Brentford’s Flying Start and FPL Bandwagons to Watch
Brentford have linked up with Fantasy Football Scout for the 2026/27 Fantasy Premier League season, and the timing could hardly be better. Keith Andrews’ side have exploded out of the blocks – and FPL managers are already scrambling to react.
Sangaré sets the tone
Tottenham Hotspur were swept away. By the 50th minute, Brentford were three goals up and cruising, a statement opening to the campaign and a dream night for Fantasy owners who backed the right Bees.
New signing Mamadou Sangaré (£5.5m) had been flagged last week for his potential to rack up defensive contributions (DefCon) points. He delivered that and more on debut.
First, the 24-year-old drove forward, exchanged a sharp one-two with Dango Ouattara (£6.5m), and slipped a cutback for Keane Lewis-Potter (£5.5m) to tuck away the opener.
Then came the second. Mathias Jensen (£5.5m) saw his effort saved, but Vitaly Janelt (£5.0m) reacted quickest to bury the rebound. Janelt, like Sangaré and Kristoffer Ajer (£4.5m), also hit the DefCon threshold, turning Brentford’s control into a Fantasy haul.
The pressure didn’t ease after the break. Early in the second half, Antonín Kinský (£4.5m) could only parry a Sangaré strike, and Michael Kayode (£4.5m) pounced from close range to make it three.
Even Igor Thiago’s (£8.0m) missed penalty – off the post, to the despair of 1.5 million FPL owners – couldn’t derail the result. For Brentford, it was a minor footnote. For Fantasy managers, it stung.
Kayode under the spotlight
Sangaré walked away with 14 points. Kayode finished just one short.
While Ajer and Nathan Collins (£5.5m) both had chances to add goals to their clean sheets, it was Kayode who consistently arrived in the right areas. Four of Brentford’s efforts inside the box fell to him, underlining his threat.
The numbers behind the performance were as striking as the scoreline. Brentford racked up 13 attempts from set pieces alone – more shots from dead balls than half the Premier League managed in total during Gameweek 1. Overall, they outshot Spurs 20-4 for efforts inside the penalty area. Total dominance.
Kayode’s display didn’t come out of nowhere. He finished last season as the league’s top defender for take-ons (107) and successful long throws into the box (38). That blend of direct running and long-throw chaos is gold dust for FPL, and Gameweek 1 only reinforced his upside.
Brighton, Hull and the big-name blanks
While Brentford impressed, the biggest individual FPL scores of the opening weekend came from Brighton. Maxim De Cuyper (£4.5m) and Jack Hinshelwood (£6.0m) posted 17 and 16 points respectively as the Seagulls ripped into Aston Villa.
By half-time, Brighton were 4-0 up. De Cuyper, listed as a defender, operated high on the left wing and punished anyone who overlooked him.
Elsewhere, Hull City – fresh from the play-offs – stunned Manchester United. Centre-backs Semi Ajayi (£4.0m) and Nobel Mendy (£4.0m) both found the net to put the Tigers 2-0 up at home, and they held that lead to the final whistle.
That result sent shockwaves through FPL squads. Highly owned Bruno Fernandes (£12.0m) and Bryan Mbeumo (£8.0m) both blanked. So did Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (£15.5m) and Antoine Semenyo (£8.5m).
City still escaped against Bournemouth thanks to their defenders. Marc Guéhi (£6.0m) and Joško Gvardiol (£5.5m) stepped up, rescuing the champions on a day when the usual attacking stars misfired.
The early transfer rush
Attention has already turned to the market.
Riccardo Calafiori (£5.5m) didn’t score on opening night, but his assist for the very first goal of the 2026/27 season has made him one of the most-bought players ahead of Friday’s 6.30pm BST deadline.
Arsenal offered more temptation. Their second goal was created by Christos Tzolis (£6.5m), who arrived with seven pre-season assists and a staggering 23 from his final Club Brugge campaign. Martin Ødegaard (£6.5m) then made it 3-0, reinforcing his appeal as a mid-priced midfield hub.
On Monday, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer (£9.5m) and João Pedro (£7.5m) both produced double-digit returns, immediately staking claims as premium and mid-range options respectively.
Sangaré and De Cuyper have joined that group on countless watchlists. One gameweek in, and the template is already under threat.
Armband anxiety – and loyalty to the big two
Despite the wave of new bandwagons, the captaincy picture for Gameweek 2 looks familiar.
Haaland and Fernandes – last season’s top two FPL scorers – both disappointed their owners at the weekend, but most armbands are still expected to land on one of them.
Haaland’s blank was notable: this was the first time he has failed to score on a City opening day. Yet Crystal Palace, City’s next opponents, are enduring a difficult summer, and few managers are willing to jump off the Norwegian after one misfire.
Fernandes, for his part, still found ways to threaten at Hull. He created three chances and took three shots himself despite United’s defeat. Next up is a home fixture against another promoted side, Ipswich Town – exactly the kind of game that can flip an FPL narrative in 90 minutes.
Gameweek 1 has already shaken a few assumptions. The question now is simple: stick with the proven giants, or ride the Brentford and Brighton surge before the rest of your mini-league catches up?
