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. Luton_Fan
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Looks like my strategy will be BB in 25 and TC in 26. Seems im the only one with that strategy. Anyone with me?

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

      WC25 - BB26 - TC Kane when he has another double

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

        i already have 5 southampton and leeds so wc in 25 would be a waste me feels. Alot to consider.

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

          It's all team specific but I'm in such a mess of what I should do.

      2. Atwood
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Exactly my plan, at the minute anyway

  2. Prince of Persia
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    DCL to who? Money not an issue.
    A) Vardy
    B) Cavani

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

      B. Not the week for Vardy imo, just back from injury, played in the cup and a tough fixture.

    2. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B although I do think vardy could be a differential aganist a scared looking Liverpool tram

      1. Mufc202020
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Team*

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

      Cavani. He seems to be above martial in the pecking order now. United have 2 good fixtures coming up. Vardy decent option after this week.

    4. Prince of Persia
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks guys.

  3. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    2.3 ITB. WC 25. Any punts? Thanks
    DCL and Targett -> Tarkowski/Werner? -4

    Martinez
    Stones AWB Tarkowski Cancelo
    Bruno Rashford (S)terling
    Bamford Antonio Werner

    Forster,DCL,Son,Soucek

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

      Tony Martial smokes again

      1. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Loooooool

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

    No reply to last post 🙁 What do you reckon?

    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.

    1. fpl_tp95
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Can you not to Dias?

      Tbh I'd be tempted to just stick with triple city defence but if you're gonna move one on it'd be Dias for me

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

        hmm

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

      It's tough.
      Cancelo is a rotation threat, but has the highest ceiling
      Ederson the most nailed on, but I think I'd sell him. Pope's CSs are often double digits. Ederson rarely goes over 6.

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

        thanks. yeh prefer that but its what i can do with that 0.9 that is making me pick A.

      2. Hulk Smash
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I agree with this

  5. fpl_tp95
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one of Grealish, Raphina, Watkins and Antonio

    1. Prince of Persia
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Raphinha

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

    Do you think ESR will start? Due a rest, while Odegaard is due a start.

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

      Had a full week to 'rest' for once, though.

  7. Il Capitano
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    2 FT 4.5M ITB

    McCarthy
    Cancelo Stones Lowton
    Son Salah Gundo (C) Soucek Bruno
    Antonio Bamford

    Johnstone - Coufal Adams Justin

    A) Adams + Justin + Johnstone > Rich/Cavani + BUR/UTD def + Pope (-4)
    (BB24, WC25, TC26)

    B) Adams + Johnstone > Rich/Cavani + Pope
    (WC25 BB26)

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

    So is using 2 transfers to change from 2 City defenders to just 1 and adding Sterling to the already owned Gundo a good move? Thinking now I'd rather have double attack over double defence going forward. May even captain Sterling this week but don't feel so confident on Gundo.

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

      If you're not sure about captaining Sterling, it seems like it's probably not worth the FTs tbh.

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

        If I got him I would captain. It's Gundo I'm not confident on.

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

          'May even captain Sterling this week'

          Didn't sound too confident tbh. But if you're really confident in Sterling, then it's a reasonable strategy. But as FP_kjba298y3 says below, it depends on your team.

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

            Sorry yes poor wording. I said may even meaning if I get him. I feel sure I would captain if I got him. Do you think he'll play in both?

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

              I have no idea, and I wouldn't want to influence you 🙂

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

                Lol that's an honest answer. Cheers and good luck this week

    2. fpl_tp95
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Depends how the rest of your squad is looking.

      If the rest of the squad looks good, could he a good move. But if you've got other fires to out put, I think I'd stick with what you have

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

        Only other things to consider would be bring in a Burnley defender (already have Pope), to play over Coufal. Or bring in Lookman, Barnes or Richarlison to play over Cresswell or Bamford. I have 2 free transfers.

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

      Gundo has been consistently better than Sterling for yonks now. I’d be happy to own Sterling but he wouldn’t be my captain

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

      If you have 3 of Sterling, Gundo, Dias, Cancelo, Stones Id just stick to the 3 you have. On any given day Gundo could easily outscore Sterling. Although unlikely, the defenders could get hauls again. Just stick

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

        I would say consider that I'm not just talking about this game week. It would be for all upcoming game weeks. Sterling feels like he could offer more than Stones or Dias now in my opinion.

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

      I am wondering the same. But it would be for -8 since I had to replace DCL. If I had two free transfers, I would definitely do it.

      1. fpl_tp95
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Definitely don't do it for a - 8

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

    Antonio -> Ings or Barnes worth a FT?

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

      I did Antonio to Ings. I wouldn't touch Barnes unless I was WCing next week.

  10. Ready Manager One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A or B? TIA! On 2 FTs, limited funds

    A) Pope + Lowton
    B) Tarkowski + Cavani

    1. The Rock
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

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

    Sorry Reposted
    Who is Burnley Defender to get for -4 pts

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

      Tarkowski
      Mee
      Lowton

      In that order

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

        Great

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

    A) Ayling
    B) Dallas and risk not being able to afford Kane in GW 26

    Leaning towards A, his attacking stats have been matching Dallas since he moved back to RB, I think he's decent value

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

      Hard to calculate the risk without knowing the factors...

      Seems like you want the answer to be A 😉

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

        If Bamford and Kane both rise before I bring them in for GW 25 and 26 respectively Im priced out

    2. FPL Theorist
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Ayling's "attacking stats" haven't resulted in any returns. You must have some other path to Kane if you get Dallas?

