FPL Gameweek 6 Tips: Captain Picks, Transfers and Team News

Introduction

Deadline: Saturday 10 October 2026, 11:00am BST (UK time). Arsenal host Leeds in the opening fixture. Official deadline and GW6 preview.

After three weeks without Premier League football, the temptation is to change everything. Start with the problem that actually needs fixing: can you field a credible starting XI?

Our GW6 focus: deal with confirmed absences, check how your squad compares with the leading FPL managers tracked in the app, then settle your transfer and captain decisions. If your team is healthy, rolling the transfer remains a reasonable option.

Open Rate My Team in the FPL Assistant app and scroll to the bottom. Alongside your rating, the comparison shows how closely your squad aligns with what the leading managers tracked in the app are picking this week.

Team news reflects Friday’s club updates, checked on Saturday 10 October. Player prices and availability were cross-checked against the official FPL feed on 10 October; García is now £6.1m. Check the game for subsequent changes. Recommendations are our editorial judgement.

In this guide

• [Latest team news](#latest-team-news)
• [Captain options: Groß, Haaland, Saka and Palmer](#captain-options-groß-haaland-saka-and-palmer)
• [Three transfer targets](#three-transfer-targets)
• [Wildcard and points hits](#wildcard-and-points-hits)
• [Rate My Team: scroll to the bottom](#rate-my-team-scroll-to-the-bottom)
• [Share your mini-league progress](#share-your-mini-league-progress)
• [Final deadline checklist](#final-deadline-checklist)

Latest team news

The important distinction this week is between a player who has recovered and one who will definitely miss the match.

Manchester City confirmed Haaland’s availability and Foden’s suspension. Chelsea’s update supports keeping Palmer and João Pedro, while Liverpool have confirmed Isak and Gakpo will miss the City match. Being available does not guarantee a start or 90 minutes. Manchester City update · Chelsea update · Liverpool update.

The practical move: prioritise a confirmed absentee when your bench cannot cover them. Avoid selling a recovered player because an older injury report worried you.

Captain options: Groß, Haaland, Saka and Palmer

Pascal Groß: a strong option highlighted by the app

FPL Assistant is highlighting Groß as a strong captaincy option for GW6. Brighton visit Sunderland, and his early-season form makes him worth comparing with the premium players in your squad. Official GW6 preview.

If you own him, include him in your captain shortlist. Open Best Captain in the app to review its current recommendation alongside the latest team news.

Erling Haaland: back in my team

For GW6, I’ve put Haaland back into my team alongside Pascal Groß. I wanted my squad to be more closely aligned with what the leading FPL managers tracked in the app are picking this week.

Haaland (£15.6m) has five goals and 39 points, with a league-leading 19 shots in the box and nine big chances. Liverpool away is a harder assignment, with the Reds coming into GW6 on three successive clean sheets, but he remains a serious captain option.

Bukayo Saka: an appealing home fixture

Saka (£9.6m) faces Leeds at home. Across the opening five Gameweeks, he has three goals, 32 points, 12 shots inside the box and six big chances.

For managers who own him, the combination of goal threat and a home fixture makes him another strong armband candidate. Official captaincy data and fixture comparison.

Cole Palmer: available for existing owners

Palmer (£9.7m) hosts Bournemouth. Alonso says he trained during the final week of the break and feels better.

He is an option for owners, although his return from a fitness problem needs to be part of the decision. We would avoid taking a hit just to captain him. Chelsea fitness update · Official captain shortlist and price.

Your captain shortlist should reflect the players you own. Compare Groß with your premium options in Best Captain, then use confirmed availability, form and fixtures to make the final call.

Three transfer targets

These are options for different squad needs. You do not need to buy all three.

1. Pascal Groß (£5.9m): midfield value

Groß leads FPL with 47 points from the opening five Gameweeks. Three goals, four assists and a share of set pieces, including penalties, explain the appeal.

Our call is to consider buying if you need a midfielder in this price bracket. However, Brighton’s upcoming schedule becomes more demanding, and European football adds a rotation consideration.

Buy him for his role and value. Avoid reshaping a healthy squad simply because he tops the points table. Official Brighton assessment · Latest published price and points.

2. Gonzalo García (£6.1m): a forward with a useful fixture run

Fulham face Ipswich away, Hull at home and Coventry away over the next three Gameweeks. García has registered 15 shots across the opening five matches.

He is worth considering if you need an affordable replacement for an unavailable forward. The fixture run gives the move a purpose beyond GW6.

Penalty duties remain unconfirmed. The official transfer radar discusses him as a possible future taker; that is not evidence that he already owns the role. Official transfer radar.

3. Lewis Hall (£5.3m): a defensive upgrade

Hall travels to Coventry with two double-figure returns in his last four appearances. That spell includes a goal, an assist, a clean sheet and defensive contribution points.

Consider him when a defender is your squad’s weakest link. If your existing defence is fit and playable, a forward absence should take priority. Official GW6 selection.

Wildcard and points hits

A long break can make a Wildcard feel compulsory. Judge the squad you have.

Consider a Wildcard when several problems need fixing together: unavailable starters, poor bench cover, a weak fixture run and a budget structure that blocks sensible moves.

Keep the chip when one transfer and your bench can solve the immediate problem. Write down the team you would build, then compare it with your current squad before committing.

Use the FPL transfer planner guide to compare moves and the Rate My Team guide to assess the squad as a whole.

For a points hit, ask two questions: does the move materially improve your starting XI, and would you still want the incoming player next week? A speculative switch between two fit players needs a stronger case than replacing someone who cannot play.

Rate My Team: scroll to the bottom

This week’s app spotlight is Rate My Team.

Open Rate My Team in the FPL Assistant app, review your squad rating, then scroll right to the bottom.

The app’s Pro Elite Manager Alignment comparison shows how closely your team aligns with the players those managers are picking this week. Use it alongside the rating to review your squad, understand where your selections differ and decide whether a change makes sense.

That comparison helped shape my decision to bring Haaland back alongside Groß for GW6. Try it with your own team before the deadline.

For a quick browser check, use Rate My Team on the website. Open the app for the tracked-manager comparison described above.

You can also explore the armband decision in our captaincy guide.

Share your mini-league progress

Bring your friends into it. Share a screenshot of your team rating and tracked-manager comparison with the people in your mini-leagues.

Compare your squads, discuss your captain choices and share your progress as the season develops. Keep a record of your rating and mini-league position so you can see how your decisions are working over time.

Before the next deadline, encourage a friend to rate their team too. Follow each other’s progress and keep the mini-league rivalry going.

Final deadline checklist

Before 11:00am BST on Saturday 10 October:

• Check the latest official news for every flagged starter.
• Cover or replace players confirmed unavailable.
• Set your captain and vice-captain.
• Put reliable cover first on your bench.
• Check whether your transfer helps beyond GW6.
• Open Rate My Team in the app and scroll to the bottom for your tracked-manager comparison.
• Save your team and confirm the changes.

Rate your team. Check your tracked-manager comparison. Share your progress with your mini-league friends. Open FPL Assistant on Android.