The Premier League returns on Friday night, as does the Premier League Fantasy Football. Last season we did pretty well with our ones to watch and hopefully we can do either better this season. Here are our ones to watch for gameweek one:
Nick Pope (Burnley, £4.5million)
The Burnley goalkeeper endured a nightmare campaign last season, missing the majority of the campaign through injury. However, he is now fully-fit and likely to start the campaign as the Clarets number one after the departure of England international Tom Heaton to Aston Villa.
The season before last Pope enjoyed a superb season when it came to FPL. Picking up 152 points and keeping 11 clean sheets. He could well be a good choice for anybody looking for a decent option for a set and forget number one goalkeeper.
Burnley kick-off their Premier League campaign against Southampton on Saturday afternoon, a game the Clarets are slight favourites to win. The Saints have been one of the less threatening teams in front of goal in recent seasons, so Pope could be in for a good start to the campaign.
Ayoze Perez (Leicester, £6.5million)
The versatile Spanish forward has made the move to the Midlands after his most prolific campaign in the English top-flight. Perez scored 12 goals and also produced two assists for the Magpies, as they avoid relegation. Interestingly, Perez was reclassified as a midfielder for this season, which could be a major bonus to FPL bosses if he starts in a more advanced role alongside Jamie Vardy for the Foxes next season.
He currently looks a bargain at £6.5million and seems the best player in that sort of middling midfield group of players. The Foxes kick-off their campaign with a home game against Wolves. The fact that Nuno Espirito Santo’s side played on Thursday night in Armenia in the Europa League could well work in the home sides favour.
Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth, £7.5million)
The Scottish international heads into this clash on the back of the best season of his football career. In fact, the Scottish winger scored seven times and produced 14 assists in the Premier League. The former Aberdeen star has built a superb partnership with striker Callum Wilson.
The winger was linked with a cut-price to move to Arsenal, as his contract expires with the Cherries next summer. Fraser will be keen to impress with the prospect of a big move when his contract on the south coast expires.
Callum Wilson (Bournemouth, £8million)
Another Cherries player in our gameweek one team. The England international enjoyed his most prolific season of his career, scoring 14 top-flight goals and also produced 12 assists. His performances earned him a call-up to the England squad.
With very few premium strikers offering value, Wilson at £8million seems to be excellent value for one of the three striker slots. The Cherries kick-off their campaign with a home game against Sheffield United. Eddie Howe’s side have a favourable fixture list at the start of the season, with five of the Cherries first seven matches rated two in the FPL difficulty rankings. Wilson could well hit the ground running this season.
