FPL Gameweek 6 Positional Review: Forwards

Erling Haaland is the standout FPL forward, but several cheaper options could rival midfielders for value this season.

In this blog, we analyse the first five Gameweeks to identify the best forward picks for the weeks ahead, uncover potential hidden gems and explore the Elite XI managers’ Wildcard plans.

Planning a wider squad refresh?

Read our Gameweek 6 positional reviews of the best FPL defenders and best FPL midfielders to compare options across your team.

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Expected FPL Points Review: Haaland Reigns Supreme

As the Stats Sandbox image below shows, Erling Haaland leads all players for Expected FPL Points (xFPL), with 39.82.

FPL’s most expensive player also leads the way across all positions for shots (20), shots on target (10), shots in the box (19), big chances (nine) and Expected Goals (xG), with 4.73.

Alexander Isak looks to have found his feet at Liverpool. The Swedish international has scored four goals in the opening five matches and ranks second among forwards for xFPL (32.40).

However, Isak’s fitness needs monitoring ahead of Gameweek 6 after he withdrew from international duty through injury.

João Pedro’s availability is also uncertain, but the Brazilian has made an impressive start to the campaign with three goals and three assists. He ranks third among forwards for xFPL (28.54).

Thierno Barry’s numbers also catch the eye. The 23-year-old has registered 28.28 xFPL but has just 20 FPL points to show for it. Across all positions, only Haaland has recorded more big chances than Barry’s eight or a higher xG total than his 3.84.

Which Forwards Offer the Most Goal Threat?

Haaland’s numbers set the benchmark, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin also stands out.

As the Stats Sandbox image below shows, the 29-year-old ranks second among forwards for shots on target (seven) and third for big chances (six).

Gonzalo García has scored just once, but ranks fourth among forwards for shots in the box (13) and has registered 2.52 xG.

Our Fixture Difficulty Ratings, shown below, rank Fulham top for attacking fixtures over the next five Gameweeks, making García a potential differential.

Thierno Barry ranks second among forwards for shots in the box (16), although only five of his efforts have been on target. His underlying numbers suggest there is potential for more attacking returns if his finishing improves.

Charalampos Kostoulas has impressed as Brighton’s centre-forward following Danny Welbeck’s departure. The Greek international ranks fourth among forwards for big chances (five) and has registered 2.11 xG.

He is also attracting plenty of attention from FPL managers. As our Transfer Analytics image below shows, Kostoulas is the third most-bought player this week at the time of writing.

Igor Thiago has registered 12 shots in the box but just four shots on target overall. The Brazilian has yet to reach last season’s heights, although his underlying numbers remain encouraging.

Which Forwards Offer the Most Assist Potential?

As the Stats Sandbox image below shows, João Pedro leads FPL forwards for both FPL assists (three) and attempted assists (seven).

However, Opta has classified just one of those seven attempted assists as a big chance created. That suggests some caution is needed when projecting his future assist returns.

No forward has created more big chances than Evanilson (three). He also ranks joint-second for attempted assists (six).

Liam Delap has impressed in limited minutes at Nottingham Forest. The 23-year-old is joint-second for attempted assists, although he ranks 11th for Expected Assists (xA), with 0.55.

Kai Havertz and Brian Brobbey have recorded five attempted assists each. Both have withdrawn from their international squads through injury, so their availability needs monitoring ahead of Gameweek 6.

What Do the Points Projections Say?

Our Predicted Points & Stats put Erling Haaland comfortably ahead of the competition, with 39.3 projected points over the next six Gameweeks.

Alexander Isak ranks second with 28.0, while Kai Havertz is fourth with 26.9. Both are injury doubts for Gameweek 6.

Nicolas Jackson is an intriguing option in third, with 27.2 projected points. There is limited underlying data following his late arrival at Aston Villa in the transfer window, but the projections suggest he is worth monitoring.

Meanwhile, the algorithm backs Igor Thiago to rediscover his scoring touch. He ranks fifth with 26.4 projected points.

The popular Yoane Wissa (21.6) trails both Thierno Barry (24.0) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (23.8), giving managers a reason to consider alternatives.

Which Forwards Are the Elite Managers Picking on a Wildcard?

Corey Baker, who has five top-10k finishes and sits 18,360 overall, has locked in Barry and Haaland on his Wildcard. He is also monitoring João Pedro’s fitness.

Walter Randazzo, who has seven top-10k finishes and sits 23,360 overall, has selected Haaland, Barry and João Pedro as his forward trio.

Haaland and Barry therefore look central to both managers’ plans, with João Pedro’s fitness a key factor to watch before the deadline.

👉 Check out their latest Wildcard teams on Elite XI: Team Reveal and enable notifications to follow every change before the deadline.

Should FPL Managers Invest in Three Forwards?

Midfielders have traditionally been among the highest-scoring FPL assets, making a 3-5-2 formation popular. In that setup, the third forward is often a low-cost bench option.

This season, however, several forwards priced at £6.0m or below offer enough potential to compete for a starting spot. Rotating them with budget defenders and midfielders could help managers target favourable fixtures without stretching their budget.

Potential penalty duties add to the appeal of options such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ollie McBurnie.

With Haaland the standout premium pick, investing in two playable budget forwards alongside him could offer useful flexibility for the weeks ahead.

Your next FPL move starts here.

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