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Dave's GW1 Verdict

The Bruno case over Haaland

A tighter gap than you'd think — Bruno edges it at 7.1 xPts to Haaland's 6.0.

Published 13 August 2026 · 2026/27
Captain

B.Fernandes

MUN · HUL (A)
£12.0mxPts 7.1

I'm going Bruno here. Hull away is a strong opening fixture, and his all-round involvement gives him more routes to a return than a nailed-on goal threat alone. Haaland's the safer pick at 73.5% ownership and it's not a huge gap - but the numbers edge Bruno, and I'd rather back the wider route to points.

Popular pick: Haaland (xPts 6.0) - 74% captained
Differential

Ballard

SUN
xPts 2.84.4% owned

Not a big xPts number, so don't expect fireworks - but at 4.4% owned against Ipswich away, the downside if the clean sheet doesn't land is minimal, and the upside on a rank climb if it does is worth the low-cost punt.

Fade

Dubravka

TOT
22.5% owned

22.5% ownership is a lot for a goalkeeper I’m not convinced about this week. Brentford away isn’t a bad fixture, but at FDR 3 I’d rather look elsewhere than blindly follow the template.

I’ll be tracking this live on fpldave.com all weekend — captain pick and rank moves in real time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should I captain in GW1?
Dave's pick is B.Fernandes. I'm going Bruno here. Hull away is a strong opening fixture, and his all-round involvement gives him more routes to a return than a nailed-on goal threat alone. Haaland's the safer pick at 73.5% ownership and it's not a huge gap - but the numbers edge Bruno, and I'd rather back the wider route to points.
What's a good GW1 differential?
Ballard at 4.4% ownership. Not a big xPts number, so don't expect fireworks - but at 4.4% owned against Ipswich away, the downside if the clean sheet doesn't land is minimal, and the upside on a rank climb if it does is worth the low-cost punt.
Who should I avoid in GW1?
Dubravka. 22.5% ownership is a lot for a goalkeeper I’m not convinced about this week. Brentford away isn’t a bad fixture, but at FDR 3 I’d rather look elsewhere than blindly follow the template.
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