FPL Budget Picks: The Best FWD Under £9.5

Budget Forwards: Who's Actually Worth Your Money Under £9.5m

Twenty-nine forwards qualify under £9.5m this week, and most of them are a lesson in why price tags lie. Here's what your money actually buys, in order of preference.

Wissa (NEW, £6.2m) is the easy one. Starts every week, proven at this level, and Newcastle's fixtures are about as kind as they come — starting at Coventry away. Our projections have him good for roughly 29 points over the next six, comfortably the best in this bracket, and he's usually a 5-6 most weeks with the odd big haul in him. About 2 in 10 already own him. The rest of you are overthinking it.

Emersonn (IPS, £5.5m) is the interesting one — projects well despite Ipswich's brutal run (Fulham at home first). The caveat is he's unproven at this level, and unproven at £5.5m is how you end up with a bench ornament. Watch, don't buy yet.

Kostoulas (BHA, £5.6m) is the quiet value. Starts, proven, and Brighton's fixtures are genuinely kind — Sunderland away up next. Around 21 points over six at that price, owned by barely anyone (~1 in 20). That's an enabler who actually plays.

Barry (EVE, £5.7m) projects fine but Everton's run is horrible. Calvert-Lewin (LEE, £6.0m) — a quarter of managers own him and the fixtures say they shouldn't; Arsenal away next, tough run after. Thiago (BRE, £7.8m) asks premium-adjacent money for a tough run — that's not value, that's sentiment. Evanilson (BOU, £6.0m) is honest enough on average fixtures but Chelsea away first.

Further down it gets grim. Gonzalo (FUL, £6.0m) and McBurnie (HUL, £5.5m) both face ugly runs; McBurnie's at least nearly free. Marmoush (TOT, £7.0m), N.Jackson (AVL, £6.5m) and Delap (NFO, £5.6m) all project around 11-12 points over six gameweeks — that's bench-fodder output at starting-forward prices. Pass.

The call: Wissa is the buy — the best projected returns in the bracket, nailed minutes, lovely fixtures, £6.2m. If you need the cheaper route to fund a premium elsewhere, Kostoulas at £5.6m is the best alternative: he starts, the fixtures are kind, and hardly anyone's noticed. Avoid Calvert-Lewin despite the ownership — the template is wrong on this one.