FPL Gameweek 6 – Wildcard Special

Greetings, one and all, and welcome to your full and frank Gameweek 6 FPL preview. It’s a pretty packed edition this week, mostly driven by Wildcard Fever, which both James and I have caught here at Full 90 FPL. 

So, without any further waffling from me (Joe), let’s get stuck straight into it!

News Roundup

As usual, we’ve got a few pesky injury question marks heading into Gameweek 6. Let’s whip through the ones that are actually relevant to FPL:

• Joao Pedro is definitely out. We’ve got no idea how long for. He’s a pain to replace with another forward, since he’s so cheap, but if you can get up to a Solanke/Jackson I’d pull the trigger. I like Wood and DCL closer to his price point too, in that order

• Rodri is out for ages. He’s not relevant in regular FPL, but certainly is in Draft. If you’re an owner… firstly, sorry for your loss, but also, time to make a move!

• Raya missed Arsenal’s midweek League Cup game. This came as no surprise whatsoever. Keep an eye out for updates, but I’d be pretty surprised if he wasn’t playing again at the weekend

• Everton defenders are finally returning to fitness. I still want no part of Pickford et al for now, but they could finally sort themselves out in the near future

• Gibbs-White is suspended this week. If you were looking to sell anyway, now’s your chance! Semenyo and ESR are great replacements, but I wouldn’t take Barnes or Mitoma due to fixtures

Gameweek 6 Wildcard

Quite a few people – including proper FPL experts, not wannabes like myself – have already played their wildcards. 

Gameweeks 5 and 6 had been earmarked for this since the preseason. That was largely because of fixture swings, piling on Arsenal after their Spurs/City double-up being the most obvious example. 

I’d never normally play my first wildcard this early. Never ever ever, not even close. The new FPL rule changes (explained here) have been a game-changer, though. 

To recap, you can now not only bank up to five free transfers, but keep them through your wildcard (before, you’d lose whatever transfers you’d banked). You can basically do a full wildcard, then do a mini-wildcard of five transfers fairly soon after. 

TLDR: the wildcard is still important, but not as massively important as it was before. So, I don’t mind using it earlier than usual. 

(Also I’m off to a shocking start to the season, with 90% of the blame going to not having Haaland… so I’d like to fix that right now!). 

Wildcard Drafts

Right, let’s get into it. 

James and I are both wildcarding this week. Many messages have been sent, many drafts have been exchanged. Neither of us are completely set on our teams yet, but here are the current thoughts. 

These are our absolute locks:

• Haaland
• Saka
• Mbeumo
• Semenyo

We both initially had Raya. Neither of us have him now, mostly because of the injury doubt. There’s also an argument to be made that the three Arsenal slots are better spent elsewhere (doubling up on defenders, or having Havertz, plus Saka obviously). 

(We’ve also both got a non-playing backup GK, and an enabler 4.0 defender). 

 —

I have two main drafts: a 3-4-3, and a 4-5-2. 

Here’s the 3-4-3, which was my original preference:

It’s not super-exciting, but it’s a very solid all-round team. In defence I start Gabriel, Konate, and one of Konsa or Robinson. Midfield is Rogers as an excellent backup on the bench. I love all three forwards. 

Havertz could be dropped to Jackson, to save 0.4… but that gives me 0.6, and there’s nowhere I’d be desperate to spend it. I could get from Eze up to Bowen, but I don’t feel strongly about that. I could get Rogers up to ESR, but I probably wouldn’t start him anyway, so what’s the point? 

So, it’s not perfect, but it’s solid. 

Here’s the 3-5-2:

Initially, I wanted three forwards because it seemed more fun. But, this is probably a better all-round team. 

Havertz basically becomes Bowen in the starting lineup, which is a big drop-off (unless and until Bowen gets back to his usual form). But, it does also get me the Arsenal double-up at the back. I love the idea of starting Gabriel, Saliba, and Konate every week, and just not worrying about rotations, etc. 

Between Bowen and Eze, I’m also confident that at least one of them will turn things around pretty soon. 

I’ve got 0.2 to spare here, which is exactly enough to do Jackson over Solanke. I haven’t got strong feelings about this either way – I think both should be excellent. Jackson has shown us more this season (though Solanke has obviously been injured), but plays fewer minutes. Also Chelsea’s fixtures turn from GW8 onwards, while Spurs’ fixtures are fine indefinitely. So, I’m leaning Solanke. 

