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. Buck The Trent
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Are there any more possible DGWs after Gw29?

    1. The Senate
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      potentially 37 according to Ben's sheet of wisdom

    2. Rocky FPL
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes, small DGWs around GW33.

    3. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes. Possibly 33 or 37

    4. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks lads

  2. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    No idea. Shall I just save ft?

    Meslier
    Dias Cancelo Mee
    Salah Bruno Gundo(c) Grealish Soucek
    Kane Bamford

    (Steer* DCL* Dallas Justin*)

    1ft 0.2itb

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes I think so.

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Save, no obvious transfer to improve this week apart from GK which you will play for double next week I suppose

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

    Start:

    a) Shaw (wba)
    b) Coufal (SHU)

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

      Shaw

    2. Cahill
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    3. WE GO FOR IT
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Shaw

    4. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      a

    5. ZAMUNDA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      a

  4. Rocky FPL
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Short term move
    DCL to
    A) Richarlison
    B) Cavani

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

      A for 1 week, Cavani longer

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

        This

    2. WE GO FOR IT
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I'm on this. I want one for just this GW. I'm leaning towards Cavani as West Brom are much worse then Fulham defensively and Cavani has posted better numbers recently than Richarlison. Just don't see Everton scoring more than 3 goals over the 2 games.

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

      Cavani

  5. ZakyJ
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start 2:

    Coufal
    Grealish
    Soucek
    Bamford

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

      G & B

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

      Grealish and Bamford

  6. Punty McPuntface
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Have I missed the page dedicated to:

    A Sterling
    B Foden

    If not, which one to get in?

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

      I want both! See below

  7. MMN
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    1 FT 0.1m ITB. WC gone, going to BB in 26.

    Best Justin replacement? Will bench Barnes.

    Areola
    Stones, Mee, Cancelo
    Gundo (C), Salah, Bruno, Grealish, Barnes
    Watkins, Antonio
    Martinez, Chilwell, DCL, Justin

  8. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Any insight itk that McCarthy remains 1st GK for SOU?

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

      He will. Google Fraser Forster. There's a quote from Hassenhuttl that says McCarthy has done nothing to warrant being dropped.

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

        Ta mate

  9. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    2 FTS.
    Use just one and do Martinez to Pope and then revert back for his doubles.
    Or use both and Stones and Salah to Mee and Sterling?

    1. CRO KLOPP
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B,and captain

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        What I’m leaning towards.

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Sterling [C] this week is amazing differential, I wish I've got 2FT

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Think I’ll do it then.

  10. Sloane426
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    For 1GW only before I WC...
    (A) Grealish + Dallas
    (B) Raphina + Robertson

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

    I can’t seem the find the coming fixtures showing which teams have double matches etc. on this website guys. Can someone help me with a link? Thanks

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

        Thanks a lot!

  12. Cahill
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is this worth -4?
    Have a feeling for Sterling fireworks

    Salah soucek Dias ->
    Sterling foden lowton

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

      If you believe Sterling will haul it's worth it for sure.

    2. andres
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not sure on foden

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

        Gut feeling! Kid can play

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

      Salah > Sterling [C] only is enough

  13. andres
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What would you do with this team?
    Planning wc gw25

    McCarthy (Forster)
    Cancelo Stones Digne Mee Coufal
    Bruno Gundo Grealish Salah (soucek)
    Antonio (watkins, DCL)
    5.5itb, 1FT

    1. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Forster to Pope

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      WC next week? Get Pope or Rashford or Cavani one week punt

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

        Was thing sterling maybe but would have to sell stones

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

    Which one to bench?

    A) Son
    B) Bamford
    C) Coufal

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

      C

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

      C

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

      C

  15. buttsy9
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Time to Free Hit?
    Already used my wildcard 🙁

    Pope - Meslier
    Cancelo - Stones - Dier - Dallas - Coufal
    Bruno - Sterling - Salah - Smith-Rowe - Soucek
    Wilson - DCL - Antonio

    1. aleksaa2
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bring a forward for Wilson and you are good

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

      Free hit not needed

      Pope
      Cancelo Stones Coufal Dallas
      Bruno Sterling Salah Soucek
      Antonio plus Wilson replacement

      How much cash you got? Would go Cavani short term or Bamford in now

      1. buttsy9
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks all. Bamford best shout then, with DGW coming up I guess.

        0.9 ITB

        Is there going to be a better time to FH?

        Next problem is the captain! LOL!

