Metrics

Fifth of top 10k FPL managers yet to play first Wildcard

Roughly a fifth of the top 10,000 Fantasy Premier League managers are yet to use their first Wildcard.

Time is running out to deploy this chip as it is only active for the next three Gameweeks, disappearing after Gameweek 20.

Following the passing of Saturday’s deadline for Gameweek 17, 81.09% of the top 10k had played their Wildcard.

As you can see from the table above, 0.87% of them played the Wildcard for Gameweek 17, taking the overall total for the top 10k to 81.09%.

That means 18.9% of managers at this level still have it in their pocket, ready to deploy over the Christmas period.

Our ProPundit writer Simon March did an article earlier this week on the pros and cons of using the Wildcard later in the season and is certainly an interesting read. READ IT HERE.

Those that do deploy their Wildcard between now and the end of the year may well end up with squads that look a bit like the above.

This is the template Wildcard put together by those using it for Gameweek 17.

As you can see, the Brighton double-up between the sticks is the most-popular goalkeeper combination, featuring Mat Ryan (£4.8m) and David Button (£4.0m).

The most fashionable defenders in these select squads match the quintet considered the best by the majority of top 10k managers.

John Lundstram (£5.1m), Martin Kelly (£4.3m), Çaglar Söyüncü (£5.1m), Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.3m) and Diego Rico (£4.3m) are all the top five most popular defenders both for the top 10k generally, and those who Wildcarded for Gameweek 17 – in the same order as well.

There is some disparity in midfield though.

Sadio Mané (£12.3m), who assisted and had a headed goal ruled out for offside in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Watford on Saturday, is the most popular in both sets, in 87.4% of Wildcard squads and 85.8% of top 10k squads.

By contrast, Mohamed Salah (£12.2m), who has double-figure hauls in each of his last two Premier League outings, is only in 16.8% of top 10k squads, suggesting he can act as a powerful differential at this level from Gameweek 19 onwards, as Liverpool are without a fixture in Gameweek 18.

While James Maddison (£7.8m) is in 59.6% of top 10k squads for Gameweek 17, he is in 71.3% of the Wildcard squads at this level, indicating how popular he is.

The Wildcard users have also taken the opportunity to invest in the Spurs midfield double-up too, with considerably more vigour than the rest of the top 10k.

Son Heung-min (£10.0m) and Dele Alli (£8.7m) are in 56.3% and 42.5% of Wildcard squads at this level but are only in 51.8% and 34.7% respectively in normal top 10k teams.

The true power of these players for those further down the rankings is shown by how few managers own Son and Alli overall. As things stand, their worldwide ownership figures are 21.0% and 12.5% respectively.

Meanwhile, if Kevin de Bruyne (£10.2m) manages to return to usual FPL form against Arsenal’s then he could help arrest a slew of sales.

He may still be in 60% of top 10k squads but that number has been falling each week for some time now.

Furthermore, the Manchester City midfielder has been selected by just 37.9% of top 10k managers playing their Wildcard for Gameweek 17.

So far, it has been a disappointing Gameweek for the in vogue forward line of Jamie Vardy (£10.1m), Tammy Abraham (£8.0m) and Marcus Rashford (£9.0m).

The Leicester City forward was handed an overwhelming majority for the Gameweek 17 captaincy, with 71.2% backing for it among the top 10k, but arguably failed to fully deliver on his promise.

Despite finishing the match at the King Power Stadium with more shots on target than any other player, Vardy did not find the net officially.

He was initially awarded the goal for Leicester’s equaliser but was shortly after stripped of it, Tim Krul (£4.5m), quite rightly, accredited with an own-goal instead.

Meanwhile, Mané (backed by 18.6%) came in as a distant second, managing to outscore Vardy by one point.

As already mentioned, Salah’s big haul against Watford was especially powerful for those who captained him.

With the vast majority of top 10k managers getting 10 points for Vardy, a 32-point haul for the Egyptian will surely have propelled the 4.5% who captained him into the highest reaches.

As for the rest of the popular forward line, Abraham blanked in a surprise defeat to Bournemouth while Rashford awaits his owners in a meeting with Everton on Sunday afternoon.

A final word on the chips as 2.6% of the top 10 deployed the Triple Captain for Gameweek 17.

Our Scoutcaster and ProPundit Az also pulled the trigger for his enhanced armband.

Like many of those in the top 10k, the chosen recipient was Vardy, and, chances are, his Triple Captain backers were expecting a lot more than one assist against Norwich.

All data taken from LIVEFPL.NET.

1,952 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Which one?

