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. bobfredbob
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What do you we about giving the armband to Foden?

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

      Why not

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

        Pep thinks Foden has still a lot to learn

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

      No

  2. thepuntmaster
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anything else needed here? 0FT, 0.7itb
    Pope (cry, FUL)
    Digne (FUL, MCI) - Stones (TOT,eve) - Coufal (SHU)
    Sterling C (TOT,eve) - Salah (lei) - Fernandes vc (wba) - Grealish (bha)
    DCL (MCI) - Watkins (bha) - Bamford (ars)
    (Steele - Anguissa - Kilman - Bartley)

    A) G2G
    B) Grealish > Gundo (-4 and C)
    C) something else

    Thanks

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

      Nah

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

        A

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

      Can you afford DCL > Ings?

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

    Thinking ahead to GW26, and ruling out losing Bruno / Salah, which one would you leave out:
    A. Kane
    B. Son
    C. Grealish

    Unfortunately can't afford all 5 of the above albeit sure there are teams out there that can

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

      c

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

      Salah to get Kane

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

      I have a similar dilemma. Mine is a toss up between Grealish and Son depending if I get Pope or Lowton. Definitely bringing in Kane and keeping Bruno and Salah.

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

      C Sorry

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

      C) particularly if you have Watkins

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

    Would you take a hit for either Barnes->Rashford or Dcl->Barnes?

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

      thinking A.

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

        cheers

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

    Plz bench one of those
    A- James NEW (H)
    B- Dallas ARS (A)
    C- Coufal SHU (H)

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

      B. Easy

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

        But ye play upfront now

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

      C

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

      B

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

    For GW25 would you rather:

    A. Martinez (LEI)

    B. McCarthy (CHE, lee)

    Thanks

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

      Might depend on whether Ralph throws us for a loop this weekend. Don't see a clean sheet among those three fixtures though, so B.

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

        Cheers Bush

    2. marcos11
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B, provided he starts

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

        Thanks, yeah Forster lurking

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

    Would you start Raphinha or Robertson?

    Haven't really considered starting Robertson but maybe I should?

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

      Raphinha imo.

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

      Raphinha

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

    a) Wilson > Cavani & DCL > Ings
    b) Wilson > Richarlison & DCL > Ings
    c) something else

    Cavani has wba, NEW,
    Richarlison has FUL/MCI, liv

    Thanks

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

    A. Play Son & save FT

    B. Mitchell to Tarkowski for free & bench Son

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

      Play Son

    2. EgyptianKing
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B imo, but depends on your need to have 2 FTs next GW

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

      Cheers both

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

    Play Coufal or R.James?

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

      Reece imo

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

      James

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

      Or play both and bench Antonio...

  11. EgyptianKing
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Cancelo Son —> Lowton Sterling (C)? For -4

    Yes or no?

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

      Hell no.

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

      No

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

      Noo

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

    Price changes in 1 hr?

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

      Yes

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

      No

  13. JohannaAdams10
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you sell DCL for a hit?

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

      Considering it. Might get Ings to attack the double next week and bench boost.

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

      No

  14. AD105
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    G2G? Still have 1 FT and 3.6 ITB

    Pope
    Cancelo Dias Coufal Mee
    Gundo(c) Salah Son Grealish
    Antonio Bamford

    Steer Son DCL Dallas

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

    A lot of love for Cavani as a one week punt, I get he’s playing WBA but surely Richarlison playing near enough 180 mins out scores Cavani playing a not so guaranteed 90?

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

      I don't think so.

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

      One of those games is Man City and he won’t have his pal DCL alongside him.

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

      Against City and Ful? With his record this year? Beg to reconsider

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

      Unlike Cavani, Richarlison played 120 minutes midweek and hasn't scored since gw13. An extra match against Man City doesn't exactly make him more appealing.

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

        That is very true, time to reconsider..

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

      Richarlison has only 2 PL goals this season. And he's without the big man upfront. I can't see him getting much at all.

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

    Martinez - McCarthy
    Cresswell - Stones* - Dallas - Mitchell - Justin^
    Salah - Bruno - Foden* - Gundogan* - Soucek
    Bamford - Antonio - DCL^

    2 x FTs, 7.7m ITB

    Ideas please, I'm struggling 😀

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

      Would you rather:

      A. Martinez - Tark/Mee* - Richarlison*
      B. Pope* - Keane/Digne* - Soucek

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

      Justin and Mitchell out

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

        Yeah, although Mitchell might have to wait a week.

        Or actually, those two out and Bur & Eve defs in?

        That way can keep both GKs, as was thinking of getting Pope for Burnley def cover

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

      Why not a Burnley def for Justin

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

        Yeah, almost certainly will happen, or EVE def

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

      Justin and DCL to Cavani and Tark.

