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. tbos83
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Foden in for Maddison worth a punt?

    1. KrisMCFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      yep!

    2. Corona is not good 4 U
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Five weeks ago I thought for a long time whether I should add Foden or Gündogan to my team. Unfortunately I chose the wrong one and it cost me about 80 points. This was the worst mistake of the season. Do not make the same mistake. Foden is not nailed.

      1. tbos83
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah, this is my fear. Even if he starts Tott game it will likely be quite tight, and then if rotated v Eve it has all been in vain.

  2. fantasywizard
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Choose!
    Cavani (WBA and NEW) or
    Ings (WOL and CHE+LEE) ?

    Could Cavani outscore Ings with those fixtures?

    Thanks!

    1. KrisMCFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Ings has more fixtures and less chance of rotation. Do like Cavani if he was guaranteed to start both. Think Ings scores at least 2 goals though in them 3 fixtures

      1. Mork calling Orson
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        No guarantee Ings stays fit for all 3 fixtures would be my concern.

  3. KrisMCFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who scores more this week:

    A. Rashford
    B. Cavani
    C. Ings
    D. Mee

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

      Cavani

    2. Aubamazette
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Rash

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

    For those without FH & TC, are you planning on:

    a) WC GW25 & BB GW26
    b) BB GW26
    c) WC GW26
    d) Neither

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

      BB 26
      WC After 29

    2. Taegugk Warrior
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

  5. MattysFantasyFooty
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Triple captain Gundogan anyone?

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I wouldn't

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

        Reasons?

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

          There will be better options going forward in future dgws imo

          1. G00LI0
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Won't be a differential in those cases

    2. G00LI0
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A good TC this week would pay off. Very few even considering it

    3. KrisMCFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Depends on your rankings. If you're chasing, go for it, if not, hold the TC. I don't see Gundogan's current output sustainable. Aguero I believe will get minutes and Jesus so that pushes him further back into midfield.

      1. G00LI0
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Would prefer a sterling TC this week over gundogan

  6. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    3rd attempt...

    R.James -> Lowton (free)? play over Watkins.

    Have Pope, so would be double up. Chasing (loads).

    Y/N

    1. Alisson WondHaaland
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Depends on ur team and plan. For example Im not WCing till GW 30 so getting a Burnley defender just messes with my plan, since Ill have no use for them after this GW.

      Not a bad option but better to think ahead if you need to imo

      1. Coys96
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        It would help fund Kane in GW26 so is a decent move. it's between him this DGW or Targett in DGW26, factoring in the benching headache.

        1. Alisson WondHaaland
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          I like Targett because you'd have an extra GW 29 player

  7. marpy016
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Worth a BB?

    Martinez - Son - Bamford - Holding

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bamford playing Holding so I wouldn't

  8. Alisson WondHaaland
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Few questions,

    For the next 2 GWs:
    A) DCL (MCI+liv)
    B) Cavani -4 (wba+NEW)

    For DGW 26:
    1) Kane (BUR+SOU) + sgw player
    2) Grealish (lee+shu) + Answer to first Q (DCL (SOU+wba)/Cavani (che+cry))

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B1

  9. MikeLowrey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    G2G? Or use my 2nd FT on a Burnley defender

    Martinez
    Dias Cancelo Coufal KWP
    Gundo (C) Salah Bruno Grealish
    Bamford Antonio

    (Forster Son Mitchell Brewster)

    A) Forster to Pope - means I probably can’t get Kane in 26 without a hit
    B) Coufal to Mee
    C) Brewster to Ings - no Kane for 26
    D) Roll FT to wait for confirmation on doubles

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

    Play two:
    A. Dawson
    B. Coufal
    C. Son
    D. Grealish

  11. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Morning all,

    Son & DCL > Stirling & Cavani worth a - 4?

    Cheers

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

      No keep dcl

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

        evan though DCL has MCI & LIV after this game vs FUL

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

          I mean I'd definitely want both son and Dylan going forward i think you are being too shortsighted looking only one go more ahead. No other way to get sterling? And can't you bench dcl next week ?

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

            * looking one more week ahead

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

              I'd also benxh dcl this week presumably you got strong bench with all this money floating around ? Post your team?

    2. OptimusBlack
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes Do it

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

        cheers

  12. Boom XhakaLacaSaka
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez
    Mee Dias Stones Coufal
    Grealish Gundo(c) Bruno Salah
    Cavani Antonio

    Mccarthy Adams Maddison Allioski

    Gtg? Right bench?

