First FPL Draft for 2025/26 | Early GW1 Thoughts for Fantasy Premier League

Fantasy Premier League 2025/26 is live! That means it's time for one of the most exciting moments of the pre-season — putting together your first FPL draft for Gameweek 1.

In this blog, I’m walking you through my initial FPL team for 2025/26, sharing my thinking behind player selections, structure, and strategy. Whether you're looking for early inspiration or you're just nosey, this first draft is designed to help get the ideas flowing ahead of GW1.

✅ Why Your First FPL Draft Matters (Even If You’ll Change It 20 Times)

Every FPL manager knows that your first draft is rarely your final draft. But this early stage is crucial for:

• Identifying key players for GW1 and early fixtures

• Spotting value picks and potential price risers

• Building a balanced structure around premiums, mids, and budget enablers
  

Your first draft helps you shape your thinking long before the Gameweek 1 deadline arrives.

🔍 My First FPL Draft 2025/26 | Key Picks and Structure

💸 Budget Structure

• 2 Premiums (likely one midfielder, one forward)

• Strong £5.5m–£7.5m midfield options

• Mid-priced defence with attacking potential

• A reliable £4.5m GK rotation

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📊 Key Considerations for FPL 2025/26 First Draft

📅 Early Fixtures

Starting strong is always easier with players who have kind opening fixtures. I’m prioritising teams accordingly.

💡 Captaincy Rotation

One premium isn't enough if you can't captain them regularly. My draft ensures flexibility in captain picks across the first 5–6 gameweeks.

⚠️ Avoiding Traps

Pre-season hype is real. I’m steering clear of newly transferred players until we see how they settle (unless priced too well to ignore).

📝 Watch My First Draft Video for 2025/26!

If you want to see my full draft breakdown — player by player, position by position — then head over to my YouTube channel. In the video, I explain why each player has earned their place, and the strategy behind my choices.

🎥 👉 Watch Here: My First FPL Draft for 2025/26