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

    Worth doing (-8) to do Son, Dias --> Sterling (C), Lowton? I am planning to WC GW 25.

    Areola
    Cancelo - Dias - Cresswell
    Salah - Bruno - Son - Gundo
    Richarlison - Antonio - Bamford

    Martinez - Dallas - Mitchell - Soucek

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

      No way

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

      Definitely not

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

      You drunk mate?

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

      LOL. Thanks.

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

      Yes

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

    Gtg and order correct? Also would you rather have Dias over Cancelo?

    Pope
    Cancelo Tarkowski Coufal
    Sterling (c) Bruno Gundogan Grealish
    Antonio Bamford Cavani

    Martinez Raphinha Robertson Dallas

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

      Beautiful

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

      Cancelo

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

    G2G?

    Pope
    Stones, Shaw, Coufal
    Salah, Stirling, Gundo, Grealish, Bruno
    Cavani, Antonio

    Martinez', Bamford, Mitchell, Justin*

    0.9ITB, No FT left.

    Cheers

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

      G2g

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

      Yes, tempted to play bam tho

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

        over Antonio?, yes I am a little, thoughts?

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

          No I'd play Antonio above bam, I'm not sure it's a be Ching headache. I can see arsenal conceeding though (arsenal fan)

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

            well just brought Cavani in for a 2 week punt before I WC so hopefully Bam doesn't punish me lol

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

    For - 4 pts who to get
    A- Antonio > Barnes
    B- James > Mee

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

      None

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

      I'd save, especially if you've a good 1st sub in case Antonio doesn't play. James *should* start and its Wilson FC without Wilson.

      If both play, they could really hurt before the hit is even included ..

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

      None agreed

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

      Cheers and thank you

  5. Arctic monkeys
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pope
    Cancelo Mee Dias Coufal
    Salah Gundogan Bruno Son
    Bamford Antonio

    A- Start this team
    B- Son to Rashfor for -4
    C- DCL to Cavani for -4 and bench Son

    Cheers

    1. ted mcnure
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Subs? I have 8 of them so gtg..

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

    Anyone triple captain on gundogan?

    1. Arctic monkeys
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Too risky for me, could be worth a try

    2. Bees4Lyf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      That’s a punt which I’m not willing to take lol

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

      Saving TC for 26

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

    Is this worth 2 FT’s

    Grealish Antonio ➡ Cavani Foden

    1. DV8R
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      You'd want Grealish back for 26 so yes if you're going along that route.

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

      I like the players coming in (though Foden is a bit risky) but you'll want Grealish so badly for his shu+lee DGW.

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

      Why get rid of Antonio

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

      God no. Is that arrow the right way?

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

    Play Rüdiger or Son?

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

      Son

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

    1. Richarlison
    2. Tarkowski
    3. Creswell

    Who to play??

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

      1

    2. Bees4Lyf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      3

  10. DV8R
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play Coufal or Son?

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

      Son

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

      Coufal

    3. Bees4Lyf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Coufal

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

    Bottomed so..

    It's not worth using the BB on Meslier, Soucek, Coufal and KWP is it? Will there be a better time if I plan on WC26?

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

      Yeah hold it - patience

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

      Surely next week? KWP + Meslier have doubles

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

        True, it was either this week or next.

        The other side of the arguement is this week I would be using BB for 2 West Ham players vs SHU at home, next week is City away :/

  12. Bees4Lyf
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Got 2 FT and have no idea what to transfer, just feel kind stuck for this week. 8.0m ITB

    McCarthy (Johnstone)
    Cancelo, stones, Lowton, cresswell (Dallas)

    Fernandes, soucek, salah, gundo (anguissa)

    Antonio, DCL (Bamford)

    Do I burn the transfer?

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

      Johnstone to pope

      1. Bees4Lyf
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Seems like a good shout

  13. Maarrrr17
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Could someone enlighten me on what double fixtures we can expect over the new couple weeks? or point me to an article that does?
    Trying to decide if I should bench boost a pope, soucek, dias, holding.

    cheers dudes

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

      Ben Crellin

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

        And then check his most recent tweets on a couple of scenarios. But in general his planner is the best guide we have

  14. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Which two would you want for the coming 5 GWs:

    1. Kane
    2. Watkins
    3. Ings

    Who have the best/most games, with the coming DGW/BGWs?

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

      Kane

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

      Can I reply with which one not to go for instead? I just want to type as less as possible.

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

        😛

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

          Ings 😛

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

            To get or not get? 😉

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

      1, 2

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

        Cheers Sun

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

      Kane & LOllie.

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

        Not Lolngs?