    1. Richarlison
    2. Grealish
    3. Martial (have Rashford)

    1. Slitherene
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      1

      1. Coys96
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I'm thinking this too. Good stats despite Everton awful start and think they've turned a corner

        1. Ser Davos
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          I'd favour Grealish for fix and price

    2. antis0cial
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      2

  2. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone stupid enough to have Mount and Pulisic? Carrying these two for the last 5 weeks is absolutely killing me. Currently have both on the bench vs Spurs.

    1. ==rvn10==
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Same here brother! Feel your pain, deco selling mount now! Thankfully salah cap made my week!

  3. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    tomori to aurier for free?

    1. Pinturicchio10
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Not at all convinced by him or indeed the Spurs defence. Still, might do just that as Tomori needs to go and options around that price are a bit gick.

        1. Ser Davos
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Agreed. Sheff Utd, Palace and...? Maybe Targett

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      It feels so awkward to have the most expensive defender and midfielder on my bench ...

      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Then play them

        1. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Can't cause they have no fixture

          1. Nightcrawler
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Still can

            1. Magic Zico
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              No it's pretending

              1. jason_ni
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Bench wa#*er

    3. Slitherene
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Matip, Mount, Salah ➡ Lundstram, Son, Alli/Martial

      This move, for the next 2 fixtures?

    4. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Salah(c) at 11.29 BST served me well.

      1. thomashl
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Nice one. Every time I’ve changed captain last minute this season it’s failed massively

      2. Slitherene
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I was not ballsy enough to take the leap. Paid off handsomely!

      3. Pinturicchio10
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Boom 😀

        • Coys96
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          I so almost went Mane to Salah (c) last minute but didn't. Cost me 21 pts all in all

          1. fantasyfog
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            thems the breaks

          2. HNI
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Its actually 10 as its only difference in player points

            1. Nightcrawler
              • 4 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Not really if he is transferring salah in for mane

        • Ser Davos
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Villa Cruyff went for Mane to Salah. Hell of a move

      4. thomashl
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        How’s this team?

        Pope
        Soy Lundstram Tomori*
        Cantwell Son KdB Grealish
        Ings Vardy Rash
        (Button - Mane* TAA* Diop*) 1ft 0.1itb

        Was thinking Diop -> Kelly...

        1. Slitherene
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Diop to Cahill?

          1. thomashl
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Cheers. Not Kelly?

            1. Slitherene
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Kelly might not keep his place, once Ward is back. More of a long term move.

              1. Wılly
                • 10 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Ward won't be back for at least a month and by that time you'll probably want a new player in for your CPL defender

                1. Slitherene
                  • 6 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  They could be good value, even after ARS & MCI.

                  1. Wılly
                    • 10 Years
                    4 years, 3 months ago

                    By that time I'll be back to double Liverpool defence + Lundstram

                    1. Slitherene
                      • 6 Years
                      4 years, 3 months ago

                      Good for you!

              2. thomashl
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Thought so, thanks. Still tempted to grind out spare funds wherever I can find them, so might go kelly after all

          2. Wılly
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Is Cahill even nailed ahead of Sakho and Tomkins?

            1. Slitherene
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Club captain isn't he?
              Also with the experience he has under his belt, Hodgson rates him highly. A leader for his team.

      5. manu4life99
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Best players for gw18 only (pre WC) ignoring £

      6. Jullepuu
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Help me out guys! 1 free transfer and 0.1 in the bank. Probably going to take a -4 this game week.

        Guaita Button
        TAA Robbo Soy Lund Reid
        KDB Mane Alli Mount Hayden
        Vardy Abraham Jimenez

        Thinking about doing Robbo and Mount to Aurier and Grealish.

        1. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Dear Irwin fan, (by the way what is your favourite song from him, mine is "Ei tippa tapa") 😉

          What am I don't get is this Aurier thing. Are his underlying stats that good or what? He hasn't passed eye test for me.

          Yet you have better OR than I do atm, so please do explain why you want him. Imo he is likely trap.

          1. Jullepuu
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            That is not Irwin in the picture but Ei tippa tapa is a classic though!

            I haven't seen Aurier play yet (maybe tomorrow I will) so I don't have anything much to say. I have read that he is really attacking. Also I believe that Mourinho likes to get clean sheets. I need to get a defender under 5.5 so I can upgrade Jimenez to Rashford for game week 19.

            Might get Dunk over Aurier. Not sure yet

            1. Baps hunter
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              I went for Kelly, just to get cash and nice fixtures.

              By the way, we had it tight last year but I won you with one single point 🙂

              1. Jullepuu
                • 4 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                I don't want to double up on Palace defence.

