The 2025/26 Fantasy Premier League season launched with Gameweek 1, delivering a rollercoaster of results. With an average score around 54 points, managers saw massive hauls from stars like Erling Haaland and frustrating blanks from popular picks. This article dives into the most surprising performers—those who exceeded expectations with big points and those who flopped despite the hype—offering insights for Gameweek 2 strategies.

Positive Surprises: The Unexpected Haulers

Gameweek 1 often reveals budget gems and differentials who shine unexpectedly. This week, several affordable players delivered standout performances, catching managers off guard.

• Tijjani Reijnders (£5.6m, Manchester City Midfielder): A budget midfielder, Reijnders exploded with a goal and assist against Wolves, securing double-digit points. His advanced role under Pep Guardiola and strong prior stats (10 goals, 4 assists at Milan) make him a potential season-long steal, though rotation is a concern. Top managers like Az and Andy North reaped the rewards, boosting their 60-point hauls.
• Antoine Semenyo (£7.1m, Bournemouth Forward): Despite Bournemouth’s 4-2 loss to Liverpool, Semenyo bagged a brace and man-of-the-match honors. His attacking threat shone through, and with fixtures like Wolves (H), Spurs (A), and Brighton (H) upcoming, he’s a differential to watch. Managers who skipped him for pricier forwards were left envious.
• Mohammed Kudus (£6.5m, Tottenham Hotspur Midfielder): Kudus delivered two assists in Spurs’ composed performance under Thomas Frank, offering great value. Despite a tough opening fixture, Spurs’ low xG conceded (0.9) suggests he could be consistent, though a GW2 clash with Manchester City may pause transfers. Fans on X hailed him as a hidden gem.
• Rayan Ait-Nouri (£6.0m, Manchester City Defender): Ait-Nouri’s defensive contributions earned bonus points in a tough matchup. The new defensive clearances (DCs) scoring rule amplified his value, making him a standout for managers like FPL General who invested in defense, especially in a week with few clean sheets.
• Virgil van Dijk (£6.0m, Liverpool Defender): Van Dijk amassed an impressive 21 DCs, capitalizing on updated rules for extra points. Despite Liverpool’s shaky defense, his haul was a shock, proving premium defenders can deliver even in tough games.

These players not only scored big but also sparked transfer buzz, with Reijnders and Semenyo likely to see price rises.

Negative Surprises: The Disappointing Blanks

On the flip side, several highly owned players failed to deliver, leaving managers frustrated and rethinking plans.

• Cole Palmer (£10.5m, Chelsea Midfielder): Owned by all top managers, Palmer was invisible against Crystal Palace, blanking entirely. Despite his captaincy appeal and strong pre-season, he disappointed. Some on X noted his GW1 blank last season was followed by a GW2 explosion, urging patience.
• Viktor Gyokeres (£9.0m, Manchester City Forward): A popular pick, Gyokeres blanked and was subbed early for Kai Havertz, raising minutes concerns. His lack of output was a shock, though a home game against Leeds in GW2 offers hope.
• Ollie Watkins (£9.0m, Aston Villa Forward): Another widely owned forward, Watkins failed to capitalize on a favorable matchup, leaving managers questioning his form ahead of Brentford (A) in GW2.
• Bukayo Saka (£10.0m, Arsenal Midfielder): A favored captaincy choice, Saka blanked as Arsenal’s attack underperformed. His lackluster output led to sell discussions among top managers.
• Joao Pedro (£7.5m, Brighton Forward): Completing the trio of popular forward flops, Pedro delivered zero returns despite Brighton’s solid setup. Fixtures like West Ham (A) suggest holding, but his blank was a letdown.

These disappointments highlight the unpredictability of early-season FPL, where form and fixtures can upend expectations.

Looking Ahead: Lessons from GW1 Surprises

Gameweek 1 showed that budget picks like Reijnders can outshine premiums, while blanks from stars like Palmer test resolve. Top managers averaged around 60 points, proving balanced squads often trump chasing hauls. Community chatter on X leans toward rolling transfers in GW2, focusing on stats over knee-jerk moves. For GW2, keep an eye on team news for rotation risks and consider differentials like Semenyo for upside. One gameweek doesn’t define a season, so plan wisely for the weeks ahead.