Fantasy Premier League 2023: Key Picks and Avoids for Each Club

The Fantasy Premier League season kicks off on Friday 21 August, and the tinkering has already started. To cut through the noise, four seasoned managers – Pras, FPL Heisenberg, Gianni Buttice and Holly Shand – have gone through all 20 clubs, picking out one talisman, one differential and one player to avoid for each side.

This is where they think the points – and the pitfalls – lie.

Arsenal

Talisman: Gabriel (£8.0m, defender)
For Pras, there’s no debate. Gabriel is the headline act in the champions’ back line. Last season’s top-scoring defender with 209 points, he remains the most secure and consistent route into an Arsenal defence that rarely gives much away. Expensive, yes. But reliable.

Differential: Ben White (£5.5m, defender)
White offers a cheaper way in. With Jurrien Timber still sidelined, the England right-back should see plenty of minutes and brings attacking threat on top. He might not stay in your squad all season, but as an opening gambit he looks a sharp pick.

Avoid: Christos Tzolis (£6.5m, midfielder)
The talent is clear and the pre-season numbers are eye-catching, yet the left-wing slot under Mikel Arteta is a rotation minefield. With Arsenal still shopping for another wide man, Tzolis’ chances of regular starts look fragile.

Aston Villa

Talisman: Ollie Watkins (£8.0m, forward)
A £1m price drop has put Watkins firmly back on the menu. With Morgan Rogers gone to Chelsea, he stands as Villa’s focal point again. Sixteen league goals on average across his last four seasons and possible penalty duty with Youri Tielemans now at Manchester United make him a classic “set and forget” forward.

Differential: Matty Cash (£4.5m, defender)
Villa kept nine clean sheets last season and Cash sits in only around 8% of teams. First-choice at right-back, he produced three goals and three assists, with 30 shots and 30 key passes. Multiple avenues to points at a budget price.

Avoid: Alejandro Garnacho (£6.0m, midfielder)
The loan arrival from Chelsea will tempt many, but Emi Buendia is a major obstacle to minutes. Garnacho managed just 1,261 league minutes last term, with one goal and four assists. At this price, there are safer, more nailed options.

Bournemouth

Talisman: Marcus Tavernier (£6.0m, midfielder)
With Antoine Semenyo gone, Bournemouth lean more heavily on their collective. Tavernier, though, is the creative hub. On many set-pieces and with 11 attacking returns last season, he’s again the closest thing the Cherries have to a talisman. Justin Kluivert should take penalties when on the pitch, but Tavernier is expected to step up in his absence.

Differential: Adrien Truffert (£5.5m, defender)
Only 5% owned, Truffert quietly racked up 165 points last season – second-best at the club. The adventurous left-back drifts into advanced areas, offering open-play goal and assist threat alongside solid defensive numbers and bonus potential. An “all-action hero”, as Gianni puts it.

Avoid: Evanilson (£6.0m, forward)
The £6m forward bracket is stacked. Evanilson’s six goals in 32 league games last season don’t compare favourably with alternatives like Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Igor Jesus or Brian Brobbey.

Brentford

Talisman: Igor Thiago (£8.0m, forward)
Igor Thiago exploded last season with 22 league goals and 181 FPL points. Brentford’s attack is built around him, and his £8m tag reflects that reliance. The question is whether he can sustain that output after a big price rise. The upside, especially against weaker sides, is obvious.

Differential: Dango Ouattara (£6.5m, midfielder)
Ouattara averaged more than five points per start and delivered four double-digit hauls last season. At £6.5m with low ownership, he doesn’t need to hit premium levels to be superb value, and any early hot streak will send your rank climbing.

Avoid: Callum Wilson (£5.5m, forward)
Once an FPL favourite, Wilson now sits behind Thiago in the pecking order. Even in the event of an injury, Brentford have other options, including Dango Ouattara and Kevin Schade, so Wilson’s minutes look too uncertain.

Brighton

Talisman: Pascal Gross (£5.5m, midfielder)
Pras points to Gross as the safest Brighton pick. He’s on all set-pieces, including penalties, and offers steady returns from midfield. At £5.5m, he also frees up cash elsewhere – a classic enabler with reliable output.

Differential: Luka Vuskovic (£5.0m, defender)
The new centre-back signing from Spurs should slot straight into the XI. Brighton kept 10 clean sheets last season, bettered by only six teams, and Vuskovic brings both defensive contribution points and clean-sheet potential at low ownership.

