The international break is finally over, which means Fantasy Premier League managers can get back to what really matters: making transfers and trying to climb those mini-league tables.
Gameweek 6 arrives with plenty of questions. Several popular players picked up injuries during the international break, while others have seen their FPL appeal fade after disappointing starts to the season. At the same time, a handful of players have emerged as genuine transfer targets thanks to strong form, favorable
fixtures, and encouraging underlying numbers.
The Gameweek 6 deadline is 10:00 a.m. BST on Saturday, October 10, with Arsenal hosting Leeds in the opening match of the weekend.
So, who should FPL managers be looking to bring in? Here are five players worth serious consideration after the international break:
1. Pascal Groß — Brighton — £5.9m
If you are looking for a midfielder who can deliver points without destroying your budget, Pascal Groß should be near the top of your list.
The Brighton midfielder has been one of the standout performers of the opening five Gameweeks. Gross currently leads all FPL players with 47 points, including three double-digit hauls across his last four league appearances. He has also benefited from set-piece and penalty responsibilities, giving him multiple routes to points. That combination is exactly what we want from a mid-priced FPL midfielder.
Groß isn’t simply relying on one lucky goal or assist, either. His involvement from dead-ball situations gives him a reliable baseline of attacking potential, while Brighton’s early-season attacking numbers have made their midfielders difficult to ignore.
The obvious concern is whether Brighton can maintain their explosive start. That’s a fair question, and managers shouldn’t expect Groß to continue producing at his current rate indefinitely. Still, at £5.9m, he doesn’t need to.
Groß is one of the best value midfielders in the game right now and a particularly attractive option for managers looking to free up money elsewhere.
2. Kevin Schade — Brentford — £6.2m
Kevin Schade is another player who deserves considerably more attention. The Brentford winger has already produced three goals and two assists this season, yet he remains relatively lightly owned compared with many of the more fashionable midfield options. He has also made the FPL Team of the Season after the opening five Gameweeks. That’s an impressive return for a player priced in the low £6m range.
Schade’s appeal is particularly interesting because he offers something FPL managers are always searching for: a player who is both affordable and capable of producing attacking returns without needing to be classified as a premium asset.
He is also already showing that his early-season production isn’t purely theoretical. Five attacking returns through five Gameweeks is enough to make him a serious consideration rather than simply another differential to monitor.
There is always some risk when buying a player after a strong opening run, but Schade has done enough to justify the gamble.
If you don’t already own him, this is a good time to jump on Schade before his ownership catches up with his performances.
3. Gonzalo Garcia — Fulham — £6.0m
For managers looking beyond the obvious names, Gonzalo Garcia could be one of the most attractive forward options heading into Gameweek 6.
Fulham’s upcoming schedule is a major part of the appeal. The Cottagers face Ipswich, Hull, Coventry, Aston Villa and Newcastle across their next five matches, with none rated higher than 3 on the FPL Fixture Difficulty Rating. Even better, each of Fulham’s next five opponents ranks 10th or lower for expected goals conceded this season.
Garcia has also shown plenty of promise in his first five Gameweeks. The 22-year-old has recorded 15 shots and 13 shots in the box, both among the best totals for forwards in the Premier League. His 2.34 expected goals is also the highest among Fulham players. That is exactly the type of underlying data we want to see before committing to a forward.
There is another potential bonus: Garcia could eventually benefit from penalty duties following Raul Jimenez’s departure, although managers shouldn’t treat that as guaranteed.
Garcia combines a favorable fixture run with strong underlying numbers and an attractive £6.0m price tag. He’s one of the more interesting forward options for Gameweek 6.
4. Harvey Barnes — Newcastle — £6.1m
Harvey Barnes looks like a player who could finally be getting the consistent run of starts that his FPL potential has always demanded. After Anthony Gordon’s summer move to Barcelona, Barnes has stepped into a more prominent role for Newcastle and has already recorded one goal and three assists this season.
The upcoming fixtures make the situation even more interesting. Newcastle face Coventry in Gameweek 6, followed by Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Brighton and Fulham across their next five league matches. Several of those opponents rank among the Premier League’s weaker defenses by expected goals conceded. Newcastle have also scored in every Gameweek so far, which is another encouraging sign for their attacking players.
Barnes has historically been productive when given regular playing time. Since the beginning of the 2023/24 season, he has recorded 22 goals and 12 assists in 48 Premier League starts.
At £6.1m, that’s a profile worth taking seriously.
Barnes is one of my favorite medium-term transfer targets heading into Gameweek 6. The fixtures are good, his role looks secure, and his price is still manageable.
5. Jarrad Branthwaite — Everton — £5.5m
Not every transfer has to be an attacking player. Jarrad Branthwaite is an excellent option for managers looking to strengthen their defense without spending the £6m-plus required for some of the more popular premium defenders.
Everton have been extremely impressive defensively to start the season. They currently lead the league for clean sheets and have conceded the fewest goals.
Branthwaite has played every minute so far and has actually outperformed his more expensive teammate James Tarkowski in defensive contributions. Both players have three clean sheets and three shots in the box after five Gameweeks, but Branthwaite has recorded more defensive contributions and has already had one big chance.
The fixture run is another reason to consider him. Everton face Hull and Coventry over the next few weeks, with Newcastle also on the schedule. At £5.5m, Branthwaite provides a cheaper route into one of the strongest defenses in the league.
If you need a defender around the £5.5m mark, Branthwaite is one of the safest options available right now.
For this Gameweek, the bigger priority this week is making sure you actually have 11 reliable starters after the international-break injury chaos. The key, however, is not to chase every player who has risen in popularity during the international break. The best FPL transfers are usually the ones that combine form, fixtures, underlying numbers and a realistic chance of playing 90 minutes.
Gameweek 6 gives managers a chance to reset after the long international break. Make those transfers count.