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

    Is Mitchell back in favour? Played the last game

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

      Yes. He's now nailed for the next 10 years.

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

        Cool

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

      I wouldn't bet 10 bucks on him starting.

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

        I was going to offer you 1000/1 odds 🙁

  14. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Save ft this gw? 2.6m itb. Thanks.

    martinez
    digne stones mee
    salah bruno sterling gundo saka
    antonio bamford

    forster coufal dallas DCL

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

    Can't even think of what to do with 2 FT and 3.0m ITB here - any ideas?

    Martinez
    Cancelo Stones Coufal
    Grealish Gundogan Bruno Salah Son
    Watkins Antonio

    Forster DCL Dier Mitchell

    Maybe just Dier to Lowton and bench Coufal?

  16. Mufc202020
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who would you pick out of this fine bunch? O please pick two!

    A) Son
    B) Barnes
    C) Dallas
    D) Smith Rowe
    E) Dias

    1. fpl_tp95
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Smith Rowe and Barnes

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

      A and E.

    3. Paddy Gooner
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A or D and E

    4. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      To start btw

      1. fpl_tp95
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Ignore my comment then l, thought it was to Bench

        In thst case A and E

    5. Il Capitano
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A + E

  17. Paddy Gooner
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Salah > Sterling for -4?

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

      I was thinking to do it for free

  18. YEAH PITCH!
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Foden or Sterling?

    1. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Sterling

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

      Sterling if no cash issue

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

    Who would you bench? 😆

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

    1. fpl_tp95
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Difficult.

      Probably dallas, son, Antonio.

      But thst might be controversial

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

        Cheers!

        I think any option is controversial with this team 😆

    2. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Dallas, Antonio and Grealish/Watkins

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

      Dallas, Watkins, Bamford

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

    Martinez to Pope worth FT?

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

      I wouldn't do that tbh

  21. Clintymints
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Initial plan was to bring Digne in for Holding, but is that unwise now atm with the flag? Not sure what the knock was. Is he set for 2 games?

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

      Lucas Digne looked discomforted when leaving the field against the Lilywhites but no injury was reported either after the win over Spurs or in Ancelotti's pre-Gameweek 24 presser, so we assume that the Frenchman is fit to feature.

      https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/team-news/

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

        Thank you kindly

        Think I'll risk em, but those Burnley fixtures are tempting. Mee in is the alternative

        1. Hulk Smash
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          There were unconfirmed reports in French media that he was seriously injured. Make of that what you will but I'd prefer a Burnley defender anyway.

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

          I like Digne but he's seemingly injury prone and only has one good fixture this week. No real advantage over Mee, who I would probably favour at this moment if they were the same price. Digne also has no DCL and Everton ain't solid at the back right now, and they play Liverpool the following GW.

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

          Likely to wc in 25 so Liverpool fixture is aok

          Mee might be safer though, those fixtures are juicy and got the mins too

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

    Start 1
    A) Robbo
    B) Son
    C) Dallas
    D) Anguissa

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

    Is Digne a bit injury prone? Hasn't played that much this season and seems to always be flagged.

    Keane more nailed for minutes? And has a goal in him?

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

      tbh I'm not so interested in EVE def..

      1. Hulk Smash
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        This. DGW blinkers imo.

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

    Guessing using WC before gw 26 will be a popular move?

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

      Y

  25. KuttiBunja
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Please help!!!"

    McCarthy - Davis
    Stones - Cancelo - Dallas - Justin - Mitchell
    Grealish - Salah - Gundo - Son - Bruno
    Bamford - Antonio - DCL

    2FT. 1.5 iTB.

    Use both FTs to do:
    McCarthy -> Pope, Justin -> Burnley defender???

    Or save 1 FT and just do one of above transfers??

    Or something else??

    1. Harvey Specter
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I'd probably only do the GK swap, you dont want to get stuck with too many burnley players long term

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

    Second Wildcard

    All Out Attack

    Bench Boost

    Triple Captain

    Free Hit

    The Squad Game

    Fantasy Draft

    Whatever next?

    A simple, pleasurable distraction from everyday life basically wasted unless you're a cunning mathematician with more time than sense.

    Maybe I'm getting old.

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

      I need All Out Attack this season more than ever

  27. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Appreciate any help, leave a question yourself? 2FT 0.1itb

    Martinez
    Mee Dias Stones
    Son Bruno Salah Greal
    DCL Antonio Bamford
    (Johnstone,Raph, Dallas, Justin)

    A) Salah, DCL to Sterling, Ings/Cavani
    B) Son, DCL to Gundo, Ings/Cavani
    C) One transfer and play Raph

    1. fpl_tp95
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A for me

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

      B looks good. Maybe Ings over Cavani if you're not wildcarding ahead of GW26.

      Please return the favour to a West Brom fan then as I have a question. Who do you think has the best chance of bouncing back to the Prem first - West Brom or Sheffield Utd? 🙂

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers mate 🙂 sadly we’re defo both down so guess we wait and see. Signings and momentum will be huge... defo won’t be easy though mate

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

          Disappointing times indeed. Let's hope for some end of season drama. Good luck this GW

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

      I like A with Cavani

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Ty

    4. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C with DCL to Cavani

  28. Harvey Specter
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    GTG? Already took a hit earlier this week to get DCL in

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

    DCL to Cavani Ings or another idea?

    Have Bamford and Antonio

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

      Cavani

    2. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Tempted by cavani

  30. fpl_tp95
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to bench? Grealish, Raphina, Watkins and Antonio

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

      Raphina