Avoid: Georginio Rutter (£5.5m, forward)
Now reclassified as a forward, Rutter faces competition from Charalampos Kostoulas and loses the extra point for goals that midfielders enjoy. His minutes and upside have both taken a hit.

Chelsea

Talisman: Joao Pedro (£7.5m, forward)
Cole Palmer may be the priciest Chelsea asset, but Joao Pedro is the crowd favourite, sitting in over half of squads. He posted 15 goals and nine assists last season and has followed that with a productive pre-season that included a hat-trick. Rested over the summer, he looks primed for Gameweek 1.

Differential: Levi Colwill (£5.0m, defender)
A full £1m cheaper than new signing Maxence Lacroix, Colwill offers a value route into Chelsea’s defence. Injury ruined much of last season for him, but his style suits the scoring matrix, particularly for defensive contribution points. A home tie with promoted Hull in Gameweek 4 stands out.

Avoid: Enzo Fernandez (£7.0m, midfielder)
Fernandez shone at the World Cup, scoring twice before a red card in the final, but heavy transfer speculation clouds his Chelsea future. A delayed return before Gameweek 1 is another concern. Too much uncertainty for a £7m slot.

Coventry City

Talisman: Haji Wright (£5.5m, forward)
Wright is Coventry’s spearhead after 17 Championship goals last season. Those planning an early bench boost will eye his Gameweek 2 home fixture against Hull. The caveat: he’s often subbed around the 70–80 minute mark, slightly capping his ceiling.

Talisman (budget): Carl Rushworth (£4.5m, goalkeeper)
At just 1% ownership, Rushworth is an intriguing rotation keeper. He pairs neatly with Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen (£4.5m), offering a cheap, flexible goalkeeper combo.

Avoid: Milan van Ewijk (£4.0m, defender)
Van Ewijk’s eight assists in the Championship have drawn 15% ownership, but Gianni prefers cheaper, lower-owned options such as Bobby Thomas at the same price, who should rack up defensive contribution points more consistently.

Crystal Palace

Talisman: Ismaila Sarr (£6.5m, midfielder)
Sarr is central to Palace’s attacking game. He ranked highly for shots and big chances last season and could take penalties when Jean-Philippe Mateta is off the pitch. At £6.5m, he might be slightly underpriced if he continues to dominate Palace’s attacking transitions.

Differential: Daniel Munoz (£5.5m, defender)
Munoz is one of the most exciting defensive picks in the league. He offers returns from clean sheets, defensive contributions, assists and goals, often operating far higher up the pitch than a typical full-back. Under Oliver Glasner he was among the most attacking defenders; how Pierre Sage uses him will be fascinating. Transfer rumours swirl, but wherever he lands in the Premier League, his FPL profile remains strong.

Avoid: Jorgen Strand Larsen (£6.0m, forward)
With Mateta expected to be first-choice, Strand Larsen’s minutes look limited. For £6m, you can find forwards with near-guaranteed 90 minutes and penalties, such as Calvert-Lewin. Until the number nine situation clears up, he’s one to watch, not to own.

Everton

Talisman: James Tarkowski (£6.0m, defender)
Tarkowski quietly amassed 170 points last season, the fifth-highest scoring defender. His steady stream of defensive contribution points makes him almost fixture-proof. Pick him, leave him, and let the points drip in.

Differential: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (£6.5m, midfielder)
Eight goals and seven assists last season underline his growing influence. With some set-piece responsibility too, Dewsbury-Hall looks well placed to deliver again as a mid-priced midfield option.

Avoid: Beto (£5.5m, forward)
Beto shared minutes with Thierno Barry and Everton’s attack doesn’t promise a flood of goals. Seventeen starts and nine goals last season is decent, but for just £0.5m more there are stronger, more nailed forwards.

Fulham

Talisman: Rodrigo Muniz (£5.5m, forward)
With Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez gone, Fulham are short of obvious talismans. Muniz is among their priciest assets and faces new competition from Gonzalo Garcia, who costs £0.5m more. One goal and one assist from 10 starts last season is hardly explosive.

Differential: Antonee Robinson (£4.5m, defender)
Robinson’s 2025–26 was quieter after a 10-assist campaign the year before, but the upside remains. Fulham kept nine clean sheets last season and there’s even a faint possibility he could take penalties after several departures. At £4.5m, the risk-reward balance is appealing.

Avoid: Sander Berge (£5.0m, midfielder)
Berge started 34 games, collecting three assists and five sets of defensive contribution points for 91 total points. Solid, but transfer rumours and uncertainty over his future make him a risky Gameweek 1 pick.

