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. FPL FREAK
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Need a review..

    My team: 35 pts with KDB, Son, Alli and Kelly to play

    My cup opponent's team: 54 pts with Gazzaniga, Aurier and Martial to play.

    Do u think I have any chance to beat him..?? Or is it game over for me..???

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

      Will be pretty tough, need some Son and KDB magic

      1. FPL FREAK
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Thanx

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

      No worries yur opponent wont excede 64 🙂 ....but yur players hve to do something to chase 65

      1. FPL FREAK
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Thanx..

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

          No worries i m also into same situation ....with a hope of magic (son kdb)

    3. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      no one knows

    4. Don Van Vliet
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      If Spurs concede you should be okay.

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

    1 ft 2.7 ITB.. which one seems a better option -

    A Pulisic to Alli , start Soyuncu this gw
    B Nakamba to Graelish (Soy on bench), get Alli for Norwich away by downgrading mousset and going 3-5-2

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

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

    How did Tammy look yesterday? 0 returns in 4 of last 5 is making me twitchy.

  4. Shatner's Bassoon
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    People just gonna play Soybean next week? Take the 0/1 pointer?

    1. Duffy Dunk
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Trying to avoid playing him by bringing a Villa def in for TAA.

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

      He's on first bench

    3. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      with two of my defenders red flagged i have no choice really, more points to be gained bringing in Martial and Rashford

  5. Duffy Dunk
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Guilbert or Targett? Explain why please.

  6. KINGS
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Guys. Which of these your top picks over x’mas period?

    A) Alli
    B) Martial
    C) KDB
    D) Richarlison

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

      A...

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

      A or C

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

    A

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

    Looks like the wheels have come off at Chelsea and their fixtures coming up are really tough.

    Already ditched Pulisic now I am wondering about Tammy.

    Next up Spurs for CHE and not sure whether I should move on Tammy to upgrade Traore and play 5 in the middle.

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

      Just do it.... Chelsea young team wont be much deeper !!!

    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      hold Tammy

  9. Nabs Kebabs
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    @Albrightondknight

    All I can say about your team for now is that Tielemans really has to go.

    KDB is such a tricky one, it all depends on how he goes against Arsenal. Honestly it depends on what he scores, people think it's kneejerky but a blank and he becomes a decent option to sell imo. A haul and I'd even look at bringing him in for Mane myself. Price movement could go either way with him.

    Alli is very important to own though with his upcoming fixtures and he must come in this GW imo.

    Rashford and Martial are still a tough call. The Everton game will tell us a lot. Martial has more potential value in him but Rashford is on some streak and will be impossible to ignore if he scores again.

    TAA -> Targett or Rico is a smart move to raise funds in your side.

    These are really just a bunch of random thoughts as at this stage it's difficult to pinpoint exact moves. Hope it helps. And last thing I will add is do not be at all afraid of taking hits, it's really quite liberating.

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

      Thanks.
      The logic you have here is that Tielmans needs to go and Alli is a good option and I can’t disagree
      Inbs has some tough fixtures down the line but definitely worth holding.
      Apart from my utd disdain I think inconsistency will rear it’s head again so like you I am not convinced maybe not even by Rashford

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

    Best two players to bring for next gameweek, a 2 one week punt? Any suggestions

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

      Grealish Rashford

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

        This

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

        Owk, i want to remove salah and tielemans preferably, then i will activate wildcard after gw18

    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Martial Rashford

  11. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Any chelsea attacker worth holding on to ?

    Honestly non fills me with confidence at the moment

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

      Yeah, but abrahan shown he can be a reliabke asset, am still holding too

  12. Amey
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Need Son to match Alli to go ahead in FFS cup

  13. mlm
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Gazzaniga (Button)
    Aurier Lundstram Kelly (TAA Soyuncu)
    Son Maddison Pulisic Zaha (Mane)
    Vardy Rashford Abraham

    0.3ITB, 1FT

    A) Mane => Grealish/Martial
    B) Pulisic => Grealish/Martial
    C) Both A+B
    D) Save

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

      Planning to Zaha => Salah in GW19

  14. StayoutheSpiceZone
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Score predictions?

    Man U 3-1 Everton
    Wolves 2-3 spurs
    Arsenal 2-5 Man City

    Would be lovely

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

      Man u vs eve ....3-2

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

      2-1
      1-3
      1-4

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

      2-2
      1-2
      1-3

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

      0 - 1
      0 - 2
      0 - 3

      3 away wins with home teams scoring no goals

      Might put a quid on it

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

    Gylfi Sigurdsson

    GW18

    Talk to me

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

      Rather have Richarlison

    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      get Martial instead

  16. Party time
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Bournemouth have kept more cleansheets than Liverpool. Strange season thus far

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

        Liverpool’s cleansheet record this season is one of her weirdest things I’ve eve seen in FPL - and I’ve seen some weird things in this game

        Salah being only 10 points behind Mané despite playing half the season so far with a broken ankle isn’t far behind it. Their respective prices at the minute likewise.

