Opinion

When is the best time to play your FPL Wildcard?

After a great Gameweek 1 for many, Gameweek 2 brought a lot of us back down to earth with a bang.

So much so, that quite a few managers are activating their first Wildcard already, after just two weeks.

We spend months pulling our hair out building a Gameweek 1 squad only to rip it up before September has even arrived. That’s FPL. Things change so quickly.

It’s going to be a very interesting few weeks ahead to see how the early Wildcarders perform against those who are taking a more patient approach.

The beauty of FPL is that there is no right or wrong way to play it. You play the game the way you want to. If you care about what others think about your decision to Wildcard/not Wildcard, you need to take a step back and reassess things.

Do what’s right for your squad and ignore everything else. Don’t let the ‘noise’ influence your decision and that goes for any transfer not just Wildcarding.

Early transfers have been a hot topic this week too. I have always been a very patient FPL manager and it has served me well in the past, but I find with each new season, it is getting more and more difficult to play the waiting game, particularly in these early weeks when the transfer market is crazy.

I made rare early moves on Monday night as I had £0.0m to play with for my intended targets.

It is easier to move early at this stage of the campaign as there is less chance of issues arising during the week with no cup/European matches (apart from Wolves – stay safe Diogo!), and also the fact that the Wildcard is always there to fall back on if disaster does strike before the weekend.

As often as I can this season, I will continue to wait until Friday night to gather all the information possible before pulling the trigger, but as we’ve seen this week, sometimes you’ve got no choice but to act fast. Teemu Pukki (£6.8m) better act fast in Saturday’s early kick-off!

Double Liverpool defence is likely to be abandoned by most Wildcarders this week and by those looking to free up funds for the likes of Kevin De Bruyne (£9.6m) and Harry Kane (£11.0m).

The Liverpool defence has disappointed thus far but if it wasn’t for Adrian’s (£4.5m) howler against Southampton, and Danny Ings‘ (£6.0m) miss, the narrative would be very different this week.

Looking past the Arsenal fixture this weekend, Jurgen Klopp’s side face Burnley (away), Newcastle (home) and Sheffield United (away) in the next four.

Patience could well be rewarded with the likes of Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m), Andrew Robertson (£7.0m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.0m).

A clean sheet against Arsenal this weekend could see Wildcarders scrambling to get their ditched Liverpool defenders back in ahead of Gameweek 4.

There was a tweet doing the rounds on Wednesday about Benjamin Mendy (£6.0m) being back in training which will have Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.5m) owners slightly worried about his place in the City team.

Pep Guardiola has been quoted recently saying he wants to see Mendy train well for a month before considering him for selection, but it’s Pep, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Mendy make an appearance sooner than expected.

If you own Zinchenko, it’s an easy one though, you just keep him until Mendy does reappear. On a Wildcard though, it might be worth trying to find the extra £1.0m for Aymeric Laporte (£6.5m) for peace of mind.

The forgotten man of FPL, Son Heung-min (£9.5m) is likely to make a return to action at home to Newcastle this weekend. Owned by less than 2% of managers, he could be the ultimate differential in Gameweek 3.

There is no guarantee that he goes straight back into the starting XI though, so it does feel like a risky move. Fortune favours the brave!

Good news and bad news now. The good news is Callum Wilson (£7.9m) is gone! Watch him wipe out my Zinchenko clean sheet on Sunday and doing his salute celebration to rub it in.

The bad news is my wife beat me again in Gameweek 2 in our head to head league. She’s six points ahead already and mentions that fact every single day.

Martial was her hero last weekend and I have a feeling he could be my downfall again this weekend. Hopefully, I can claw back three points.

Good luck all in Gameweek 3 and have great weekend.

Lessons learned from Gameweek 2

637 Comments Post a Comment
  1. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Give Richarlison one more week or just bin him off for Martial?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I'm keeping, one last chance...

    2. Tshelby
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Everton do have nice fixtures. Could be a nice differential although I wouldn't dare to keep him and would ship Martial in now.