I also feel like I’m spending my money better here. It’s all going on the pitch, every week. 

I couldn’t help myself, so here’s a bonus Haaland and Salah draft:

Hey, it’s fun!

Obviously the defence doesn’t look great. But there are very few good attacking defenders, and outside of Arsenal and Liverpool, we’re basically gambling on cleans anyway. 

Wood isn’t a sexy pick… but he got 14 goals last season, and already has 3 this year. 

A starting midfield of Salah, Saka, Eze and Semenyo feels pretty good to me! 

Oh yeah, and we get the two players who are almost certainly going to finish 1 and 2 in FPL scoring. Let’s not forget, Salah has also been getting a ton of points already this season.

Also, since we can bank so many transfers this year, pivoting out of it by selling Salah – if necessary – would be much easier than usual. 

Would I do this myself? … Probably not, but it’s an exciting proposition! 

Best Upcoming FPL Fixtures

Okay, back to our regular schedule! Here’s a look at the five sides with the best upcoming FPL fixtures. 

(Home games are in all-caps)

• God, I wish Everton weren’t rubbish at the back. They’re not the most amazing fixtures at the back, but they’re pretty tasty. I don’t mind taking a chance on DCL either, looking at these games
• Really nice defensive fixtures for Brentford. West Ham and Wolves aren’t exactly locking teams down either right now. Mbeumo is an easy lock in my wildcard, and I’d be happy to get him on a regular transfer too
• West Ham aren’t looking great… but also have lost to City, Chelsea, and Liverpool (in the League Cup) so far, so let’s not overreact. All of these except Spurs are fine defensive fixtures. I don’t love them for attackers, but Bowen’s the only attacker I’d consider anyway, and he’s pretty fixture proof
• City fixtures are generally irrelevant. They don’t keep cleans, and – between rotation and lack of returns – you’re not getting any attackers except Haaland anyway
• I’d also call Villa pretty fixture-proof nowadays, since they’re such a good, direct, counter-attacking team, and are generally solid at the back. Hold Watkins for Ipswich (and Man U at home), and the next three games all look good defensively

Should I Buy?

Let’s look through the most-bought players in FPL, ahead of Gameweek 6, and make a damning verdict on whether we are or aren’t interested.

A quick note: the list is completely skewed this week, because there are so many people wildcarding. So, a lot of the most-bought players are just very obvious, safe picks. 

So, fair warning – there will be more ‘Yes’ votes than normal!

• Luis Diaz – Yes. I’m not taking him personally, because of the minutes… but he’s been smashing it anyway, despite getting subbed-off early
• Gabriel – Yes. An Arsenal defender is must-own, with the upcoming fixtures, and – despite being a CB – he’s your best shot at attacking returns 
• Mbeumo – Yes. A lock in my wildcard. He’s great, nailed, on pens, has the underlying stats… just generally an excellent pick!
• N. Jackson – Yes. Again, minutes are a slight concern – even more so when Nkunku has been scoring recently. I also don’t love his fixtures. All that said, he’s been scoring consistently for ages now, Chelsea look solid, his underlying numbers are excellent, and he’ll at least be starting the next few games. 
• Saka – Yes. Obviously. 
• Raya – No, at the time of writing, since we don’t know if he’s playing this weekend. You shouldn’t not only make a keeper transfer, but do it for the most expensive keeper in the game, when he’s an injury risk. If he’s passed fit, he’s easily the best GK option in FPL, and is still worth it at his hefty price
• Smith Rowe – Maybe. Hold him if you’ve got him, obviously. But if you don’t have either, I’d rather have Semenyo, especially with Fulham playing City and Villa after Forest (who are also good defensively)
• Sanchez – No. Chelsea’s defensive fixtures turn from GW8 onwards – Liverpool, Newcastle, Man U, Arsenal, all back to back
• Semenyo – Yes. Excellent value, very good underlying stats, and is returning too
• Wood – Yes, if you need someone at that price range. I prefer him over DCL, Welbeck, and Duran
• Rogers – Maybe. He’s obviously cheap, nailed for a good team, and has decent underlying numbers. The only question is… are you actually going to be confident starting him every week? If you do need an actual starter, I much prefer Semenyo
• Greaves – He’s just in here as a 4.0 enabler for wildcard teams (which is exactly the role he’s serving for me, too!)
• Havertz – Yes. He’s great, Arsenal have excellent fixtures, he’s absolutely nailed. That said, I don’t see a big gap between him and Jackson or Solanke, if you want to save some money
• Mazraoui – No. Man U play Spurs and Villa now, neither of which should be a clean
• DCL – Maybe. I don’t hate him as a third forward, either starting in a 3-4-3 or to rotate in. I’d slightly prefer Wood in general, and DCL will obviously get injured at some point anyway… but until then, he’s fine!
• Duran – No. He’s done brilliantly, but you can’t take someone who’s playing 25 mins per game over Wood or DCL, both of whom are cheaper
• Konate – Yes. The cheapest way into Liverpool’s excellent defence

