Hold Joao Pedro and captain Erling Haaland: FPL gameweek six verdict
Joao Pedro remains one of the best value picks in FPL despite being the most sold player of the international break, according to BBC Sport expert Pras. Managers should hold the Chelsea forward and bench him if he is not passed fit. Erling Haaland is the safe captaincy call away at Liverpool.
- Top sales call: Joao Pedro is still owned by about 65% of FPL managers despite being the most sold player of the international break
- Captaincy favourite: Erling Haaland, even away at Liverpool
- Best fixture captain punt: Bruno Fernandes at home to Spurs
- Standout buy: Pascal Gross, still under £6m, most-transferred player this week
- Fulham tip: Gonzalo Garcia at £6m and Josh King
- Konsa warning: Too late to buy Ezri Konsa but do not sell him
What was said
"Despite being the most sold player of the international break, Chelsea forward Pedro is still owned by about 65% of FPL managers. From a points-per-million point of view he remains one of the best picks in the game, and Chelsea's fixture run is excellent for a long stretch. Unless manager Xabi Alonso rules him out completely, I would hold and use the bench."
"I am leaning safe and sticking with Haaland. Even in a tougher game, if Man City score he should be the one involved."
"Fernandes has the best fixture and the best chance of a big score, but not many own him. Of the rest, you can talk me into any of them."
"What puts me off Saka is the possible Havertz injury that will impact their attack, plus an early kick-off straight after a long break. What puts me off Palmer is Joao Pedro. If he is not fit, the Chelsea attack suffers, as we saw in gameweek five against Brentford."
"For a new buy, yes. The Arsenal defender has a slight niggle from the England camp. Cristhian Mosquera is fit, and William Saliba is on the mend as well, albeit with an unclear timescale for his return. I would not sell him if I already owned him though - he still represents excellent value."
"Fulham play all three promoted sides in the next three games. Gonzalo Garcia at £6m is the one I like. He may be on penalties, and the underlying numbers have been better than the FPL returns suggest."
"Not an urgent sell, although there are concerns there from an FPL point of view with his role."
"Under Andoni Iraola he is playing as an eight, not as a 10, and not at right-back. That is the worst of the three for route to points. No real attacking threat from the 10 spot, no defensive contribution from full-back. What is left is set pieces and the odd shot from outside the box. I would not rush him out though."
"Close to it, at the price. The Brighton midfielder is still under £6m, he plays 90 minutes, and 47 points already explains why he is the most-transferred player this week."
Pras is clear that the Joao Pedro sell-off is an overreaction. At roughly 65% ownership, the Chelsea forward remains a points-per-million king with a long, kind fixture run ahead. Unless Xabi Alonso confirms he is completely out, the advice is to hold and bench rather than take a price hit and lose the upside.
On captaincy, the expert admits it is a tough week and would rather take the safe route with Erling Haaland at Liverpool than gamble on a home fixture. Bruno Fernandes has the best fixture on paper but low ownership makes him a differential rather than a default. Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer are the alternative home captains, but both come with caveats.
The numbers
- Joao Pedro ownership: about 65% of FPL managers
- Pascal Gross ownership: about 30%
- Pascal Gross points: 47 already this season
- Pascal Gross price: still under £6m
- Gonzalo Garcia price: £6m
- Josh King underlying data: 0.44 xGI
- Josh King minutes: 90 minutes in three of the first five games
Injury and availability
Joao Pedro: Uncertainty over his fitness, with the source noting that a decision hinges on whether manager Xabi Alonso rules him out completely. Hold and bench if he is not passed fit.
Ezri Konsa: Carrying a slight niggle from the England camp. Not a buy for new managers, but not a sell for current owners.
Cristhian Mosquera: Fit and available, offering managers a route into the Arsenal defence.
William Saliba: On the mend, but with an unclear timescale for his return.
Kai Havertz: A possible injury that would impact Arsenal's attack and dent Bukayo Saka's captaincy appeal.
Why holding Joao Pedro is the right call
The temptation to sell Joao Pedro after a blank is understandable, but the maths does not support it. At about 65% ownership, selling him hands rivals a differential you cannot recover if he hauls. With Chelsea's fixture run described as excellent for a long stretch, the only scenario that justifies a sale is confirmation that Xabi Alonso has ruled him out completely. Short of that, the bench is the correct play.
Captaincy is where the real decision lies. Erling Haaland away at Liverpool is not the plum fixture on paper, but the logic is that if Manchester City score, he is the man involved. Bruno Fernandes has the best home fixture against Spurs, yet low ownership makes him a brave differential rather than a consensus pick. Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer both offer home comfort, but each carries a specific risk: Saka has the early kick-off after a long break plus the possible Kai Havertz injury hitting Arsenal's attack, while Palmer's output is tied to the fitness of Joao Pedro.
Elsewhere, Pascal Gross is close to a must-buy. Under £6m, 90 minutes every week, 47 points already, 30% ownership, and fixtures against Sunderland away then Crystal Palace at home. He is the definition of a set-and-forget midfielder. Dominik Szoboszlai is not an urgent sell, but his role under Andoni Iraola as an eight — not a 10, not a right-back — offers the worst route to points of the three positions, leaving only set pieces and the odd shot from distance. Ezri Konsa should be held if owned, but new buyers should look at other £5m defenders with Cristhian Mosquera fit and William Saliba returning. At Fulham, Gonzalo Garcia at £6m and Josh King (0.44 xGI) are the names to watch with all three promoted sides coming up.
Talking points
- Selling Joao Pedro at 65% ownership is a panic move. Unless Xabi Alonso rules him out, the bench is the play and the fixture run rewards patience.
- Bruno Fernandes has the best fixture and the best big-score chance, but low ownership means captaining him is a genuine differential gamble rather than a safe play.
- Pascal Gross at under £6m with 47 points and 90 minutes every week is the most obvious set-and-forget midfield buy of the week.
- Dominik Szoboszlai's role as an eight under Andoni Iraola kills his FPL ceiling — set pieces and the odd long shot is not enough to justify holding long term.
What happens next
Managers must finalise their teams before the gameweek six deadline. The key call is whether Xabi Alonso rules Joao Pedro out completely, which would trigger the sell. Erling Haaland at Liverpool, Bruno Fernandes at home to Spurs and Bukayo Saka in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off against Leeds are the captaincy outcomes to watch.
Frequently asked questions
Should I sell Joao Pedro in FPL gameweek six?
No. Despite being the most sold player of the international break, he is still owned by about 65% of managers and remains one of the best picks by points-per-million. Hold and bench unless Xabi Alonso rules him out completely.
Who should I captain in FPL gameweek six?
Pras is leaning safe with Erling Haaland despite the away trip to Liverpool. Bruno Fernandes has the best fixture at home to Spurs but low ownership, while Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer are the alternative home options.
Is Pascal Gross a must-buy in FPL?
Close to it at the price. He is still under £6m, plays 90 minutes every week, has 47 points already and is the most-transferred player this week, with Sunderland away and Crystal Palace at home next.
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