Pro Pundits

The merits of a Gameweek 26 Wildcard and what my new FPL squad could look like

How Fantasy Premier League managers navigate the upcoming series of Double Gameweeks could prove season-defining for many of them.

We are currently facing the potential for back-to-back Double Gameweeks in 24, 25, 26 and 27, which is exciting indeed.

The bigger of the Doubles is likely to be in Gameweek 26 and traditionally, the practice has been to Wildcard before this sort of round so you are ready to Bench Boost in it. What is different this year is that the big Double Gameweek does not fall in Gameweek 34 or 37 like previous seasons, but much earlier. 

With it falling at a later stage, there was less worry about setting up long-term for the rest of the season but using the second Wildcard as early as Gameweek 25 means that you have to make sure you don’t handicap yourself by getting tunnel vision and looking solely at the Gameweek 26 fixtures alone. 

What is beneficial though, is that most of the top teams, Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Spurs, have the Double Gameweek in 26 and assets from these teams are good picks long-term. 

However, due to these expensive assets having a Double Gameweek, setting up a Bench Boost team is quite tricky. I had a go at a potential Wildcard team, with a view to Bench Boost in Gameweek 26, which you can see below. There is £2.6m in the bank there to convert Danny Ings (£8.4m) to Harry Kane (£11.0m).

The Bench Bwho have a single Gameweek fixture at home to Aston Villa, which is decent and Leeds on their day can score a few past anyone. 

Still, they’ve not been as free-scoring at home so this could be a disappointment. Alex McCarthy (£4.5m) would be the Bench Boost keeper, but I am a little bit concerned about his recent performances and Fraser Forster (£4.0m) waiting in the wings.

Antonio Rüdiger’s (£4.6m) possible Gameweek 26 fixtures are Manchester United (home) and Liverpool (away) so I am not really confident about a clean sheet in either. Matthew Lowton (£4.5m) is likely to have Spurs and Leicester where, again, I don’t feel too confident about his point potential. 

Now let’s have a look at what I could do by focusing most of the money in the starting eleven while still retaining five starting defenders.

Right off the bat, I like having Jack Grealish (£7.8m), he is as nailed as it gets with the European schedule coming up and I trust Villa’s attack to deliver. I included James Justin (£5.2m) as a placeholder as he can be changed for any other Leicester defender now that we know about his long-term injury. The Foxes have a great run of fixtures from Gameweek 27 with Brighton (away), Sheffield United (home), although are not playing in Blank Gameweek 29.

Jannik Vestergaard’s (£4.7m) potential Double Gameweek 26 is not as appealing, which could see Southampton travel to Everton and Spurs but the Saints play Sheffield United (away), Brighton (home), Burnley (home) and West Brom (away) between Gameweeks 27 and 31 which I like. Ben White (£4.4m) is also a great budget option from a decent defensive side. 

Another factor that cannot be underrated – information. Closer to Gameweek 26, we will have more clarity about injuries, European rotation, upcoming doubles and in general can set up the Wildcard better for the rest of the season. 

Like many of you, I have left plenty of points on the bench in the last few weeks and while we have been fortunate that money was not an issue with many of the heavy hitters injured or out of form, it is likely to be scarce going forward. 

I really don’t like having to make a decision who to bench out of Raphinha etc every week. Yes bench strength could be useful but most of the players I have picked are reliable starters. I also want to have every last bit of cash available going forward and not have it tied up in the likes of a bench goalkeeper, and/or an eighth attacker. That’s about £1.5m which can go a long way in the coming Gameweeks. 

This is how my team currently looks:

I have two free transfers and £3.0m in the bank for Double Gameweek 24. Before the flags on Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.7m) and Michail Antonio (£6.7m), I was pretty set on using the two free transfers on Eric Dier (£4.9m) to James Tarkowski (£5.3m) and Forster to Nick Pope (£5.5m) and activating my Bench Boost. 

The flags on those two forwards have made things a bit trickier. I don’t mind taking a hit for Ings this week as I was planning to do that next week anyway. I could then do Tomas Soucek (£5.4m) to Raphinha and possibly another hit for Dallas to ‘dead-end’ my team in Gameweek 25, and then Wildcard out the Southampton and Leeds assets in Gameweek 26. I am not too keen on taking a minus-eight just to Bench Boost though. 

I imagine a lot of us are in the same boat, I was initially thinking of even navigating Gameweek 26 without using the Wildcard but West Ham not having a Double then has made that a bit tricky. 

I should also mention that I have my Free Hit chip intact, so navigating Gameweek 29 is not that much of an issue. 

Plenty to think about! Hope this article gave you food for thought, thanks for reading. 

