Best Forwards for EPL Fantasy 2026/27

Last updated: Gameweek 7 · October 14, 2026

Haaland remains the only forward in our model averaging over 17 InfoSport Points per 90 minutes, but three other starters—Kostoulas, Calvert-Lewin and Barry—project double-digit points in Gameweek 6 and have escaped the ownership trap that snares FPL players moving to Sleeper and Fantrax. This month’s biggest opportunity lies with defenders and mid-fielders, but forwards still drive rank in category leagues when you separate nailed-on starters from rotation risks.

Best Forwards for EPL Fantasy: Rankings

InfoSport Points model (see our methodology). Pts/90 blends the last five appearances with the full season; ⚠ = availability flag.

Tier 1: The Elite

Erling Haaland (Man City, FWD)

Haaland leads all forwards with 17.07 points per 90 and projects 17.07 InfoSport Points in Gameweek 6. His 5 goals and 4.42 expected goals rank 1st and 1st of the 30 forwards here, and he played the full 90 minutes in three straight matches (Gameweek 3–5: 21.14, 15.53, 17.46 InfoSport Points). FPL ownership of 73.9% reflects his dominance, but in Sleeper and Fantrax leagues where xG and assists carry weight, his lack of playmaking (0.53 expected assists) is still a floor concern rather than a red flag.

Charalampos Kostoulas (Brighton, FWD)

Kostoulas ranks 2nd in projected points for Gameweek 6 (11.23 InfoSport Points) despite only 1.35 expected goals on the season. His value comes from 3 assists and 4 tackles, which ranks him 1st of 30 in assists (tied with 2 others) and 2nd of 30 in tackles—a rare blend for a striker in category leagues. He is available at 4.7% FPL ownership and expected to play 70.6 minutes; his Gameweek 5 performance (75 minutes, 17.27 InfoSport Points) proves his ceiling even in limited duty.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds, FWD)

Calvert-Lewin projects 10.2 InfoSport Points in Gameweek 6 and ranks 1st of 30 in clean sheets (tied with 4 others), a unique strength for a striker. His 83.8 expected minutes suggest he is nailed, and his last three matches show 72 to 90 minutes played. With 9 clearances/blocks/interceptions (4th of 30), he delivers defensive volume rare among forwards; 24.7% FPL ownership undervalues this defensive consistency relative to category-league scoring.

Thierno Barry (Everton, FWD)

Barry projects 10.01 InfoSport Points for Gameweek 6 and ranks 1st of 30 in clean sheets (tied with 4 others). He played the full 90 minutes in all three of his last matches and exploded in Gameweek 5 (15.13 InfoSport Points), driven by 3.5 expected goals rank 3rd of 30. At 8.4% FPL ownership, he is under the radar in both FPL and category leagues despite his role as Everton’s primary striker.

Tier 2: Reliable Starters

Alexander Isak (Liverpool, FWD)

Isak ranks 2nd of 30 in goals (4) and expected goals (3.54), but a thigh injury flags him at 75% chance of playing and only 62 expected minutes in Gameweek 6. His 14.52 points per 90 is 9th of 30, and he still projects 9.99 InfoSport Points despite reduced duty; only start him if confirmed fit.

Emersonn Correia da Silva (Ipswich Town, FWD)

Emersonn projects 9.76 InfoSport Points in Gameweek 6 and ranks 5th of 30 in assists (tied with 4 others) despite only 3.7% FPL ownership. His 13.85 points per 90 is 13th of 30, and expected 63.4 minutes suggest he is a cup-tie risk; use in Sleeper and Fantrax only if you confirm his lineup status weekly.

João Pedro (Chelsea, FWD)

João Pedro ranks 1st of 30 in assists (tied with 2 others, 3 on the season) and projects 9.32 InfoSport Points, but his knee injury leaves him at 75% chance of playing with only 54 expected minutes. His 15.54 points per 90 is 6th of 30, making him explosive when fit; 64.7% FPL ownership means deep Sleeper and Fantrax benches may already hold him, so only activate if cleared by the club.

Brian Brobbey (Sunderland, FWD)

Brobbey projects 8.18 InfoSport Points in Gameweek 6 but carries a 75% chance of playing due to a hamstring injury and only 59.9 expected minutes. His Gameweek 5 explosion (41.6 InfoSport Points) was an outlier; his 12.3 points per 90 is 15th of 30, making him a speculative bench hold rather than a weekly starter.

Tier 3: Value Picks and Streamers

Francisco Evanilson de Lima Barbosa (Bournemouth, FWD)

Evanilson projects 7.92 InfoSport Points in Gameweek 6 with 84.8 expected minutes, suggesting a nailed bench role. He ranks 1st of 30 in assists (tied with 2 others) and 2nd of 30 in clearances/blocks/interceptions (11), making him valuable in deep leagues despite 0 goals and only 3.2% FPL ownership.

Gonzalo García (Fulham, FWD)

Gonzalo projects 7.83 InfoSport Points and plays 85 expected minutes, indicating a starter. He ranks 3rd of 30 in expected assists (0.58) and 8th of 30 in expected goals (2.33), offering balanced creation volume at 4.2% FPL ownership—ideal for Sleeper and Fantrax when you need weeks 3–6 forward fill.

