Pro Pundits - Zophar

My Wildcard squad for Double Gameweek 26 and when I’m Free Hitting

It has never been more important for Fantasy Premier League managers to get their chip strategy right as we face more Blank and Double Gameweeks between now and the end of the 2020/21 season.

14 teams play twice in Double Gameweek 26 so the points-ceilings for a Wildcard, Free Hit, Triple Captain and Bench Boost are all higher than usual.

And, while preparing the biggest Double Gameweek of the season is very exciting, I still have half an eye on the tricky Blank Gameweeks in the months to come.

I have already used my Triple Captain chip in Double Gameweek 19 and my Bench Boost in Double Gameweek 24, so I am deploying my Wildcard in Double Gameweek 26 to focus on moving my cash back into the starting XI after spreading it out on bench players.

This was my squad at the end of Gameweek 25:

I want to move out my contingent of West Ham and Burnley players and focus more money on the starting XI for the remainder of the season.

This is how my Wildcard squad is currently shaping up;:

I have made a total of eight changes, which is on par for what I would expect with the second Wildcard. I could have possibly done without it but I saw it as an opportunity to restructure my squad for the long-term, and also for Blank Gameweek 29.

Like Blank Gameweek 18, I am struggling to see fixtures I want to attack here.

Brighton v Newcastle, on paper, looks like an appealing fixture for the Seagulls but they are such an unpredictable team. No team has had more shots than Brighton (106) over the last six Gameweeks but no team has scored fewer goals (four). I would find it difficult to back the likes of Neal Maupay (£6.1m) and any more than one defender would feel a bridge too far given Newcastle’s need for points.

Aston Villa’s form is on a downward trajectory while Tottenham Hotspur are not exactly setting the league alight with their attacking displays. It feels like a 1-1 kind of fixture and I can’t pick a clear winner here. I’m likely going to have Son Heung-min (£9.5m), Harry Kane (£11.1m) and Emiliano Martinez (£5.3m).

With West Ham v Arsenal, again, I am struggling to pick a clear winner here. West Ham are arguably the favourites given their form this season but again I don’t see a blowout win for either team.

Fulham v Leeds is the fixture I really like. I’d want Raphinha (£5.4m) and Patrick Bamford (£6.9m) for this one and possibly one of Ademola Lookman (£5.0m) or Josh Maja (£5.5m).

If I were to use my Free Hit in Gameweek 29, it would probably look something like this:

It hardly fills me with confidence, and we could see another 30-40 point week. I can’t even pick a captain I really like here. There are also quite a few attackers up against the defenders so again the point ceiling is low.

I think it could be a case of quality over quantity. With Son, Kane, Martinez and Ben White (£4.4m) already in the squad, I can focus on bringing in four players for GW29 (three FT+a hit) which would likely be Raphinha, Patrick Bamford, Michail Antonio (£6.5m) and maybe Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.4m), depending on Arsenal’s form. I’d rather have Jack Grealish (£7.6m) if he’s fit though.

What appeals to me here is that Leeds have Sheffield United in Gameweek 30, so I am happy to retain their attackers for the following week. Harvey Barnes (£6.7m) is an easy transition to Raphinha, given Barnes has a blank in 29 and then Manchester City in 30. Antonio has Wolves, which is not too bad. Aubameyang has Liverpool, which isn’t as stern a test as it used to be. Villa have Fulham in Gameweek 30 too.

When will I use my Free Hit?

Gameweek 33 is the week of the League Cup Final which means Spurs, Man City and their originally scheduled league opponents Southampton and Fulham have a missing fixture. The fixtures in 33 are far more appealing in terms of points potential.

The Villa v West Brom, Liverpool v Newcastle and Leicester v Crystal Palace fixtures appeal as does Leeds v Manchester United. I would feel much more comfortable loading up on assets from these teams for a Free Hit and I see more potential for a bigger score here. The ticker colour coding gives it away – there are way more blue fixtures in this week.