Hull City

Talisman: Oli McBurnie (£5.5m, forward)
McBurnie’s stoppage-time winner in the play-off final sealed Hull’s promotion and capped a 17-goal, eight-assist Championship season. On paper he’s one of the standout £5.5m forwards. In practice, Heisenberg is avoiding Hull altogether at the start, preferring slightly pricier, proven Premier League options like Calvert-Lewin and Brobbey.

Differential: Ryan Giles (£4.0m, defender)
Eight assists from left-back in the promotion campaign highlight his attacking instincts. But he now has to battle Matty Targett for starts, and Hull’s clean-sheet prospects are modest. Even at £4.0m, that’s a lot of risk.

Avoid: Liam Millar (£5.0m, midfielder)
Heisenberg could have picked almost any Hull player to avoid. Attacking opportunities will be limited, clean sheets rare. If you must punt on a cheap Hull midfielder, he suggests saving £0.5m and going for Regan Slater at £4.5m instead.

Ipswich Town

Talisman: Emersonn (£5.5m, forward)
Signed for a then-club record fee from Toulouse, the Brazilian is expected to lead the line and could quickly become Gary O’Neil’s go-to man in attack. The price is generous if he settles fast.

Differential: Daizen Maeda (£5.5m, midfielder)
Maeda arrives from Celtic as a wide forward but is listed as a midfielder, which is gold if he hits form. Fifty goals in 149 Scottish Premiership games and a strong World Cup for Japan hint at serious potential. At 0.4% ownership, he’s a deep differential to monitor.

Avoid: Chuba Akpom (£5.0m, forward)
Akpom is likely to feature mainly from the bench. His name recognition from a prolific spell at Middlesbrough may tempt some managers, but minutes will be scarce.

Leeds United

Talisman: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.0m, forward)
Fourteen goals and two assists last season, plus penalties, have made Calvert-Lewin the poster boy for budget forwards. He stayed fit enough to make 35 appearances in his first season at the club and is already in around a quarter of teams.

Differential: Harry Wilson (£6.5m, midfielder)
Nineteen goal involvements (10 goals, nine assists) last season underline his pedigree. If he nails down a starting spot and set-pieces in the Leeds attack, he could be a major asset, though his price is slightly awkward at £0.5m more than Calvert-Lewin.

Avoid: Jaka Bijol (£5.0m, defender)
Leeds kept eight clean sheets last season and will hope to improve that with James Trafford arriving in goal. Even so, Bijol looks overpriced when Joe Rodon offers secure minutes and 20 defensive contribution points from last season at £4.5m.

Liverpool

Talisman: Dominik Szoboszlai (£7.0m, midfielder)
Szoboszlai stands out as Liverpool’s most dependable FPL option. Regular minutes, set-piece involvement and a broad spread of attacking contributions explain why nearly half of managers already own him.

Differential: Florian Wirtz (£7.5m, midfielder)
Under new boss Andoni Iraola, Wirtz should operate closer to goal. His creative quality gives him a huge ceiling, and he’s widely expected to surpass last season’s modest five goals and four assists if the system clicks.

Avoid: Jeremy Jacquet (£5.0m, defender)
Returning from a long-term injury with limited pre-season minutes, Jacquet also faces competition from loan arrival Ronald Araujo. All signs point to a slow integration.

Manchester City

Talisman: Erling Haaland (£15.5m, forward)
A record-breaking starting price and still the most-owned player in the game. His minutes against Bournemouth in Gameweek 1 aren’t guaranteed after a light pre-season, but Crystal Palace and Coventry follow. Going without the game’s ultimate talisman is a bold – some would say reckless – play.

Differential: Phil Foden (£7.0m, midfielder)
Foden has enjoyed a full pre-season and looks set to start against Bournemouth. His ceiling is enormous, but so is the risk of rotation if he underperforms, given City’s depth. At around 7% ownership, he’s a thrilling differential for those willing to ride the Pep roulette.

Avoid: Marc Guehi (£6.0m, defender)
Despite being the fourth most popular defender, Guehi isn’t a guaranteed starter under Enzo Maresca. The manager has spoken glowingly about Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol, both cheaper at £5.5m and vying for the same central spots.

Manchester United

Talisman: Bruno Fernandes (£12.0m, midfielder)
Fernandes delivered 235 points last season, including a staggering 24 assists. With penalties, set-pieces and creative responsibility, he has multiple routes to big hauls and hoovers up bonus points. Hull and Ipswich in the first two weeks only sharpen his appeal, though the £12m price tag is a serious commitment.

