In my recent article on double Gameweek planning in the second half of the season I mentioned that the optimal tactic in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) based on likely double Gamweeks looks to be to Wildcard ahead of Gameweek 36 and then use a bench boost chip during Gameweek 37, when a bumper double Gameweek featuring top teams is expected.
Some people have said this approach is brilliant and will be a massive advantage over those not in the know, some have dismissed this as pie-in-the-sky and you will get a ruined team for the last three Gameweeks of the season, with potentially bad fixtures and having to leave out premium players.
Having looked at this in a bit more depth, the simple answer is that it appears that it could go either way and will depend heavily on what happens in the FA Cup.
Usually, the FA Cup is of little interest to the die-hard FPL manager, other than to make sure one of your assets doesn’t get injured or suspended, but this season you could be rooting for the big guns to reach the semi-finals or not, depending on whether you still have your Wildcard left or not. Having your Wildcard left with the big boys in the FA Cup semi finals could mean a likely potential giant points gain in Gameweek 37, while “lesser” teams in the semi finals could leave you with a very depressing summer of reflection. Here are the potential permutations…
DREAM SCENARIO FOR GAMEWEEK 36 WILDCARDERS
If the FA Cup semi-finalists are the “big four” of Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and Man United, the fixtures for all eight teams who look like they will have a double Gameweek 37 will almost certainly look like this…
Arsenal
GW36: NOR
GW37: mci, sun
GW38: AVL
Chelsea
GW36: TOT
GW37: sun, bou
GW38: LEI
Manchester City
GW36: sou
GW37: ARS, STO
GW38: swa
Manchester United
GW36: LEI
GW37: nor, whu
GW38: bou
Bournemouth
GW36: eve
GW37: WBA, CHE
GW38: mnu
Sunderland
GW36: sto
GW37: CHE, ARS
GW38: wat
Stoke
GW36: SUN
GW37: cpl, mnc
GW38: WHU
West Ham
GW36: wba
GW37: SWA, MNU
GW38: sto
In this scenario, you could put out a theoretical pretty decent team that maximises the double Gameweek 37 with bench boost (assuming no injuries, suspensions and rotation), whilst having a decent-looking team with good fixtures for Gameweek 36 and Gameweek 38. Chelsea and Manchester United particularly would have a plum run of fixtures (to double/triple up). Don’t forget you would also have two free transfers (FTs) as well for GW38 to bring in players from other clubs if you don’t use a free transfer pre-Gameweek 37.
NIGHTMARE SCENARIO FOR GAMEWEEK 36 WILDCARDERS
However, what if the FA Cup semi final line-up is the same as just two seasons ago (2014) – Arsenal, Hull, Sheffield United and Wigan?
Well, it would be a disaster if you were saving your Wildcard for GW36 as potentially only Arsenal and Sunderland would have a double Gameweek 37s, so if you have saved your Wildcard hoping for the dream scenario for the double Gameweek, you are not going to be happy at all.
Even if Manchester City don’t get through to the FA Cup semi-finals (which is more than a small possibility) are you really going to go without Sergio Aguero just because he doesn’t have a double Gameweek? It’s certainly food for thought.
Conclusion
So what is the best approach to ensure you get the most out of the second half of the season and your chips in FPL? For the masses who Wildcarded after Gameweek 2, it is going to be very difficult to hold on to your second Wildcard until Gameweek 36. Patience and good strategic hits may be needed, or they could just play the second Wildcard early and hope the big guns fail to reach the FA Cup semi-finals.
For those who haven’t Wildcrded yet and are not planning to until November/December, then who knows what the best approach will be – it’s certainly going to be something that is going to need a lot of consideration/luck in the second half of the season and has added an extra dimension to this year’s competition.
8 years, 9 months ago
Mini leagues will be won or lost on getting this right. Thanks for helping us prepare.