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The RotoBaller Soccer staff gathers around the penalty box for their weekly FPL roundtable discussion. This week, the team discusses the main questions surrounding Gameweek 1 of the 2022-23 Fantasy Premier League season.
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We. Are. Back! Welcome to Gameweek 1 of the 2022/23 Fantasy Premier League season, Rotoballers! Just like the previous campaign, we are continuing our soccer coverage to include the great game of Fantasy Premier League. So, even if you are a seasoned veteran or a rookie navigating your first 38 gameweeks, we will set you straight. We're here to provide the advice to help you snag those weekend-making green arrows and avoid the doom and gloom of a red arrow.
A lot has changed over the summer for the Premier League. First, Liverpool and Manchester City brought in shiny new toys to replace some departing legends. Then, Chelsea and Arsenal swiped Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus from the defending Champions. Meanwhile, Manchester United is looking for a return to glory under the guidance of Erik ten Hag, and we also welcome Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, and Fulham as the promoted sides from the Championship.
The Gameweek 1 deadline is 1:30 pm Eastern on Friday, August 5. Also, check out the rest of our excellent soccer coverage as the team gets you all set for every English Premier League and UEFA Champions League slate from a DFS perspective.
RotoBaller FPL Staff Roundtable - Gameweek 1
The Staff Roundtable is an attempt to get you inside the mind of our FPL staff. Our top soccer writers will answer questions each Gameweek to give you an idea of how they view the games. So without further ado, let's kick off Gameweek 1 of the new season!
Let's start with an easy one: Is there any doubt about having Mo Salah in your GW1 squad?
- Euan Leith: No. No. Noooooo. He was the highest scorer in the game last season despite "slumping" after AFCON. Well, guess what? Egypt isn't going to the World Cup this winter, and Salah will be one of the few premium options with a month-long respite from intense games. The Egyptian King was the first name on my team sheet.
- Jamie Steed: No doubt at all. However, there are so many interesting ways to build your squad this year, pivoting away from Salah isn't a dreadful idea.
- Mark Kieffer: None at all. Salah, Son, De Bruyne, you can't go wrong with week in and week out, provided they are healthy. Salah has brace upside in every game he plays. Going against Fulham should provide an easy, dominant win for Liverpool in Week 1.
- Brandon Wampler: There is no doubt whatsoever.
- Euan Leith: I'm playing it safe with Mr. Kane. Not to spoil my predictions at the end, but Spurs is a top-three team this season. Kane has exceeded his expected Goal Involvement in three of the last four seasons, and he's a contender for captaincy in GW1.
- Jamie Steed: I'm backing Haaland, although I'm not sure he'll be banging in the goals early in the season. Manchester City can take time to hit peak form, so that might reflect in Haaland's return, plus he might not tally as many assists as Kane. I do think Kane going to the World Cup while Haaland gets to watch it at home could play a big factor in the New Year, though.
- Mark Kieffer: Of the two, I prefer Kane early on. Haaland is very talented but young and is in his first year in the Premier League. Kane is a proven goal scorer in the league. Haaland has more upside overall than Kane but more downside as well. Overall the two will end up close in total points, but I prefer Kane early on while Haaland adjusts to a new club in a new league.
- Brandon Wampler: Either option would be a good choice. Kane has proven playmakers in Son and Kulusevski, while Haaland has KDB.
What tips would you give FPL managers ahead of the 22/23 campaign?
- Euan Leith: Don't be afraid to take hits, but don't get crazy. I did that a lot last year, and it sometimes burned me. Also, this season is split into quarters with fixtures swings and unlimited transfers for the World Cup. So don't be afraid to activate that Wildcard chip in gameweek three or four if necessary!
- Jamie Steed: Enjoy it. It's a game, after all. Go with players you like and want to root for on the team(s) you want to back. One important tidbit I'll offer, though, is to look ahead by a couple of weeks whenever you're making your transfers.
- Mark Kieffer: This year lends itself to it already, but chunk the schedule up in 4-6 week segments. Don't worry too much about planning too far ahead.
- Brandon Wampler: Find value plays that have high-upside to build your budget.
How's the GW1 squad looking? Any last-minute decisions looming ahead of the deadline?
- Euan Leith: It's scary to go without an £8 million midfielder, but I like the combination of Andy Robertson/Jack Grealish more than an 8 million pound mid and a Chelsea defender to start the season.
- Jamie Steed: I'm happy with it right now but may tweak a couple of things. I've gone completely against the grain of what I normally do, but I'm happy with it.
- Mark Kieffer: I will make all my decisions at the last minute. I have not yet drafted a team but am going to go for more proven, reliable players early on as we see some of these new players on new clubs this season.
- Brandon Wampler: No last-minute decisions unless there are critical transfers last minute.
Who's the best differential heading into the new season?
- Euan Leith: I can't help but think James Maddison is going to smash this season, and I'm incredibly nervous about not having him on my team.