4,305 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Ch0udini
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Mendy
    Cancelo Stones Lowton Cresswell
    Cavaleiro Gundogan Fernandes Salah Soucek
    Bamford
    Bench: DCL, Justin, Wilson

    Have 1 FT want to get Dallas and Ings for DGW25

    Would you rather:
    A) catch Dallas price rise tonight and bench him anyway,
    B) get Ings and bench Bamford?

    1. marcos11
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Would wait if you aren’t gonna be priced out but A otherwise

  2. Man Chest Hair United
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one please

    A Bamford
    B Antonio
    C lookman

    1. Well you know, Triffic
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Tough lol. Has to be A

    2. Harvey Specter
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

    3. Lord Flashheart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      sadly A

  3. Well you know, Triffic
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Looking at wc26 myself.

    I will have 3 Leeds and 2 saints for 25 and wc26 allows me to focus on the big hitters with a fodder bench.

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

    James Rodriguez or Lookman

    1. Well you know, Triffic
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not sure James will play 180mins

    2. Jamb0
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Hamez

    3. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Is this for -32?

      1. JohnnyRev7
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I Loled!

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

    Current squad, 2 fts and 3.7m itb. Any thoughts on what I do here guys????..

    McCarthy Pope.
    Stones Justin Coufal Targett Taylor
    Salah Son Bruno Gundogan Saka
    DCL Antonio Bamford

    1. Jamb0
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Son to Sterling

  6. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hey guys! Team is:

    Martinez
    Stones - Shaw - Dias
    Soucek - Son - Bruno - Gundo - Salah
    Bamford - Antonio
    ______________________________
    Forster: DCL: Dallas: Holding

    Thoughts on this for a -8?

    Forster + Holding + DCL >> Pope + Mee + Kane

    Leaves 0.1 spare and will be WC'ing in GW 25 anyway.

    Bit lost actually, been very busy with work this week and only just caught up on all proper injury news etc.

    Appreciate any input here fellas 🙂

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

      Forster may even start and have dgw.

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

        oh nnoooo i wouldn't wanna risk that haha!
        The moves sound ok though?

  7. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hi...What to do here with 1 ft? Saving wildcard for now

    Pope (martinez)
    Cancelo dias Lowton (dallas coufal)
    Salah Bruno grealish gundog soucek
    Antonio Watkins (dcl)

    A......dcl to bamford

    B....save ft....play soucek....keep dcl for dgw26

    Thanks

    1. Lord Flashheart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

  8. Lord Flashheart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    please help me bench one:

    A Bamford (ars)
    B Soucek (SHU)
    C McGuire (wba)

    1. Lord Flashheart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      its impossible...

    2. Lord Flashheart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      i also have Coufal (SHU) if he is better to be left on the bench

    3. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      a or c. utd should keep a cs and w brom all over at the back so wouldnt surprise me if maguire scores on a sp. i always prefer attacking options though so maybe a 🙂

    4. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Think its spelled Mac Guaire. But yeah C for me

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

        Maguire

        I had a double take initially and was wondering who mcguire was lol.

    5. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

    6. Tango74
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Where is rest of team ?

      1. Lord Flashheart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        cancelo lowton (dallas)
        Salah, bruni gundi, sterling, antonio (DCL)

        1. Tango74
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Antonio then as he’s only doubt ? But he might score if he comes on

  9. Liastro ⭐️
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Don’t want to waste a FT but no idea where to use it! 2.5m in the bank, thoughts?.

    Pope McCarthy
    Dias Justin Dallas Coufal Taylor
    Salah Fernandes Son Soucek Raphinha
    DCL Watkins Antonio

    1. Pedersen
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I made a move for upcoming gws with mine. Did DCL to Kane. Maybe if you need bench upgrade? Or Justin who is out for months now? Mee wouldn't be bad or Cancelo/Stones

    2. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      You’ve got Justin, DCL and Taylor injured? And only 1 city

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

    Richarlison or Ashley Barnes

    1. Jamb0
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Neither if part of a -28!

  11. donbagino
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    2FT
    a) Justin->Burnley def (bench DCL)
    b) DCL -->Cavani (bench Dallas and Justin)
    c) both (but would have to bench either Coufal / R.James

  12. For Fuchs Sake
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Captain Gun or Sterling?

    1. Harvey Specter
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Sterling

    2. M2.0
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      b

    3. Jamb0
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Sterling

  13. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bottomed. Thanks

    Wildcard in 25. 3 United already.

    DCL and Targett -> Tarkowski and Werner -4?

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

    Guys
    Son Dias to Tarko Raz for free ?

    Yes or no ?

    1. Jamb0
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah

  15. GoonerByron
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to captain..

    A - Gundogan

    B - Foden

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

      gundogan

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

  16. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who is your DCL replacement?

