Gameweek 6 of the 2025-26 Fantasy Premier League season is shaping up to be a pivotal moment. With a month of action completed, team form is solidifying, tactical setups are becoming clearer, and the early hype selections are being separated from genuine long-term assets.
For managers activating their first wildcard, the objective is to secure players who have both form and favourable fixtures, while maintaining the flexibility to adapt as the season progresses. This draft balances premium firepower with reliable defensive options and differential picks.
Goalkeepers
David Raya (£5.5m) — Arsenal
Raya is a standout selection for a Gameweek 6 wildcard. Arsenal has been defensively solid, and the Spaniard offers both clean-sheet potential and the most affordable entry into their backline. Starting from Gameweek 7, Arsenal embarks on an excellent run of fixtures, facing West Ham (H), Fulham (A), Crystal Palace (H), Burnley (A), Sunderland (A), and Tottenham (H).
Martin Dubravka (£4.0m) — Burnley
At just £4.0m, Dubravka is the ideal budget enabler. As the only guaranteed starting goalkeeper at this price, he serves as a reliable backup should Raya be injured or unavailable, though he is unlikely to be needed in the starting lineup.
Defenders
Gabriel (£6.1m) — Arsenal
A guaranteed starter when fit, Gabriel is one of the league’s most dangerous defenders from offensive set-pieces. His partnership with William Saliba (£6.0m) makes Arsenal incredibly difficult to break down, and he offers a significant goal threat on top of clean-sheet potential, making him an excellent long-term asset from the league’s best defence.
James Tarkowski (£5.5m) — Everton
Tarkowski is one of the most underrated defenders in FPL. His aerial dominance is a constant threat from set-pieces, and Everton remains a defensively solid team. Crucially, under this season’s new scoring rules, he has excelled at earning defensive contribution points, securing the two-point bonus in all five matches so far. This consistent bonus, combined with his attacking threat, makes him a nearly fixture-proof asset.
Marcos Senesi (£4.8m) — Bournemouth
The Bournemouth centre-back is another prolific earner of defensive contribution points, having met the bonus threshold in all five games this season. Despite a £0.3m price rise, the Argentinian still represents great value within a solid Bournemouth team that has an appealing long-term fixture schedule.
Joachim Andersen (£4.5m) — Fulham
Andersen offers excellent value, having earned defensive contribution points in four of five matches. While Fulham’s immediate fixtures are challenging, the team is defensively sound, and the extra points Andersen is likely to accumulate over the season make him a fine long-term option who can be rotated effectively.
Omar Alderete (£4.0m) — Sunderland
The Sunderland centre-back is emerging as a potential budget gem. He has started the last four matches, collecting the defensive contribution bonus in the last three. Alderete appears secure in his starting role for a promoted side that has proven stronger than anticipated, making him a great fifth defender for the bench who can be rotated in for favourable fixtures.
Midfielders
Bruno Fernandes (£9.0m) — Manchester United
Fernandes remains Manchester United’s most consistent FPL asset. He is on penalty duty, takes a share of set-pieces, and consistently posts strong underlying statistics. With favourable fixtures against Brentford (A), Sunderland (H), and Brighton (H) in the next four, he is a dependable long-term hold who reliably delivers returns regardless of his team’s form.
Antoine Semenyo (£7.7m) — Bournemouth
Semenyo has been the standout player in FPL this season, reflected in his £0.7m price rise. With three goals and two assists in five full 90-minute appearances, his form is exceptional. He may also now be Bournemouth’s first-choice penalty taker. Aside from a trip to Manchester City in Gameweek 10, Bournemouth has a profitable run of fixtures until Gameweek 19.
Tijjani Reijnders (£5.6m) — Manchester City
Reijnders is emerging as a potential gem and a core wildcard pick. Having played 90 minutes in all five league games and contributing a goal and two assists, he offers a steady stream of points from a dominant attacking side. His budget-friendly price also allows for investment elsewhere in the squad.
Iliman Ndiaye (£6.5m) — Everton
Ndiaye presents a compelling package: he is a guaranteed starter, a budget-friendly price, and on penalties for his team. With two goals and an assist already, he is thriving in a more attack-minded Everton side this season, making him a strong long-term selection.
Anton Stach (£5.0m) — Leeds
Stach is an ideal fifth midfielder who provides goal and assist potential. The German has played every minute since his summer arrival and takes corners and free-kicks. His underlying stats, including an expected goal involvement (xGI) of 1.2, make him a viable rotation option.
Forwards
Joao Pedro (£7.8m) — Chelsea
With Cole Palmer (£10.4m) currently sidelined, Joao Pedro is expected to receive consistent minutes. He has already demonstrated his quality with two goals and three assists in five matches. At £7.8m, he is a mid-priced forward with premium potential, supported by Chelsea’s favourable long-term fixture schedule.
Erling Haaland (£14.3m) — Manchester City
Haaland is an essential component of any wildcard team. The ultimate FPL asset, he has scored six goals in five games and now faces arguably his best fixture of the season at home to Burnley, followed by matches against Brentford (A) and Everton (H).
Viktor Gyokeres (£9.0m) — Arsenal
Gyokeres has made a solid start to his return to English football with three goals in five league matches. Although he has a tough fixture against Newcastle (A) this weekend, his schedule from Gameweek 7 onwards makes him an easy selection. He is a guaranteed starter and should see plenty of minutes, especially with Kai Havertz (£7.3m) still recovering from surgery.
Conclusion
The core of this wildcard team includes Gabriel, Andersen, Senesi, Semenyo, Reijnders, Joao Pedro, and Haaland. A key strength of the squad is its flexibility. Budget-friendly midfielders like Stach and Ndiaye allow for rotation based on fixtures, the forward line offers explosive potential, and the defence provides a high points floor due to its bonus potential.
This lineup is well-positioned to capitalize on favourable fixtures for Manchester City, Bournemouth, and Arsenal. For managers activating their wildcard in Gameweek 6, this structure offers both immediate returns and a solid foundation for the long term.
