Your forward line is where the squad's ceiling gets decided, and the trap in GW1 is trying to fill it with three expensive names instead of one premium, one in-form mid-price striker, and a cheap enabler who actually starts. Below is how I'd split that £100m, with fixture ratings that match FootballDream's live FPL price list.
How the fixtures stack up
- Haaland (City vs Bournemouth H): Fixture A. Bournemouth conceded 12 in their last 5 PL games away from home. City at Etihad is as good as it gets. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Watkins (Villa vs Brighton A): Fixture B. Watkins has 9 career goals vs Brighton; away fixture caps the ceiling but the player is world-class. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Isak (Liverpool vs Newcastle A): Fixture A+. Returns to St James’ Park wearing Liverpool red, the GW1 narrative pick with elite striker numbers behind it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- João Pedro (Chelsea vs Fulham A): Fixture C. Derby atmosphere, Fulham at home are hard to beat, Chelsea new manager gloss. ⭐⭐⭐
- Sesko (United vs Hull A): Fixture A. New United striker vs newly promoted Hull — dominant if he starts from the off. The question is whether Sesko is first choice from GW1. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mid-price scorers (£5.5m-£6.5m)
- Igor Jesus (Nottingham Forest, £6.0m): four goals in four friendlies; Glasner's attack needs a focal point. Competition from Wood and Kalimuendo but Jesus looks first choice. GW1 vs Leeds at City Ground is genuinely winnable. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds, £6.0m): ownership climbing after braces in friendlies; promoted-side minutes + away at Forest. Under-owned differential if he starts from the off. ⭐⭐⭐
- Yoane Wissa / William Osula (Newcastle, £6.0m): only one is the weekly starter under Jaissle; wait for team news before locking. Price is right if you get the right one. ⭐⭐⭐
- Igor Thiago (Brentford, £8.0m): returned from World Cup break with a goal; still a premium-ish forward if you skip Haaland. GW1 vs Spurs at home. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Georginio Rutter / Charalampos Kostoulas (Brighton, £5.5m): Welbeck exit opens the door; Groß on pens helps whoever starts. GW1 vs Villa at home. ⭐⭐⭐
- Rodrigo Muniz (Fulham, £6.5m): penalty taker at home to Chelsea in a west London derby. Craven Cottage fortress record is a bonus. ⭐⭐⭐
Budget / third-forward enablers
- Taiwo Awoniyi (Coventry, £5.5m): Premier League pedigree at a promoted side — starts if fit, Coventry's best option in the final third.
- Ellis Simms (Coventry, £5.0m): budget forward behind Awoniyi in the pecking order; only useful if you need the funds and he starts.
- £4.5m fodder, only if confirmed starters; never park three unused kids up front.
Forwards to avoid in GW1
- Darwin Núñez: form/fitness question marks cloud an already tough Liverpool away trip. Jota is the safer Liverpool forward pick.
- Richarlison: Spurs away at Brentford in a tough opener, and Richarlison has a history of injuries that cap reliability.
- Any Coventry forward. They face Arsenal away on Friday night and will not set up to attack. Pure defensive game plan expected.
How I'd actually build the line
- Haaland plus one mid-price plus one enabler is the structure most good GW1 squads end up with, and for good reason.
- Skipping Haaland entirely? Put the money into Isak or João Pedro instead, and spend the rest of the saved cash on a midfield premium — Saka, Palmer or Bruno — not a second expensive forward.
- Check /fpl-prices/forwards again after the Community Shield. Injury news on Haaland changes this whole plan.
Play it free
Lock the same front three in FootballDream Gameweek Fantasy, captain your premium for 2× points, and compete with friends: no download, no entry fee. The Gameweek Fantasy scoring system rewards Haaland goals at 4 points each + any bonus from shots on target.