Manchester City Fantasy Guide 2026/27: Best Picks for Sleeper and Fantrax

Last updated: Gameweek 6 · October 5, 2026

Manchester City fantasy tiers

Best Manchester City fantasy assets

Haaland (Man City, FWD)

Haaland is ranked 1st overall in our model with 17.07 projected InfoSport Points in Gameweek 6, scoring 17.07 points per 90. He has tallied 5 goals and 4.42 expected goals in five matches, ranking 1st in his position for both metrics. In Sleeper and Fantrax leagues where expected stats reward early decision-making, his conversion and chance quality make him essential despite 73.9% FPL ownership.

Gvardiol (Man City, DEF)

Gvardiol ranks 9th overall and 3rd within Manchester City at 12.19 points per 90, blending attacking output with defensive work. He has 11 tackles (2nd of 20 in the squad), 20 clearances/blocks/interceptions (3rd of 20), 3 assists and 1 goal. His 26.9% FPL ownership understates his value in category-scoring leagues, where his tackle and clearance volume deliver consistent points.

Cherki (Man City, MID)

Cherki scores 15.43 points per 90, ranking 2nd in the squad despite 60.4 expected minutes. He leads Manchester City in expected assists (1.54) and ranks 5th in expected goals (0.72). His 28.4% FPL ownership reflects limited playing time, but in Sleeper and Fantrax he projects 10.36 points in Gameweek 6 on a tight minutes budget—ideal for managers seeking high-efficiency options.

Set pieces and penalties

Penalties: Haaland is first choice, followed by Semenyo, Doku and Matheus N.

Corners and indirect free kicks: Cherki is first taker, followed by Foden, Anderson and Enzo.

Direct free kicks: Cherki is first, with Foden and Enzo as backups.

Defensive value and clean-sheet outlook

Manchester City are among the toughest defences in the league. Guéhi leads the squad with 26 clearances/blocks/interceptions (1st of 20), while Gvardiol ranks 3rd at 20, and both players earned clean sheets in 2 of 5 matches. The pair have conceded 5 goals in 5 matches, making them dual-threat assets in category leagues where defensive volume matters as much as shutouts.

Anderson ranks 1st in tackles across the squad with 13, despite averaging only 82.6 minutes, reinforcing Manchester City’s defensive intensity. In Sleeper and Fantrax formats, defenders who combine tackles, clearances and blocks—even without consistent clean sheets—accumulate points faster than in FPL, making Gvardiol and Guéhi tier-one recommendations.

Fixture outlook

Manchester City open with a difficult away trip to Liverpool (Gameweek 6, difficulty 4), followed by a favourable home fixture against Ipswich Town (Gameweek 7, difficulty 2). They then face Aston Villa away (Gameweek 8, difficulty 3), Brighton home (Gameweek 9, difficulty 3), Nottm Forest away (Gameweek 10, difficulty 3) and Fulham home (Gameweek 11, difficulty 2). The Liverpool match presents a short-term risk; subsequent weeks offer balanced opportunities for consistent volume.

Players to avoid

Foden (Man City, MID): Suspended until 17 October with 0 minutes expected and 0 projected InfoSport Points in Gameweek 6. Avoid until eligibility returns.

Khusanov (Man City, DEF): Only 53.6 expected minutes after appearing in Gameweek 3 but logging 0 minutes in Gameweeks 4 and 5. At 1.4% FPL ownership and 3.87 projected points, he is unreliable for consistent starts.

Donnarumma (Man City, GK): Ranks 21st of 21 in the squad at 5.2 points per 90, the lowest in his position. His 7.6% FPL ownership reflects better alternatives; select based on our full EPL rankings instead.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the best Manchester City player for fantasy?

Haaland is ranked 1st overall with 17.07 projected InfoSport Points and 17.07 points per 90. He has 5 goals and 4.42 expected goals in 5 matches. Gvardiol is second-best for the club at 12.19 points per 90, combining assists, tackles and clearances to offer consistency in Sleeper and Fantrax leagues.

Who takes penalties for Manchester City?

Haaland is first-choice penalty taker, with Semenyo, Doku and Matheus N. as backups. Haaland has scored 5 goals and recorded 4.42 expected goals, indicating volume for conversion opportunities.

Are Manchester City defenders good fantasy picks?

Yes, especially in category leagues. Gvardiol and Guéhi rank 1st and 3rd in clean sheets (2 each) while Guéhi leads in clearances/blocks/interceptions (26) and Gvardiol ranks 2nd in tackles (11). Their defensive volume generates consistent InfoSport Points even when clean sheets are conceded.

Bottom line

Haaland is non-negotiable at 17.07 projected points; Gvardiol and Cherki form a second tier of elite efficiency. Avoid suspended Foden, limited-minutes Khusanov and underperforming Donnarumma—instead build your best defenders and best midfielders around Manchester City’s attacking and defensive anchors using fixture difficulty to time moves into Liverpool away and out of the toughest stretches.

Manchester City player stats

Season totals. CBI = clearances, blocks and interceptions combined.

Manchester City next fixtures