FPL Traps: Players Who Could Catch Managers Out Early

With the 2026/27 Fantasy Premier League season getting underway, several popular names could become early-season traps for managers. The issue is not necessarily that these players are poor options, but that their price, role, competition for minutes or expected output may not justify the hype.

Riccardo Calafiori & Ben White could both be risky Arsenal picks. Calafiori has appeal at £5.5m, but his attacking returns and guaranteed minutes are far from certain, while White faces competition and may not offer enough attacking upside for his price.

Christos Tzolis is another name to monitor. Priced at £6.5m, he sits in an awkward midfield bracket where managers may expect attacking returns immediately. That could make him frustrating if his minutes or output do not match the expectation.

Viktor Gyökeres looks tempting at £7.5m, but his price comes with significant expectations. Arsenal have several routes to goals, and paying a premium for a forward who may not dominate minutes or chances could prove costly when cheaper alternatives emerge.

Declan Rice is another potential trap. His 184 points last season were excellent, but his price has risen to £7.5m. Repeating that level of FPL production will be difficult, particularly if his attacking returns regress.

At Manchester United, Diogo Dalot could suffer from the same problem: a player whose real-life importance does not necessarily translate into consistent FPL returns. The same caution applies to Richarlison, whose appeal depends heavily on securing regular starts and attacking involvement.

Walle Egeli, Jeremy Jacquet and Ezri Konsa are names where managers should be particularly careful about assuming guaranteed minutes. Cheap or mid-priced defenders can become popular quickly, but starting XI uncertainty can turn a seemingly good pick into an early transfer headache.

Daniel Muñoz is perhaps one of the more interesting traps. His attacking potential is obvious, but Crystal Palace have a new manager, Pierre Sage, and there is uncertainty over whether the previous wing-back system will continue. Muñoz is £5.5m, so managers need to be confident that his attacking role survives the tactical change.

Marcos Senesi is another major minutes warning. He was one of last season’s top FPL defenders, but his move to Tottenham means he has to establish himself in a new defence. The Scout specifically warned managers to wait for clarity on his minutes before investing.

Marc Guéhi faces a different problem. His 179-point season was outstanding, but his price has jumped to £6.0m. Paying £1.5m more than last season means managers are buying him at a much higher expectation level.

Finally, Rayan Cherki is the classic exciting-name trap: huge talent and plenty of FPL appeal, but excitement around a new signing does not automatically translate into immediate minutes and returns.

The common theme is simple: don’t confuse popularity, reputation or last season’s points with guaranteed FPL value. Early-season managers who avoid these traps—or wait for clearer evidence—could gain an advantage before the first wildcard becomes relevant.