Pro Pundits - Zophar

My Wildcard squad for Double Gameweek 26 and when I’m Free Hitting

It has never been more important for Fantasy Premier League managers to get their chip strategy right as we face more Blank and Double Gameweeks between now and the end of the 2020/21 season.

14 teams play twice in Double Gameweek 26 so the points-ceilings for a Wildcard, Free Hit, Triple Captain and Bench Boost are all higher than usual.

And, while preparing the biggest Double Gameweek of the season is very exciting, I still have half an eye on the tricky Blank Gameweeks in the months to come.

I have already used my Triple Captain chip in Double Gameweek 19 and my Bench Boost in Double Gameweek 24, so I am deploying my Wildcard in Double Gameweek 26 to focus on moving my cash back into the starting XI after spreading it out on bench players.

This was my squad at the end of Gameweek 25:

I want to move out my contingent of West Ham and Burnley players and focus more money on the starting XI for the remainder of the season.

This is how my Wildcard squad is currently shaping up;:

I have made a total of eight changes, which is on par for what I would expect with the second Wildcard. I could have possibly done without it but I saw it as an opportunity to restructure my squad for the long-term, and also for Blank Gameweek 29.

Like Blank Gameweek 18, I am struggling to see fixtures I want to attack here.

Brighton v Newcastle, on paper, looks like an appealing fixture for the Seagulls but they are such an unpredictable team. No team has had more shots than Brighton (106) over the last six Gameweeks but no team has scored fewer goals (four). I would find it difficult to back the likes of Neal Maupay (£6.1m) and any more than one defender would feel a bridge too far given Newcastle’s need for points.

Aston Villa’s form is on a downward trajectory while Tottenham Hotspur are not exactly setting the league alight with their attacking displays. It feels like a 1-1 kind of fixture and I can’t pick a clear winner here. I’m likely going to have Son Heung-min (£9.5m), Harry Kane (£11.1m) and Emiliano Martinez (£5.3m).

With West Ham v Arsenal, again, I am struggling to pick a clear winner here. West Ham are arguably the favourites given their form this season but again I don’t see a blowout win for either team.

Fulham v Leeds is the fixture I really like. I’d want Raphinha (£5.4m) and Patrick Bamford (£6.9m) for this one and possibly one of Ademola Lookman (£5.0m) or Josh Maja (£5.5m).

If I were to use my Free Hit in Gameweek 29, it would probably look something like this:

It hardly fills me with confidence, and we could see another 30-40 point week. I can’t even pick a captain I really like here. There are also quite a few attackers up against the defenders so again the point ceiling is low.

I think it could be a case of quality over quantity. With Son, Kane, Martinez and Ben White (£4.4m) already in the squad, I can focus on bringing in four players for GW29 (three FT+a hit) which would likely be Raphinha, Patrick Bamford, Michail Antonio (£6.5m) and maybe Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.4m), depending on Arsenal’s form. I’d rather have Jack Grealish (£7.6m) if he’s fit though.

What appeals to me here is that Leeds have Sheffield United in Gameweek 30, so I am happy to retain their attackers for the following week. Harvey Barnes (£6.7m) is an easy transition to Raphinha, given Barnes has a blank in 29 and then Manchester City in 30. Antonio has Wolves, which is not too bad. Aubameyang has Liverpool, which isn’t as stern a test as it used to be. Villa have Fulham in Gameweek 30 too.

When will I use my Free Hit?

Gameweek 33 is the week of the League Cup Final which means Spurs, Man City and their originally scheduled league opponents Southampton and Fulham have a missing fixture. The fixtures in 33 are far more appealing in terms of points potential.

The Villa v West Brom, Liverpool v Newcastle and Leicester v Crystal Palace fixtures appeal as does Leeds v Manchester United. I would feel much more comfortable loading up on assets from these teams for a Free Hit and I see more potential for a bigger score here. The ticker colour coding gives it away – there are way more blue fixtures in this week.

It is worth mentioning Spurs play Sheffield United in Gameweek 34, so this would let you retain their assets for that fixture. Spurs in general have a good fixture run between 27-30 (Palace, Arsenal, Villa, Newcastle) so I don’t mind holding their assets, despite their stuttering form. Man City have Palace away too in 34.

Also, there is a small chance that the pending Spurs v Southampton fixture goes to Gameweek 32, if Man City beat Everton in the FA Cup. If that is the case, Spurs having a double in 32 and a blank in 33 would make things tricky to navigate without the Free Hit in 33.

Conclusion

A lot could change between now and Gameweek 29, but I am not seeing the upside in a Gameweek 29 Free Hit at the moment. Getting the right six-to-seven players should be enough to keep up with those who do use their Free Hit, as we saw in Gameweek 18.

We have covered Free Hit strategy as well as Double Gameweek 26 extensively in this week’s edition of The FPL Wire (https://youtu.be/xP3DuM_MFPM) where Lateriser and I are joined by fellow Pro Pundit Tom Freeman. I highly recommend a listen to get you prepped for the biggest double gameweek ever.

