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. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Alli or Grealish?
    Have Son

    Keep TAA or Pereira?

    1. sminkypinky
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Alli
      Trent

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

      Really?

      Pereira.

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

        huh?

  2. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    This is set up for next week- no bench. Would you

    A WC or wait and do
    B Mané to Son on free
    C Pulisic to Son and TAA to Aurier -4
    D Mané to Son and Pulisic to Grealish -4
    E Any better move you would consider

    Henderson
    Soyünücü Lundstram Rico
    Pulisic Zaha KDB Cantwell
    Abraham Vardy Rashford

    McGovern Mané TAA Diop

    1. sminkypinky
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I would do Puli-> Martial

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

    Is Calwert Levin a good option as a 3rd striker?

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

      Only if Big Dunc is in charge

  4. sminkypinky
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Any opinions if this is just daft?

    Jimmy + Mount -> Martial + Pukki for a free (probable) one week punt??

    Need to do it tonight

    1. Jayv807
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Pukki is likely going to drop in price today though

      1. sminkypinky
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Likely. But if he doesn’t and Martial rises I’ll be priced out.

    2. Karhumies
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      seems legit long term and not a punt.

      1. sminkypinky
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers

        1. Karhumies
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Planning to do Tammy-> Pukki and Tielemans->Martial myself over 2 weeks. Mount->Son ended up being my priority this week.

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

      Think Pukki also got injured

  5. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Problems are mounting up for me..

    Pulisic
    Tieleman
    Mousset stinking up my team and getting me nowhere fast.

    2fts and 0.8itb

    Take a hit and get rid of all 3 somehow??

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

      Depends on rest of your team given the blank but you can just do the 2 mids I think.

      Puli Tielemans to Martial Grealish works.

      1. sminkypinky
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        This

      2. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Have Rashford so not sure on the double up??

        Alli/kdb/Rash/Vardy rest of front 7

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

          The double up is fine for the short term I think United in good form with nice fixtures if it doesn't work you can pivot quite easily around gw20

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

    I'm pretty set on doing Abraham & Maddison to Grealish & Rashford for -4 this week. Would captain Rashford. Anyone fancy talking me out of it?

    Setup for next week would be:

    Pope 4.0
    Kelly Lund Guilbert (Soy TAA)
    Djenepo Son KDB Grealish (Mane)
    Vardy Jimenez Rash (c)

    1. Karhumies
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Alternative: Martial and Pukki in, captain Son?

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

        Pukki has a broken toe so one to monitor

        1. sminkypinky
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Source?

          1. Cruz88
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Sky sports news

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

        That's interesting. I was thinking other option was just straight Mads to Martial. My problem with that though is that I want Rashford long term given his form.

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

      Solid

  7. Lucas8406
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Henderson Button
    Lundstram Robertson Kelly Rico Soyuncu
    Son Mount De Bruyne Mane Dendoncker
    Abraham Vardy Rashford

    Do Mount to Maddison/Alli and Robertson to Aurier

  8. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Magnarse needs his own podcast.

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

    Is martial a viable alternative over rashford as man u asset over xmas period or too much of a rotation risk especially with greenwood in the picture?

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

      Rashford Nailed for us and is way more consistent.!

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

      I'm debating this too. Pull of Rashford is too strong for me but have to watch Utd tomorrow to 100% confirm.

  10. NOSLEEPTILLBROOKLYN
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    People think Mount and Pulisic for

    A. Alli Maddison
    B. Son Grealish

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

      B

    2. Karhumies
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Alli Martial?

      1. NOSLEEPTILLBROOKLYN
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Opted for the Son and Grealish

  11. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who scores more between these two?
    A)Madisson MCI(A) LIV(H) WHU(A) NEW(A)

    or

    B)Abraham TOT(A) SOU(H) ARS(A) BHA(A)

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

      B.

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

      Abraham does.

  12. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone play Rico.

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

      As always, my cup opponent

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

      3rd on bench. To be fair they were playing Chelsea away.

    3. sminkypinky
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nah. Of course my jammy ML leader grts him off the bench.

    4. drughi
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      nah I always bench him when he get points, playing aginst burnley so 1-2 pointer coming

  13. Earn your Spurs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who would you rather have for the next 2 weeks
    a> Rashford (wat, NEW)
    b> Kane (CHE, BHA)

    1. NOSLEEPTILLBROOKLYN
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

    2. sminkypinky
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      RASH

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

      Rashford

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

    I've tried Googling this, but a tad confused... am I right in saying there's four series of Class of 92: Out of their League?

  15. Jolly Good
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Thoughts on Pulisic guys?

    Any reason to keep? Has he been unlucky?