It is worth mentioning Spurs play Sheffield United in Gameweek 34, so this would let you retain their assets for that fixture. Spurs in general have a good fixture run between 27-30 (Palace, Arsenal, Villa, Newcastle) so I don’t mind holding their assets, despite their stuttering form. Man City have Palace away too in 34.

Also, there is a small chance that the pending Spurs v Southampton fixture goes to Gameweek 32, if Man City beat Everton in the FA Cup. If that is the case, Spurs having a double in 32 and a blank in 33 would make things tricky to navigate without the Free Hit in 33.

Conclusion

A lot could change between now and Gameweek 29, but I am not seeing the upside in a Gameweek 29 Free Hit at the moment. Getting the right six-to-seven players should be enough to keep up with those who do use their Free Hit, as we saw in Gameweek 18.

We have covered Free Hit strategy as well as Double Gameweek 26 extensively in this week’s edition of The FPL Wire (https://youtu.be/xP3DuM_MFPM) where Lateriser and I are joined by fellow Pro Pundit Tom Freeman. I highly recommend a listen to get you prepped for the biggest double gameweek ever.

Good luck and hope you enjoyed reading.

778 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is Dallas >> Holgate worth it? Playing BB

    Y or N

    1. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Never sell Dallas

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Why didn't you tell me this 5 weeks ago 😛

    2. alsybach
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No, Dallas on fire!

    3. Jet5605
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not for me. Holgate won't get attacking points and will struggle to get cleanies. Dallas could easily outscore him

    4. matiakez
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not for me

    5. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No

  2. ALegendJ
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Getting Konsa in and naturally need him for GW29. Hause is expected to return 13th March. How much threat he poses on Konsa's minutes? Hause did play instead of Konsa in GW13 and 14.

    1. matiakez
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Was konsa injured then or returning from injury?

    2. StevenW
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No threat - Konsa is our best CB

    3. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Konsa was injured then

      Konsa is first choice and Hause will only play if Konsa/Mings gets injured

    4. Super John McGinn-
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No threat at all, Hause will only come in for injuries and suspensions

  3. Tinfoil Deathstar
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    My WC draft is quite similar to Zoph's. I don't have luxury of FH to bail me out of GW29 though so had to plan a bit more for this. Also, would love to get Shaw in but two of his next three are against Chelsea and Man City, so that isn't screaming points potential. I've gone with Reggy instead. Think he'll play both games given he was rested on Thurs and he has much better fixtures over the next three. I've had to downgrade Cancelo to Stones though, which hurts:

    Martinez (Fabri)
    Dias - Stones - Reguillon (White, Burn)
    Bruno - Salah - Son - Gundo - Barnes
    DCL (vc) - Kane (c) (Maja)

    Thoughts on the above? This leave me with 0 ITB. Could potentially swap Barnes for Lookman and Maja for Watkins, which would allow me to keep Cancelo and gives an extra player for GW29.

    1. Yozzer
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Regulion is a risk. Only just come back from injury and prone to rotation anyway.

      1. Tinfoil Deathstar
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah it's a risk, but he's played more often than not when fit. And he was rested on Thursday which suggests he's likely to start next game at least.

  4. alsybach
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you start Bamford over
    Stones or mee?

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Over Mee

      1. alsybach
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Or is benching bamford a better option?

        1. RamaJama
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          No, play bam over Mee

          1. alsybach
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Cheers

  5. Jet5605
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Need to downgrade Pope in order to do Soucek > Barnes. Any 4.4 or less GKs I should get? Is Ryan at Arsenal the best hope?

  6. The Mighty Whites
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A - Start Bamford and Raphinha
    B - or make a -4 to bring Watkins in for Antonio (currently on my bench) and start Watkins over Raphinha

    1. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

      1. The Mighty Whites
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers guys

    3. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Controversial B from me.

      That DGW is really good for Villa - lee/shu. And he also has a potential DGW in 28 and a game in 29. If you have no FH or not planning to do it in 29, this is a worthwhile move now.

  7. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Best def for Max 4.9?

    1. matiakez
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I like dunk but there's obviously no double.

