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 Who are the best FPL forwards for Gameweek 1?
Expert Fantasy Premier League manager Abdul Rehman (<a href="https://twitter.com/FPL_Salah" data-clevertap-listener="true">FPL Salah</a>) guides us through the top picks for the opening weekend of the season.
Check out our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-ultimate-guide-fpl-tips" data-clevertap-listener="true">Ultimate Guide to FPL</a> for all our best player articles and much more.

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<h2>Best FPL forwards for Gameweek 1</h2>
<h3>Erling Haaland (£14.0m) - Manchester City</h3>
Fixture: Wolves (A)
By his own incredible standards, Haaland’s return of 22 goals and three assists last season was fairly ordinary.  
Yet we know he’s more than capable of breaking the 30 goal barrier if he stays fit, making him still one of the most dangerous assets in FPL. 
As the focal point of City’s attack, he was directly involved in 42% of their goals while on the pitch. 
Even during what many considered a poor season, City scored 72 times (second-most) with an expected goals (xG) of 70.14 (second-best). They remain one of the league’s top attacking forces. 
City have one of the best fixtures of the gameweek as they come up against Wolves. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
They are the third most likely to score 2.5-plus goals (40%) and Haaland is at 54% (first) to score at any time.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
<a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/predictions">Hub AI</a> predicts him to be the highest-scoring forward for Gameweek 1 (6.8 points) too. 
<div id="attachment_73929" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73929" class="size-full wp-image-73929" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Haaland-bordered.jpeg" alt="Erling Haaland Stats" width="840" height="690" />
Erling Haaland's stats
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<h3>Ollie Watkins (£9.0m) - Aston Villa</h3>
Fixture: Newcastle United (H)
Watkins is as reliable as they come in FPL as you know exactly what you’re getting. 
Last season he delivered 16 goals and eight assists, continuing his run of hitting double figures for goals in every one of his five Premier League campaigns. 
He’s nailed to start, could be on penalties and offers both goal and assist potential. 
Villa are also a good attacking side and although their fixture against Newcastle (H) isn't an easy one on paper, we should see goals.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
Watkins is Villa’s talisman and he should get plenty of minutes too.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
For a dependable, nailed-on forward in a strong attack, Watkins is hard to look past.  
He is at a healthy 41% to score at any time and <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/predictions">Hub AI</a> ranks him as the second highest-scoring forward (6.0 points) for Gameweek 1. 
<div id="attachment_73930" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73930" class="size-full wp-image-73930" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Watkins-bordered.jpeg" alt="Ollie Watkins Stats" width="840" height="690" />
Ollie Watkins' stats
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<h3>Hugo Ekitike (£8.5m) - Liverpool</h3>
Fixture: Bournemouth (H)
Ekitike could be one of the most exciting FPL forward options this season - and potentially a bargain.  
After a strong year at Eintracht Frankfurt (15 goals, eight assists), he now joins a Liverpool side that scored the most goals (86) and posted the highest xG (81.76) in the league last season. 
His underlying numbers are good too, registering an xG of 21.6 and 6.8 expected assists (xA). He gets into excellent attacking positions, even if his finishing can still improve. 
He should start as the number nine against Bournemouth in the first match of the gameweek, where Liverpool are the favourites to score 2.5-plus goals (52%).<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
The Cherries have lost Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez and Illia Zabarnyi from their defence this summer.
Ekitike impressed in the Community Shield match with a nice finish, which could be a sign of things to come.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
He is at 47% to score at any time (fourth) and <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/predictions">Hub AI</a> has him as the third highest-scoring forward (5.6 points).<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
<div id="attachment_73890" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73890" class="size-full wp-image-73890" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2228634478.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" />
Hugo Ekitike. Picture by Getty Images
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<h3>Chris Wood (£7.5m) - Nottingham Forest</h3>
Fixture: Brentford (H)
Wood was one of last season’s biggest surprises, hitting 20 goals and ending as the second highest-scoring forward in FPL (200 points).  
He achieved that with ruthless efficiency, converting more than 31% of his shots. 
While there’s some doubt over whether he can maintain that level, he’s still a safe option.  
The Kiwi international should see plenty of minutes.
Wood is Forest’s nailed number nine, first-choice penalty taker and a proven Premier League striker with 89 career goals to his name. 
Forest kick off the season with a plum home game against Brentford (H), who may struggle after losing some of their star players and manager Thomas Frank.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
<a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/predictions">Hub AI</a> ranks Wood as the fourth highest-scoring forward (5.5 points) for Gameweek 1. 
<div id="attachment_73932" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73932" class="size-full wp-image-73932" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Wood-bordered-1.jpeg" alt="Chris Wood Stats" width="840" height="690" />
Chris Wood's stats
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<h3>Joao Pedro (£7.5m) - Chelsea</h3>
Fixture: Crystal Palace (H)
Pedro’s move to Chelsea could make him one of the more intriguing mid-priced forward picks in FPL. 
At Brighton last season, he scored 10 league goals and assisted six. At Chelsea you would imagine he gets better service and many more chances created for him.
The Blues are a fine attacking side, scoring 64 goals (seventh-most) with an xG of 66.85 (third-best).<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
Chelsea have a nice home fixture against Crystal Palace in week one, where Enzo Maresca’s side will be strong favourites.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
Pedro has both goals and assists in his locker and he’s really impressed so far, with five goals for his new club, coming both in the Club World Cup and <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-pre-season-results-guide">pre-season friendlies</a>.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
The Brazilian won't be a 90 minute man with Liam Delap waiting in the wings but he will almost certainly be first choice.
<div id="attachment_73933" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73933" class="size-full wp-image-73933" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Joao-Pedro-bordered.jpeg" alt="João Pedro Stats" width="840" height="690" />
João Pedro's stats
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<h2>Best FPL forwards for Gameweek 1: Abdul's rankings</h2>
I will now rank these options exclusively for Hub <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/join">members</a>.
Rankings are given for the player’s FPL potential looking at price, fixtures and overall value.
Check out our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/predictions">predicted points tool</a> for Hub AI's view.
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