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Welcome to Gameweek 6 of the FPL season, RotoBallers! This is the third year covering FPL on the site, and we are bringing you more coverage than ever before. We will publish the Gameweek Preview, consisting of a Staff Roundtable and our weekly rankings every week. Then, once a month, we will publish our newest article, The Watchlist, a review of the previous month and a look ahead to the upcoming fixtures.
Five gameweeks down, 33 more to go. With eight Premier League teams involved in European competitions, the schedule is split over two days with five games each. On Saturday, there are three-afternoon games, an early-evening match, and a late-night game. Then, on Sunday, it's a similar schedule with four-afternoon games, and then the weekend wraps up with Newcastle traveling to Sheffield.
The Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 6 deadline is 8:30 AM EST on Saturday, September 23, for three Premier League games. Also, look out for the rest of our excellent soccer coverage as the squad gets you all set for every English Premier League, Major League Soccer, and UEFA Champions League slate from a DFS and betting perspective.
Fantasy Premier League Staff Roundtable - Gameweek 6 Preview
The Staff Roundtable is an attempt to get you inside the mind of our FPL staff. Our top soccer writers will answer questions each gameweek to give you an idea of how they view the games. So, without further ado, let’s kick off Gameweek 6!
European competitions began this week. Does this make you more cautious with your FPL transfers?
- Euan Leith: I won't make any early transfers when there are midweek European games. The benefit of gaining £0.1million for your squad is not worth the risk of that player picking up an injury. I usually don't make early transfers anyway because I want to hear what the managers say in their press conferences.
- Jamie Steed: A little bit more cautious. It does make it all the more important to delay making a transfer until later in the week, though. There’s nothing more frustrating in FPL than bringing in a new player on Tuesday, only to see them limp off in Wednesday night’s Champions League game.
It was a weekend of big-name blanks in the FPL world. Which of the big names has you the most worried?
- Euan: Man United looked lost as they fell to Brighton last weekend, and the alarm bells should be ringing at Old Trafford. I have Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes in my squad, and my thinking is to downgrade one of them and try to get the funds to bring Mohamed Salah as a replacement for the other throughout the next two gameweeks.
- Jamie: Manchester United’s dismal start is a significant concern. Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes have both been disappointments and if we consider that 12 of the 19 points Fernandes has come in one game, 80% of his appearances have been duds. I can’t trust any Red Devil right now.
Chelsea’s run of easy fixtures is coming to a close. Is it time to cross the (Stamford) bridge and let go of their assets?
- Euan: Yep. I'm done with Chelsea. They fooled us with a comfortable victory over Luton Town, but these days, the Blues look befuddled on the pitch. Ben Chilwell's benching means he is on the chopping block, but he must get behind Nicholas Jackson. Jackson to Julian Alvarez is a transfer that makes far too much sense this week if you don't have any other fires to extinguish.
- Jamie: In an attacking sense, yes. I still don’t think they know what their best forward line is. I’d still hold defensively, as they have shown some semblance of defensive solidity with two clean sheets.
Mo Salah has returned in 11 consecutive games. Have we overlooked the Egyptian King in our FPL squads?
- Euan: I began the 2023/24 Fantasy Premier League campaign with him on my side for Gameweeks 1 and 2. I removed him for Bruno Fernandes and some cash in the back. It's probably been my biggest (early) mistake of the season. Mo Salah would undoubtedly be in my new squad if I were activating my Wildcard this week.
- Jamie: Yes, but the problem is with Erling Haaland. The City striker is over 90% rostered, so having him on your team is essential. If you also go with Salah, that’s over a quarter of your budget on two players. Given there are five other midfielders to have scored between 30-35 points, you can make do without Salah. Haaland already has eight more points than the second-highest-scoring striker.
FPL managers seem far more willing to go against Erling Haaland when he plays on the road. Do you feel like this is a viable long-term strategy?
