The first international break of the season is over and the Premier League beckons on the weekend as does its virtual counterpart—Fantasy Premier League (FPL).

With four Gameweeks gone, the dust is beginning to settle in mini-leagues around the world and while some managers have already gone in for surgery (Wildcard), most are holding on to their FPL ace in the hole.

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Picking the right players after a break is never the easiest task, but The Statesman has your back with an incisive article ahead to ease your selection dilemmas of Gameweek 6.

The indicators are:

Teams in BOLD are top 4 contenders.

Prices (in £ million) marked in Green indicates a rise in Base Price.
Prices (in £ million) marked in Red indicates fall in Base Price.

Goalkeeper

Kepa Arrizabalaga

Team: Chelsea
Fixtures: Cardiff City (H), West Ham (A), Liverpool (H), Southampton (A) and Man United (H)
Price: 5.5
Score: 16
Ownership: 4.6%

Why yes: So far, the world’s most expensive goalkeeper’s done a pretty decent job for the Blues. Winless Cardiff are likely to be blown away by Maurizio Sarri’s in-form Chelsea outfit at home. Among the few premium goalkeepers who’s given bang for buck.

Why no: Should you already have Marcos Alonso (£6.8) or any other Chelsea defender, Kepa can be skipped. Fixtures against Liverpool and Man United loom large. Whether or not he’s worth his gargantuan fee is a debate that will continue to rage for the foreseeable future.

Defenders

Ryan Bennett

Team: Wolves
Fixtures: Burnley (H), Man United (A), Southampton (A), Crystal Palace (A) and Watford (H)
Price: 4.0
Score: 9
Ownership: 9.3%

Why yes: Looking for a dirt-cheap fourth/fifth defender who starts every week? Look no further than Wolves’ centre-back. Against a stuttering Burnley side, the Wanderers should register a shutout. Overall fixtures, barring the United one in Gameweek 6, look pretty decent.

Why no: Matt Doherty (£4.4m) and Jonny (£4.4m) may be more expensive options, but they play as wing-backs and thus, are far more likely to pick up assists or goals.

Ryan Bertrand

Team: Southampton
Fixtures: Brighton (H), Liverpool (A), Wolves (A), Chelsea (H) and Bournemouth (A)
Price: 5.0
Score: 20
Ownership: 6.0%

Why yes: The Saints got their campaign up and running with a shock defeat of Leicester City and are favourites to secure three points against the Seagulls. Brighton aren’t great travellers and Bertrand’s already been busy on the other side of the pitch,

Why no: Cedric Soares (£4.4m) is a cheaper option from the Southampton backline. Keeping a cleansheet in Gameweek 6 and 8 will be difficult.

Midfielders

Pedro

Team: Chelsea
Fixtures: Cardiff (H), West Ham (A), Liverpool (H), Southampton (A) and Man United (H)
Price: 6.8
Score: 26
Ownership: 15.5%

Why yes: Eden Hazard may be running riot, but Pedro is a far more economical pick. The Spaniard’s found the back of the net thrice already and looks set to start ahead of Wilian as lowly Cardiff pay a visit to the fortress that is Stamford Bridge.

Why no: After Gamweek 6, the Blues have some testing games ahead. Willian and Pedro are likely to be rotated, with Alvaro Morata and Hazard the only undroppable players in their attack triumvirate.

Aaron Ramsey

Team: Arsenal
Fixtures: Newcastle (A), Everton (H), Watford (H), Fulham (A) and Leicester (H)
Price: 7.4
Score: 6
Ownership: 1.1%

Why yes: Arsenal’s industrious Welshman is due a goal and considering new manager Unai Emery is a big fan, an away clash at Newcastle may delight all Ramsey owners. The Magpies seem to be managing with their barebones budget and an in-form Arsenal side should brush them off easily. On paper, the Gunners have easy fixtures.

Why no: Forwards Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.9m) and Alexandre Lacazette (£9.4m) are intriguing options and Ramsey is definitely a wildcard pick because clubbing several Arsenal players would qualify as a punt.

Forwards

Jamie Vardy

Team: Leicester City
Fixtures: Bournemouth (A), Huddersfield (H), Newcastle (A), Everton (H), Arsenal (A)
Price: 8.9
Score: 5
Ownership: 3.2%

Why yes: Available for selection after serving a three-match suspension, Leicester’s sharpshooter is primed to wreak havoc against a leaky Bournemouth defence. Will be fresher than most premium forwards as he wasn’t involved in the international break. Fixtures look great and he can be a massive differential.

Why no: There seems to be too much chatter surrounding Claude Puel’s exit and that’s never a good sign.


Danny Ings

Team: Southampton
Fixtures: Brighton (H), Liverpool (A), Wolves (A), Chelsea (H) and Bournemouth (A)
Price: 5.6
Score: 18
Ownership: 6.7%

Why yes: The former Burnley man is loving life at Southamtpon, with two goals in three starts. Cheaper than the likes of Wilfried Zaha and Marko Arnautovic, Ings is definitely worth a dekho, especially if you’re trying to make room for some pricey players elsewhere.

Why no: Will be ineligible to play against parent club Liverpool in Gameweek 6.

PS: The Gameweek deadline is 11.30 am GMT/4 pm IST.

Previous articles in this series:

Fantasy Premier League Pundit Picks: Gameweek 1

Fantasy Premier League Pundit Picks: Gameweek 2

Fantasy Premier League Pundit Picks: Gameweek 3

Fantasy Premier League Pundit Picks: Gameweek 4