      Other than that Targett?

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers, also have Martinez, but good dgw fixtures and bgw 29 should make A def double up good

    2. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Targett, Brighton def, Fulham def.....

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Which Ful def would you recommend? Have both dgw 26 and plays bgw 29, so sounds good

        1. waltzingmatildas
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Tosin....

  8. DavvaMC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hi Guys

    I am torn as to whether to TC this week or BB?

    My bench is: POPE | SHAW | DALLAS | RAPHINHA

    I am concerned that if I don't TC this week I wont have this option again with the amount of teams playing. But if I don't BB when do I do this? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

    Any opinions would be much appreciated.

    Thanks

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Let's see the whole 15. But BB looks a no brained based on that bench.

      1. DavvaMC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        OK so below is my team.

        Martinez | Digne | Cancelo | Stones
        Son | Fernandes | Gundo | Barnes
        Kane | DCL | Watkins

        Bench: POPE | SHAW | DALLAS | RAPHINHA

        1. Mr. O'Connell
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          100% BB

    2. Iwantmorepointsthanks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      You won't have a better bench than this, so BB 🙂

    3. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      That'll get around 20, BB imo

      1. DavvaMC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks

  9. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I know a lot are in the same situation. What are you thinking?
    A) Mee to Targett
    B) Ings to Watkins
    C) Son and Ings to Barnes and Kane (-4)
    D) Mee, Ings, Bamford to Burn, Kane and Brewster (bench) (-8)

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

      1. waltzingmatildas
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers mate, just considering Lookman over Barnes on that move....

        1. RamaJama
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Would go Barnes

  10. matiakez
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Best defender under 5.2, would want them to play in 27 ideally.

    Options really are Targett, Dunk, Shaw?

    Annoyingly 0.1 off Soy.

  11. McSauce
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    On a BB. 1FT made no hits, 0.3m ITB. Are we G2G??

    Martinez*
    Targett* Dias* Shaw*
    Salah* Bruno* Gundy* Barnes*
    Watkins* Kane (C)* Bamford

    McCarthy Raphina Dallas Vestergaard

    1. Hasselbaink Forever - Defoe…
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I'd play Raph

    2. McSauce
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      BB mate

      1. Hasselbaink Forever - Defoe…
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Well argued

    3. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Raph over Bamford and then GTG

      1. Coys96
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Wouldnt bother with BB, l'd be shocked if southampton keep a cs

  12. alsybach
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I would take the hit (just)

  13. RedJive79
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    How's this latest WC now looking? Wanted to keep Bamford for future fixtures.

    Martinez
    Shaw / Cancelo / Stones
    Bruno / Barnes / Salah / Gundo / Son
    Kane / DCL

    3.9 / Bamford / Struijk / Mitchell

    1. Tinfoil Deathstar
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Very similar to my draft but I'd be worried about Struijk keeping his place for 29 given Llorente is back, and Koch is due back at start of March. Mitchell is also a rotation risk.

      1. RedJive79
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        After this GW I'd probably do Barnes to Raph and Struijk to Dallas. And leave Mitchell as fodder. Would leave 4 starting def, 5 starting mids and 3 starting strikers to play around with, and leaves back up for any Pep roulette.

  14. FPL Pillars
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez
    Dias Cancelo Shaw
    Salah Bruno Gundo Son Raph
    DCL(TC) Watkins

    Areola Bamford Dallas Coufal

    ** - has DGW
    0FT 3.7ITB
    No WC or BB. FH & TC still intact.

    GTG?

    Nervous with no Kane... -8 to get him, is it worth it?!

    Could do Bam+Raph to Kane+ESR or Bissouma. Not keen on losing them... any thoughts?

    Cheers

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Whoops I mean all squad double GW except Ralph atm

    2. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If you're that nervous do Salah and Bamford to Kane and someone

      Otherwise not worth it

      Rest looks good

      1. FPL Pillars
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Want to keep Salah. He can go hard against Shef for sure. Why is that any better then my proposed move? I really like Ralph so I may just keep how it is now. See what pressers say...