- Jamie Steed: Something like Robertson (~10% selected) instead of Alexander-Arnold (~55%) or Chilwell (~7%) instead of James (~40%) springs to mind. Also, Odegaard (~12%) at £6.5m instead of one of the £8m midfielders could be a steal. He's linked up brilliantly with Jesus (~69%) this preseason, and pairing them together makes a lot of sense.
- Mark Kieffer: Bruno Fernandes would be my choice, especially if Manchester United move away from Ronaldo at some point this season. For someone a little cheaper, Wilfred Zaha is one that I like too.
- Brandon Wampler: Haaland.
We are shifting gears to GW1. So who's keeping a clean sheet this week?
- Euan Leith: Spurs and Hugo Lloris welcome Southampton to start the year.
- Jamie Steed: I like Newcastle United to do so at home to new boys Nottingham Forest. In their nine home EPL games in 2022, they have four clean sheets and no one has scored more than one against them.
- Mark Kieffer: Tottenham; They play a defensive style and Southampton is one of the weakest offenses in the Premier League.
- Brandon Wampler: Mendy, without a doubt. Everton is in shambles currently.
Which defensive player is providing an attacking return?
- Euan Leith: Gabriel from Arsenal. Crystal Palace allowed 16 goals from set pieces last season, the second most in the league, and I'm not sure how much that'll change in the first gameweek.
- Jamie Steed: Outside of the usual suspects (whom I named earlier plus Cancelo), I like Pontus Jansson for Brentford. Leicester City's 19 goals conceded from set pieces was a league-high last season, and Brentford's 15 goals scored from set pieces was the fourth most, Jansson chipping in with three of them.
- Mark Kieffer: Trent Alexander-Arnold will be the one most have on their FPL teams, as they probably should. Others to look at are his teammate Andrew Robertson and also Ivan Perisic.
- Brandon Wampler: Cancelo if you don't want the chalk TAA.
- Euan Leith: Son Heung-min is barely owned and shared the Golden Boot with Mo Salah last season. He's going to fly out of the gates for the 22/23 season.
- Jamie Steed: I'm leaning into Salah away at Fulham as I just don't know if Fulham has done enough to actually avoid another immediate return to the Championship. But Son and Kane are also right in the mix as Southampton are one team who I can see getting whomped on the opening weekend.
- Mark Kieffer: Midfielder - Salah. Forward - Kane
- Brandon Wampler: Haaland for sure!
Who are you most scared of not having in your squad for GW1?
- Euan Leith: Son Heung-min. Haaland and KDB face a tough test against West Ham. I'll. be hiding behind the sofa when the Spurs game is on the television.
- Jamie Steed: Son for the aforementioned reason. He's also got ten goals and four assists in 13 EPL games against Southampton.
- Mark Kieffer: Haaland is a scary fade because of his upside and how popular he is likely to be. He will be a contender for the Golden Boot most likely but I am betting on him having a slow start to the season.
- Brandon Wampler: Salah.
Who's getting the Captain's armband?
- Euan Leith: Mohamed Salah smashes newly-promoted sides to open the season. He's grabbed eight attacking returns in the last three opening games against Norwich (twice) and Leeds.
- Jamie Steed: I don't like going too contrarian to start the season but I think Darwin Nunez and Salah will be garnering a lot of the hype and Luis Diaz could outshine them both. So, I'm going with Diaz.
- Mark Kieffer: Salah - Liverpool has an easy fixture this week and this is the player that tied for the most goals and had the most assists in the EPL.
- Brandon Wampler: Jesus!!
Finally, who's winning the league? Who's in the top four? Who's winning the Golden Boot? And who's going down?
- Euan Leith: Liverpool snags their second title in three seasons. Man City, Spurs, and Arsenal claim Champions League football. Mo Salah wins another Golden Boot. And Everton, Bournemouth, and Southampton sink to the Championship.
- Jamie Steed: Manchester City will win the league, followed closely by Liverpool again. The top four will be rounded off by Arsenal and Chelsea (although I have little faith in Chelsea right now, I think they'll get better recruits in). Jesus is a great shout for Golden Boot, although Kane, Salah, and Haaland will all be in the mix. I can make a case for half the league to be relegated, but I'm going for Bournemouth, Brentford, and Everton. Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Brighton, and Southampton are all teams who will flirt with the bottom three throughout the season, and I wouldn't be shocked in the slightest if any of them go down either.
- Mark Kieffer: Winner - Man City. Top Four - Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham. Golden Boot - Salah. Relegated - Bournemouth, Fulham, Leeds
- Brandon Wampler: Manchester City will win the league. Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester United will be in the top four. Erling Haaland will win the Golden Boot. Finally, Wolves, Brentford, and Everton are all going down.
Is there a question you would like to have answered every week? Hit us up on Twitter @RotoBaller. We would love to hear your feedback and ideas!
