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

Last updated: Gameweek 6 · September 29, 2026

Sunderland offer mixed fantasy appeal in September 2026, anchored by Enzo Le Fée’s creative output and Brian Brobbey’s explosive upside, but with injury concerns across the squad. Five players are currently sidelined or doubtful, and the next six fixtures include two matches against top-four difficulty opponents.

Sunderland fantasy tiers

Best Sunderland fantasy assets

Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland, MID)

Le Fée is the clear lead in our Sunderland projection at 8.63 projected InfoSport Points for next gameweek, ranking 1st among the squad. He averages 8.86 points per 90 and sits 1st for expected assists with 1.34, plus 2nd for expected goals with 2.06. His role as a primary creator makes him essential for any Sleeper or Fantrax league targeting Sunderland midfield output.

Brian Brobbey (Sunderland, FWD)

Brobbey’s 12.3 points per 90 is 2nd in the squad and his 41.6-point haul in gameweek 5 proves the ceiling in our model when he plays 90 minutes. He ranks 1st for expected goals with 2.94 and 1st for goals scored with 3. A 75% chance of playing means he is likely to start next weekend despite a hamstring flag.

Nordi Mukiele (Sunderland, DEF)

Mukiele leads the squad with 13 tackles and 35 clearances, blocks and interceptions combined, ranking him 1st and 2nd respectively. His 8.63 points per 90 and 100% chance of playing make him a reliable defensive asset in category-scoring formats where tackle and clearance volume matters far more than in FPL. At just 1.9% FPL ownership, he is significantly under-owned.

Set pieces and penalties

Habib Diarra and Enzo Le Fée are listed as penalty takers, though Diarra is currently injured with an unknown return date. Enzo Le Fée is first choice on corners and indirect free kicks, with Granit Xhaka and Trai Hume as backups. Nilson Angulo leads the direct free-kick order, followed by Xhaka and Le Fée.

Defensive value and clean-sheet outlook

Sunderland have recorded only 1 clean sheet across the squad this season, tied with 10 other players in their own ranks, and have conceded 10 goals in five matches. Mukiele and Ballard anchor the defence with 13 and 10 tackles respectively, but the defensive line is fragile: only Reinildo (8 tackles, 21 clearances) offers meaningful volume support behind them.

Over the next six fixtures, Sunderland face difficulty ratings of 3, 3, 3, 2, 4 and 3. The home match against Leeds (GW 8, difficulty 3) and visit to Coventry City (GW 9, difficulty 2) offer the softest opportunities, but Chelsea at home (GW 10, difficulty 4) will test their backline severely. Defenders should be started selectively rather than viewed as set-and-forget assets.

Fixture outlook

Sunderland open gameweek 6 at home to Brighton (difficulty 3), then travel to Bournemouth (difficulty 3) in gameweek 7, before hosting Leeds (difficulty 3) in gameweek 8. After an away trip to Coventry City (difficulty 2) in gameweek 9, they face Chelsea at home (difficulty 4) and visit Aston Villa (difficulty 3) in gameweeks 10 and 11. The fixture run is middling, with no easy stretches before the Chelsea clash.

Players to avoid

Robin Roefs (GK) scores only 2.2 points per 90 and is the lowest-ranked outfield player in the model; avoid starting him unless Sunderland string together unexpected clean sheets. Habib Diarra is injured with no return date and 0% chance of playing. Trai Hume has fallen to 41.2 expected minutes and is a rotational full-back; do not count on consistent starts.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the best Sunderland player for fantasy?

Enzo Le Fée projects 8.63 InfoSport Points next gameweek, ranking 1st in the squad and 45th overall in our model. He averages 8.86 points per 90 with 1.34 expected assists (1st in the squad) and 2.06 expected goals (2nd in the squad). His creative volume and guaranteed minutes make him the essential Sunderland asset across Sleeper and Fantrax formats.

Who takes penalties for Sunderland?

Habib Diarra is listed as the primary penalty taker, but he is currently injured with an unknown return date. Enzo Le Fée is the backup option. Managers should monitor Diarra’s recovery before relying on him for set-piece upside, and treat Le Fée as the de facto penalty taker in the meantime.

Are Sunderland defenders good fantasy picks?

Sunderland defenders offer solid tackle and clearance volume—Nordi Mukiele leads with 13 tackles and 35 clearances—but only one clean sheet across the squad limits ceiling upside. Mukiele at 8.63 points per 90 and Daniel Ballard at 6.71 are playable in category-scoring leagues where defensive actions matter, but avoid the goalkeeper and expect inconsistent results until the back line stabilizes.

Bottom line

Le Fée and Brobbey are the two must-own assets if you are building a Sunderland core in Sleeper or Fantrax, supported by Mukiele’s tackling and clearance volume for defensive depth. The rest of the squad lacks consistency or playing time, making it essential to check injury statuses and minutes before each gameweek.

For deeper insights into EPL fantasy strategy, explore our full EPL fantasy rankings, EPL fixture difficulty guide, and analysis of the best defenders in EPL fantasy and best midfielders in EPL fantasy.

Sunderland player stats

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

Sunderland next fixtures