    1. GoonerByron
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Benching him and starting Bamford

    2. Aribo Starmix
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bamford from the bench this week... transfer in Vardy next GW (still had the funds from originally swapping Kane for DCL a couple of GW's back)

    3. nadman89
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      hell become kane in 2 weeks

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

      Benching for one of Son,Soucek or Coufal.
      Then will either keep or move to Bamford.

  17. HollywoodXI
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    DCL Son Stones > Watkins Sterling Pieters for a hit, captaining Sterling. Worth the hit?

    1. nadman89
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      if youre gonna captain sterling its worth it

  18. Aribo Starmix
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Do I bench...
    A.) Areloa (Eve, a & Bur, a)
    or
    B.) Mendy (New, h)

    1. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Roll the dice on the double gwer

  19. whitearselane
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    sorry last minute - need to bench one of these - salah, grealish or shaw thx

    1. Jamb0
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Really!? Shaw if you must...

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

      Grealish

  20. nadman89
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    good 2 go ?

    Pope
    targett - awb - dias

    sterling (C) - gundo - salah - bruno - grealish

    watkins - bamford

    forster - coufal - dcl - lewis

    1. nadman89
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      sorry son not salah

  21. SomeoneKnows
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you BB the following bench?
    Martinez (BHA)
    Coufal (SHU)
    Dallas (ARS)
    DCL (Blank, MCI)

    1. nadman89
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      nope

  22. Sterling Malory
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bottomed;
    Not sure what to do with Maddison.

    A) Lookman
    B) Grealish
    C) Keep

    Areola
    Stones Cancelo Shaw Lowton
    Son Salah Bruno Gundo
    Bamford Antonio

    Martinez Maddison Dallas DCL

    Lookman gives me the option to do Son > Grealish/JWP (for double) & Antonio >

    1. nadman89
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      you cant hold ?

  23. stu92
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Good to go?

    Martinez
    Stones Cancelo Mee Targett
    Gundo(c) Salah Bruno Raphinha
    Antonio Bamford
    (Sanchez Coufal Son DCL)

    1. Kryptonite666
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Targett over Coufal? Reasons ?

      1. nadman89
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        im also benching coufal for targett. ogbonna and diop out .

      2. stu92
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Not much in it tbh, reckon both could keep clean sheets but have been stung whenever I have benched Targett this season. Reckon it would be wiser to split the risk and go Coufal?

    2. Spoox777
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I'd rather play Son over Raphinha. Now Kane is back i see both him & Son getting points

      1. stu92
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Under normal circumstances yeah, but against City I can see them getting very little. They had one good game in the cup but can’t see them playing like that at the Etihad.

        There’s that, and then the fact that Raphinha has looked brilliant every time I’ve watched Leeds in the last two months.

  24. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    If nobody is helping anybody out about now

    Should we:

    A) switch off
    B) carry on regardless
    C) answer some questions
    D) row the Atlantic ocean solo until this is all over

    1. Kryptonite666
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Good call

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

      E- log off

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Night night

  25. donbagino
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench R.James or Coufal (both good chance for cs)

    1. nadman89
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      coufal, he may play cb

      1. donbagino
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I can play both of them if i dont get burn def. Which option better?

  26. Kryptonite666
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Cant decide if I should take a hit for Cavani to play over Soucek. One week punt and a fun pick.

    1. nadman89
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      why one week , united has newc home next too

  27. Spoox777
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    DCL misses the FUL match..
    Strikers were : KANE / DCL (Bamford on the bench)

    ...does it make more sense to play BAMFORD vs ARS and have DCL on the bench if he's only playing against MCI?

    Thanks

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

      1. Spoox777
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thank you 🙂

        1. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          You're welcome, hope lockdown is treating you okay where-ever u r.

          April and May I could cope with the sunshine.

          Siberian winds don't help though.

    2. Jamb0
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yup

      1. Spoox777
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thank you 🙂

    3. stu92
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes, I’m in same boat as you. DCL now third sub, Bamford starts.

  28. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Best week to BB?

    A.Gw 24
    Meslier(ars) Soucek (SHU) Coufal(SHU) Adams(WOL)

    B. Gw 25
    Martinez(LEI) Gundo(ars) Mee(WBA) Coufal(TOT)

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      of those two, GW24.

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

      GW24

    3. stu92
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      24 looks better than 25

  29. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Without a shadow of doubt, the cheapest WC I've ever put together. 96m and 10.4m ITB 😀

    Pope
    Cancelo - Tarkowski - Mee - Digne
    Foden - Gundog - Bruno - Siggy - Jorginho
    Richarlison

    Martinez - Ings - Bamford - Dallas

    1. Jamb0
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      :O

    2. stu92
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      KDB and Kane in with the spare cash in a few weeks?

  30. For Fuchs Sake
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Keep Antonio or switch out, only have Targett on the bench that will play

    1. nadman89
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      targett is always a goodoption