Aston Villa narrowly missed out on a Champions League spot last season &#8211; but what are their prospects for 2025/26?
Our FPL team preview looks at what to expect from their new manager, top-scoring players, key <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a>, opening fixtures, predicted lineup, set-piece takers and more.
View our top three Villa FPL players for Gameweek 1 &#8211; and all of our pre-season content &#8211; in our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-ultimate-guide-fpl-tips">Ultimate Guide to FPL</a>.
<h3>🤖 Hub AI quick summary 🤖</h3>
Simplicity and speed are among Fantasy Football Hub&#8217;s core values, so many of our articles this season will come with a quick &#8216;Hub AI&#8217; summary for those who want the answer &#8211; fast.
Read the full article for the detailed picture &#8211; and listen to an audio summary 👇
<ul>
<li>🥇Ollie Watkins remains Villa&#8217;s top FPL pick despite speculation linking him with a move</li>
<li>📈Villa&#8217;s goalscoring dipped amid balancing European fixtures last season but underlying defensive data improved</li>
<li>🗓️Strong fixtures after Gameweek 1 makes Villa players viable options for the start of the season</li>
</ul>
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<h2>Top-scoring Aston Villa FPL picks</h2>
<h3>🥇Ollie Watkins &#8211; 186 points</h3>
Once a reliable 90 minute man, Watkins&#8217; appeal took a tumble in 2024/25, averaging just 78 minutes per start.
Fellow forward Jhon Duran ate into his minutes before his transfer to Saudi Arabia in January.
But despite this, Watkins still managed to be Villa&#8217;s top points scorer, with 16 goals and eight assists. He was the only player in the squad to register an expected goals (xG) tally of more than 10 (15.18).
His future has been subject to much speculation over the summer but at the time of writing, he is preparing for another campaign at Villa Park &#8211; and he&#8217;s been scoring in <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-pre-season-results-guide">pre-season</a> too.
<div id="attachment_73646" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73646" class="size-full wp-image-73646" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/playerstats-Watkins-bordered.jpeg" alt="Ollie Watkins Stats" width="840" height="690" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/playerstats-Watkins-bordered.jpeg 840w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/playerstats-Watkins-bordered-300x246.jpeg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/playerstats-Watkins-bordered-768x631.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px" />Ollie Watkins&#8217; <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a></div>
&nbsp;
<h3>🥈Morgan Rogers &#8211; 161 points</h3>
Rogers had a breakout season, scoring eight and assisting 11.
He made a mockery of his £5.0m starting price, combining well with Watkins.
While Watkins&#8217; minutes were unreliable, Rogers was a favourite of Unai Emery. He averaged 84 minutes per appearance and played all but one league match, which he only missed due to suspension.
<div id="attachment_73548" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73548" class="size-full wp-image-73548" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/playerstats-Rogers-bordered.jpeg" alt="Morgan Rogers Stats" width="840" height="690" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/playerstats-Rogers-bordered.jpeg 840w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/playerstats-Rogers-bordered-300x246.jpeg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/playerstats-Rogers-bordered-768x631.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px" />Morgan Rogers&#8217; <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a></div>
&nbsp;
<h3>🥉Youri Tielemans &#8211; 121 points</h3>
Tielemans was not really on the FPL radar due to Rogers&#8217; appealing budget price but he managed more points than defensive duo Emiliano Martinez and Ezri Konsa.
The midfielder was a key figure, recording three goals and seven assists. He racked up as many bonus points as Rogers (15) in the process.
And with <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-2025-26-changes-defensive-contributions">defensive contributions</a> a factor in FPL this time, the Belgian could become a more enticing option.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/the-best-aston-villa-players-fpl">Best Aston Villa FPL picks</a></li>
</ul>
<div id="attachment_73503" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73503" class="size-full wp-image-73503" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/playerstats-Tielemans-bordered.jpeg" alt="Youri Tielemans Stats" width="840" height="690" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/playerstats-Tielemans-bordered.jpeg 840w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/playerstats-Tielemans-bordered-300x246.jpeg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/playerstats-Tielemans-bordered-768x631.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px" />Youri Tielemans&#8217; <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a></div>
<h2>Aston Villa FPL stats: Goalscoring dip, improved defensive data</h2>
Villa were denied a place in the top five &#8211; and a second consecutive season in the Champions League &#8211; on goal difference after losing to Manchester United on the final day.
Statistically however, they were not a top-six side.
Everything from their xG to their goals conceded ranked around midtable, with a steep drop in their goals scored on the previous season from 76 to 58.
