The Scout assesses the sides with the most favourable opening schedules in 2022/23 Fantasy Premier League.
Manchester City
A very favourable run of opening opponents lifts the appeal of the champions’ key players at both ends of the pitch.
Man City's opening GWs
| GW | Fixture |
| 1 | WHU (A) |
| 2 | BOU (H) |
| 3 | NEW (A) |
| 4 | CRY (H) |
| 5 | NFO (H) |
| 6 | AVL (A) |
Man City are the only side to avoid all of last season’s top six sides in the first six Gameweeks, with home matches against AFC Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest offering huge captaincy potential in Fantasy.
The Scout has picked out three City players who are worthy of particular consideration.
Joao Cancelo
The Portuguese full-back was City’s top-scoring player in Fantasy in 2021/22 thanks to his many routes to returns.
Cancelo placed fifth in the overall standings on 201 points, combining one goal and 11 assists with 19 clean sheets and 27 bonus points.
He was one of his side’s most reliable players for huge hauls, with his six double-figure scores second only to Kevin De Bruyne.
Cancelo’s 81 shots were more than any team-mate last term and at least 30 more than any other defender in Fantasy.
Best of Cancelo 2021/22
The very best of our flying Portuguese full-back! 🇵🇹💫#ManCity pic.twitter.com/PfXaHbET3Z
— Manchester City (@ManCity) June 7, 2022
Kevin De Bruyne
The midfielder enjoyed an outstanding second half of 2021/22 after injury restricted him to only five starts in the first 16 matches.
De Bruyne's total of 165 points from Gameweek 17 was second only to the 177 of Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min among all players.
The Belgian playmaker's 15 goals last term was a career-high tally, and he can be expected to improve upon his eight assists following the signing of prolific forward Erling Haaland.
De Bruyne’s average of 7.6 points per start last term was a team-leading total, underlining his appeal as a major captain option for the opening set of fixtures.
De Bruyne's four goals v Wolves
The best bits from our huge win at Molineux 💪
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 11, 2022
Which goal was your favourite? 👇#ManCity pic.twitter.com/vLnWnNKdaq
Erling Haaland
Man City’s schedule gives the Norwegian the chance to quickly establish himself as the go-to premium forward in 2022/23 Fantasy.
Haaland produced 49 goals and 13 assists in 52 Bundesliga appearances for Borussia Dortmund in the last two seasons.
He has also been a big success in the UEFA Champions League, scoring 13 goals and supplying two assists in his 11 appearances for Dortmund.
If he is also handed penalty-taking duties ahead of Riyad Mahrez, Haaland could become impossible to ignore.
Also in this series
Part 2: Invest early in Liverpool trio
Part 3: Arsenal can make fast start
Part 4: Double up on Chelsea duo
Part 5: Wolves trio can reward owners