils ranked first for shots (596) and shots on target (216), while they finished third for xG (74.56).

Their Gameweek 1 hosts, Hull City, conceded 66 goals in the Championship last season. Only Leicester City (68), Queens Park Rangers (73) and Sheffield Wednesday (89) conceded more.

Our Player Points Projections tool currently predicts 6.5 FPL points for Bruno Fernandes in Gameweek 1.

Morgan Gibbs-White (LEE)—The Differential Captain

Morgan Gibbs-White ended the 2025/26 season with 188 FPL points after registering 15 goals and four assists.

Only Antoine Semenyo (202) and Bruno Fernandes (235) scored more FPL points among midfielders.

The 26-year-old ranked fifth among midfielders for shots (83) and third for shots on target (32). Only Bryan Mbeumo (12.87) and Bruno Fernandes (12.98) recorded a higher xG total than his 12.47.

As the image below from our Opta Player Heatmaps feature shows, Gibbs-White averaged 4.8 FPL points per home appearance last season.

Nottingham Forest scored 48 goals last season, ranking 12th in the Premier League. Forest also ranked 10th for shots on target (156) and 15th for xG (51.01).

Their Gameweek 1 opponents, Leeds United, conceded 35 goals in away matches last season and kept only two clean sheets on their travels.

The Yorkshire side ranked 13th for shots in the box conceded away from home (187) and 12th for away xGC (33.36).

Our Player Points Projections tool currently predicts 4.6 FPL points for Morgan Gibbs-White in Gameweek 1.

Unlock live Elite Team Reveals, AI transfer recommendations and all our Opta-powered planning tools with Premium Plus — now 63% off in our BIGGEST-EVER DISCOUNT.

CLAIM 63% OFF NOW