    3. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I'd get Martial, but would expect Richarlison to score - he's the sort of player who scores the week you sell him.

  2. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    This WC discussion is getting very boring. The last thing we needed is an article to feud comments.

    1. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Agreed. Some people are wildcarding, others aren't. Who cares?

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Surely everyone who is playing it has activated it already, so seems a bit pointless 🙂

      1. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Agreed.

        The best time to play fpl wildcard isn't just before the deadline.

      2. Emiliano Sala
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I activated too :-)) pretty happy atm

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

      The answer to when is the best time to wildcard is 'the best time'

      There's also little point comparing wildcaders against non wildcarders as the article suggests. Given contexts and choices are hugely individual the only helpful stat is how wildcarders improved upon the score they would have got in the week following. Beyond that comparative power diminishes

    4. Stoneleigh
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I find comments rarely relate to the article so you’re pretty safe.

    5. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Literally wildcard when YOU want it’s not even a discussion.

      Was looking over some old screenshots of the 16/17 season which I finished 8k, and I played it gameweek 4 and it was awful comparative to the gameweek. Only changed 6 players too.

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

    Thoughts on this attack heavy WC? 352, 0.3m ITB.

    Adrian
    AWB, Zinc, Lundstrom
    Sterling, KDB, Mane, Martial, Ceballos
    Kane, Pukki

    (Button)(Kelly, Greenwood, Rico)

    Could also temper this with Rico + Zinc + Ceballos > Soyuncu + Digne + Cantwell (352/442)

    1. International Richard
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      That def is skinnier that the average Instagram wannabe star

      1. KDB4PREZ
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        LOL

    2. The Road to Turfdom
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Adrian and possibly one additional £4.5m defender; otherwise probably what I would wildcard to. I think those are the premium options to have

  4. Chandler Bing
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    People still on a Liverpool defensive double up. How long are you willing to wait?

    1. Eytexi
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Will see how it's going before GW6. For the next three, I'm happy.

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        This

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

      I'm giving it a couple more weeks at least. The best defence last year and record breaking defenders don't go to shtie overnight. I would reconsider if I knew Alisson was out for more than 2-3 weeks though. If it continues until after the IB then I'd consider moving one of them out as Alisson is crucial to the defence.

    3. Valar(Keith)
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      All season If needed. Its a commitment I knew I was getting myself into with them. They don't provide value over just 2 or 3 weeks but are brilliant in the long term.

      1. Steve Stiffler
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        yeah thats why i plan on bringing an extra defender when they dont look shaky af at the back, for now 1 will do

      2. Pacer.
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Were

        It's a new season, and they have new values.

        1. Valar(Keith)
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Yup. Liverpool will randomly keep under 15 Cs and all their defenders will get under 5 attacking returns for no apparent reason

    4. Shuko
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Adrian won't be giving away goals every match. So far, no reason to change original plan of keeping TAA and VVD whole season.

    5. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      2 WEEKS

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        It will not feel right getting rid of TAA and VVD when even though no clean sheets, they both have attacking returns so far. I am sticking and Arsenal's defence awaits 🙂

    6. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Rest of the season

    7. Mo Mané No Problems
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Till the end of the season, injury permitting. That's how you get the value from them, not by jumping on and off. The whole point of premium defenders with attacking potential is you can set and forget them and concentrate transfers on jumping on and off in-form attackers.

    8. benbro
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      May

  5. $carface
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    The best time is when you think your team needs it.

    1. Chandler Bing
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      This

    2. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Or when your team is perfectly ok but fixtures align elsewhere with other perfectly ok pkayers that provide mouthwatering opportunities

  6. AI3user
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Play one

    1) Ceballos (liv)
    2) Dendoncker (BUR)

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Donk

  7. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Am I G2G for this week?

    Patricio

    VVD - TAA - Digne - Zinchenko

    Salah - KDB - Perez

    King - Kane (c) - Pukki

    Subs: Button / Dendonker / Kelly / Hayden

    1. benbro
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Missing sterling

  8. milanista10
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) Mount & Kelly
    B) Zinchenko & Cantwell

    A or B ?

