One way for you to get a head start is to pick players based on their opening run of fixtures. Here are the four teams with players that should be able to help you throughout the month of August.
Cardiff City
Opponents: Bournemouth (A), Newcastle (H), Huddersfield (A)If you’re looking to get budget players from newly promoted sides, Neil Warnock’s team will be a safe choice. Of the three teams, they have arguably the easiest three-game start to the season, especially with Newcastle having struggled in their preseason preparations (one win in five) and Huddersfield coming off the back of two grueling matches against Chelsea and Manchester City by the time Cardiff take them on. Two of the players you should consider are Callum Paterson (5.5m), who was their top scorer in the Championships last season, and Junior Hoilett (5.5m), who had nine goals and 11 assists in their promotion run-in.
Burnley
Opponents: Southampton (A), Watford (H), Fulham (A)On paper, Burnley have every chance to do well in their first opening three matches, but on a closer inspection, it might be a slight gamble to invest in their players. Goalkeepers Nick Pope (5m) and Thomas (5m) Heaton have picked up shoulder and calf injuries respectively and could miss the early stages of the season, while Ashley Barnes (6m), Robbie Brady (5.5m) and Steven Defour (5.5m) could be struggling with match fitness. That being said, if Sean Dyche retains the same tactics as last season, you should be able to rely on their defence for points against goal-shy sides Southampton and Watford, and the newly promoted Fulham.
Liverpool
Opponents: West Ham (H), Crystal Palace (A), Brighton (H), Leicester (A)Having made several key acquisitions during the summer, all eyes will be on Liverpool to deliver and make a statement this season. With Leicester the only top 10 side that they will face in their first four league matches, don’t be surprised if Jurgen Klopp’s men fire on all cylinders, especially with their front three of Mo Salah (13m), Sadio Mane (9.5m), and Roberto Firmino (9.5m) fully fit at the time of writing.
Everton
Opponents: Wolves (A), Southampton (H), Bournemouth (A), Huddersfield (H), West Ham (H)With them not facing a top six side until their sixth league match of the season, when they take on Arsenal on September 23, it is not a bad idea to go with a player or three from Everton in your fantasy team. Let alone more expensive options like set-piece specialist Gylfi Sigurdsson (7.5m) and new signing Richarlison (6.5m), the Toffees have decent budget players in the mix that you can consider picking up to fill in the final spots in your team such as goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (5m), full-back Leighton Baines (5.5m) and forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin (5.5m).
Manchester City
Opponents: Arsenal (A), Huddersfield (H), Wolves (H), Newcastle (H), Fulham (H), Cardiff (A), Brighton (H)After facing Arsenal in their opening match, the defending champions pretty much have an easy run of six matches, which includes games against the three newly promoted teams, before their second big test in the form of Liverpool in early October. Despite the only stumbling block in picking City players being their abundance of talents, which means you can never predict where their goals will come from, you cannot go wrong in having the likes of Sergio Aguero (11m), Raheem Sterling (11m), Gabriel Jesus (10.5m) and Kevin De Bruyne (10m) in your squad.
