Each new FPL season brings a wave of popular choices – but not all of them are worth the media threw, Writes the expert FPL Blake Hurst.
This year, several highly owned assets have risks that could derail your start to the season. Whether it is transfer speculation, difficult lighting, reduced minutes or an unstable team, the warning panels are there.
In this article, we break down five big names – Aaron Wan -Bissaka, Alexander Isak, Virgil Van Dijk, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa – and explain why avoiding them early could save you points and precious FPL 2025/26 transfers.
Do you want more advice? You can also read the guides of 101GeReatGoals.com to the best defenders, field circles, attackers, new arrivals and choice of good deals.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham, 4.5 million pounds sterling)
Wan-Bissaka is popular, especially with a good game in Gameweek 1 while West Ham visits a team from Sunderland who should fight.
Beyond that, the rear calendar is more difficult, which could limit its yields. Although it offers attacking threats and solid statistics of defensive contribution, West Ham devices after opening are not the easiest.
If you want a Defender of the Hammers, consider El Hadji Malick Diouf instead. Prix the same as Wan-Bissaka but with fewer owners, Diouf has a strong attack potential, which makes him an intriguing differential choice from the start for those who wish to go against the highly detained AWB.
Alexander Isak (Newcastle, 10.5 million pounds sterling)
The future of Isak in Newcastle is engulfed in uncertainty. The attacker refuses to train while he is moving in Liverpool, whose recent offer has been rejected.
The Magpies clearly indicated that Isak should remain if the clubs cannot agree, but the Swedish international would have declared that he would no longer play for them.
This situation means that if he moves, he could be a doubt for Gameweek 1 and maybe Gameweek 2 for Liverpool.
For FPL managers, this makes Isak a risky option despite its talent, because you can face playing time problems or forced early transfers if it moves late or missing some of the opening matches.
19% ownership of massive managers, this is much obvious in GW1.
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, 6 million pounds sterling)
Van Dijk remains a solid asset with its threat of objective and its potential for defensive points, but this season, the new Liverpool look can take time to frost.
Add a difficult opening to three games against Bournemouth, Newcastle and Arsenal and it could be wise to look elsewhere.
Although the leadership and contributions of Van Dijk’s attacks are precious, uncertainty around defensive stability and difficult matches mean that FPL managers could find better and quieter waters to start their seasons.
Patience may be necessary if you stand with him, but the first game suggests exploring other defensive options.
Byran Mbeumo (Man United, 8 million pounds sterling)
Mbeumo joins United as part of a reworked attack, but the start of the season could be limited.
With competition from Mason Mount, Joshua Zirkzee and Amad Diallo for the role of a right attacker midfielder, Mbeumo faces a battle for coherent departures.
Despite its 20 -goals campaign in Brentford last year, this new configuration means that it may not be nailed for 90 minutes, even with its high price of 65 million pounds sterling.
Adding to the risk, Mbeumo no longer has a penalty functions, which he took in Brentford. For FPL managers, this uncertainty and this risk of rotation suggest caution before investing at the start of the FPL veteran.
Yoane Wiss (Brentford, 7.5 million pounds sterling)
Wissa has a significant risk for managers of the Fantastic Premier League this season due to the uncertainty of the transfer.
Brentford has rejected several offers – including 25 million pounds Sterling from Newcastle – and Wissa would want to move, with the team of Eddie Howe always interested alongside Tottenham.
The situation could affect the development of Wissa and correspond to participation in the first weeks. Even if he remains, Brentford faces a transition period after losing key players such as Mbeumo and manager Thomas Frank in Tottenham.
This unstable environment can have an impact on the attack on production, making Wissa a risky early choice until its role and future are clearer.