        1. Party time
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Yeah... I still believe the cleansheets will roll in

      2. The Overthinker
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Best defender below 5.3 for next 5 Gameweek?

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

          Surging Serge Aurier

      3. OPTA FPL
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        First time in 8 years I have 2 FT and dont know what to do

        Pope
        TAA Pereira Lundstram Aurirer Kelly

        Mane Son Alli Maddison hayden

        Vardy Abraham Jiminez

        Any idea?

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

          4-3-3... Get kane by ditching maddison next home 2 fixtures 🙂 literally i m think for that

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

            Oops ditch dele

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

              Alli better value than kane

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

                But for better captaincy i m suggesting 🙂

        2. 007 [RoboKlopp]
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Get Rashford imo

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

            Jimienz has Norwich next

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

          Wait for pogba news!!!

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

          2nd goalie improvement?

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

            maybe but still play pope til WC

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

        KDB - 1G, 2A, 3 baps
        Alli - 1G, 1A, 2 baps
        Guaita - CS, 3 saves, pen save, 3 baps

        Sound about right for remaining fixtures?

        1. Nabs Kebabs
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          A bit conservative there mate 😉

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

          baps means????

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

            Got it 🙂

        3. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Remaining fixtures in this month? Yes. 😀

        4. Wally banter
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          would take that, add something for jiminez too

      5. Van der Faart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        2FT here and a little worried going into next week.

        Hendo (Gazza)
        Soyu Rico Kelly Lundy (TAA)
        Alli KDB Maddison (Mane Dendo)
        Abraham Vardy Ings

        0 itb. Any early thoughts? Thinking Abraham to Jimi for a week anyway. Is it a waste of a transfer?

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

        Is it worth a hit to get Son instead of Alli? Obvs see how today goes.

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

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

        This move, for the next 2 fixtures??

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

        Damn gonna have a big fall today with only rashford and alli to play. Was hoping something from ings.

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

          I guess not many highly owned players I left?

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

            Rashford, Son, Alli, Jimenez, Auba, kdb, Sterling

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

              Kane

        2. RamaJama
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Not necessarily, depends on how they and other players play.

          Have left Alli, Son and Rashford and hoping for a rise.

          1. Salah’s Sonnet
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Same players left for me also

        3. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Hardly? In 49 pts already? Those two left should be fine?

      9. Wally banter
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Had a cheeky red arrow yesterday, can i keep my hopes up with the following remaining?
        38 with Guaita, Jiminez, Rashford, Kdb, Alli remaining

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

          Absolutely, these can get you up to 80+

          1. Wally banter
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            haha, thank you for the kind words... with 60 i will be more than happy

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

        Question here.

        If I play my free hit, will that wipe out the FT I made yesterday?

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

          Yup

        2. THFC4LIFE
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          I believe so

        3. internal error
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Is it a good time to play free hit chip? I dont really like the fixtures next week

          1. Duffy Dunk
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Playing freehit in gw18 would feel like wasting it, considering the fixtures.

      11. internal error
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Is Pulisic passing the underlying stats test but failing the eye test?

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

          I got rid.

        2. RamaJama
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Well, his Stats haven’t given you much points lately...

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

        Soyuncu, KDB & Jimenez > Kelly, Alli & Rashford (-4)?

        Already have Kane

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

          Nah

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

        I am going Robertson to Rico for Gw18. I already have Taa and Mané

        Then with 2.9itb. I will change either Mane or KDB to Salah.

        Thoughts on this thanks

        1. Duffy Dunk
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Why bring a LIV player in, when they blank in gw18 and play away to LEI in gw19?

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

            The next part is for gw19 forgot to mention. Only robo to rico this week

      14. GE
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Mane and Mount ->

        A) Son and Maddison
        B) Son and Martial (have Rash)
        C) Son and Grealish
        D) Son and Richarlison
        E) Other suggestions?

        1. Van der Faart
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Will you get Mane back in or do you have Salah as well?

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

            Only have Mane, will probably get him back or Salah after their fixture swing.
            Have KDB, Son, Alli, Vardy or Rash to make that move

        2. internal error
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          I wouldnt get Maddison until after they play Liverpool. C or D

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

            Good point, thanks

          2. Duffy Dunk
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            I think MCI & LIV are the types of games Maddison can do well in.

      15. Bobby Digital
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Heaton
        Aurier Lundstram Kelly
        Zaha KDB(c) Maddison Dendonk
        Vardy Abraham Pukki

        Schmeich VVD TAA Salah

        0itb, 1FT, WC intact

        Any ideas? Would you save or transfer out one Pool player and then bench Dendonk?