Spotlight on Favorable FPL Fixtures: Who Has the Best Start?
When Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers look at the 2025/26 calendar, one thing jumps off the page: Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur are the clear go-to choices for early squad planning. The Fixture Difficulty system places both teams right at the top, chalking up an average difficulty score of just 2.67 for the first six gameweeks. That number is no small detail—it means three of their five opening games sit at the 'easy' level on the FPL scale.
The FDR system, trusted by hardcore FPL fans, runs from 1 (a walk in the park) to 5 (nightmare territory). It pulls in stats like team performance, home advantage, and even recent hot streaks to give a picture of what lies ahead. For the 2025/26 kickoff, the lucky runs highlighted by this algorithm are catching everyone’s attention. Sunderland, a fresh face after last season’s promotion, shares the same average but with fewer fixtures at the absolute easiest tier—a quirk but still enough to put their players on the shopping list for brave managers looking for bargains.
Not far behind in the early-season ease stakes are Aston Villa, Brentford, Chelsea, and West Ham United. With each sporting an average FDR of 2.83, they might not have quite as many walkovers, but they’re still sitting pretty compared to teams with tougher starts. All four clubs get at least one matchup near the bottom of the difficulty scale in those critical first six weeks. That’s gold for anyone planning transfers or hunting for differential picks that can get ahead before the season gets bogged down with fixture congestion.
Breaking Down the Schedule and What’s at Stake
Knowing the fixture run is just half the battle. The FPL opening chunk follows a tight pattern: three gameweeks squeezed between August 16 and 30, then a two-week international break interrupts. When players come back, it’s four more weekends and then—guess what—another pause for internationals in early October. These breaks can upend plans. You might get lucky with your team rolling in points, only for a two-week pause to bring injuries, returns, and reset the playing field.
Things get stickier for clubs with European ambitions. Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League games are slotted during the same period as Premier League gameweeks 4 through 9. For managers, that means checking starting lineups gets more unpredictable—the dreaded 'rotation risk' is real for top teams, especially right after those midweek fixtures.
Domestic cups add more spice. The EFL Cup starts between gameweeks 2 and 3, with later rounds making a mess of schedules for teams that go deep. Players could get benched to keep them fresh, dropping their FPL appeal just when you need points.
Modern fixture tools aren’t just about numbers—they use easy color codes. Green is the all-clear, yellow means proceed with caution, and red? Brace yourself, it’s going to be a slog. These visuals make it easier to map out transfer plans weeks in advance, especially for those managers who love to play the long game.
So, if you’re setting your squad for the new season? Think about leaning heavy on Forest and Spurs assets right out of the gate. Sunderland offers sneaky value, while Villa, Brentford, Chelsea, and West Ham could be worth a punt depending on your risk level. Keep an eye on fixture congestion and international breaks—they’ll shape who plays and who sits for every key FPL gameweek early in the season.
