We are here with our pick of the top five captains this week for Gameweek 1 of FPL 26/27. Choosing the right captain can make a huge difference in the opening week, especially with several premium attackers facing favourable fixtures. Here are our five best FPL captain picks for Gameweek 1.
Erling Haaland — £15.5m
Erling Haaland is expected to be the most popular captain pick in FPL Gameweek 1, and it's easy to understand why. Manchester City have a promising home fixture against Bournemouth, who have also lost their top-class manager Andoni Iraola to Liverpool.
The only concern surrounding Haaland is whether he will play the full 90 minutes. He returned for the Community Shield after enjoying a long rest following the World Cup, so Enzo Maresca could potentially manage his minutes.
However, a player of Haaland's calibre can score at any moment. As long as he gets around 70-80 minutes, his explosive potential makes him one of the safest captaincy options for Gameweek 1.
Bukayo Saka — £9.5m
Bukayo Saka is a much riskier captain option when you consider that he didn't start Arsenal's Community Shield clash against Manchester City. There is a possibility that Noni Madueke could be given the nod ahead of him again.
There are, however, some positives. Saka came off the bench and played more than 30 minutes in the Community Shield, which could give Mikel Arteta enough confidence to start him against Coventry.
Saka's late return following his post-World Cup vacation was the reason his limited involvement in the Community Shield. If he starts and is expected to play the majority of the game, the favourable fixture makes him an exciting captaincy differential.
Cole Palmer — £9.5m
Cole Palmer enters Gameweek 1 without any current injury concerns and is expected to start Chelsea's match against Fulham.
There have been glimpses of the old Palmer during Chelsea's pre-season games. While his direct goal contributions have been lacking, his influence in Chelsea's attacking play has been evident.
The arrival of Xabi Alonso could also be significant for Palmer. The new Chelsea boss may be able to bring the best out of the England international and help him rediscover his elite attacking output, provided he can stay fit.
Against Fulham, Palmer is an appealing captaincy option for managers looking beyond the obvious premium picks.
Bruno Fernandes — £12.0m
Bruno Fernandes is our pick as the very best captain choice for Gameweek 1, even ahead of Haaland.
Although Manchester United face Hull City away from home, the fixture looks excellent for Michael Carrick's side and their attacking players. More importantly, United's entire attack revolves around Fernandes, with the Portuguese midfielder playing a central role in the team's system.
Fernandes is also coming off a record-breaking 2025/26 Premier League campaign, giving FPL managers plenty of reason to trust him from the opening week.
His set-piece responsibilities, attacking influence and involvement in almost everything United create make Fernandes an outstanding captaincy option.
João Pedro — £7.5m
If you don't want to take the risk of captaining Palmer but still want a promising Chelsea attacker for their Gameweek 1 fixture against Fulham, João Pedro could be the answer.
The forward has looked promising during Chelsea's pre-season games and appears capable of taking his game to another level under Xabi Alonso.
At £7.5m, João Pedro also offers a significantly cheaper route into Chelsea's attack. While his captaincy ceiling may not be as reliable as Haaland or Fernandes, his attacking potential makes him an interesting option for managers willing to take a calculated risk.
Best FPL Captain for Gameweek 1
There are several strong captaincy options heading into Gameweek 1, but Bruno Fernandes gets our vote as the best choice. Haaland remains the safest and most popular option, while Saka, Palmer and João Pedro provide alternative routes for managers looking to differentiate their teams.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to your appetite for risk, but Fernandes looks like the standout captain for FPL 26/27 Gameweek 1.
