Fantasy Premier League

GW1 Dream Team: Pereyra the opening star

By The Scout 14 Aug 2018
Roberto Pereyra, Watford

Watford player was the king of differentials and the week's joint highest-scorer

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Differential players starred as Fantasy Premier League kicked off with some big points hauls.

Two Watford options and a pair of Crystal Palace defenders were among the highest scorers of Gameweek 1.

And in a week in which no forward managed a double-digit return, only one striker makes it into the first Dream Team of the season.

Dream Team GW1
Alex McCarthy (SOU) £4.5m; 11pts

The Southampton goalkeeper made six saves on his way to a clean sheet and maximum bonus points in a goalless draw at home to Burnley.

Benjamin Mendy (MCI) £6.1m; 15pts

Injury limited the Manchester City full-back to 360 minutes and 20 points last season. But two assists, a clean sheet and full bonus in a 2-0 win at Arsenal put Mendy back on the Fantasy map.

Jose Holebas (WAT) £4.5m; 13pts

Only 3.7 per cent of managers had the Watford defender in their opening-day squads. It made him a major differential after a clean sheet and brace of assists in a 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (CRY) £4.1m; 12pts

The Palace full-back's low cost meant he was a popular Gameweek 1 choice. Some 19.1 per cent of managers had Wan-Bissaka in their squads, although 502,289 benched the 20-year-old, missing out on his clean sheet, assist and maximum bonus.

Jeffrey Schlupp (CRY) £4.5m; 11pts

Wan-Bissaka's team-mate Schlupp scored the opening goal as Palace won 2-0 at Fulham. Playing on the left of midfield but listed as a defender in FPL, he claimed his first league goal in three seasons. 

Luke Shaw (MUN) £5.1m; 11pts

Shaw completes a highly productive backline. The left-back scored his first senior goal in Manchester United's 2-1 win over Leicester City.

Roberto Pereyra (WAT) £6.0m; 16pts

The second low-owned Watford player was the Gameweek's joint-highest scorer, rewarding his 3.7 per cent ownership. The Argentinian scored both goals and was awarded maximum bonus points in the home win over Brighton.

Sadio Mane (LIV) £9.6m; 16pts

While more than half of all FPL managers opted for Mohamed Salah (£13.0m) in their opening squads, the 20.3 per cent-owned Mane proved the more productive pick. He scored twice as Liverpool beat West Ham United 4-0, earning three bonus points, nearly halfway to his total of eight last term.

Richarlison (EVE) £6.6m; 14pts

The Everton debutant was clinical in a 2-2 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers. He scored from both of his attempts on the way to a 14-point haul and maximum bonus.

Ruben Neves (WOL) £5.1m; 12pts

Another standout performer from the match at Molineux, midfielder Neves proved a great cut-price pick with a goal and an assist for Wolves.

Callum Wilson (BOU) £6.0m; 8pts

AFC Bournemouth's Wilson was the top-scoring forward in Gameweek 1 with a goal and assist against Cardiff City. But it could have been even better had Neil Etheridge (£4.5m) not saved his penalty, leaving Wilson with only one bonus point.

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