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. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Stones, Soucek to Tarkowski, Gundogan for -4?

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

      yes

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

      yes

    3. Saka Punch
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Na. I'm expecting Stones to get something from a set piece

  2. Red dev
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Midfield of grealish, son, soucek, salah and bruno.
    1FT
    Would you take any out for gundogan?

    Or save?

    Appreciate any comments

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

    Bench:

    - A) Bamford (ARS a)
    - B) Soucek (SHU h)

    To bring in Cavani (WBA a) for a hit?

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

      Same dilemma. i’d def play Bamford

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

      Soucek

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

      Could also bench Son as well

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

    Martinez, Steer
    Stones, Shaw, Coufal, Dier, KWP
    Salah, Bruno, Son, Gundogan, Stephens
    DCL, Bamford, Antonio

    2FT

    DCL & Dier ----> Ings & Cancelo?

  5. Saka Punch
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play 1:

    A) Son
    B) Soucek
    C) Coufal

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

      Cant bench Son surely ? Scored in the reverse fixture.

  6. 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.

    Wildcarding next week

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

      I personally wouldn’t but it could pay off I guess

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

      I also considered Cavani, very fun and good pick if you ask me, Soucek though, can haul in any GW, probs just about do it!

      I'm WC'ing nxt week also, any thoughts on the below? 🙂

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

    Hey guys! Looking desperately for input here

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

      Why Kane for 1 GW vs Man City? Why not Richarlison for a punt?

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

        Becasue it'sKane, not keen on any of the DGW forwards, other than Richarlison perhaps like you say, can always WC Kane in for GW 25?

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

          Well, with Calvert-Lewin out, I wouldn't be surprised if Richarlison finally gets played through the middle. Like he does for Brazil. King can come in on the left.

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

            that's actially a good point there TW, reckon of DCL > Richa & Forster to Pope then?
            Was originally looking at bb'ing this GW but don't much see the point now?

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

      Just Pope, not sure who you'd drop from MF or FW. Possibly Mee and go back 4?

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

        Yeah possibly, wouldn't wanna bench Soucek though?

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

          Just Pope then, similar team to mine

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

            cheers bud! Whatever i do then...Pope seems a shoe in

    3. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wouldn't do -8 if you're WCing in 25. Team looks fine.

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

        yeah -8 maybe does look a little too excessive, maybe DCL > Richa and Forster to Pope for a -4?

        1. _Ninja_
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Yeah that looks decent.

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

            thanks muchly ninja!

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

      Just do Holding to Tarkowsi.. no need for a -8 for one week

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

        Aye very true, needed some sense talking into me like that and from others on the post, cheers. Holding does look the weak link to go.

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

          Good luck mate, team looks solid

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

            Cheers matey! There i was thinking i'm behind and my team looks out of whack haha! been mad at the NHS lately, so busy working and only just caught up on everything, team looks better than i thought then 🙂

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

      Kane can wait. -8 is too much. Double butnely for a hit is also high risk

      I’d just get Pope. I did the sterling / son and stones/ tarkowski swap.

      Can you do Son + Stones to Mee + Sterling - that’s worth a hit

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

        Cool cheers Man! Yep got easiliy enough money to do Son & Stones > Mee & Sterling, got lots of value tied up in Son though?

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

    Anyone going cheaper into GW24? 96m

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

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

    Pope (Martinez)
    Cancelo, Stones, Coufal (Dallas, Douglas)
    Salah, Bruno(C), Son, Gundogan, Grealish
    Antonio, Bamford (DCL)

    1FT + 3.6 itb

    A) GTG
    B) Douglas > Shaw (and BB this week)

    1. Nimby
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A. Don't be bench boosting injured players.

  10. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    2FT, 2.5m ITB Best move here?

    A James -> Digne
    B DCL -> Ings

    Pope
    Cancelo Stones James Coufal
    Salah Bruno Gundogan Grealish
    Bamford Antonio

    Martinez Son Dallas DCL

    1. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      b

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

      B

    3. flipmode_1
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

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

    sorry no replies - bench one please
    salah
    grealish
    shaw

    thx

    1. FPL-(VAR)dy
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      difficult but when in doubt bench the defender.