  15. Wicked Weapon
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez, Johnstone
    Robbo, Cancelo, Coufal, Stones, Mee
    Gundogan, Bruno, Salah, Saka, Soucek
    Bamford, DCL, Cavani

    2FTs and 3.2 ITB

    Surely, I should WC this team right ? (to one of the templates teams for DGW26)

    I have all chips intact still but a terrible DGW25 is making me think of doing something drastic. Will appreciate any and all advice..

    1. Super John McGinn-
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nah doesn’t need wildcard do Cavani>Kane

    2. alsybach
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bomb it!

  16. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    First to 5 wins...

    DCL or Bruno for TC?

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Dcl

    2. alsybach
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bruno

    3. McSauce
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bruno OBV

    4. Studs Up
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      DCL

    5. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bruno

    6. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      bruno

    7. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Whoever you think scores the most points. I think I prefer Bruno because I don't trust Everton - very unpredictable side.

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        As a United fan, we can be just as unpredictable as them tbf

    8. Wicked Weapon
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I'll be going with Bruno

    9. Super John McGinn-
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      DCL

    10. Akey678
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      DCL

    11. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      DCL

    12. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      5-6 to Bruno. Going to be a 50/50 call it seems

  17. Tartanjock
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who is more nailed to play Everton's 2 games
    Holgate or Coleman

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wouldn’t be willing to gamble on Everton’s defence of all teams

      1. Tartanjock
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Only for this week . . .

    2. Gonzola
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Also looking for the answer to this. Or any other sub 4.8 defender?

      1. Tartanjock
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Lindelof ?

  18. alsybach
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I’ve only benched bamford once this season, the week when he banged in his hat trick

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      And his opposition was...

  19. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez
    Cancelo Dias Digne
    Salah Bruno Son Barnes Gundo
    Kane DCL

    (3.9 Burn Struijk Brewster)

    Got no FH so I have 4 or 5 (if Struijk plays) starters currently for GW29.
    Plan to get 3 more with my transfers.

    Could also get Reguilon & White over Digne & Struijk.

    Thoughts on this WC Team?

  20. Jet5605
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start Lowton or Dallas?

  21. Vovhund
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is Reguillin a viable option?

  22. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Which option scores more:

    A) Areola + Mitchell
    B) Aina + 4

  23. 03farmboy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Sterling and Antonio out
    For
    Kane and Barnes

    Worth a -4??

  24. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Ings+Robbo to Kane+Targett for -4?

  25. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to TC??

    1. Super John McGinn-
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Kane

  26. damiang2233
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Best replacement for Grealish? €7.6m to spend

    Already have Salah, Fernandes, Barnes & Raphinha

    1. Super John McGinn-
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gundo

  27. Super John McGinn-
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Going with the bench boost this week, anything worth a hit?

    Martinez*,
    Cancelo*, Dias*, Digne*
    Salah*, Bruno*, Gundo*, Barnes*, Raphinia
    Kane (C)*, DCL*

    Pope*, Lowton*, Bamford, Dallas

    A) Lowton > Konsa/Rudiger
    B) Bamford > Watkins
    C) Nothing

    0 FT 0.2 ITB (BB, WC, TC)

  28. FPL_Crisis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    with so many attacking options for captaincy and reasons to switch from one to the other....
    should we just captain someone like Martinez or Dias?

    1. Party time
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Ederson

      • RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Martinez has Leeds away in the forst match..

      • Akey678
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I see city conceding to West Ham villa conceding a few against Leeds. So not sure it’s worth it

    2. Akey678
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Headache

      Bench boost this team or wildcard? (Worried about not owning Kane, Digne and Barnes)

      Martinez
      Rudiger Stones Pereria Ward
      Fernandes Salah Sterling Gundo
      Watkins DCL

      Pope Bamford Raphina Dallas

      Cheers

    3. The White Pele
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Lowton to Konsa worth a hit? ( no FH for gw29)