- Euan: I've gone against him twice, and it does not feel good. Haaland's expected Goals numbers are too great to ignore. It's been incredibly fortunate to go unpunished by the Norwegian, and I doubt I'll do that as we progress through the season.
- Jamie: There will be games where Haaland scores two or more on his travels. Last season, he failed to score in six home games and six away games. Yet, 22 of his 36 goals came at home. He’s more likely to bag a big-points haul at home, but on the road, not captaining him when he scores once will be less damaging and worth risking when you have a good alternative.
Who is keeping a clean sheet in Gameweek 6?
- Euan: Coming off a fantastic point against AC Milan at the San Siro, I expect Newcastle to batten down the hatches against Sheffield United. Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, and Fabian Schar should be looking at a six-point minimum this weekend.
- Jamie: Brentford at home to Everton feels like an obvious choice. Despite Brentford conceding in all three home games, seven of their 12 clean sheets last season came at home. Everton has blanked in four of their five games this season and barely laid a glove on Arsenal last weekend.
Which defensive player is providing an attacking return?
- Euan: Andy Robertson bagged the winning goal for Liverpool in their comeback effort over Wolves last weekend. It should spur on the Scotsman for a few more returns this season. He's got corner-taking duties under his belt, and Virgil Van Dijk returns to the Anfield eleven this weekend. A connection between the savvy Scot and the flying Dutchman feels on the cards.
- Jamie: This feels like a good week for Kieran Trippier to notch his first goal involvement of the season. His 21 shot-creating actions are the most among defenders, and he faces a Sheffield United side that’s conceded two set-piece goals in five games so far.
Who's a midfielder or forward rostered on less than 10 percent of teams that will grab us those FPL points?
- Euan: Alexander Isak started for Newcastle in Tuesday's game against AC Milan. This should open the door for Callum Wilson to grab his second start of the campaign. The leading man at St. James Park is in 5.4 percent of squads but already has three goals this season. His 2.44 xG is ninth-best in the league, but he's played far fewer minutes than the remaining eight layers ahead of him.
- Jamie: Pascal Groß (2.8%) has two goals in his last three games and goes up against a Bournemouth team seeking a first league win. Bournemouth’s high-press style has yet to yield much success. It could play into Brighton’s hands perfectly if they can break through the lines, as they’ve been adept at doing. That lends itself to another big Brighton win. Only three players in the EPL have had more shot-creating actions than Groß (27).
Who is the player you want to, but can’t, have for the Gameweek 6 fixtures in Fantasy Premier League?
- Euan: Matty Cash from Aston Villa is staring me right in the face, but I don't need to get him in now. The Villa defender is playing in a very advanced role this season and is well worth his £4.7m price tag.
- Jamie: Due to yet another defensive injury, I’ve had to make changes in my backline, meaning I can’t bring in another Brighton player. Groß or Solly March would be my choices, and Evan Ferguson is someone I’d love to see have a run of starts. With Brighton’s Europa League campaign getting underway on Thursday, it may turn out to be a blessing if I can’t bring any in.
Who's getting the Captain's armband?
- Euan: His name is Erling Haaland.
- Jamie: Erling Haaland is my choice this week. It’ll only be the second time I’m captaining him this season, with the last time seeing him bag 40 points for me with the armband.
Finally, what’s your bold prediction for Gameweek 6?
- Euan: Burnley and Vincent Kompany pull off an upset and turn the heat up on Erik Ten Hag's seat at Manchester United. Also, the North London derby will feature at least five goals and help FPL managers erase the painful memories of the low-scoring Gameweek 5.
- Jamie: It feels like Manchester City will open up a sizeable gap at the top already, with Liverpool stumbling against West Ham United and Arsenal sharing the spoils with Tottenham. Vincent Kompany masterminding a Burnley result against Manchester United is also on the cards.
Is there a question you would like to have answered every week? Hit us up on Twitter @RotoBaller. We would love to hear your feedback and ideas!
