A record number of Fantasy Premier League managers captained Erling Haaland (£11.9m) for Gameweek 6 and the masses' faith was repaid as the Manchester City forward scored in the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa.
The total of 5,398,620 who gave the Norwegian the armband is the most in a single Gameweek in FPL history, surpassing the 5,139,561 managers who handed Mohamed Salah (£13.0m) the armband in GW17 last season, when the Egyptian scored in a 3-1 win over Newcastle United.
🔝 @ErlingHaaland is now the most captained player EVER for a single #FPL Gameweek!
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) September 3, 2022
1️⃣ Haaland - 5,398,620 (GW6 22/23)
2️⃣ Salah - 5,139,561 (GW17 21/22)
3️⃣ Salah - 4,882,177 (GW13 21/22)
4️⃣ Salah - 4,781,468 (GW15 21/22)
5️⃣ Salah - 4,738,421 (GW18 21/22) pic.twitter.com/WqaPAOQROt
But Haaland was unable to claim a third successive hat-trick and returned six points before bonus.
GW6 most-captained players
| Player | Captained by (000's) | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| Haaland | 5,398 | 9 |
| Salah | 1,597 | 3 |
| Jesus | 802 | 1 |
For the fifth successive Gameweek the same three players were chosen as the top three captain picks, with Salah and Gabriel Jesus (£8.2m) completing the line-up.
The most-selected player in Fantasy, Jesus had produced six attacking returns this term thanks to three goals and three assists. Only Haaland, with 10, had more before GW6.
However, the Arsenal forward blanked and was booked in the Gunners' 3-1 defeat at Manchester United.
Salah also failed to add to his three goals in his last two appearances at Goodison Park as Liverpool drew 0-0 with Everton.
Toney sellers punished
Spare a thought for the 461,000+ managers who sold Ivan Toney (£7.1m) ahead of the striker's hat-trick in Brentford's 5-2 win over Leeds United that has brought 14 points before bonus.
Not that Toney had much sympathy for them.
Massive win happy to get a hat trick and big 3 points. Onto the next.
— Ivan Toney (@ivantoney24) September 3, 2022
Oh and you guys that took me out your fantasy team… HOW YOU LIKE ME NOW 😎😎😂😂
GW6 most transferred-out players
| Player | Transferred out by ('000s) | Pts |
| Rodrigo | 2,085 | 0 |
|---|---|---|
| James | 692 | 1 |
| Zinchenko | 560 | - |
A shoulder injury to Rodrigo (£6.4m) meant the Leeds United midfielder was sold in abundance. It's only the second time a player has been ditched by over 2million people in a Gameweek.
Reece James (£6.0m) and Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.1m) were both absent in Gameweek 5 and suffered large sales as a result.
James returned in Chelsea's 2-1 win over West Ham United but picked up a yellow card and scored only one point.
Zinchenko started for Arsenal at Old Trafford but, like Gabriel Jesus, also msutered just one point.
GW6 most transferred-in players
| Player | Transferred in by ('000s) | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| Gross | 929 | 5 |
| Haaland | 834 | 9 |
| Zaha | 691 | 3 |
Haaland featured among the top three recruits for the third time this season.
In the last two Gameweeks alone more than 1.5m people have brought in the record-breaking forward.
But Pascal Gross (£6.0m) was the No 1 target once more, as he was in Gameweek 5, and he rewarded his buyers with an assist in Brighton & Hove Albion's 5-2 victory over Leicester City.
Wilfried Zaha (£7.2m) was a popular replacement for the injured Rodrigo, picking up 691,000+ new owners, but could not add to his four goals in 2022/23 as Crystal Palace drew 0-0 at Newcastle United.
Also in this series
Part 2: GW6 Bonus points: Mac Allister takes maximum
Part 3: FPL Saturday review: Newcastle pair in demand
Part 4: GW6 Lessons: Salah and Liverpool a growing concern
Part 5: Time to sell Salah? What the FPL experts say
Part 6: Sell Liverpool defenders? What the FPL experts say