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

        Not a fan of Cavani

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

      Depends if you have a chip strat.
      But I'd consider selling Antonio for Ings, Justin for a BUR, LEE, SOU, AVL or EVE defender

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

        Not DCL out first?

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

          DCL has DGWs coming up. I sold Antonio instead, myself

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

      Cheers all...only have BB & TC remaining

  17. Luton_Fan
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    i have ederson, dias and cancelo but need to sell one to get Gundo.

    A. Cancelo to Lowton
    B. Ederson to Pope

    Im thinking A as its 0.9 cheaper and Cancelo obviously less likely to play twice in this dgw and future dgw's.

    Agree? Any feedback much appreciated.

    1. Fpl stress
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Would think selling Cancelo could easily be regretted. Looks likes he's playing in a key role pushing forward easy to haul.

      What would you use the cash for though?

  18. thegaffer82
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would appreciate any advice on this team;

    ...........Martinez
    ....Cancelo - Stones - Mee
    Salah - Bruno - Rash - Gundo - Jack
    ..........Bam - Antonio*
    Bench: DCL*- Mitchell - Justin*
    1FT & 2FT - all chips intact.

    Don’t really need to replace DCL or Justin as they aren’t in my starting XI anyway. But seems silly to not use the FT when I could bring in someone better...

    A) Save FT
    B) DCL > Cavani (bench Antonio/Jack)
    C) DCL > Ings (god knows who to bench)
    D) Justin > Lowton/Shaw/Dallas (again, god knows)

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

      B

  19. Shrimpy
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start 1 from Wood, Raphina, Dallas.
    Am already starting Bamford.

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

      R

    2. Traction Engine Foot
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wood

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

      Raphina

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

    Maddy or Bamford who to start?

    1. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Tough. Bam just about I think

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

      Bam

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

      Bam, we a are disgraceful

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

      Bam

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

    Play Bamford, Son or Robbo?

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

      Tough...Bamford

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

      Bam

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

    Pick one to start

    A) Coufal (SHU)
    B) Soucek (SHU)
    C) Bamford (ars)
    D) KWP (WOL)

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

      B

    2. Mile Plankton
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I typed C, I checked others and deleted C, I typed B, same, then I went for A.
      I really cant pick.

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

      B

    4. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      That’ll probably beat my BB whenever I decide to play it. Tough decisions there.

      Play the striker I guess

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

      B

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

    Martinez,
    Stones, Cresswell, Mee
    Fernandes, Salah, Gundo, Grealish
    Antonio, DCL, Bamford
    Bench: Forster, Taylor, Alioski, Bissouma

    Choose one:
    a) Bissouma > Sterling. Bench DCL
    b) DCL, Forster > Cavani, Pope for -4
    c) Taylor, Forster > Cancelo, Pope for -4. Bench DCL

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

    Well I’ve officially lost the plot. Brought in Gabriel Jesus for a hit. Bring in the LOLs

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

      Could be genius to be fair. Good luck.

  25. Mile Plankton
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is DCL->Rich crazy?
    I think I want him only for this DGW, and ship him for Kane next week.
    Waste of transfer?

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

      For a hit or free? Could pay off but feels risky.

      1. Mile Plankton
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        DCL-> Rich would be free, but it would require a hit later.
        I have Justin and Wilson to sort.

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

          No then, sort of the other 2 first

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

      I nearly did the same but ended on Cavani. I like the move for one GW though

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

      Waste

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

      It's not crazy but depends on rest of your team.

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

      I did it, but I will likely WC next week.

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

    Any chance DCL plays any part against fulham? He's been deemed "fit enough" for Man City. Wondering if I should keep him on the bench or take a risk and play him instead of Maguire/Son.

    A: Keep DCL in starting XI
    B: Remove DCL and bring in Maguire/Son

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

      I'd be looking to start Maguire this week regardless

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

        Already starting Coufal, Dias and Lowton

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

      B

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

      hes ruled out for the weekend and they expect him to play midweek

      So he could even just come off the bench vs City after missing Fulham. Ive benched him for Coufal

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

    G2G on WC??

    Ederson
    Mee, Rudiger, Digne
    Salah, Sterling, Gundo, Bruno
    Bmaford, Ings, Watkins

    Steer, Dallas, Burke, Dunne

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

    Areola to Pope (-4)?

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

      Nah

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

      Nahhhh

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

      No way

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

    Who is Burnley Defender to get for -4 pts ?

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

      lowton or mee

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

    Robbo to Mee or save a transfer?

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

      Tbh best gw to have mee. Do it!