Best Captaincy Pick for FPL Gameweek 1 2025-26 Season

With the start of the 2025/26 Fantasy Premier League season upon us, FPL managers everywhere are deep in debate: Who to captain FPL in Gameweek 1? That coveted armband can make or break your early season, and with so many promising options, picking the FPL captain this week is as much about strategy as it is about gut feeling. Let’s break down the best FPL captain picks and reveal your best route to max points.

Setting the Scene: Why Gameweek 1 Captaincy Matters

Gameweek 1 sets the tone. Nail your FPL captain and you could rocket up the mini-league rankings; miss, and you’re immediately playing catch-up. But with fresh squads, new signings, and unpredictable line-ups, nailing the right FPL captain this week can be trickier than ever. So, let's check out the standout FPL captain picks for Gameweek 1 of the 2025/26 season.

Who is the Best Captaincy Pick for FPL Gameweek 1 2025-26 Season?

Let’s run through the leading contenders for captaincy in gameweek 1 of the Fantasy Premier League 2025-26 season:

1. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, £14.5m) – Home vs Bournemouth

It’s impossible to look past Mohamed Salah for your FPL captain this week. The Egyptian finished last season with a staggering 344 points, over 100 points ahead of anyone else, bagging 28 goals and 19 assists. He’s become a tradition on opening day: nine goals and seven assists in his last eight Gameweek 1 appearances.
He’s on penalties, he’s the focal point of a Liverpool side with a plum fixture at home to a defensively suspect Bournemouth. Last season, Salah delivered double-digit hauls 18 times, more than double any other player. Stats, history, and fixtures all line up. Don’t overthink it, Salah is the “default captain” for most.

2. Erling Haaland (Manchester City, £14.0m) – Away vs Wolves

Another perennial top pick, Manchester City's star forward Erling Haaland, remains in the premium captain debate. Even in a “down” year, Haaland starts seasons on fire: scoring early goals, braces, hat-tricks. He’s delivered from day one in his City tenure.
City face Wolves away, a fixture City are expected to dominate. Haaland isn’t as hotly owned as Salah this year, with just 18% ownership to Salah’s 57%, but that makes him a spicy FPL captain pick for those chasing early differential glory. The reliability is there, but there are whispers that he might be slightly less essential in early drafts for 2025/26.

3. Cole Palmer (Chelsea, £10.5m) – Home vs Crystal Palace

Palmer emerged as a force late last season and starred in Chelsea’s Club World Cup campaign. He’s a regular penalty taker for the club, has growing creative license, and faces a Palace team who’ve struggled at Stamford Bridge. Palmer is routinely mentioned in the “midfield powerhouses” template and could reward brave managers who go against the Salah tide.

4. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal, £10.0m ) – Away vs Manchester United

Always consistent, Saka’s opening fixture isn’t ideal, but he remains a solid pick for the risk-takers. If you want to play it bolder, he’s not a bad shout, though the ceiling often feels lower than the premium boys this week.

5. Phil Foden (Manchester City, £8.0m) - Away vs Wolves

Foden has grown into a true talisman for City. Foden is tipped to play centrally and see maximum involvement in attacks. After racking up 17 goals and 9 assists in the 2024/25 season, a personal best, he’s now a fixture in most “template” drafts. With City’s Gameweek 1 match against Wolves offering a high-scoring potential, Foden stands out as the top alternative for “who to captain FPL.”

A Few Outside Shouts

• João Pedro (Chelsea) vs Crystal Palace: If you’re feeling brave and want to ride preseason form.
• Dominic Solanke (AFC Bournemouth): If you want a real differential punt, but you likely have better options.

Expert Consensus

What are the professional predictors and pundits suggesting? Across fantasy expert consensus, Salah’s name recurs again and again as the “locked” captain pick. Salah, captain, vice-captain Saka, according to the predicted lineup for Gameweek 1, switching the armband later to Saka as Arsenal’s fixtures ease up.

Key Captaincy Factors: Why Salah is the Sensible Call

• Proven Opening Day Record: Salah’s numbers in Gameweek 1 are unmatched, consistently delivering attacking returns season after season.
• Fixture: Liverpool are heavy favourites at home to Bournemouth, a side with issues defensively last season.
• Form and Fitness: Salah is fit, firing, and locked in almost every team; a missed haul hurts more if you dodge him.
• Ownership: With over 57% ownership, going against Salah as FPL captain this week carries a huge risk. A fail means you’re in a good crowd, but if he hauls without your armband, you’re miles behind.

Advanced Tips: Should You Go Against the Grain?

It’s always tempting to seek a differential, particularly in mini-leagues. Haaland and Palmer both have cases, and selecting your FPL captain should fit your playstyle:

• Safe & Sensible: Salah. Take the points, keep pace.
• Risky & Chasing: Haaland. High upside with some risk.
• Punt: Palmer, but only if you’re convinced Chelsea will fly out of the blocks.

Final Verdict: Who to Captain in FPL Gameweek 1?

If you want to maximise your odds, the numbers and the pros all point one way: Mohamed Salah is the standout FPL captain pick for Gameweek 1. He offers the best blend of form, fixture, and reliability. Unless you’ve got a wild hunch or you’re playing catch-up from the very first kick, stick the armband on Salah, enjoy the opening weekend, and focus your tinkering elsewhere.
Good luck, managers. May your captaincy be stress-free, and bring on the green arrows!