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

          Sterling c
          Plenty of chances for free hit with fixture swings coming

          Would appreciate advice on my recent post, good luck cheers

          1. buttsy9
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Pep roulette always gets me... wish I had Gundo 😉

            Have contributed my thoughts, not sure I'd listen to them, can't make a right move at the moment. LOL.

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

              Thanks! Sterling to Gundo would help fund Kane in a couple weeks

  16. bitm2007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    McCarthy
    Dias, AWB, Lowton
    Salah, Bruno, Son, Gundogan, Soucek
    Bamford, Antonio

    Forster, Dier, DCL, Lamptey

    3.6m ITB, 1 FT

    A) Salah to Sterling
    B) Lamptey to Cancelo (Bench Bamford)

    I'm planning to WC in GW25

    1. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Son to Sterling

      1. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Will lose a load of TV.

    2. JabbaWookiee
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not Salah to Sterling. Son to Sterling worth it though.

      1. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Will lose a load of TV, and Son has a good record against City.

        1. JabbaWookiee
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Not this City and this Spurs. Not now. Would do it myself if I had room for another City player.

  17. French Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    DCL replacement
    A) Ings
    B) Watkins
    C) Cavani for 2 weeks
    D) Richarlison

    Other 2 strikers are Bamford & Antonio

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

      I’m going Cavani

      1. CRO KLOPP
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        This

    2. GROBARI
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      This is also my headache. I am going to bench DCL and go with Ings for DGW and then for Kane (have a lot of cash as you see :D)

  18. Dele
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Targett > Lowton this week?

    Would mean benching Antonio.

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

      No from me
      You’ll want targett back soon for their doubles

    2. WE GO FOR IT
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If you have no Burnley defensive cover, maybe. Not if you're doubling up.

  19. Cahill
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What do we think for this week?

    A) city 2 clean sheets
    B) city 1 clean sheet
    C) city 0 clean sheets

    1. aleksaa2
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

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

      Form says A
      More likely B

  20. Big Ronnie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez
    Dias, Stones, AWB
    Gundo(c), Salah, Son, Bruno, Grealish
    Watkins, Antonio

    Peacock-Farrell, DCL, Coufal, Dallas

    A) Peacock-Farrell to Pope
    B) DCL to Cavani (bench Watkins)
    C) Save

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

      Save

    2. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    3. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    4. Big Ronnie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cheers all

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

    Does anyone know how many headed chances Sheffield United have conceded recently? Thanks.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Watch FPL Black Box

  22. CelticBhoy1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Thought on Sigurdsson?

  23. cuppatea78
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to bench?

    A) Konsa
    B) Barnes

  24. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    When do most with WC BB and TC plan to use the chips?

  25. stevieme
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Possibly a silly question
    But here goes. I already own Cancello, who do you guys think is the most nailed on defender to partner him in defence?

    1. cuppatea78
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Anyone's guess

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

      Emerson.

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

        Ederson, even.

  26. JollyGoodYellows
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Any idea on what to do here guys? I'm completely stumped. 2FTS and 1.1itb

    Pope (Mccarthy)
    Dias Stones Digne AWB (Dallas)
    Salah Bruno Gundo (Son Soucek)
    Antonio Bamford DCL*

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

      Great team.
      I'd play Son over DCL
      I'd suggest Soucek -> Raphinha, roll the other transfer.

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

        Cheers. Had this lot for a while now. You reckon keep DCL or replace with Rich or Cavani?

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

      DCL > Cavani/Ings?

  27. Mind över Mata
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    GTG gents?

    Pope
    Lowton, Stones, Dias, Coufal
    Salah, Soucek, Fernandez, Gundo (c)
    Watkins, Bamford

    Martinez; Son, DCL, Dallas

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

      Yep, very strong

    2. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Would play Son over Coufal though

  28. RomeluStormzy
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one from:
    A) Bamford
    B) Antonio
    C) Maguire
    D) Grealish

    Thanks!

    1. Mind över Mata
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A probably

    2. GROBARI
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

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

      Antonio if you think he will only make a cameo

    4. Ross Geller
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Maguire

    5. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

  29. aborg
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A) Antonio -> Richarlison (and bench Justin. Sell next GW)
    OR
    B) Justin -> Mee (and bench Antonio. Sell next GW)

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

      B

  30. Mr. Chimes
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Cancelo > Lowton

    To fund

    Grealish > Sterling ?

    1. Mind över Mata
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

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

      Oe. Just sell Salah?

      1. Mr. Chimes
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Already have 3 City and he’s the only one that can fund the move.

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

          Go for it then