    1. Matt Sk
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B for me

  9. FPL price manipulators are …
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who to captain?
    Head says Salah
    Heart says Sterling
    Gut says Martial

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      In these scenarios I go for the one that would annoy me wrong if I got it wrong. E.g. not captaining Kane who I thought was capable of 4 goals against that Newcastle defence even if it turns out to be a 2 pointer.

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        *annoy me more if I got wrong

        Am capping Kane cause I think he has the highest ceiling and would annoy me the most if he got a haul and I didn't have the captaincy on him

        1. DantheManinaPan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          I'm the opposite.

          I try to go for the player I would choose if I was completely and utterly non-emotional about the result.

          1. Miguel Sanchez
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Another very good way of playing it.

    2. Doctor Evil
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Kane lol

  10. Agger
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Teemu Pukki has scored as many Premier League hat-tricks as Cristiano Ronaldo and Denis Bergkamp.. He's essential 😉

    1. Agger
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Dennis*. Oops

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Ronaldo made up on the hat-tricks front in La Liga

      1. Agger
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        In his prime yeah.

  11. UptheBlues
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Thoughts on this wildcard team

    Pope
    Digne VVD Zinchenko AWB
    Sterling Mane De Bruyne Martial
    Pukki Haller

    Button / Cantwell / Lundstram / Wickham

    1. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Think too much money is in defence but this is still a good team.

      Not sure on Haller though.

    2. Treadstone
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Excellent team but wouldn't go with Haller....Barnes and the spare cash for me.

    3. benbro
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Not on a wc.

      Question marks over Zinchenko and you don’t have a striker to believe in.

  12. Knallie
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Bottomed

    Starting to doubt my WC team again...

    Ryan Button
    TAA Zinchenko AWB Coleman Lundstram
    Salah Sterling KDB Martial Cantwell
    Pukki King Greenwood

    A) Salah + Coleman
    B) Mane + Digne + Zinchenko->Walker
    C) Mane + Digne + King->Barnes
    D) Mane + Digne + Button->Pope
    E) Mane + Digne + 0.5 ITB

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

      You're very light up front with no where to go if Pukki & King aren't doing it for you. I suppose that's the trade off with a decent defence and big midfield.

    2. International Richard
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I don't understand a word of that, sorry. My Dyslexia doesnt help. Are the arrows on options D-C-E who you wish to change too?

      Sorry for being dumb

      1. Knallie
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yes because I have 0.5 ITB when I do Salah + Coleman to Mane + Digne I can do those extra upgrades in B C and D

        basic question though is Coleman to Digne worth downgrading Salah to Mane?

        1. wolvesmad
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Yes!

  13. ASOUSA12
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Deeney injured...

    Is it worth -4 for any of Jota / Barnes or just play Dendoncker instead?

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      PLAY DENDONCKER

    2. Deeney-is-a-god
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Same situation, will probably just play dendoncker

    3. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Ffs.. did my ft early to get pukki.. moved out king and held deeney for his price drop and his good 2 fixtures next.
      Fantastic news..

      1. ASOUSA12
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Did exact the same thing (King to Pukki)... and transfer out Siggy to fund Martial and now probably my biggest 2 issues in my squad haven't been addressed (Perez and Deeney)

        I had really high hopes for Deeney's next 2 fixtures too!

  14. zizoo10
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    not even going to bother reading the article tbh

    1. Emiliano Sala
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Agreed

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      NOT RELEVANT TO ME YET.

    3. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yet many more will read this pointless article than the really good community articles that get no promotion from FFS and are hidden away where most people don't look.

      1. Mo Mané No Problems
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        That is truly baffling how Community articles are in a separate section and get 15-20 comments. Posting them as part of the 'regular' articles would lead to much better discussions in the comments.

    4. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Shirty

  15. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Is anyone going the lone striker route? I just dont fancy any of the big hitters up front value wise and thinking of going with Pukki and a heavy midfield.

    Always have the WC later on when big hitters are firing. Thoughts?