Should I Sell?

Okay, that’s more than enough positivity. Just look at all those ‘yes’ votes above – disgusting! The Most Sold list, on the official FPL website, is far more interesting, with players clearing the decks in their droves to free up their wildcard slots. 

• Isak – Yes on a wildcard, since there are three excellent, cheaper options (Kai, Jackson, Solanke). Maybe not, if you’re not wildcarding – I’d just accept the City fixture, and get ready to start him again for Everton’s rubbish defence after
• Jota – Yes. I just wouldn’t want to deal with the rotation headache. Nunez started last week, and scored. Jota started mid-week, and scored twice. We’ve got no idea who’s starting this week, and there are too many good alternatives around his price point (Mbeumo, Eze, Bowen, etc.)
• J Pedro – Yes. He’s definitely injured
• Salah – On a wildcard… yes, reluctantly. He’s got 3 goals and 4 assists already… but he’s just so expensive, and you probably need Haaland plus at least a couple of expensive defenders, so he’s just difficult to afford. Not on a wildcard, no… unless you absolutely have to do it for Haaland
• Eze – Maybe. Personally, I’m keeping the faith. It’s incredibly annoying that he’s only got one return so far. But he’s come so, so close many other times to scoring, and his underlying stats remain good. The Palace attack has looked worryingly bad in general, but I’d back him personally to turn things around
• Gordon – Yes. I’m sure he’ll come good at some point, but he’s just not returning currently, has City this week, and is more expensive than Mbeumo, who is miles better
• Porro – Maybe. I personally am selling, on my wildcard, and feel fine about it. Spurs just aren’t keeping cleans, and neither his returns or underlying stats have been good. I’d much rather gamble on Timber at this price, drop down to Konate, or get up to Gabriel/Saliba/Robertson
• Gvardiol – Yes. I say it every week, and it keeps being true – I don’t care about their xGC or whatever, City just don’t keep a lot of cleans! 
• Alisson – Yes if he’s injured. No if he isn’t. Pretty straightforward!
• Saliba – No. Obviously not. This was easily the weirdest entry on the Most Sold list this week
• Madueke – Yes. James and I both cautioned against him at the time. He has precisely 0 returns outside of that random hat trick against Wolves 
• De Bruyne – Yes. Far too much money to be spending on an injury doubt, especially before a potentially tricky fixture. There are just too many good cheaper midfield options
• Palmer – No. If you’re on a wildcard then I get it, since you probably want to spread that money around. If not, he’s an easy hold
• Vardy – Yes. You can’t trust him enough to start him, and you’re not playing him against Arsenal anyway. If you’re rotating a third forward (or playing three), I prefer Wood and DCL

Captaincy Corner

It’s Haaland. It’s always Haaland. 

For safer captaincy, Salah is the top alternative as usual. If you don’t have him, Saka will almost certainly return against Leicester, and Palmer against Brighton is also incredibly safe. 

The strikers are more fun picks – Watkins vs Ipswich, Jackson vs Brighton, and Havertz vs Leicester.

Final Thoughts

Long one, this week! 

For those who stuck with it throughout, your commitment is much-appreciated. For those who didn’t, you’re not reading this anyway, by definition. 

I’ll sign off with a blatant plug for our Reddit profile, where we post articles, have healthy, respectful debates with other users, and so on. With that done, best of luck in Gameweek 6, everybody!