The Captaincy Master @AK_FPL1 returns with his FPL First Draft – Team Reveal. With three Top-5k finishes to his name, AK breaks down his first draft.
It’s good to be back after an enjoyable summer of the World Cup. The game launched on Thursday afternoon and I immediately rushed to look at the prices. I was expecting assets to be a bit more expensive, and that was the general expectation of the crowd after the Price reveals of Gabriel (8.0m), Bruno Fernandes (12.0m) and Erling Haaland (15.5m). However, looks like the FPL towers has been kinder in pricing the general players in the game. It did not take me long to pick a team which I was satisfied with for my first draft:
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AK FPL’s Team Reveal for 26/27 Season & Reasoning
GOALKEEPERS
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When Gabriel’s price was revealed at 8.0m, I immediately thought about Raya (6.0). He would have been in my team if he were 5.5m, but at 6.0m, the decision is a bit tough to go for him. I decided to check the prices of available 4.5 keepers, and the two that stood out were Verbruggen (4.5) and Kinsky (4.5). I have Kinsky as I think Tottenham will be better this season. Surely right? They have been very active in the market and will definitely look to improve after back-to-back 17th place finishes. Dubravka’s (4.0) ownership at the time of writing is already over 20%. The price drop is going to be there sooner than we think. Hence, I have picked Dovin (4.0) as my second keeper for now.
DEFENDERS
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Arsenal do not really have a great fixture run at the start, but they had the best defence in Europe last season and it will be risky to not go with at least one. I am not as interested in Gabriel at that price, however Mosquera (5.5) looks really good value in comparison. Saliba’s injury in the World Cup has paved the way for Mosquera, who was the first name on my team sheet for defence. However, it’s important to keep an eye out for any transfer dealings that Arsenal might do in that position, with Ezri Konsa (4.5) from Aston Villa linked.
Manchester United’s opening fixtures (picture below) have made me pick a defender from their side, although they have not been the best assets at the back for quite a few years now, FPL-wise. Harry Maguire (5.0) should feature in the starting lineup and he finds a place in my team for now.
Man Utd’s fixtures for the first 6 GWs.
With Glasner joining Nottingham Forest earlier in the season, their defenders are back on the menu. Neco Williams (5.0) could be the most attacking player in that defence and might also be on corners. He finds a place in my team. I am not totally sold on their fixtures yet, and he is not set in my team for that reason. Consider this as a placeholder position for a defender at 5.0.
As my 4th defender, I have gone for Mallick Thiaw (5.0). Newcastle have a tricky game against Liverpool in the opening week, but the fixtures list looks very kind after that. Thiaw managed to hit the DC threshold 11 times last season, and ended up scoring 4 times, making him a real threat for points in every game he plays.
As for the 5th defender, I have gone for a newly promoted side defender. All defenders are valued at 4.0 from these teams, and I am very sure we will be able to find a lot of value in this list. The one I am going for is Milan van Ewijk of Coventry. He is nailed to start at Right Back and created 46 chances in the Championship last season, managing 8 assists. The other player from the same team I am interested in is Bobby Thomas. With 3 goals and 4 assists, the Centre Back gets his fair share of goal involvements, and he may be a DC magnet in the league. One to watch.
MIDFIELDERS
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Bruno Fernandes (12.0) was always an easy pick here for me. He has every route to points available to him. Set pieces, penalties, Defcon, goal and assist threat. You name it. With 2 promoted sides in the first two games of the season, it’s really a no-brainer for me. To add to that, I have also picked teammate Bryan Mbeumo (8.0). I think that price is a bit on the lower side of what I expected him to be. Too good fixtures to not select him. The next pick is Dominik Szoboszlai (7.0). I believe his price should have been much higher. With Salah now gone, will he be on penalties? Or will Isak be on them? We shall have some more information around this fact soon, till then, he is in my team.
Ismaïla Sarr (6.5) had a really good World Cup and has some really good fixtures to start off the season. Of course, it’s not Glasner’s Crystal Palace anymore, but I am willing to select him in my team and see how Palace perform under Pierre Sage. The fifth midfielder pick is a tricky one. I am not set on my formation of 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 yet, as the Forwards are really nicely priced this season. For now, I have Iliman Ndiaye (6.0) in my team. Everton’s fixtures in the first 6 games look good, and Ndiaye is also on penalties. He can occasionally also get Defcon points, and for that reason, he is in my team for now.
FORWARDS
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FPL have been kinder with the pricing this season, which allows us to afford Erling Haaland (15.5) with Bruno, and still create a solid team. We all know what Haaland is all about, and this is not even a decision for me. He is in the team. My second striker is Chelsea’s Joao Pedro (7.5). With 15 goals and 9 assists in a season where he saw his team fall off a cliff at the end, he will be looking to play a similar role again this season. Chelsea now have Xabi Alonso at the helm, and with a favourable fixtures list in the first 6, Pedro is nailed in my team. Third forward for now is Burstow (4.5), who I have picked as a bench fodder. I am not entirely sure of a 3-5-2 yet, and I could be looking to switch Ndiaye with Calvert-Lewin (6.0) or Evanilson (6.0) or even Dom Solanke (6.0). It’s a decision I will be making in the pre-season.
I am feeling pretty confident of this team being a solid start for my first draft, as I have stuck to my principles of getting as many penalty takers as possible, and ideally the Talismans of their own teams.
AK’s FPL First Draft & Team Reveal for 26/27 Season
AK's FPL First Draft & Team Reveal for 26/27 Season
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Link to all our 2026/27 Pre-Season articles including all position-wise analysis, team previews, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, and more. Completely free to access as well!
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