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. Aster
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Cavani TC?

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

      If you were in my ML, I would advise it, yeah.

  2. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I have WC, FH & TC available, but not really planning to think about it too much. Maybe next week, but then I'll have 2FTs I won't want to waste, so probably won't bother thinking about it again. Pro player here 😆

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

      Minus the FH for me and I've still no idea but I will likely WC next week as I want to attack the fixtures and climb rank been stuck around 200K for about 6GWs now, so boring.

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

      I was the same but I've semi-commited to WC in 25 now this week by bringing in Sterling over Gundogan and losing Son instead of Smith Rowe.

    3. Max City
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      only FH and TC here, I can have 11 DGW players in 26 with no hit, and 8 players ready for BGW 29.
      I can have a full 11 BGW 29 players with one hit if I want it to.. but I guess everybody else is also in the same situation..

  3. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What's more likely to happen?
    A) Pope keeping more than 1 CS
    B) Bruno getting more than 2 attacking returns

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

      A

    2. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Tricky. Maybe A, marginally. But I think Bruno likely to score more points,. E.g if he gets 1(?) or 2 attacking returns vs 1 CS.

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

      B

    4. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B. According to bookies odds, there's are about 10-12% chance Burnley get a double CS. Bruno has got 2 or more attacking returns in approx 30% of GWs played so far this season, and he's playing whipping boys this week.

      1. Collie01
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Apologies, I read that incorrectly, I thought you said 2 or more attacking returns.

  4. Joyce1998
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    g2g on WC??

    Pope
    Mee, Stones, Rudiger
    Salah, Sterling, Gundo, Bruno
    Rich, Ings, Bamford

    Steer, Dallas, Burke, Dunne

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

    My team:

    McCarthy, Martinez
    James, Coufal, Cancelo, Targett, Digne
    Salah, Rodriguez, Lookman, (Zaha and Pulisic --> can't remove these players, I'm in a league with rules)
    Ings, Bamford, Kane

    Two questions?

    a) Players for the bench?
    b) Captain
    c) Chip (Bench boost, Triple Captain)?

  6. tom2224
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    2FT.
    Salah and stones > Sterling and Mee?

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

    2. Gross Blank Point
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Thinking of doing that but AWB instead of Mee. Can see Man U smashing WB and then they have Newcastle and a double GW26 so no need to get rid.

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

      Just done the same.

    4. Bench-Life
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Salah > Sterling yes, esp. if thinking Sterling (C). I already have 3 City otherwise would do this, but not for a hit
      I'm thinking Tarkowski over Mee

  7. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play one

    A. Son
    B. Targett

    1. tom2224
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

    2. JJeyy
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      a

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

    Which is better for GW 24
    A- Antonio -4
    B- Barnes

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

      Barnes

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

        So you were totally wrong in the end Dr Fudgey re DCL. Which was totally my point.
        Ignore advice from the Fudgey would be my advice.

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

          I was spot on lol what you talking about. I've removed DCL for a hit too

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

            You were not spot on,far from it. 2 to 3 games you said. Apology accepted Dr Fudge.

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

              I haven't said sorry and I also never claimed to be a doctor. Also it's Fudgy, don't make me angry.

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

                You are an attention seeking fraud. Every week you say you quit and don't and you spread rumours about DCL without medical knowledge. Fact.

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

                  100%

    2. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Barnes. A could easily leave you with -6 without Barnes even getting a return.

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

      B

  9. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start Soucek or Son?

    1. tom2224
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Son

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

      Sou

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

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

    Could Cavani outscore Ings with those fixtures?

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

      I think yes if you're only keeping him for the next 2 weeks. Longer term Ings is the better pick tho imo

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Ings has a double next week

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

          Yeah but one of those is Chelsea who have been in great defensive form.

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

          Yeah but not the best fixtures. I doubt Ings scores more than 1 goals across these 3 games tbh

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

    Martinez to pope for -4.
    Y/N...?

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

      No

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

      N

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

      no

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

      No

    5. Bench-Life
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No Sir

    6. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No way

  12. Drogba Legend
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What to do here with flags over DCL, Antonio (looks fine), Dias (looks fine)?

    Fabs
    Robbo - Dias - Stones
    Salah - Bruno - Gundo - Rashford
    DCL* - Antonio* - Bamford

    Fodder - Soucek - Brewster - Fodder

    A) Fabs > Pope
    B) DCL > Rich, Cavani, Ings or Martial?
    C) Save, start Soucek over DCL
    D) Something else?

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

      How do u have 4 strikers lol. But anyway, similar situation to me. Im going B with Cavani and then Ill have a week or 2 to think about whether I do a further transfer from Cavani to Kane or I upgrade the team elsewhere instead

  13. KUN+10
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    If you are chasing and know you ML leader will captain Gundo (he is soooo predictable), would you captain Pope or Cancelo?

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

      Captain the player who you think will score most points

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

        i hate answers like this. Nobody owns a crystal ball. We can use models to predict how many points a player will score on average... and if it's close (which it often is) - and happens to be the case between Pope and Cancelo, you go with whoever will boost your rank more.

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

          The point of it is that you captain the player who you think will score most points and let your other 10 players be your differential.

        2. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          The one that will boost your rank more, will also screw your rank more if the result is the other way around. Where's the logic?