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

    A: Forster > Pope (-4) and BB; or
    B: Hold chip and play Soucek over DCL?

    Martinez
    Tarkowski, Cancelo, Shaw
    Salah, Gundo (V), Sterling (C), Bruno,
    DCL, Antonio, Bamford
    (Forster, Soucek, Coufal, KWP)

    1. Boom XhakaLacaSaka
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Coufal over dcl

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

    Play one

    A) Bam
    B) Raph

    1. Kay317
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Depends on your other mids and strikers I think.

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

        No it does not

        1. Kay317
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Of course it does. If playing Raph means he has to bench someone better then it's an obvious choice and vice versa. So many good options this week.

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

            But he has obviously eliminated the other options so its just between these two...

      2. HarryS
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        All ones that I def want to play

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

      A

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

      Bamford

    4. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

  15. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Salah and Kilman to sterling and Mee for free?

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

      Thats a big yes from me and captain sterling

  16. Tonyawesome69
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would one would you prefer to have for 26?

    A. Lowton Son
    B. Pope Grealish

    I would have Kane and Watkins

    If I go with Pope I can't double up Son and Kane.

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

      honestly i want both grealish and Son. I guess I'd go for A.

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

    Is this bench be worth a BB (-4)?

    Areola Coufal Mitchell Son

    1. Saka Rice
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Easy no. Fulham won't get any clean sheets and only Coufal has potential to get points there

  18. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench Soucek, Bamford or Son? This is my last decision and it's killing me. Currently got Bamford benched.

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Play Bamford, Soucek and Son in that priority.

      Bamford is in great form, most attacks involve him, leeds have good away form and he is on pens

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

        Thanks. I'm still very confused!

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

      I'd bench soucek out of those

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

        The fear of reliving benching him for his hauls is still too real!

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

    Norwegian who is top of FPL by 50 odd points must have had some serious luck.His previous record is awful

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

      Insane luck , not even one decent rank

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

      14 weeks as number 1 and 50 points ahead is not luck. They have a strategy and I need to know what it is!

      1. G00LI0
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Strategy = luck

  20. MattysFantasyFooty
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Good to go?

    Martinez
    Stones Dias Coufal
    Salah Bruno Maddison Son Gundogan C
    Antonio Bamford

    DCL Robertson Mitchell

  21. Vardy boys
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Which 2 to start??? Need a majority here

    A) Saka
    B) Barnes
    C) Dallas
    D) Coufal

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

    Best Burnley defender for double

    A Tarkowski
    B Lowton
    C Mee

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

      * got Pope already

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

      I'd rank it in the order you have put there

    3. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Go cheap in Lowton

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

      Based on cost it's Lowton as you won't want them for many more weeks. For short term it's Mee.

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

        Tarky has more goal threat than Mee

  23. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Stick with the plan?
    gw24 - Forster > Pope & save other FT (start Pope - means 6 for the dgw)
    gw25 - Pope, Antonio > Forster, Kane

    Or just DCL > Cavani...?

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Pope has a good fixture against WBA in 25

  24. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    How tempting is son to rashy for a hit

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

      Not very

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

    Play Coufal or Soucek?

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Soucek

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

      Coulfal

  26. Park the bus
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench:
    A. Soucek
    B. Antonio
    C. Bamford
    D. DCL
    E. Son

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

      DCL easily

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

      D

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

    DCL out for me

    Bring in Cavani and possibly switch to Ings in 26 if he hits form
    Just get Ings now?

    I do feel Cavani next 2 are great...

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

      Yes that's my plan too

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

        You going Cavani even though it might be extra transfer later?

    2. Saka Rice
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Why do you think Cavani will start the next two?

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

        Can’t say I do expect both starts. Returns possibly still there

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

    Play Dallas or Antonio? Afraid of just an Antonio cameo....

  29. Mr Tin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    GTG? Not sure on bench choice of Son.

    Martinez
    Cresswell *Cancelo *Lowton *Mee
    Grealish *Sterling (c) *Gundo Bruno
    Bamford Antonio

    Nyland Son DCL Justin

  30. Muscout
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Planning to WC25, BB26

    Son, Chilwell and DCL to Sterling, Tarkowski and Richarlison -4?

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

      not sure on Rich but rest looks good