Emery&#8217;s team had top-level European football to balance with their league fixtures, while they lost key man Douglas Luiz last summer and sold the in-form Duran.
But their 2023/24 performances &#8211; which saw Watkins amass 37 goal involvements &#8211; were perhaps more of an anomaly from an attacking perspective.
Villa did improve defensively though, bettering their previous goals conceded and expected goals conceded (xGC).
Despite this, they were not renowned for keeping clean sheets, registering nine.
<h3>Stats summary</h3>
⚽ Goals: 58 (T-9th)
📈 Expected goals (xG): 57.12 (11th)
🤦‍♂️ Goals conceded: 52 (10th)
📊 Expected goals conceded (xGC): 49.3 (ninth)
🧤 Clean sheets: Nine (T-10th)
⭐ FPL points: 1,615 (10th)
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta">Full Opta stats for all clubs</a></li>
</ul>
<div id="attachment_73341" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73341" class="size-full wp-image-73341" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Rogers.jpg" alt="Morgan Rogers. Picture by Getty Images" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Rogers.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Rogers-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Rogers-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Morgan Rogers. Picture by Getty Images</div>
<h2>First six fixtures: Buy or avoid Aston Villa picks in FPL?</h2>
Hub <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fixture-ticker">fixture ticker</a> rank: Third
Villa&#8217;s first fixture is a difficult one, with Newcastle travelling to Villa Park.
But overall, the Hub ticker ranks their start among the best in the league.
Promoted Sunderland (A) in Gameweek 5 is among the games to target, with home matches against Crystal Palace and Fulham among the best rated.
With no single team having a superb set of opening matches, Villa&#8217;s run is as good as any. Investing in one or two of their FPL assets could therefore be a good strategy.
<h2>Aston Villa predicted lineup for FPL Gameweek 1</h2>
For our final predicted lineups, see our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/premier-league-predicted-lineups">team news article</a> ahead of the deadline.
But below, we take a look at our Villa predicted starting 11 as things stand.
First-choice goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez remains at the club despite rumours of a move earlier in the window &#8211; but he is suspended for Gameweek 1 after his Gameweek 38 red card.
There is a fair bit of uncertainty in the lineup, with Unai Emery having several options in various positions.
Lucas Digne is set to continue his battle with Ian Maatsen at left-back, while Pau Torres faces competition from Tyrone Mings &#8211; and 21-year-old Lamar Bogarde could play more minutes this season at centre-back, right-back or even defensive midfield.
Donyell Malen has been on form in pre-season and should get more gametime with Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford no longer at the club.
But he is by no means nailed, with Jacob Ramsey and imminent arrival Evann Guessand among Emery&#8217;s options in attack, as well as Leon Bailey and Emiliano Buendia.
For FPL purposes, the most secure starters and picks will likely be Watkins, Rogers, Tielemans and Konsa &#8211; although Malen&#8217;s £5.5m price tag may persuade some to take a punt.
<div id="attachment_73794" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73794" class="size-large wp-image-73794" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Villa-predicted-lineup-2-1024x422.jpg" alt="Aston Villa predicted lineup" width="1024" height="422" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Villa-predicted-lineup-2-1024x422.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Villa-predicted-lineup-2-300x124.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Villa-predicted-lineup-2-768x317.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Villa-predicted-lineup-2-1536x634.jpg 1536w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Villa-predicted-lineup-2-2048x845.jpg 2048w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Villa-predicted-lineup-2-1080x446.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Aston Villa predicted lineup</div>
<h2>Aston Villa set-piece takers</h2>
The Hub keeps a track on all set-piece takers on our dedicated <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/premier-league-set-piece-takers">set-piece page</a>.
A summary of Villa&#8217;s likely set-piece takers is below.
Penalties are up for grabs. Watkins scored both of his league spot-kicks last season, while Tielemans missed one.
Penalties: Ollie Watkins, Youri Tielemans
Direct free-kicks: Lucas Digne
Corners: Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne
Aerial threats: Ollie Watkins, Amadou Onana
<div id="attachment_73796" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73796" class="size-full wp-image-73796" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Watkins-pens.jpeg" alt="Ollie Watkins' penalty record last season" width="840" height="690" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Watkins-pens.jpeg 840w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Watkins-pens-300x246.jpeg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Watkins-pens-768x631.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px" />Ollie Watkins&#8217; penalty record last season</div>
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Aston Villa FPL team preview 2025/26

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