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Pukki and Kane seems popular

    2. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I’m tempted by Kane Rashford and Pukki this week but think when Son is back firing that will end. Wilson and Haller will emerge as good options soon, can’t think of any others I’d want tbh

  16. Hits from the Bong
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Is Douglas Luiz any good? Better option than Dendoncker or nah?

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Nope.

    2. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yes

    3. Villa Velour
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      He's good... but I don't believe he's a good FPL asset.

    4. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Cheers all, I’ll wait and see then

  17. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    How many FPL players this year? There were 6m signed up last year if I’m right?

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Think there was about 5.5m who started the first GW. About a million or so have registered later.

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      6.3m now but think there have been a lot of one week teams added

  18. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Deeney injured... Template in tatters.

    1. Maddi Son
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I transferred in Pukki for him in GW2. Didn't think it could feel any spicier.

  19. tc93
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Bottomed

    On a wildcard- tough one:

    1) zinchenko, TAA, mout

    Or

    2) Laporte, VVD, Cellabos

    On 2 right now- think Laporte will be a great pick for the coming weeks- and zinchenko/TAS are more of a rotation risk

    1. Budweiser
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Who's this "mout" fellow?

      1. tc93
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Mount* from Chelsea

    2. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      2 looks good!

      1. tc93
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Ya I think so too

      2. tc93
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        More nailed

  20. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Play two of these lads.....
    A- McGinn
    B- Montoya
    C- Lundstram

    1. Villa Velour
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A B

    2. tc93
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A B

    3. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      AB

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Excellent thanks fellas!! A and B is what I’m on!! Nice to get other opinions!!

    4. Matt Sk
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A B

  21. Villa Velour
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Play Dendocker or Lundstram this week?

    1. tc93
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lundstram

  22. Hits from the Bong
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    How’s this wc team look? Plan to downgrade Kane and bring in Son and VVD after a week or 2.

    Pope (Button)
    Digne AWB Dunk (Lundstram Kelly)
    Sterling Mane Martial Ceballos (Cantwell)
    Kane Rashford Pukki

    1. tc93
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Good but you not intersted owning de Bruyne/Laporte. Think they will be essential in the coming weeks

      1. Hits from the Bong
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah I still have KDB and could get him instead of Son, but really want Kane for this week (I never learn). Can’t have everyone unfortunately but not afraid to take a hit or 2

  23. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    DDG
    VVD KWP Zinchenko Lundstram
    Sterling(vc) Salah Martial
    Kane(C) Pukki Deeney

    Button Dendoncker Hayden Rico

    Please suggest what to do with this team! Already took -4 to bring in Kane & Pukki! Now Deeney is out for several months! Please tell me what should I do? Hit the wildcard button

    1. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      This is what your bench is for

  24. nibby
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Which 1 to choose?
    A) Mount
    B) Lanzini
    C) Trossard
    D) Other 6.5M

    1. Doctor Evil
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Tossard

  25. Pino
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    How can I change FPL so that player faces show instead off kits on my FPL team screen? Like Andy has it?

    1. I Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      You can't. He edits it like that for his videos, it doesn't actually show like that on his FPL page.

    1. Maddi Son
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      99.9%

      Flagged removed on FPL too 🙂

  26. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    which is better?

    A) Salah & Moura ---> Mane & Kdb (-4)

    B) Salah ---> Kdb (free) Moura---> Mane (next week)

    C) Play Moura & Salah (Save FT)

    1. The Road to Turfdom
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      C

  27. Budweiser
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Play Dendoncker thats what subs are for

    1. Budweiser
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Tony repy fail

  28. pstokes2010
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    How’s this team looking? I brought in Pogba because he has a great record against Palace.

    Pope

    KWP Zinchenko Lundstram Digne

    Sterling Pogba Siggy

    Kane(c) Jota Rashford

    Heaton Barkley Dendoncker Monreal

  29. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Rank these mids in order of priority (for draft team)

    A: Lingard
    B: Mount
    C: Trossard
    D: Beundia
    E: Cebellos

    I am leaning towards ACBED