Differential: Matheus Cunha (£8.0m, midfielder)
Cunha finished last season strongly, with four goals and an assist in his final seven matches. His versatility across the frontline makes him dangerous – but also slightly at risk of rotation. At 12.7% ownership compared to Bryan Mbeumo’s 23.9%, he’s a standout United differential.

Avoid: Benjamin Sesko (£7.0m, forward)
Sesko’s 11-goal debut season hinted at huge potential, but minutes were an issue and that concern remains, especially with Champions League fixtures adding to the schedule. With Fernandes and Cunha offering more secure routes into United’s attack, Sesko is one to watch rather than to back from the start.

Newcastle United

Talisman: Nick Woltemade (£6.0m, forward)
A turbulent summer of departures and a new manager has left Newcastle short of star power. Woltemade, with eight goals and four assists from 24 starts last season, becomes the main source of FPL interest. He’ll need to hold off Yoane Wissa for minutes, but the path is there.

Differential: Malick Thiaw (£5.0m, defender)
Newcastle’s defensive reputation took a dent last season with just seven clean sheets, yet Thiaw still finished as their top-scoring defender. Four goals in 33 appearances and 12 sets of defensive contribution points show why. Repeat that and he more than justifies his price.

Avoid: Lewis Hall (£5.0m, defender)
Hall scored 47 fewer points than Thiaw despite similar minutes. His style doesn’t mesh as neatly with the scoring matrix, and transfer links away from St James’ Park only add to the risk.

Nottingham Forest

Talisman: Morgan Gibbs-White (£8.0m, midfielder)
Gibbs-White was Forest’s creative heartbeat and leading scorer last season, and he should flourish under Oliver Glasner in the left-sided No 10 role. Matching the 15 goals and four assists that made him the third-highest scoring midfielder in 25–26 will be a big ask – but not impossible.

Differential: Neco Williams (£5.0m, defender)
Williams offers a bit of everything from wing-back: attacking returns, defensive contributions and some set-piece duties. In a five-at-the-back system similar to the one that supercharged Daniel Munoz at Palace under Glasner, he could be a value gem.

Avoid: Chris Wood (£6.0m, forward)
At 34 and coming off an injury-hit season, Wood now faces stiff competition from Igor Jesus, who has impressed in pre-season. His minutes – and therefore his FPL appeal – are dwindling.

Sunderland

Talisman: Enzo Le Fee (£6.0m, midfielder)
Le Fee’s debut Premier League campaign produced five goals, six assists and a healthy stream of defensive contribution points. At £6m, with possible penalty duties and assured minutes, he offers an excellent blend of price and reliability in a lively Sunderland attack.

Differential: Granit Xhaka (£5.5m, midfielder)
Xhaka is not a goals machine, but he’s dependable. One goal, six assists and 26 defensive contribution points from 32 starts underline his steady, multi-path scoring profile. With Ipswich away and Fulham at home to start, he has a chance to deliver immediately.

Avoid: Wilson Isidor (£5.5m, forward)
Isidor looks like a classic trap. The price is tempting and he can score, but Brian Brobbey is ahead of him in the central striker hierarchy. With so many other cheap forwards available, there’s no need to gamble here.

Tottenham Hotspur

Talisman: Pedro Porro (£5.5m, defender)
Porro is as close to a Spurs talisman as FPL gets. Their highest-owned asset and standout performer last season, he rolls into Gameweek 1 off the back of an excellent World Cup for Spain. His attacking threat from right-back keeps him firmly on the radar.

Dominic Solanke (£6.0m) and James Maddison (£6.5m) could both shine once fully fit, but their recent injury issues make them “wait and see” options for now.

Differential: Mathys Tel (£6.0m, midfielder)
Under 0.5% ownership and seemingly a favourite of Roberto De Zerbi, Tel ended last season in fine form, operating high and wide on the left. He carried that into pre-season, including a spectacular 30-yard free-kick against Sydney FC. If he nails down a starting spot, he could explode.

Avoid: Marcos Senesi (£6.0m, defender)
One of last season’s FPL darlings at Bournemouth, Senesi now faces uncertainty under De Zerbi at Spurs. With deep competition at centre-back, he’s at real risk of rotation. At £6m, that’s a headache you don’t need in Gameweek 1.

The season starts on 21 August. Wildcards are months away. With prices tight and ownership trends already forming, the question for every manager is simple: do you trust the crowd, or lean into the differentials that could define your year?