    2. dark91
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cancelo

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

      Cancelo

    4. KUN+10
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks for the replies

    5. Max City
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Captain the player you think would score most points..
      My thinking might differ from yours.. that said, Gundo, Pope, Cancelo, all might score well this GW

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

    Who do you think scores more this week

    A Ings
    B Cavani
    C Antonio

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

      B

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

    Would you bench boost with this team.

    Martinez Areola
    Coufal Dallas Stones Mee Shaw
    Grealish Bruno Sterling Gundogan Son
    Kane Bamford Watkins

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

      Yes

    2. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Areola (ars) | Coufal (SHU), Son (mci), Dallas (ars)

      Hmmm. Don't think so, but it might be nice to get it out the way.

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

        Areola has Everton and Burnley .

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

          My bad. I'd probably just bench Martinez then. But it's a tricky one. I regret not playing BB with SGW players earlier when I was considering it. Except that I don't, because I'd just forgotten at the time that I already plaed BB in GW1.

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

    A. Play Raphinha and save FT (Bamford is starting as well)
    B. Justin > Shaw and bench Raphinha

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

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

    Your task: you are ranked 65k in the world, have 2ft, £4mn itb and this team. What do you do?

    Areola*-(Martinez)
    Dias*-mee*-stones*-(Justin, Dallas)
    Salah-bruno-grealish-son-gundogan*(c)
    Antonio-bamford-(DCL)

    1. dark91
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      And the rank is relevant because...?

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

        Want to get top 5k.

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

          Don't we all.

    2. Gross Blank Point
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Justin to SHaw and roll the other transfer

    3. Gross Blank Point
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Or Stones and Salah out for Sterling and a starter, and captain Sterling

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

    Why are people so sure Cavani will start?

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Didn't start in the cup

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

      That’s the q

      His form the past 7/8 matches is alternating starts....

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

      He's been starting all the key games since GW 18, clearly first choice now

      - Started all prem games except Sheffield (though this was close to the Cup game vs Pool which he played a full 90 in so I think its fair enough)

      - Played 90 mins in almost all except the Soton game where they were up like 5-0 by half time

  19. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I seriously wish Burnley concede in both the games! I've a strong feeling that my ML rival is going to captain Pope!

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

      They've kept 2 in the last 10... of which one was the very strange game vs Pool. I really dont get the hype tbh, will get 4 points and then just sit on benches for the next 5 weeks

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

    Bottomed:

    GTG? Not sure on bench choice of Son.

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

    Nyland Son DCL Justin

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

      Delete team

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

        ?

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

          I'd be tempted to bench cresswell and play son, but it's a tough call

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

        Very helpful. Child.

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

      gtg
      nice team

      what were ur moves ?

  21. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Captain Foden or Gundo?

    Play a Coufal or Son?

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

      Gundogan, son

    2. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gundogan
      Coufal

  22. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What to do here chaps?

    Martinez
    Coufal Alonso Stones Pieters
    Salah Bruno Gundo Grealish
    Kane Antonio

    Forster Son Bamford Dallas

    2FT’s

    A) Salah ➡ Sterlo(c)
    B) Grealish ➡ Foden
    C) Antonio Son ➡ Brewster Sterlo(c)
    D) Grealish Pieters ➡ Foden Mee

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

      Coufal to cancelo

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

    Antonee Robinson (eve, bur)
    AWB (wba)
    Who scores more?

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A imo

  24. jernej93
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Creswell - > Mee
    DCL -> Richarlison

    ?

    1 week punt, WC next week 🙂

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Richarlison. Creswell can easily outscore Mee this week.

  25. Shultan
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Dcl> Richarlison or cavani (1 week punt)

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Richarlison because DGW

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

      2

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

      Rich

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

      Still Cavani for me

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

    Next 2 only....

    A) Son (mci, whu)
    B) Rashford (wba, NEW) -4

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

      Son

    2. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B surely if next 2

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

      Looking at getting rashford for free for Son I can really see United bagging a lot in their next two

    4. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

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

    DCL > ???

    a. Watkins
    b. Cavani
    c. Barnes

    Cheers

    p.s. playing WC GW25/26

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

      B

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

      B

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

      B if you play your WC

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

      1/2 week punt then.... B

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

      B

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

      thanks all - I was leaning toward B for a 2 week punt as well. Cheers for replies

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

        Same here
        It’s either Cavani or Ings but feel that can wait slightly even if it costs an extra transfer

  28. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play Raphinia or TAA

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

      Raph

    2. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Raph

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

      Raph

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

    Wilson and DCL injuries have screwed up my plans but luckily I have 2FTs and 1.4 in bank. Will probably WC in 26, FH 29

    Any suggestions most welcome but toying with

    a) Wilson > Cavani & DCL > Ings or
    b) Stones > Shaw & Salah > Sterling
    c) both the above -8
    d) b plus one of a for -4
    e) something else

    Pope
    Cancelo, Mee, Stones, Coufal
    Salah, Gundo, Fernandes, Soucek
    Bamford, DCL*
    Sanchez, Son, Wilson*, Dier

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

      A looks strong replacing 2 injured players so automatic upside

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

        Thanks

        Suppose I'm overthinking

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

      A

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

        Cheers 🙂

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

    If money no problem is Tarkowski best Burnley Def this week?

    WC next week so will get rid after anyway

    1. Bench-Life
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I will pick him over Mee. Offers something as a differential and like as not to score as Mee