Newcastle United fans are enjoying life back in the Premier League and are setting the pace in Fantasy.
The average score in their supporters league leads the other 19 clubs, and they also boast the world's top manager, Matthew Barrick.
A strong backing for the two big strikers – Romelu Lukaku (£11.8m) and Harry Kane (£12.7m) – has inspired their start to the campaign, while the Magpies' Rob Elliot (£4.1m) is their next most-selected player.
Some 41.9% of Newcastle-supporting managers have put faith in their own goalkeeper, compared with Elliot's overall ownership of 24.9%.
Tottenham Hotspur fans are giving chase in second, with Kane's recent form a factor in their surge.
The striker is owned by 65.5% of Spurs supporters, compared with 37.6% across the game overall.
Even Arsenal fans are being forced to embrace Kane's points boom.
He is owned by 33.9% of Gunners supporters, though Alexandre Lacazette (£10.4m) – part of 37.3% of squads – is still their favoured striker after Lukaku (53.5%).
The Belgian appears to be regarded fondly by his former fans. Lukaku has been selected by 62.9% of those in the Everton supporters league.
Toffees fan and reigning FPL champion Ben Crabtree captured last season's crown without owning a single Liverpool player.
But his fellow Everton supporters do not appear to be risking such a policy.
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (£9.2m) is part of 22.5% of their squads, more than any Everton outfield player, with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (£5.0m and 25.2%) their top pick.
Manchester United fans have shown far more faith in their own line-up.
Their top three most-owned players are all part of Jose Mourinho's regulars, with Lukaku found in 78.5% of their squads.
Meanwhile, Manchester City supporters have also swallowed their pride to back their rivals' options.
Lukaku and David De Gea (£5.6m) are the two most popular players in their league.
Some 33.2% own the Spanish goalkeeper, with Man City's own No 1 Ederson (£5.5m) part of just 11.2% of their squads.
De Gea is the top-scoring goalkeeper in the game on 42 points but he has failed to revive the fortunes of Man City supporters.
Their team may sit on top of the Premier League table, but their managers are languishing bottom in Fantasy.
FPL supporters league standings
Team | Average points |
---|---|
Newcastle United | 348.1 |
Tottenham Hotspur | 344.2 |
West Ham United | 343.8 |
Watford | 343.5 |
Manchester United | 343.4 |
West Bromwich Albion | 342.8 |
Brighton & Hove Albion | 341.1 |
Huddersfield Town | 341.1 |
Southampton | 341.0 |
Swansea City | 341.0 |
Everton | 339.6 |
Stoke City | 338.6 |
AFC Bournemouth | 338.0 |
Leicester City | 336.1 |
Liverpool | 335.4 |
Burnley | 334.9 |
Arsenal | 334.2 |
Crystal Palace | 333.9 |
Chelsea | 329.0 |
Manchester City | 327.7 |