A major doubt in the minds of millions of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers is starting to creep in as the 2024/25 Premier League gets nearer. With just two weeks remaining before the new campaign begins, a lot of managers are confused on which players are best suited to give them an ideal early boost in the first phase of the season.
But a risk that everyone should be wary of is not to fall into an FPL trap. For those unknowing, an FPL trap normally refers to players who appear to have attractive fixtures ahead but with an element of risk in picking up. Basically, this is when players are lured into a false sense of security into picking certain prominent names with attractive (aka green) fixtures where the general belief is they’ll earn a high return.
On paper, some players might look pleasing options with the potential to give a huge points boost in the first few weeks. But they could be turn out to be a failed gamble because of certain factors pertaining to their opening fixtures, form or other reasons. Here are some of the biggest FPL traps heading into the opening game-week of the 2024/25 FPL season.
Marcus Rashford
At 7.0, Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford remains a favored pick. He might’ve had a shaky 2023/24 campaign, but some factors might be reason for his popularity. Rashford didn’t participate in the Euro 2024 and should be sharp after a summer of rest. He contributed 24 goals (17 goals, 7 assists) in the 2022/23 season and is a goal-scoring winger. Rashford can be a menace when in form, being a vocal point of the Red Devils’ attack.
But a major reason he’s a gamble is because of the uncertainty around him. There is no guarantee that Rashford will be a regular starter now that Joshua Zirkzee has joined. Alejandro Garnacho is a natural on the left-wing, while Amad Diallo has impressed in pre-season so far.
Phil Foden
Phil Foden was one of the major reasons for Manchester City’s title win in the 2023/24 Premier League season. That’s why even at 9.5, he’s already picked by over 32% of the FPL managers. Yet he also falls into the ‘FPL trap’ category. Foden had a really poor Euro 2024 campaign and despite featuring in every game, he couldn’t contribute a single goal for England.
He looked uncharacteristically ineffective and will join the Cityzens’ squad later than usual due to his vacation. Foden might take time to regain match sharpness and operate at the high level Pep Guardiola prefers his squad. That is why spending that much on a midfielder like him might end up being a bad investment and give a relatively low return for managers.
Bukayo Saka
With 28 goal contributions (16 goals, 12 assists), Bukayo Saka had a dream 2023/24 Premier League season. He’s been given a hefty 10.0 value as a result and Arsenal fans are hopeful he can do even better in the upcoming campaign.
For that value, Saka is actually a risk unless he can contribute in every game. The Gunners have a slightly tricky start to the 2024/25 campaign, with away games against Manchester City, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur in their first six games. With little preseason practice with Arsenal due to his exhaustive Euro 2024 campaign, Saka might need time to hit top gear. At a similar price-tag, Chelsea’s creator-in-chief or goal-scoring Cole Palmer is a better investment.
Cody Gakpo
Cody Gakpo’s heroics in Euro 2024 raised some eyebrows among fans. He scored three goals in five matches for the Dutch, excelling in that left-wing role. That has gotten many Liverpool supporters excited in hope that Gakpo taps into his best under Arne Slot.
But with just 15 goals in 56 Premier League games so far, Cody has looked shaky in the physical English game. His 7.5 might be attractive, but the Dutchman’s unlikely to play in that centre-forward role or have as much goal-scoring influence as Mo Salah, making him a potential early trap.
Pedro Porro
Porro was one of the most prolific defenders in FPL last season, scoring three goals and providing eight assists. That’s why even at 5.5, he remains a popular pick ahead of the 2024/25 season. But this could be a tricky pick in the early part of the campaign.
Even though 25% of FPL managers own Porro, I'm likely to ignore him.
Spurs kept just 7 clean sheets last season & had poor defensive data.
Under the new bonus rules, Porro is unlikely to earn bonus points from just an attacking return without a clean sheet pic.twitter.com/Zadz2WyF0f
In his first 10 appearances last season, Porro only had one assist. Spurs also have some tricky fixtures early on, including away games against Newcastle United, Manchester United and Brighton in the first seven games. Historically, Porro has not been a sharp starter in a campaign and if compelled to sign a Spurs defender, Micky van de Ven is a better option at 4.5.
Kai Havertz
In what turned out to be an impressive debut campaign at Arsenal, Kai Havertz proved to be a smart economical FPL pick last season. He mostly played as a centre-forward while being listed as a midfielder and his 23 goal contributions (13 goals, 10 assists) earned big points (180).
This time, Havertz is listed as a forward. He’s been priced at around 8.0, and isn’t the kind of forward the entire play revolves around at Arsenal. If his penalty miss in the friendly against Manchester United might recently hint at a slow start to the 2024/25 season, which makes him an FPL trap in the early weeks.
Robert Sanchez
Amid reports that Enzo Maresca wants him as the Chelsea no.1 in his first season, Robert Sanchez has become a popular figure in the FPL. At 4.5, he’s cheap and cuts the need to buy a Chelsea defender.
Picking a £4.5m goalkeeper feels really tough this season
Flekken – bad fixtures to start Areola – questionable defense Verbruggen – injured Sanchez – likely signing a new GK Sá – bad defense and fixtures Miguel/Sels – who starts?
But Sanchez has had a shaky start in pre-season under Maresca, recently conceding four goals to Celtic. He only kept three clean sheets last season and is prone to making occasional errors and is behind a Chelsea backline lacking experience or a proper leader after Thiago Silva’s departure.
Josko Gvardiol
At 6.0, Josko Gvardio ios among the most expensive defenders in the 2024/25 FPL. That is mostly as he had six goal contributions (including four goals) last season and helped his side earn nine clean sheets in 26 starts.
Even though Gvardiol has transcended into a starter in Pep Guardiola’s side, this price is way too expensive for a defender. He’s not guaranteed goals or assist every other game (like Trent Alexander-Arnold) and the arrival of savvy, electric winger Savio might urge Guardiola to make Gvardiol focus on his defensive work than contributing goals.
Eberechi Eze
Picked by a whopping 33+% managers so far, Eberechi Eze has seen his heroics in the 2023/24 season recognized on a grander scale. He scored 11 goals for Crystal Palace, finishing the campaign with a bang. At 7.0, Eze might look attractive on paper but the Eagles’ early fixtures are a bit tricky.
Their first few away games (Brentford, Everton and Chelsea) are against stubborn backlines and competitive full-backs who can neutralize Eze’s free-flowing style. Last season, Eze had just one goal in his first eight Premier League appearances and has often been a slow starter – which is why he could turn up as a major gamble.
Joao Pedro
Joao Pedro has emerged as a popular cheap forward pick ahead of the 2024/25 season after notching up 100+ points last season. There are attractive traits to him. Pedro is Brighton’s primary penalty taker and a combative ‘modern’ forward who can link up moves and also be a goal threat inside the box. But the reason why Pedro is a massive FPL trap is his lack of consistency.
Last season, he only scored in consecutive league matches once in the entire campaign. In Brighton’s first 12 games, he only managed two goals. With the Seagulls likely to play a new system under Fabian Hurzelar, the Brazilian forward could experience problems in adapting to the changes and have a slow start in the new era.
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