  12. 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?.

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

      I would just do either of Targett to Lowton or DCL to Cavani/Richarlison

    2. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      yes for me

  13. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Best midfielder up to 10.6 except someone from ManCity,Rashford or Grealish?

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

      Son

  14. FPL-(VAR)dy
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Captain cancelo anyone?

  15. NFZM
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to bench..... DCL, Son or Grealish

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

      DCL as he is injured

  16. OneDennisBergkamp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    am looking at BGW29 and the fixtures all look like stalemates! seems like a waste of a FH

    1. NFZM
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      That’s who is currently on my bench, just worried he might make a miraculous recovery and start vs Fulham regardless of what Ancelotti said.

  17. AD2110
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Fulham likely to have a double in 26? Need a 4.5 keeper with a double

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

      if Spurs beat Wolfsburg then yes

    2. FPL-(VAR)dy
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Johnstone

  18. Meinhoff
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play one:

    A) Holding (LEE)
    B) Mitchell (BUR)

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

      B

    2. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      b

    3. FPL-(VAR)dy
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      mitch

  19. Kuzser
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What would be the best move here guys?
    2ft, 2.6itb
    1) Barnes Justin -> Rash lowton
    2) Dcl Justin -> Cavani Mee, bench Barnes
    3) Dcl Johnstone -> Cavani Pope, bench Barnes

    Team is:
    Martinez
    Stones - Coufal - Cancelo
    Son - Bruno - Sterling - Barnes - Raphinha
    Laca - Antonio

    Johnstone, Justin, Dallas, Dcl

  20. Nüno Vippan
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to (C)...Sterling or Richarlison?

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

      Sterling for sure

    2. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Sterling by far.

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

      Sterling

  21. ViperStripes
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    DCL > Ings? For a hit?

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

      Not this week

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

      Depends who you have on the bench.

    3. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Who would you pkay instead? not sure it's worth a hit.

  22. OleBall
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    1) Pope & Mee -4
    or
    2) Pope & Soucek

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

      1

  23. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Do you think it's worth to do Coufal->Tarkowski for -4?

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

      Could pay off

    2. FPLord
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      no

  24. DB_00
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Dias/Cancelo + Salah to Lowton + Sterling (-4)?

  25. DavidKent
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    DAVIDKENT Fantasy Football Scout Member2 Years40 mins ago
    Would you rather:

    A: Everton’s Keane
    B: Burnley’s Mee

    In favour of Mee:
    - Better DGW prospects
    - Haven’t just played a gruelling FA cup game
    - Won’t miss a game due to FA cup quarters late on (during which time I’ll have a bare bones squad during e to ManC etc being in Quarters)

    In favour of Keane:
    - Will have another DGW (and possibly a third)

  26. Chandler Bing
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    For one GW only:

    A. A. Barnes
    B. Cavani

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

      B clearly

    2. FPL-(VAR)dy
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Barnes if only for a week

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

        Why Barnes?

    3. flipmode_1
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

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

    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

    Thanks

    1. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B and do Antonio to Bamford next gw.

    2. Chandler Bing
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B if not using WC

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

      I would save the FT and do Antonio>Bamford next week. DCL might have the best fixture for GW26 and you seem to have the flexibility to keep him on your bench for at least one more week

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

        Cheers guys. Yes the plan is Antonio to bamford next week and also soucek to raphinha

        Bamford then becomes kane in 26.

        Just wonder if my starting 11 looks a bit light this weekend.

        Double villa at v tight Brighton. Don't really trust double West ham. Think sensible and strategic thing to do is save ft tho. Thanks

  28. Eastman
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Will KWP start?

  29. joeymanuel
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Worth benching either Soucek or Son to play Cavani for a hit?

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

      Not for hit.

  30. Sam (Team Sam)
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I have 2 free transfers.

    Do I...?

    A) bring in Dallas a week early, bench him, then start either Son/Bamford

    B) get in Mee and play him instead. This option might lead to a 4 point in 26 to get in Kane

    Any help would be much appreciated!

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

      A