StatrDraft’s Fantasy Draft Planner: The Early-Season Edge You Need. We’ve run the numbers, added the vibes, and called in our inner Roy Keane to deliver the ultimate early-season fixture difficulty rankings. Based on the first six Gameweeks of the 2025/26 season, we have ranked all 20 Premier League clubs on their opening six fixtures using a hybrid model of 2024/25 finishing positions, expected European fatigue, travel load, and defensive data. Here’s who to target and who to avoid when the draft clock is ticking.
Methodology (How We Crunched It)
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Opponent Strength: Based on 2024/25 final league positions and defensive xG allowed.
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Home/Away Factor: Two home games vs Big Six sides? That’s pain. Three away games at bottom-half clubs? Lovely stuff.
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European Commitments: UCL, UEL, and UECL = rotation risk and fatigue.
- Threat level: Clean sheet probability and attacking threat
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Rest Days & Travel Load: Congested schedules flagged.
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StatrDraft Banter Filter™: We ignore algorithmic optimism if it clashes with good ol’ common sense.
Easiest Opening 6-Game Runs
1. Sunderland
WHU, BUR, BRE, CRY, AVL, NFO
Back with a bang and a fixture list straight from heaven. Fantasy bargains everywhere. If they don’t score points now, they might not again until March. Midfielders like Jack Clarke could pop off.
Read in more detail: Sunderland: 2025/26 Premier League Fixture Breakdown
2. Tottenham
BUR, MCI, BOU, WHU, BHA, WOL
Only one fixture that screams danger (City in GW2). Aside from City, this is green-light heaven. Son at home? Maddison with set pieces? Porro bombing forward? Fantasy gold. Eat it up before their rotation starts midseason with Europe.
Read in more detail: Tottenham Hotspur: 2025/26 Premier League Fixture Breakdown
3. West Ham
SUN, CHE, NFO, TOT, CRY, EVE
Bowen owners rejoice. Kudus and Paquetá might thrive too. The defence is still allergic to clean sheets, but this early window gives Potter a perfect platform to start with a bang. And if you’ve been paying attention at the back…
Read in more detail: West Ham United: 2025/26 Premier League Fixture Breakdown
4. Brighton
FUL, EVE, MCI, BOU, TOT, CHE
City aside, this run is very playable. Mitoma and co are attacking picks with high ceilings. Defence might be unreliable — but there’s strong potential from this group in the first few GWs.
Read in more detail: Brighton – Premier League Fixture Preview 2025/26
5. Aston Villa
NEW, BRE, CRY, EVE, SUN, FUL
A mixed start that gets easier quickly. Emery’s men could fly with Watkins, Asensio & Rogers hitting early form, and no UCL rotation headaches like some rivals.
Read in more detail: Aston Villa: Premier League 2025/26 Fixture Preview
Toughest Opening 6-Game Runs
1. Arsenal
MUN, LEE, LIV, NFO, MCI, NEW
Three Big Six matches and two dangerous mid-tablers. Mikel Arteta’s excuse TED Talk schedule begins immediately. The fixture list feels like a punishment for bottling last season. You’ll want zero Arsenal assets before GW7 — especially with Champions League rotation looming.
Read in more detail: Arsenal: Premier League 2025/26 Fixture Preview
2. Manchester United
ARS, FUL, BUR, MCI, CHE, BRE
Amorim’s first full season in charge with a pre season under the belt, but they do have a brutal bedding-in period. Even Burnley (H) could be tricky with their backs to the wall. Avoid the front men (unless new ones come in) and anyone in that defence early.
Read in more detail: Manchester United: 2025/26 Premier League Fixture Breakdown
3. Burnley
TOT, SUN, MUN, LIV, NFO, MCI
Welcome back to the Premier League, here’s your six-game losing streak starter pack. Fade them all. Even Trafford won’t get enough saves to justify selection.
Read in more detail: Burnley – Premier League Fixture Preview 2025/26
4. Newcastle
AVL, LIV, LEE, WOL, BOU, ARS
These aren’t the worst opponents on paper, but UCL travel, squad depth, and Eddie Howe’s horses-for-courses line-ups make them fantasy poison early on.
Read in more detail: Manchester United: 2025/26 Premier League Fixture Breakdown
5. Wolves
MCI, BOU, EVE, NEW, LEE, FUL
City on day one, Newcastle in GW4, and two banana peel away days. Avoid attacking picks — even Jose Sá can’t save you from this grind. I have said over and over these are the ones to watch from a relegation standpoint. I stand by that statement.
Read in more detail: Wolves: 2025/26 Premier League Fixture Breakdown
Draft Strategy Tips
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Target Early Form Teams: Spurs, Brighton, West Ham, Sunderland
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Avoid Top-Six Rotation Zones: Arsenal, Newcastle, City examples
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Set Up GW6 and beyond: Ideal time to flip into teams like Brentford, Palace
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Defensive Picks: Pick from teams with easy GWs and low rotation (Brighton, Fulham, Spurs), teams like Brighton or Fulham who avoid top attack
Want More?
Read the StatrDraft 2025/26 Fixture Preview and our Club-by-Club Team Previews to build your fantasy strategy from the ground up. Ready to play the Statr way? Join the waiting list now.
Jon Harrison – June 2025
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