Good luck and hope you enjoyed reading.

778 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Limbo
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Stupid question alert - once TC chip is activated you can chop and change right? It's like the normal captain... I'm usually more certain of my choice 🙂

    1. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah - when you move your captain the TC chip follows

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

        Ta

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

      Wait until last minutes before to activate it, you never know what can happen until tomorrow morning

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

        You can turn it off and on anyway.

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

          Don't think you can, can you? Once a chip is activated it's 1 way ticket no?

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

            10 years of playing and I'm still a bloody casual

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

            BB and TC can be turned off after saving.

            For peace and mind here's a print screen 😀

            https://i.snipboard.io/zYLBGp.jpg

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

              *peace of mind*

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

              I did NOT know this. (obviously) - especially with BB. That's great.

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

          "The Bench Boost and Triple Captain chips can each be used once a season and are played when saving your team on the my team page. *They can be cancelled at anytime before the Gameweek deadline*."

          Well well well

  2. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play:

    Dallas - Villa H
    Anguissa - Palace (A), Spurs (H)

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

      Dallas

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

      Dallas. Anguissa 3 points, maybe.

    3. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cheers gents

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

    Wildcard ACTIVATED

    1. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      When do you plan to use BB?

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

        No idea tbh but I refuse to let the BB chip dictate my decisions too much because its an easy way to ruin your squad

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

      What was the alternative? -8 or more?

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

    Drop one:

    A) Salah
    B) Bruno
    C) Sterling
    D) Kane

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

      A just for DGW26

    2. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wow, really nobody else? You could be hurting... Maybe Sterling as might only get the one game.

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

        Could have them all at the expense of a -12

  5. 03farmboy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you take a -4 for

    Sterling and Antonio out
    For Kane and Barnes

    Or
    Use 1ft Antonio out and Watkins in

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

      Low ceiling for the Watkins move.
      Kane and Barnes could pay off so much more

  6. Khazana
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you do Werner to Kane for a -4 if you already have Son & (c) on DCL?

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

      No

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

      Yes

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

      1-1 so far. Who wants to break the tie?

    4. jai1212
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      yes

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

      Don’t think owning Son comes into it
      Do you think Spurs will score 3+ goals, if so Kane likely to be involved so I’d say yes it’s worth the hit
      Also need to factor in future fixtures

  7. Ha.
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who scores more?

    A. DCL and Barnes
    B. Kane x2

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

      a for me

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

      A

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

    I'm doing -4 anyway but is it worth doing a -8 and bench boosting this -

    Pickford / Bambford / Raphinha / allioski

    Thanks!

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

      No

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

      Yes

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

      What additional transfer will you make to cost -8 ?

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

        Keeper - None playing keeer -> to pickford for 2 good fixtures (cant afford anyone better)

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

          I don't think it's worth. And Pickford is not safe to start as Ance said he will keep rotating his keepers.

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

    Help here, which combi scores more?

    A- Antonio, Rashford, Pope
    B- Kane 3*(c), Vardy, Lloris, -12

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

      B possibly just

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

      Close - B just

  10. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    If we have three Leeds in our teams I believe the only time to BB is this GW. The next good game for them will be in GW37 and I am sure we won't carry a strong playing bench till then. The other option will be to move them out for other decent options but do we really want to use transfers to build a bench just to use the BB chip?

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

      What about GW30 vs SHU?

      1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        The issue with 30 is that I am building my GW29 team using FTs post GW26. If there is a news of even one or two players missing before GW30, it totally hampers the efficacy of BB. Plus, there wouldn't be any reaction time to have all 15 playing unless you want to take hits. Use it when the entire 15 are fit to play.

    2. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Would be happy to have 3 Leeds... 2 WHU assets are ruining my BB this week

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

      Spot on. I'm BB-ing too. I can see the Leeds players outscoring some of the dgw players tbh.

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

    A) Play Rudiger
    B) Do Tarkowski > Reguilon -4 (Rudiger first sub)

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

      B, even more so if there is no chip strategy ahead of BGW29

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

      B

    3. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I am playing A. Not taking hits to readjust defenders who have doubles.

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

        It is quite a sound choice. However, I'm gonna need to spend hits to get a team out for GW29 so using one now and giving Reggie more time to make up the points hit is also a consideration.

        I'm most likely going to do it next week anyway.

        I also have the choice of Digne or Pereira to go for the upside now.

        1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Makes absolute sense in that case. I hope Reguilon gets to play both though. May get an attacking return too.

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

    Current team:

    Martinez - Forster
    Robbo - Lowton - Dallas - Stones - Cancelo
    Son - Salah - Fernandes - Gundogan - Rapinha
    Bamford - Antonio - Watkins

    1 ft and 4.0 itb

    I want to use my BB and can easily just do:
    forster to schmeichel for free and i would be satisfied with it, but with -8 i can do:
    Robbo, Antonio and forster to Reguillon, Kane and Areola

    But as i have kept robbo for so long, i can also just do forster and lowton to schmeichel and reguillon for -4 and just hide behind a sofa whenever spurs play hoping that kane wont eat me alive

    Still have WC i can use at a later time, no FH for 29 and i used triple cap on salah during his curse......