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

      Sell. Taken off early today. Will lose value, has failed to deliver despite favourable fixtures no matter how good his underlying stats. And too many great alternatives in his price range

  16. JustPark
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Is there a site that can sure xy combination of player ownership? Basically how unique the squad is compared to the rest.

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

      *that can show

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

        Appreciate it!

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

        Strange. I keyed in my exact squad and it gave 0.0% result. That can't be right.

  17. 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...

  18. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    One week punt before WC. 2ft.

    A - Salah, ings -> son, rashford (play mount)
    B - salah, mount -> son, martial (play ings)
    C - salah, mount -> son, alli (play ings)

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

    The clean sheets have just started to come in for Pool. Could have conceded (Deoleofeu one on one), but worth noting beyond the blank

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

      Watford had 3 massive chances as well as the Deulofeu one. Still not looking secure at all

  20. DeadStarComing
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    https://twitter.com/FPL_Rockstar/status/1205862566095982592

    Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo 🙁

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

      Goodnight Sweet Prince 🙁

      He was one of the good guys 🙁

    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Good

    3. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Ban BPS an VAR.

  21. sminkypinky
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who wins next gw?
    A) Mount + Jimmy
    B) Martial + Pukki

  22. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Magnus Carlsen is the new Number 1

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Other news, maybe I am in the top 600k at chess.

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

        What’s your ELO rating?

        1. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Is that how thick my duvet is?

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

            Lol. No
            ELO is the official chess rating system.
            Magnus Carlsen is at 2848. Grand Master

            My rating is 1586. Just above average

            1. how now brown cow
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              The fact I have no idea means it is probably low!

              Used to be good at chess as a nipper.

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

                Everyone’s rating starts off at 1200 and will go up and down depending on the rating of your opponent.
                The higher ranked player you beat the more points are added to your rating.
                Encourages one to play better players than yourself and improve.
                I won’t bore you any further.

                1. how now brown cow
                  • 9 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  Sadly I'm interested. Will read up.

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

      Won't stay there

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

      so what

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

        Exactly i finished 4th once and dont bang on about it 🙂

    4. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Madness.

    5. Taking the Mkhitaryan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Who gives a...
      None of us know him. No1 is always someone who does something. He just happens to have a boring job.

  23. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Just did Pulisic to Grealish.

    Team for GW18

    Guaita
    Lundstram Dunk Rico
    Son Maddison Traore Grealish
    Vardy Abraham Rashford

    Button Soyuncu Salah TAA

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

      Boom - Looking good

      Why did you do tonight out of interest - Don’t think either were forecast to price change?

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Just wanted to get it out of the way.

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

          Might do same with Chilwell > Aurier

          Not normally a fan of early transfers p... but looks like Aurier possibly rising tonight & he seems almost OOP the way Jose’s using him, worth a little gamble 🙂

    2. Pinturicchio10
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Excellent team, that.

    3. Feanor
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Me: 38 with Kelly, KDB, Son, Alli and Rashford left

      Cup opponent: 42 wtih Kelly, KDB, and Kane left

      1. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        You all day.

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

      GW18 team:

      Henderson
      Rico Lundstram Chilwell
      Alli KDB Mount Dendoncker
      Jimenez Vardy Abraham

      Button Soyuncu Mane TAA

      1FT, 0.2itb [have WC]

      What should I do here??

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

      How does mane and boly to son and dunk for a -4 sound ?

    6. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Me 42 Him 39

      Me. Kelly Milly Son Rich Jesus

      Him. Patricio Maguire James Mctommo

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

        You win

        1. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Should be good.

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

      GW18 team:

      Henderson
      Rico Lundstram Chilwell
      Alli KDB Mount Dendoncker
      Jimenez Vardy Abraham

      Button Soyuncu Mane TAA

      1FT, 0.2itb [have WC]

      What should I do here??

      1. Mount >> Grealish
      2. Mane >> Son
      3. Chilwell / Soyuncu >> Kelly
      4. Other

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

        All 3 are good moves, tempted to combine 2 of them for a hit?

    8. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Would you do Mane to Son on wildcard this week with the plan to bring back one of Salah or Mane keeping money itb or just easier to bench Liverpool asset?
      Have Ali already

    9. Slam
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Suggestions welcome

      Pope
      Lundstram Rico Mings(!)
      KDB Pulisic Mount D.Luiz
      Vardy Rash Abraham

      Button... Soyuncu TAA Salah

      1 FT
      0.4 ITB

      A) TAA+Puli -> Kelly+Son (-4) (Keep Mount)
      B) TAA+Puli+Mount -> Aurier+Son+Grealish (-8)
      C) Mount -> Grealish (FT) (Keep Puli and hope Mings is fit)
      D) Something else

      Thanks in advance