                Lol I will get you this time. Last year I was around the 50k mark for a long time if I remember correctly but I melted in the end

        2. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          I am considering Rashford in and Pulisic or Robbo out. I have different team, but similar issues.

      7. HNI
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Great 73 points today..Hopefully big green arrow regardless of tomorrow as most captains have been played have alli and jiminez to score further. Salah amazing semi differential

        1. The Ejiptian King
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Congrats, Salah has been great the last couple of weeks, wish I'd capped him too! Need to find the next big differential of that quality.

          1. Baps hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Yet it was close to coin toss between him and Mane with tight margin VAR decisions.

        2. Bushwhacker
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Its nice to see persistence pay off (though I doubt he’s repaid fully yet!!)

      8. Nightf0x
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Ryan (buton)
        Aurier/soy kely lund (taa soy/aurier)
        Dendo son kdb grealish (mane)
        Vardy rash tamy

        Which? 1 ft & will WC gw20
        A) kdb to richar
        B) taa to other def. (Will get him back gw20)
        C) roll ft, gw19 kdb dendo to puli-zaha mount-richar

      9. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Up 25 places OR 🙂

      10. circusmonkey
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Salah has 3 blue arrows on the price changes site, casuals eh!
        Helps him stay up whilst we wait for tomorrow's games.

        1. jason_ni
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          I have him.. and will prb sell for 18, was hoping to get him back cheaper.. not looking likely now..

      11. Mo Salah No Mane
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        If you can have any attacking front 7 for next week. Money not an option. Who would you want and who would you captain?
        Just for next week, not thinking longer or mid term.

      12. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Got no Pool and only vardy from leicester. Surely cant go wrong next 2 Gameweeks??

        1. Wılly
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Not a bad position to be in going into GW18

        2. fr3d
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Sounds like it went terribly wrong first 17 gameweeks though

          1. Nightcrawler
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Used Fh chip this week

            1. Nightcrawler
              • 4 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              I didnt say ive never had pool all season. Just not now

      13. Wılly
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Who to bring in?

        A. KDB
        B. Son (triple up with Alli & Gazzaniga)

        1. antis0cial
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          B

      14. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        64 plus Aurier, Kane, KdB and Kelly to go.

        Was 82k before today, hoping for a decent increase!

        1. G00LI0
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Nice! I'm on 62 with Aurier, Son, Alli, Rashford and Maupay to play

        2. Pinturicchio10
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Huge rise mate, and more so with those players remaining.

          • fantasyfog
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            you should check live fpl site, I reckon you'll be around 30k after tomorrow

            1. Big boy Bowen
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Thanks all

          • Baps hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            The team you have linked has only 53 pts and none left 😉

            1. Baps hunter
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Ou, sorry. It led to earlier gw. My bad.

        3. fantasyfog
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          can someone remind me of the site that shows live rank please

          1. Lingard’s Shin Guards
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Live fpl

            1. fantasyfog
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              ta

          2. Wılly
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            If you type "site that shows live rank please" into Google, you get the website

            1. fantasyfog
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              smart arse

              1. Wılly
                • 10 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Sorry, just thought it was funny

                1. fantasyfog
                  • 8 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  just checked my rank, no time for jokes!

          3. Nightcrawler
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Yes

          4. Big boy Bowen
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Ah yes I can use that! Thanks

            1. fantasyfog
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              let us know, you're smashing it

        4. Lingard’s Shin Guards
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          TAA & Mane owners holding or ditching for gw 18?

          1. Rash
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Benching

          2. Wılly
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Holding

          3. antis0cial
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Holding mane tempted to ditch TAA

          4. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            holding - instead taking a hit to upgrade my bench going double palace

          5. The Pesci challenge
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Keeping, too much value locked in

          6. fantasyfog
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            mane nope, TAA maybe going

        5. Firminooooo
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Looks like Magnus Carlsen will be nr. 1 OR after today. Chess and FPL champion.

          1. fr3d
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Minus FPL champion

            1. Baps hunter
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Even to lead this game once in a lifetime is spectacular.

              1. Luton_Fan
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Yep i did many moons ago. 🙂

          2. Baps hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Long way to go still, but yes amazing. We need him to "Meet the manager" asap imo 🙂

          3. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Ah Jayus. Yeah but is he any good at football? 😀

            1. Baps hunter
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Who cares and what does it matter?

              1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Is there no craic in ye at all?

        6. Flynny
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Hi.....please can I have some early advice on what to do here? 2ft and 0.7mitb

          Pope
          Taa lunds aurier soy rico
          Mane kdb maddison alli nakamba
          Vardy abraham jiminez.

