The Scout picks out clubs and players who can be paired together effectively in opening squads for 2026/27 Fantasy Premier League and give FPL managers a great run of early fixtures.
Fulham and Spurs
Owning a defender from both Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur can help you immediately profit from a great run of home matches over the first five Gameweeks.
That occurs in Gameweek 5, when Spurs entertain Aston Villa.
This kind run is also backed up by the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), with each of those matches scoring only three.
Fulham and Spurs rotation, GW1-5
GW Club Opp. FDR* 1 FUL CHE (H) 3 2 TOT NEW (H) 3 3 FUL CRY (H) 3 4 TOT EVE (H) 3 5 TOT AVL (H) 3
*Scroll across on mobile to see full table. 1 = easiest possible fixture, 5 = hardest possible fixture
Who will be the best budget defenders?
Joachim Andersen's dominance of defensive contributions (DC) looks certain to ensure he will be the highest-priced Fulham asset at the back in 2026/27 Fantasy.
The centre-back (who is suspended for the Cottagers' Gameweek 1 home match against Chelsea) amassed 40 DC points last season, at least 26 more than any team-mate.
Andersen's price will ultimately determine whether managers in Fantasy will have any budget options among the Fulham defence.
For example, if he's priced at £5.0m, then you might expect the full-backs to be £0.5m cheaper.
It's uncertain at present who will be Fulham's first-choice full-backs this season, though, after Alvaro Arbeloa replaced Marco Silva as head coach.
Ryan Sessegnon looks very likely to be reclassified from a midfielder to a defender in Fantasy this season after featuring as a left-back in the previous campaign.
Antonee Robinson is his main competition for the left-back berth, while Kenny Tete and Timothy Castagne are positional rivals on the right.
For Spurs, their two new centre-backs, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke, are likely to cost more than £5.0m after their strong displays for AFC Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion in 2025/26.
And the same can be said for right-back Pedro Porro, who offers far too much potential at both ends of the pitch.
But it could be at left-back where the value is here, if one of Andrew Robertson, Destiny Udogie or Djed Spence can secure regular starts in Spurs' first full season under Roberto De Zerbi.
There's even an argument that Spurs' first-choice goalkeeper - whether it's Antonin Kinsky or Guglielmo Vicario - could merit a move into the budget bracket due to the club's recent defensive record.
In 2024/25, Spurs conceded 65 goals - the fifth-most in the league - while their total of 57 against last season was better only than the three relegated clubs.
Next: Bournemouth and Everton
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