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

    Hey lads! have 2ft and 2.7m itb. WC, BB and TC available.

    coufal+raphinha+antonio -> konsa+barnes+dcl -4 (and activate bench boost with: pope, taylor, dallas, adams??)

    martinez
    dias cancelo dallas
    bruno salah gundo son raphinha*
    adams bamford

    pope antonio* coufal* taylor

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

      Of those available for 29, I’d keep the 3 Leeds and sell the WHU, then BB.

      (Maybe downgrade Pope if you need cash for better players).

      Then use FT towards 29. Then wildcard after that.

  14. ItOnlyTook9Years
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Antonio + Pope to Kane and Martinez (-4)?

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

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

      Yep

    3. ItOnlyTook9Years
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Ta

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

      Absolutely

  15. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    West Ham are yet to lose a game when televised on BT sport this season.

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

      It was a nice run, I guess

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

        😀

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

      0-0 with Dias & Stones would be great start.

  16. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you go Raz + KDB on WC of chasing?

    Personally think Raz will start this weekend since he was hooked off at 70 mins mark

    1. CC22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I’m definitely getting one of them on wildcard, and currently deliberating between Salah or Bruno to get rid of to fund it. Not sure you need both with Gundo and a City defender though - I think one will be enough of a differential.

      Whichever one of Salah/Bruno that I drop I’d plan to bring them back in for GW30...and therefore currently leaning towards selling Bruno!

  17. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts on this WC draft?

    Martinez
    Digne Dias Cancelo
    Salah Bruno Barnes Gundo
    Kane DCL Watkins
    3.9 Raphinha Rudiger Struijk

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

      Solid team.

      Struijk probably blocking a Leeds option in GW29 though... but I guess you’re hoping he still has his spot for it.

  18. Jafalad
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Decided to captain DCL.

    Too many issues with the others:

    Gundog - Peprot
    Salah - no form
    Bruno - CHS
    Kane - poor form

    1. b91jh
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      There it goes Joshua King starts vs WBA...

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

      good choice

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

      Salah no form? He’s scored 4 in the last 5.

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

      Think I'm joining you

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

      TC

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

      I go for TC DCL

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

      Only problem is no pens.

  19. Johnny too hotty
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    to get Kane in and to TC i would need to do

    Sterling and Cavani > Son and Kane

    This seems a sensible move right? Only thing that seems odd is it leave with me only 1 city player, Dias. Is it fair to say I just need to hope Gundo doesnt explode ?

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

      I have zero faith in spurs and feel way more comfortable with no spurs than with only 1 city.

      That said, these fixtures are good and if spurs are going to chase top 4 they have to win these 2

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

      Do it

  20. damiang2233
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Best replacement for Grealish?

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

      Son

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

      Son

      1. damiang2233
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Got rid of Son for salah last week and dont have the money

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

      Barnes

      1. damiang2233
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Have Barnes, Midfield is Barnes, Salah, Fernandes, Grealish & Raphinha

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

          Gundogan

  21. Sid07
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who scores more point
    1) Mee + 4
    2) Shaw

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

      1

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

      2

  22. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you WC this? 0.4ITB
    Martinez
    Alonso,Robbo,Dias,Stones
    Salah,Gundogan,Fernandes,Raphinha
    Bamford,DCL

    Button, Maddison,Ings,Lowton

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

      I’d WC to that team

  23. The Mighty Whites
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A- Start Raphinha and Bamford
    B- Bring Traore in for Raphinha for a -4?
    C - Bring Watkins in for Antonio for a -4?

  24. ItOnlyTook9Years
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play
    A) Mitchell
    B) Bamford
    C) Dallas

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

      B

  25. steviebni
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Son and Antonio to Lookman plus either (a) Kane or (b) Vardy.
    Thoughts gentlemen please?
    Already have Harvey Barnes, so have a Leicester asset and upon selling Son I'll be Spurs-less.

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

      Spurs out of form but they are nice fixtures. I can’t get Kane in without -8.

      Touch wood but I don’t think he’s worth it

  26. jai1212
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A. DCL + B.Traore (-4)
    B. DCL + Barnes (-8)

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

      B

    2. b91jh
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

  27. b91jh
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I am quite set on Bamford to Kane (exact cash), but any non-Kane transfers could be gold here? 1ft, 3.5itb, hits welcomed.

    Martinez
    Cancelo Dias White
    Salah Bruno Gundogan Barnes Raph
    DCL Bamford

    Pope Dallas Antonio Cresswell

    1. b91jh
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      BB, FH already used.

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

    It pains me as a saints fan but we’re awful and Ings isn’t setting the world alight.

    I know he has a double next week but I’m really tempted by Ings to Richarlison for -4

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

    BB this? -4
    McCarthy Watkins Raphinha Struijk

  30. Sandy Ravage
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Any news on Maddison?