FPL: Top 5 FPL Players To Watch For Gameweek 6

As the midweek games come to a close and normal service resumes over the weekend, quick deadlines are once again afoot.

We make your job easier and analyse the 5 best picks for your FPL teams for gameweek 6 of the season, with incoming European games in mind that could have an impact on players’ minutes.

Also read: FPL: TFTWC FPL Analytics Report (Part I) – GW 1 to GW 4

5. Jack Harrison (£6.1m)

Leeds suffered a huge blow to their season as Rodrigo walked off injured with a dislocated shoulder after just 31 minutes in their 1-1 draw against Everton at Elland Road.

The Spaniard, who has been in excellent form, needed someone else to take over the goalscoring mantle as Luis Sinisterra stepped up scoring Leeds’ solitary goal with manager Jesse Marsch looking to find answers with both his forwards out with injuries now.

However, with 3 consecutive assists in his first 3 games of the season and a goal as well, midfielder Jack Harrison has had a very good start to the campaign and provided much needed attacking impetus for Leeds in the absence of Patrick Bamford. He will now have to do the same again in the absence of Rodrigo.

Despite firing blanks in the last 2 games, Harrison will hope to take more goalscoring initiative along with Sinisterra and capitalize on Leeds’ comparatively easier fixture list over the next 5 gameweeks. At such a low price point, and with an NPxG+A per 90 of 0.55 in his last 5 games, he’s a great direct replacement for Rodrigo.

4. Julian Alvarez (£6.2m)

Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez put on quite a show in midweek with both forwards sharing 5 goals between themselves in Man City’s 6-0 rout of Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium.

With Haaland scoring a hat trick in consecutive games and setting records already, you might wonder if Alvarez warrants a valuable City spot and if he will even get minutes at the weekend. However, with the UCL campaign starting and 3 big games in the space of 8 days, the Norwegian is due a rest against struggling Aston Villa.

Over the weeks several FPL managers have struggled to use their free transfers due to a template being set with an abundance of options this season. But for those of you looking to burn a free transfer this weekend and searching for avenues to get ahead in your mini leagues before wildcarding soon, he could be the perfect 1-gameweek punt at just £6.2m.

Julian Alvarez's game by numbers:

92% passing accuracy
5 touches in the opp. box
5 shots
3 shots on target
2 goals
0.6 xG

Another string in Pep's bow. 🏹 pic.twitter.com/N36V8B14zG

— Squawka (@Squawka) August 31, 2022

With Kevin de Bruyne expected to start against Villa, Alvarez will have due service as he’ll look to go one better on his performance against Forest where he had 5 shots with 3 being on target, and an xG of 0.6. Villa are a team searching for answers at the moment, and City could be at their ruthless best once again.

3. Alexander Isak (£7.0m)

Newcastle’s new record signing Alexander Isak impressed against Liverpool at Anfield as he scored his first Premier League goal against the Reds. He was ever so close to bagging another one if not for a very tight offside call, but the finish was exquisite nevertheless.

Isak took 4 shots in the game which was most of any player in the match at an xG of 0.5. He is not just a developing marksman, but also a smooth dribbler, as evidenced by his stats in previous seasons where he’s made 4.34 progressive carries and 1.83 dribbles completed per 90 minutes, indicating his potential for assists as well.

With 3 of Newcastle’s next 5 games against teams in the bottom half and the other 2 against Brentford and newly promoted Fulham, the fixtures are there for the taking.

Callum Wilson’s injury also puts Isak as the firm favourite to start the next few games, which makes it all the more tempting for FPL managers to fit him into your teams.

2. Wilfried Zaha (£7.1m)

Wilfried Zaha marked his return to Crystal Palace’s starting eleven with a goal against Brentford as the Eagles were held to a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park.

After missing the last game against Man City through a minor knock, he showed no signs of slowing down as he registered his 4th goal of the season in as many starts. He’s scored 28 points so far in the game at the rate of 7 points per game.

The Ivorian who is in the final year of his contract with Palace, has been a man on a mission this season with his blistering form as he has an xG of 0.66 per 90, and an xA of 0.28 per 90.

Adding to this, a combined NPxG of 0.70 really makes him a standout asset in midfield, especially considering Palace’s easier run of games as compared to the difficult fixtures they had at the start of the season.

1. Ivan Toney (£7.2m)

There has been a surge this season in the number of options for the third forward spot as FPL managers are faced with an embarrassment of riches to complement Haaland, Kane, and/or Jesus.

Brentford striker Ivan Toney is one of those strikers who has impressed and continued his good form from last season as the Bees look to better their league position this time around.

Brentford are 5th for xG this season, and with favourable fixtures on the horizon, Toney is our top pick for this gameweek.

Since the start of this season, he’s scored 2 goals and bagged 2 assists along the way as well. Amassing an xG per 90 of 0.44 so far, and the fact that he’s on penalties only increases his chances of a points haul.

The West London club play Leeds who have only kept one cleansheet in 5 games so far, making this a game in which Toney could score or assist and bring home the points.