Yoane Wissa (Newcastle, FWD)

Wissa projects 7.33 InfoSport Points and ranks 1st of 30 in tackles (6), a rare advantage for a forward in category leagues. He plays 88.2 expected minutes and owns 7th of 30 in clearances/blocks/interceptions, offering defensive upside that FPL ignores but Sleeper and Fantrax reward; 18.7% FPL ownership reflects his continued under-valuation in defensive metrics.

Georginio Rutter (Brighton, FWD)

Rutter projects 7.21 InfoSport Points in Gameweek 6 but is a bench option with only 41.6 expected minutes and 0.5% FPL ownership. His 15.61 points per 90 is 5th of 30, making him a league-winner handcuff if Brighton injuries create playing time; monitor the Brighton lineup weekly.

Jørgen Strand Larsen (Crystal Palace, FWD)

Strand Larsen projects 7.09 InfoSport Points and plays 59.6 expected minutes as a bench forward. He owns 0.7% FPL ownership and 9th of 30 expected assists (0.2), making him a deep-league lottery ticket in 12+ team Sleeper or Fantrax drafts.

Trending Up and Down This Month

Risers: Brian Brobbey’s Gameweek 5 explosion (90 minutes, 41.6 InfoSport Points) makes him a hold despite the hamstring injury flag; his last two matches prior show 90 and 90 minutes played. Emersonn gained 62 to 80 minutes in Gameweeks 4–5, suggesting increased role as Ipswich integrate him into the lineup—a bench hold in deep leagues.

Fallers: Dominic Calvert-Lewin dropped from 77 to 90 to his Gameweek 5 floor (6.08 InfoSport Points), showing volatility despite clean-sheet consistency. Alexander Isak’s thigh injury now caps his Gameweek 6 minutes at 62 expected, down from an 80-minute Game 5 and 90-minute Game 3—a weekly verification required before starting.

How to Draft and Manage Forwards

1. Separate nailed starters from rotation risks by expected minutes. Forwards with 80+ expected minutes (Haaland, Calvert-Lewin, Barry, McBurnie) are safer keepers than those under 65 (Rutter, Strand Larsen, Isador). Sleeper and Fantrax managers must check lineups weekly because single-forward roles are rarer than in FPL.

2. Build forwards around xG and xA, not past goals alone. Isak owns 3.54 expected goals despite only 4 actual goals, while Gonzalo has 2.33 xG but just 1 goal; in category leagues, expected metrics predict earning rate better than variance-prone goal tallies over six weeks.

3. Don’t ignore clean sheets and defensive volume for strikers in your model. Calvert-Lewin (1st of 30 in clean sheets, 9 clearances) and Wissa (1st of 30 in tackles) score points forwards almost never do in FPL, rewarding defensive work that category-league scoring emphasizes.

4. Exploit low FPL ownership in forwards with high volume metrics. Kostoulas (4.7% FPL owned, 1st in assists), Barry (8.4%, 1st in clean sheets) and Evanilson (3.2%, 1st in assists) deliver value because FPL managers chase recent goals, not underlying creation and defensive consistency that Sleeper and Fantrax unlock.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the safest forward to draft right now?

Haaland remains unmatched at 17.07 points per 90 and 5 goals, but for floor safety at lower ownership, Calvert-Lewin (1st of 30 in clean sheets, 83.8 expected minutes) and Barry (1st of 30 in clean sheets, 90 expected minutes) are nailed starters with defensive upside. Both own 24.7% and 8.4% FPL ownership, meaning many Sleeper and Fantrax rosters have overlooked them.

Should I use a healthy forward if he has a hamstring injury flag?

Only if he is flagged at 75% or higher chance of playing, like Isak and João Pedro. Both project solid Gameweek 6 points (9.99 and 9.32) despite reduced minutes, but verify lineup confirmation before locking them in your lineup. Brobbey at 75% is riskier because his last three Gameweeks show 90, 90, 90 minutes before injury; wait for team news if bench depth allows.

Which under-owned forward has the highest ceiling in deep leagues?

Emersonn (3.7% FPL ownership, 13.85 points per 90) ranks 5th of 30 in assists and plays 63.4 expected minutes, making him explosive if Ipswich upgrade his role. Georginio Rutter (0.5% FPL ownership, 15.61 points per 90) owns even higher per-90 rates but is a bench handcuff; check Brighton injury news before the Gameweek.

Bottom Line

The best forwards for EPL fantasy this month are not household names: Kostoulas, Calvert-Lewin and Barry project double-digit InfoSport Points in Gameweek 6 and remain under 25% FPL ownership, the inverse of Haaland’s 73.9% saturation. Use our full EPL fantasy rankings to scan all positions, and cross-reference fixture difficulty before finalizing your roster. For deeper understanding of how our model scores forwards differently from FPL, see our scoring methodology, and check our goalkeeper rankings to balance forward risk.