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. HaveYassineChikhaoui
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Any reason why Pieters not getting a look at by anyone over Lowton?

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

      Charlie "Touch & Go" Taylor.

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

    Start 1

    A) Cavani
    B) Antonio
    C) Son
    D) Dias

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

      A surely

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

        No wait. D.

        But why are all of these your options on bench?

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

          De Gea

          -Cancelo-Mee-Shaw (Dallas, Dias))

          Soucek-Saka-Bruno-Sterling (Son)

          Antonio-Bamford-Cavani

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

        Really difficult

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

      D or A

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

      A

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

      Dias for sure

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

      Benching 3 of these, blimey

    6. DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bench boost? Lol

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

      D

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

      Dif

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

    For those WCing GW25 & BB GW26, how are you planning for GW29?

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

      spurs and villla fixture should make it easy to handle

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

      Spurs & Villa will help a lot, don't need 11 in a 4 game GW.

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

      29 easy to navigate without FH

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

    Play Maguire or Soucek?

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

      Soucek.

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

      Maguire

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

      Maguire I guess

  5. VaVaVoom14
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to bench? Proper headache I need some help:

    A) Trent
    B) Bamford
    C) Raphinha
    D) Soucek

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

      D

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

      BB

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

        Please ignore, I need sleep.
        A

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

          Good advice

  6. More Cowbell
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Quick vote plz. To start:
    a) Dallas (ars)
    b) Coufal (SHU)

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

      Coufal, just. No Ogbonna might throw it tough, enjoy the headache 😀

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

      Dallas, if in doubt play the forward

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

        Yeah, I think I'd go with this

    3. Phil's Stamps
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I think I've settled on Dallas, higher ceiling, especially if Antonio is out.

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

      Coufal.

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

    DCL to:

    A) Ings
    B) Cavani

    Only for next 2 GWs. WC in 26.

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

      B

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

      B

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

      WOL CHE LEE
      WBA NEW

    4. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cavani

  8. Gabbiadini
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    When KDB returns what City asset do you drop out of Cancelo/Stones/Gundo?

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

      KDB wasn't scoring brilliantly before his injury, think I only had him for about 4 weeks all season so I'm not that bothered. I'm waiting for Augero, see how he looks when he comes back

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

        Aguero’s a flop

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

          "see how he looks when he comes back"

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

            We shall see

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

      I wouldn’t jump on KDB instantly. First see how/if his minutes are managed etc

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

      Gundo if he drops deeper.

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

        Agree

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

      It's not an urgent matter

    5. Gabbiadini
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cheers all.
      return to form I should have stated rather than it be perceived as return from injury.

  9. iL PiStOlErO
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    GTG?

    Pope
    Cancelo Coufal Lowton
    Sterling Salah Bruno Gundo(C)
    Antonio Bamford Cavani

    McCarthy Dallas Romeu Justin

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

      Gotta captain sterling imo if you punt on him

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

        Why is that Dr Fudge?

  10. Silecro
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Yo...anyone cares to give a semi-drunk Croatian manager advice if he settled his team well or changes needed?

    Pope
    Dias, Stones, Lowton, Coufal
    Salah, Bruno, Grealish, Gundo(c)
    Bamdorf, Antonio

    Martinez, Son, Dallas, DCL

    1ft (will be rolled into next week)
    0.9 itb

    1. Prison Mike
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Looks solid

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

        Cheers!

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

      Looks GTG.

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

      a good team, and great benches..

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

        Thank you

  11. Prison Mike
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to start?

    A) AWB (wba)

    B) Son (MCI)

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

      A

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

      AWB

    3. osceola31909
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

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

    Martinez
    AWB/Stones/Cresswell
    Salah/Fernandes/Sterling/Gundo
    Watkins/Bamford/DCL*

    4.0/soucek/Mitchell/Justin
    0FT

    A. Martinez to Pope (-4)
    B. Justin to Mee (-4)
    C. DCL to Rich/Cavani (-4)
    D. Soucek to Hamez (-4)
    E. Just play soucek

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

    Tarkowski best Burnley Def for one week punt?

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

      yep

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

      If you've a WC to get rid of him, go for goal threat.

      If not, cheaper Lowton to save funds.

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

      Yes Sir

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

    Play 1 pls

    a. Bamford
    b. Antonio

    Cheers

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

      Ugh, probably Antonio. Hope its 60'+ or no show.

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

      Bamford for me

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

    Son + Forster > Sterling + Pope?

