With the Gameweek 1 deadline fast approaching, it’s time to finalise your Fantasy Premier League (FPL) squad.
Struggling with tough calls or 50/50 decisions? Don’t worry—we’ve done the hard work for you.
By combining all the Gameweek 1 squads from our Elite XI: Team Reveal managers, we’ve created the ultimate Consensus XI. This team reflects the collective expertise of managers who have achieved 80 top 10k finishes, 57 top 5k finishes, and 18 top 1k finishes.
Here’s who makes the cut for the best FPL team for 2025/26.
The Consensus XI is a carefully compiled FPL squad, built from the most highly-owned players among our Elite XI: Team Reveal managers.
Representing the combined expertise of the top FPL managers, this could easily be considered the best FPL team to start the 2025/26 season.
Let’s take a closer look at the standout picks.
The Elite XI managers have splashed £22m on four defensive players, highlighting how top managers are adjusting to the new DEFCON rules, where defenders now have more routes to points. Nottingham Forest feature a rare double-up, with Milenkovic (£5.5m) and Murillo (£5.5m) both making the cut.
Forest have favourable opening fixtures in the Fixture Planner, with West Ham at home (GW3), Burnley away (GW5), and Sunderland at home (GW6) standing out.
Between the two, Murillo shines for DEFCON points, averaging 10.14 per game last season versus Milenkovic’s 7.49. He also racked up 18 bonus points, the most of any defender.
Offensively, however, Milenkovic edges ahead. He scored five goals last season, making him the joint-top scoring defender. The Opta Heatmaps comparison shows he poses a significantly higher goal threat than Murillo.
Even our mid-priced defender comparison article couldn’t separate them, and the Elite managers clearly faced the same dilemma—so they’ve opted for both!
Some picks are no surprise: Mohamed Salah and Cole Palmer are firmly in the Consensus XI.
Salah’s record-breaking 2024/25 season speaks for itself, though his underwhelming preseason and missed penalties have caused some managers to hesitate. Notably, Corey Baker is going “No Salah” in his draft— remember, he finished top 10k for the fifth time last season— which you can check out by clicking here now.
Palmer may raise eyebrows after a weaker second half of last season, but our Predicted Points & Stats tool projects him for 30.3 points across the first six Gameweeks, making him a strong pick.
For captaincy, there’s a clear debate: in GW2, with Liverpool away to Newcastle and Chelsea away to West Ham, England international Palmer could be preferred over Salah, while in GW3, Salah faces Arsenal at home versus Palmer’s Fulham home clash.
Anderson (£5.5m) is another interesting midfield inclusion, completing a potential Forest triple-up. His 368 DEFCON points last season ranked him third among midfielders (only Nørgaard – 370 and Caicedo – 409 scored higher).
Beyond his defensive contribution, he scored 2 goals and 6 assists (the second highest for Forest in 2024/25), making him a bargain for both defensive and attacking returns. This inclusion highlights how the Elite managers are embracing new rules and innovating their strategies.
At the front, Ollie Watkins is a reliable, safe-hands choice. Interestingly, he has outscored Haaland over the past two seasons, and may also take penalties due to Rashford and Asensio leaving Villa—though this is yet to be confirmed.
Several Elite XI managers have noted on the Team Reveal page that Watkins may act as a placeholder, pending new signings like Arsenal’s Gyökeres or Liverpool’s Ekitiké.
This demonstrates the managers’ foresight: they’ve selected a dependable asset with good fixtures and a manageable price, leaving flexibility to pivot once new players’ Premier League roles and minutes are clarified.
Head over to the Elite XI: Team Reveal page for in-depth thoughts on chip strategy. With two sets of chips available this season, managers are planning carefully: Bench Boost seems likely in GW1 or GW2 (with GW2 slightly favoured), while some are considering an early Wildcard to exploit the AFCON free transfers.
The Consensus XI is always evolving. As each Elite manager adjusts their squad and press conferences reveal new information, make sure to check the page regularly.
You can also set notifications to follow individual managers:
By tracking these managers move-for-move, you can stay ahead with insights from the very best in FPL and get a real edge for the best FPL team for 2025/26.
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