          A..... taa and jiminez to kelly/ cahill and rashford

          B.....mane and jiminez to son and rash

          C....something else

          Thanks

        7. Champions League Varane
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Guaita Button*

          TAA Robertson Soy Lund Hanley*

          Son Maddison Zaha Alli Mane

          Vardy Jimenez Greenwood

          Want to ditch double Pool defense,Zaha,Soyuncu,Greenwood,and Maddison?

          What to do?

          2FT 0.0 ITB!

          thanks in advance

        8. Regin
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          A. Ings, pulisic, tomori to rash, grealish, Kelly for -8
          B. Pulisic, tomori to martial, Kelly for -4.

          I have Robbo (blank) tomori (lost his place and injured) and soyuncu (away to city) so don't mind taking a hit on defender.
          Any other 4.5 defenders except Kelly?

          1. antis0cial
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Maybe look at a villa def, decent run of fixtures.

          2. jason_ni
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Stop and breath. Ings out as part of a -8? In chance.

            Tomoris time is prob up, so him to kelly, not sure martial is worth a -4.

        9. antis0cial
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          These. Ives sound ok? TAA Zaha Tammy to 4.8 def maybe villa, Grealish, Kane for -4? Spurs have got some great fixtures coming up so too have Villa

          2ft .4 itb

          Would give me

          Guaita
          Willems Lund Rico Targett*
          Son Ali KDB Grealish
          Vardy Kane

          Martin Mous Soy Mane

          1. jason_ni
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Trip spurs att is prob too much for my liking...

            1. antis0cial
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Scored 12 in 4 since Morinho came in and 6 great fixtures in next 8, I’m tempted.

              1. jason_ni
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Not saying it wont work, but I'd be wary of tripping up on any attack, could be good if chasing, but if they have one poor game, that's 3 players impacted.
                Suppose if they have a 5 nil win it works the other way!

                1. antis0cial
                  • 7 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  Yeah it’s a valid point thanks. About 20k so always chasing hah

        10. jason_ni
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Is there much between son and alli?
          Have no spurs, and need to get on board.

          Feeling like son is the obvious pick, but alli allows extra cash!

          1. antis0cial
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Not a lot in it since Morinho came in. I’d probably side with Son but have both.

          2. The Pesci challenge
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Yes, son the way to go

          3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            I just wonder if Alli will be the more positionally advantageous of the two

            Son may need more worldies from very deep, or very wide like Burnley to score

            Whereas Alli is #10 so gets a nice supply of ball in advanced central positions

            Dunno really... both good options

          4. fantasyfog
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            kane may be about to explode

          5. Baps hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Imho Son is quite close to essential after Vardy, Alli is just a nice pick. If I had my wc left and had to do it from scratch, first three names would be Vardy, Son and Rashford.

        11. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Is that the Chelsea bandwagon officially in free fall then...

          Mourinho might smell blood for next Sunday vs his inexperienced former midfield protegé

          He’s actually playing back to back games vs teams managed by former players of his in Nuno & Lampo

          1. Pinturicchio10
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Doesn't look good, does it? Lost Jimenez this week for Abraham and also have Pulisic. Very disappointing.

              1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                League form has been dreadful, I wonder did they exert too much on the CL midweek

                1. Pinturicchio10
                    4 years, 3 months ago

                    Abysmal. You could be right there yeah. Full 7 days rest now before Spurs. Gonna have to keep both and hope for the best as Tomori out is more a priority sell I think.

              2. pingissimus
                • 5 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Still options but their part of their lure was they were so cheap. Now budgets are over 105 they’re not half so attractive - pricier options are affordable

            • Dirty Harry
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Worth ditching TAA to upgrade Pulisic to Son for a hit?

              Looking at:
              TAA + Pulisic > Kelly + Son + 2.4ITB (-4)

              1. Hits from the Bong
                • 5 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                I’m thinking so, budget defence time

              2. jason_ni
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                The blank complicates it, but TAA is still one of best value players.. hard to justify moving him out for me..

            • OleGGMU
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Hendo
              Willems, Rico, Lund, Aurier
              KDB, Maddy, Son
              Vardy, Rash, Ings

              Bench : Button, Kante, Mane, TAA
              0.9 ITB

              G2G?

            • Athletic Nasherbo
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              TAA + Mount > Rico + Grealish 2FT

              Then

              KdB > Salah for GW 19

            • The 12th Man
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Robbo,Mousett >>
              A) Aurier + Rashford
              B) Kelly + Kane

              1. Luton_Fan
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                A imo.