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

      By 5 GWs are you including GW29? If so, Watkins is best value by far. Kane edges it if you're planning to TC him but Id wait until GW 26 to bring him in

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

        Exactly the answer I'm after, many thanks

        Yes, Kane in for 26 (TC), when to bring in Watkins?

        Currently have DCL* - Bamford - Antonio

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

      Review this in 5 weeks time & see how irrelevant this was - you can’t plan that far ahead. Plan for next 3 max.

  15. The Hunt
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Remember this folks, "Hits are for Tits...usually".

    Well, at least that's been my predominate experience over the years.

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

    A) Justin -> Cancelo, bench Robbo and Son/Bamford

    B) Son -> Sterling, bench Bamford

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

      B if you have wc and cap sterling otherwise probably A

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

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

    1. Bees4Lyf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B & D

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

        Cheers thats what I'm on

  18. HD7
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Guys can you brief me with the following players:

    1)DCL misses first match vs Fulham?
    2) Antonio has a chance from what I read, anybody maybe a fan of Wham with an insight 50-60 percent etc?
    3) I still have Charlie Taylor... cant find any updates so I probably sell - Mee, Tark or Lowton? Who has more attacking retuns if any.

    Thanks!

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

      1. Yes
      2. 90%
      3. Don't know

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

      1) Yes
      2) About 70%, seems fit but just dependant on if Moyes wants to risk him
      3) None will, and I doubt theyll get more than 1 clean sheet (if any at all)

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

      1. Yes should be back for city worth putting on your bench and keeping
      2. 75% chance of playing
      3. Tarky Lowton mee for me in that order of attacking return chances

      1. HD7
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks, mates!

  19. Tiki-Taka
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Mount or James Rodriguez - just for this GW? Feel like Rodriguez with DGW is the move, but City as 2nd game kinda puts me off since their cleansheet numbers are crazy. Thanks guys

  20. Dannyb
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench 1?
    A Bamford
    B Soucek
    C TAA

    1. Bees4Lyf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I’d say TAA

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

      B

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

      TAA

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

      C

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

    A- pope, Stones, Richarlson
    Or
    B- Ederson, Digne, Watkins

    ,,,,,
    Mee, Rudiger,,,,,,
    Salah, Gundo, Sterling, Bruno
    Bamford, Ings,,,,,,

    Steer, Dallas, Burke, Dunne

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

      WC team

  22. UKG
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Coufal to Mee and DCL to Cavani?

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

      Y

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

    Best DCL replacement for this week only? (WC next week)

    Have Antonio and Bamford already

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

      Cavani

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

      Cavani

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

      I went for cavani for a short term punt

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

      Richarlison for the double, Cavani for WBA.

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

      Cavani > any DGW striker this week imo

  24. 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
    WC at GW25
    Anything worth for -4 hit..?
    A. 4.0 to Pope
    B. Justin to Mee
    C. DCL to Rich/Cavani
    D. Soucek to Hamez
    E. No need to take a hit, Just play soucek

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

      Yeah just play Soucek.

  25. Postman Ty
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A) Barnes
    B) Tarkowski

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

      B

  26. S3
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pope
    Cancelo Stones Cresswell Vestergaard
    Salah Gundogan (C) Bruno Son
    Bamford Antonio

    Martinez Barnes DCL Holding
    A. Holding to Mee/Tark (-4) and bench Vestergaard
    B. Son to Rashford (-4)
    C. Leave as is

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

      C

  27. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts? Burnley defender worth a -4? DCL out for a -4? 2.4 ITB

    Martinez
    Cancelo Stones Alonso
    Salah Bruno Gundo Grealish Son
    Watkins Antonio

    Forster Coufal DCL Kilman

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

    Play one please.

    Antonio
    Soucek
    Coufal

    Thanks

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

      I think Soucek would do better without Antonio

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

        Antonio will start

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

      B

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

    Who would you start?

    Dias - Cancelo - Cresswell - Tarkowski - Dallas
    Gundo - Salah - Bruno - Son - Grealish
    Watkins - Bamford - Antonio

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

      Drop Dallas, son, Watkins I think. Bloody hell though, what a dilemma.

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

        Last GW I ended with benching Coufal, Martinez, Watkins, and Dallas (= 36 points on bench)

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

          That's annoying. Maybe we get too annoyed by bench points though. As long as your first eleven did alright then maybe best just to forget about it. I benched Son's 18 points against man utd and don't even want to look at that week anymore. Still did alright though.

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

            Yeah, that's very true

  30. Reeker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would Richarlison playing 120 midweek put you off him as a one week punt?

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

      No

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

      I'd look at and would take decision based on his stat without DCL..