FPL Best GW1 Punts: Five One-Week Wonders
Can you really take punts on players even when the season hasn’t started yet? I certainly wouldn’t have thought so, but this is a new season and as we’ve learnt over the summer with the changes that have been made to the Fantasy Premier League game, anything is possible.
Well, if you want to target GW1 as being at the top of your FPL league with no look for the future, here are the FPL best GW1 punts!
What Is A Punt?
To me, a punt is a player that is low-owned throughout the community and could only really grab you big points in a single GW. They aren’t long-term transfers but rather quick differentials
This article aims to help you find the players that match the above statement and help you make the difference, at least for one week.
Also, if funds are an issue for any of these players, and you are still undecided on whether to select Haaland, check out the best alternatives to the Norwegian!
FPL Best GW1 Punts
Any Forest Keeper
I’m hearing a lot of chatter on the FPL grapevines over the summer that Matz Sels is due to at least have a good first week. The former Newcastle goalkeeper (who made 9 appearances for the Magpies) has been at Nottingham Forest since February, having previously been at Ligue 1 side Strasbourg.
The Belgian international has so far made 16 appearances for Forest since arriving and will be looking to make the No. 1 spot his own. It won’t be easy though, as he will be up against the American International: Matt Turner, with the two more or less neck and neck in FPL points Turner (41), Sels (34).
There is also Brazilian keeper Carlos Coronel at the club. Perhaps this is a way to wait as close to the deadline as possible before selecting. We may know before then who the actual No. 1 is.
James Tarkowski: Everton
Throughout the season, you will see players such as James Tarkowski in these articles. Everton FC didn’t have the best of season’s last season or the year before for that matter. This is however, a new season and anything is possible. Everton face a home match first thing against Brighton in their first match of the new campaign.
I expect things to be pretty even and both sides could play out a score draw or, hopefully for James, a scoreless draw. I’ve picked the 6’1 Englishmen for this fact. Perhaps there’ll be a goal line clearance or two for Tarkowski to bring in more FPL points, who is picked by 1.7% of managers ahead of GW1.
Charlie Taylor: Southampton
We’ve gone for another defender this time and once again it’s an Englishman: Charlie Taylor at Southampton. Promoted sides can be tricky in order to pick who to go for especially with no prior Premier League data to back stats up, but the FPL Community have put their faith in the man from York, as 5% of managers have made the decision to have him in their backlines.
Southampton face a tricky first match back in the Premier League away to Newcastle United and I personally see it as an afternoon for Southampton to shut up shop and try to hit Newcastle United on the break. Charlie Taylor playing at left-back, should when he gets a chance get down the sides and lay in some hard to deal with crosses of the ball. Low and hard!
Leon Bailey: Aston Villa
Again, it seems that over the last couple of weeks, everyone has been going big in the midfield. People have combinations of Mohamed Salah, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, Christopher Nkunku, and Anthony Gordon, to name a few, in their FPL sides. To me, people aren’t thinking somewhat outside the box because, let’s be honest, anything could happen in any given week.
That is why I’ve personally gone for Aston Villa’s Jamaican midfielder, Leon Bailey. For week one, Aston Villa face a green fixture against West Ham. If Aston Villa can play the same way that they did last season under Unai Emery, I see a bit of a goal fest in this game. This could very well mean assist points for Leon Bailey.
Darwin Nunez: Liverpool
Well, well, well, I never thought I would see the day. The Uruguayan striker for Liverpool: Darwin Nunez, is a differential / punt. We are incredibly surprised that 7% of managers currently own him ahead of week one. Perhaps it is partly for two reasons. The first being that he was one of Liverpool’s star’s at the Copa America and is really only coming back into the spotlight now.
The second reason being that Liverpool, of course, have a new manager in Arne Slot. The Dutchman has given us some good soundbites in terms of Darwin Nunez, though. Slot has come out in recent press conferences in America, stating that he wants Nunez to be Liverpool’s main man up top this season.
Due to the above, I personally expect the 7% owned percentage to go up over the coming weeks as Arne Slot starts to get settled, his tactics start to take effect and Nunez will not be a differential anymore.
Although, once again, we’d wait until the FPL GW1 deadline to see if we get any news on whether Nunez or Jota start up top.
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