FPL Budget Picks: The Best FWD Under £9.5
The call — The best value in the forward bracket is a £6.1m Newcastle striker who's projected within three points of a £7.7m man everyone already owns. That's Wissa, and we'll come back to him. First, the shape of the sub-£9.5m forward market — 36 players qualify, but only a dozen are worth a line, and minutes are the whole game down here.…
João Pedro (CHE, £7.7m) — starts, a very kind run beginning ARS (A), and our projections have him top of the whole bracket at around 37-38 points over six. About 7 in 10 already own him, so he's the template, not the edge.
Wissa (NEW, £6.1m) — starts every week, same kind fixture run starting BOU (H), projected barely behind João Pedro. Only about 1 in 10 own him. That's £1.6m back for almost nothing lost.
Calvert-Lewin (LEE, £6.0m) — starter, decent enough returns, but the fixtures turn tough from BHA (A). Roughly 1 in 4 own him; hold if you have, don't buy.
Thiago (BRE, £8.0m) — starts, average fixtures, SUN (H) up first. Fine, but £8.0m for fine is not value.
Isak (LIV, £9.0m) — starts, but a tough run from IPS (A) and a projection Wissa beats at £2.9m less. No.
Barry (EVE, £5.5m) — nailed and cheap, but MUN (H) opens a tough stretch. Bench fodder that occasionally pays rent.
Igor Jesus (NFO, £5.9m) — starter, very kind fixtures from TOT (H), owned by almost nobody (~3 in 100). Genuine deep-value shout if you need a fifth forward who plays.
Havertz (ARS, £7.5m) — starts, but CHE (H) kicks off a tough run and the projection is thin for the price.
Gonzalo (FUL, £6.0m) — expected to start but unproven, very tough fixtures. Pass.
Brobbey (SUN, £5.9m) — starts, very tough run from BRE (A). Pass.
Evanilson (BOU, £6.0m) — starts, tough fixtures beginning NEW (A). Pass.
McBurnie (HUL, £5.5m) — starts, unproven at this level, brutal fixtures. Enabler money only.
The call: João Pedro is the top pick — best projection in the bracket, starts, lovely fixtures — and if you can afford him, buy him. But Wissa is the best alternative and the best value, near-identical output for £1.6m less, hardly anyone owns him, and that saving buys you a premium elsewhere. If your budget's tight, Wissa isn't the compromise. He's the point.