Brighton FPL Gameweek 6: Is Estupinan worth investment?

Last Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest meant Brighton remain unbeaten in the Premier League and with injured players like Pervis Estupinan returning to fitness, Albion assets are sure to continue proving popular with FPL managers.

It was a good Gameweek 5 for those 1.98 million who own Danny Welbeck after his stunning free kick put the Seagulls 2-1 ahead on the stroke of half time.

But managers with Joao Pedro (£5.8 million) in their sides were left frustrated by his lack of game time. Absent from the 0-0 draw against Ipswich Town in Gameweek 4 with a knock, Pedro was only deemed fit enough for a late cameo in the daw with Forest.

He therefore earned just one point. Bad news for all those Pedro owners, which included 44 percent of the top 100k playing the game.

Pedro left the Amex walking very gingerly, and has subsequently been ruled out of at least the Gameweek 6 trip to Chelsea with an ankle injury.

With this in mind, here a couple of interesting Brighton alternatives for FPL managers to think about.

Danny Welbeck (£5.8 million)

In terms of forwards, Welbeck is currently the third-highest scorer in the whole of FPL on 31 points. His effort from 25 yards against Forest was remarkably the first time in his career that Welbeck had ever scored direct from a free kick.

You have to go back a decade to find the last time Welbeck exceeded six league goals in a season. But with three in five matches, he is already halfway there.

Welbeck also has one assist to his name and is Brighton’s leader so far for attempts (13) and shots on target (six).

In a popular week for Wildcard usage, Welbeck is a strong option for the forward line. At such a bargain price, he not only brings goals but enables better squad depth elsewhere.

A few early price rises reflect his current popularity and his ownership has jumped by nearly 300,000 to over 2.15 million ahead of Brighton visiting Stamford Bridge.

In fact, the only player bought more often than Welbeck between Gameweeks 1 and 5 is Erling Haaland (£15.3 million). Not bad company for Welbeck to be in.

Pervis Estupinan (£5.0 million)

At the other end of the pitch, Sunday saw adventurous left back Estupinan make his first league start of the campaign having undergone ankle surgery back in April.

FPL managers are only too aware of how essential Estupinan became at various points over the past 18 months prior to his recent injury problems.

A mix of 15 defensive and attacking returns arrived during his final 21 outings of the 2022-23 season as the Albion secured historic Europa League qualification.

Estupinan then began 2023-24 with a goal and three assists in the opening five matches. By Gameweek 6, he was the leading defender for goal involvements (four), big chances created (four) and penalty area touches (24).

To those Brighton fans watching the 2-2 draw with Forest inside the Amex, Estupinan did not appear to play particularly well.

Highlights included a corner which failed to beat the first man and an attempted throw which saw him pelt the ball straight at a Forest player’s head.

But FPL relevant numbers paint Estupinan in a better and more exciting light. He set up two chances against Forest and his 14 crosses were the most of any player in Gameweek 5.

With plenty more rust to shake and a huge amount of improvement possible, it might make sense to jump on Estupinan now as an ultra-differential who loves getting forward.

Captaincy

Last week we suggested it was a good time to not pick Haaland as captain ahead of Manchester City facing the watertight defence of Arsenal.

A public apology must therefore be made in case Haaland is reading this. He scored. Of course he scored. He is Haaland.

Next up for the City striker is a chance to breach the unconvincing backline of Newcastle United. We will not make the same mistake again of playing down Haaland’s captaincy credentials.

Those still opting to go without him could put their armbands on Mohamed Salah (£12.8 million). Liverpool travel to struggling Wolves.

Ollie Watkins (£9.0 million) meanwhile is back on the goals trail just in time for Aston Villa to face newly promoted Ipswich Town.

Another leading contender is Bukayo Saka (£10.0 million.) The England winger has delivered attacking returns in every single match so far and takes on another of the promoted sides, in this case Leicester City.

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