    Martinez Forster
    Cancelo Chilwell Dallas Coufal Mee
    Salah Bruno Son Gundogan Soucek
    Antonio Bamford DCL

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

      Yes

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

      yep

  16. pjomara
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Advice pls
    Is there anyone worth doing a -4 for?

    Martinez
    Alonso, Cresswell, Stones
    Gundogan, Fernandes, Foden, Grealish, Salah
    Richarlison
    SUB: 4.0, Dallas, Justin, Bamford

    0 FT, 6.0 itb.

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

    Best striker for this GW only? (8.8 or under)

    1. De Gea is GOAT
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Ings or Cavani assuming you have the usuals already

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

        Ings? No way

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

          Wolves are pretty poor to be fair. He scored against them in the week.

        2. De Gea is GOAT
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Id be very tempted to get Ings if i could afford it this week. Nice DGWs coming up as well

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

      Cavani/Richarlison

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

      Cavani

    4. Teahupo'o
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cavani Ings Richarlison, in that order.

  18. Teahupo'o
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    G2G?

    Pope
    Cancelo Digne Lowton
    Sterling Gundogan Salah Bruno
    Cavani Bamford Antonio

    (Martinez, Raphinha Coufal Mitchell)
    0FT 1.1ITB WC BB

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

      GTG

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

      Gtg

    3. Teahupo'o
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cheers both.

  19. De Gea is GOAT
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Best one week punt out of this lot please guys:

    A) Rashford (UTD double up)
    B) Mee (BUR def double up)
    C) Siggy
    D) Mount
    E) Anyone else? Cant get Cavani or Ings without taking a hit.

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

      A

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

      B

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

      "Punt" would be Siggy or Mee. I like the Siggy pick but it has all the potential to backfire

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

        Siggy for a punt

      2. De Gea is GOAT
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah Siggys super maverick. Dont think id have the balls to go there in the end haha Really tempted by Rashford but worried about him playing the full 120mns mid week

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

      A

    2. De Gea is GOAT
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Probably A

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

      I've gone A.

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

    Is it bonkers to do Salah Stones Antonio DCL > Sterling (C) Mee Kane Cavani (-8)?

    Would give me:
    Pope
    Dias Mee Coufal
    Sterling Gundogan Fernandes Grealish
    Cavani Kane Bamford

    McCarthy Raphinha Dallas R.James

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

      Yes, Kane isn't a priority this GW

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

        Just the -4 without the Kane transfer?

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

          agreed, Kane move next GW

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

      I just got called mental for asking if I should do DCL to Ings -8

  22. BigBillyBass
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Dias > Cancelo (-4) ??

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

      Why?

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

      N

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

      Go to bed

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

      No. Why would you do that?!

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

      No Dias is a season keeper

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

      No

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

      Dias a major doubt for the double?

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

        Minor doubt, he trained

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

      Led astray

  23. LLoris
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start 1
    A) Anguissa
    B) Dallas
    C) Son

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

      Son

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

      Son, If in doubt play the most attacking player

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

    any chance of DCL playing this week?

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

      No

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

      Just chance of playing MCI

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

      No

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

      Dr Fudge says 2 or 3 games out. Everton doctors say next week Vs Man City

      1. Teahupo'o
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        😀

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

        Fudgy is living in your head rent free, isn't he?

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

          He wishes. His average would be better though.

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

    Who scores more this week:

    A) Cavani (-4)

    B) Soucek

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

      Draw

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

      B

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

      A

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

      Bad bet all round, is there another option

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

    1. Richarlison
    2. Tarkowski
    3. Creswell

    Who to play?

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

      1

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

    Is it worth bringing in Pope for Meslier for the next 5 GW?

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

    Thoughts would be very much appreciated

    McCarthy
    Cancelo Chilwell Coufal
    Salah Bruno Son Gundo
    Antonio Bamford DCL

    Steer H.Barnes Dallas J.Lewis

    2 FT, 2.8 itb, planning to WC25, BB26 so essentially one week punt

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

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

      Anyone triple captaining gundogan?

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

      I did similar moves, it looks good on paper.

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

    People targetting Vardy over Kane for the upcoming run of fixtures?

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

      waiting to make sure both are staying fit first

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

        yes, I am thinking in a week to two times.
        WHU have some tough fixtures so it will be Antonio out.

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

    It's not worth using the BB on Meslier, Soucek, Coufal and KWP is it?

    1. Teahupo'o
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      It's not bad tbh but u might find yourself wanting to use it in 26-28 or later on.