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. Werner Bremen
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to get rid of, so I could afford Bamford to DCL -

    A Cancelo (bringing Konsa in)

    B Son (Barnes)

    C Neither, don't take a hit for DCL

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

    2. palace ash
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

    3. Party time
        3 years, 1 month ago

        A

        I wonder why people are selling Son. May just slap the armband on him

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

          To fund Kane I think but seems a bit sideways to me.

    4. Weeb Kakashi
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Everton Villa likely to be happening in 28?

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        We'll find out at 11:01 tomorrow I imagine

    5. palace ash
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      KWP to:
      A) Aina
      B) Adarabioyo
      C) Andersen

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

        A

      2. Boom XhakaLacaSaka
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        C

    6. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Any interest in Matheus Pereira (5.4m) at all? BHA, EVE, NEW, cry in the next 3 GWs

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

        Good player, shite team with Big Sam in charge is a no go for me

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

        Good punt I would say

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

        Good pick.

      4. JollyGoodYellows
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Good enabler for Kane.

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

      Bruno a 25% chance to return v Chelsea according to the bookies... lower % than the likes of Bale, Giroud and Maja.

      Does this not put people off Bruno (c) relying on just the Palace game where he could see limited minutes?

      1. palace ash
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Bruno doesn't get rested

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

          Can get subbed off early though

          1. palace ash
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Being subbed off would be to rest him. Won't happen IMO.

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

              5 games in 2 weeks... can see it happening if United are comfortably winning

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

                Bruno doesn't get subbed off.

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

                  silly comment, he was subbed off at half time in EL yesterday

      2. fr3d
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        He won't have limited minutes, but Man Utd struggle with Palace. I'm not captaining

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

          I used to think same but they have managed to win last 3 away games scoring 8 goals. In last H2Hs, its the away side that gets points

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

            last 6 H2Hs

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

            Yep, Palace play best v Top 6 away from home. Been a trend for a while

      3. A.J.
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        It may be over simplistic on my part but I've come to the conclusion that if I broke down the double into two single gameweeks, would I captain Bruno in either.

        I don't think I would, so I've ruled him out for (c).

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

          Not a bad way to go about it

      4. Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Are you sure about that %? Longest anytime scorer odds alone (so not including assists) are 11/4 on oddschecker.

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

          Saw it on Twitter from fpl Salah. Generally is reliable when it comes to the odds

          1. Now I'm Panicking
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            I would respectfully say he is wrong on this occasion, unless you/he is counting a "return" as scoring a goal, in which case it may be correct-ish using an over-round and/or older odds.

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

              Maybe he used a weird bookmaker or old odds as it was 2 days ago, you’re right though just calculated myself and it’s much higher than 25%

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

              I agree with Jarv, those odds sound off.

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

        Bruno has played in every PL game.
        Only 3 times has he played 70 min or less:
        45 v Spurs. Scored a goal.
        45 v West Ham. Got an assist.
        70 v Leeds. Got 2 goals and an assist.

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

          Solid stat

    8. Dichio24
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      BB this lot for a -4 (DCL and Son in for Bamford and Grealish)
      Martinez - Pope
      Lowton - Rudiger - Dias - Shaw - Dallas
      Raphinha - Sterling - Bruno - Gundogan - Son
      Watkins - Kane - DCL

      or Free Hit...
      Martinez
      Pereira - Dias - Shaw
      Salah - KDB - Bruno - Gundogan - Barnes
      Kane - DCL

    9. stevep69
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No-one talking about Salah as captain but I think he could be a dark horse in this DGW

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I would captain if I had him

      2. fr3d
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I'm selling

      3. Party time
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Considering Salah, Son & Gündoğan. Think those 3 could easily do well this gw

        • Pompel
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          He was touted as best pick in the regular captain choice article no? Surely will be in the points against a struggling Sheffield United

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

        Would really appreciate some opinions here. 0.5m ITB, 1FT

        Would you BB or TC with that team?

        Martinez
        Cancelo Dias Dallas Mee
        Gundo Salah Fernandes Son
        Bamford DCL(C)

        Bench: Ings Mitchell Grelish

        Obvious plan is to go Grealish -> Barnes and Mee -> Targett?

        What would you do or suggest here?

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

          Can you afford Ings + Grealish > Kane + Barnes?

      5. Phlajo
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Lowton to Konsa worth a -4?

        Pros:
        Konsa better fixtures this GW
        Konsa possible DGW 28
        Konsa got a game in 29

        Cons
        A hit for a defender is just... meh

      6. abaalan
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Week after WC...already considering a hit. BB this gw and no FH for 29:
        A) Burn -> Targett -4
        B) Strujk -> Konsa -4
        C) No hit

        1. Mr. O'Connell
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          B

      7. Gizzachance
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        raph & ings to barnes & watkins -4?

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

        Okay even Smith says that Grealish won't play tomorrow. He's gone.

        Give me the strength to do something stupid!

        A) Bale, Maja, Aina
        B) Barnes, Reguilon, Watkins

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

          Fore sure B!

        2. Super John McGinn-
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          B

        3. Eleven Hag
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Do you see Bale starting both games?

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

            I have no idea. But I think if this was a single GW, I would genuinely captain Bale knowing he'll start vs BUR.

            1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Against Burnley with Pope/Mee/Tark all starting?

        4. SHOOTER MCGINN
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          A for bants

        5. casual69
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          B with your head, A with your heart.

          Id say Bale is in a similar to worse position then City asset. At best I see him getting 120mins over the two game weeks...question is, is that enough given all other assets out there on that price point?

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

        Is it worth to do any of these transfers and bench Dallas?
        a)Ogbonna->Reguilon(-4)
        b)Ogbonna->Mings(-4)
        c)Ogbonna->Evans(-4)

        Johnstone
        Mee/Dallas/Dias
        Sterling/Barnes/Fernandes/Raphinha/Gundogan
        Kane/Dcl

        Pope/Bamford/Coufal/Ogbonna*
        0ft 0.6itb

        1. *Reformed-Character*
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          I Like A

      10. tissae
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Would you do it for -8? No BB.

        Grealish + Mee + ings -> Barned + Digne + Watkins.

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

        Play one alongside Dias and AWB:

        A. White
        B. Lowton
        C. Dallas

        Thanks!

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

          B

        2. Warby84
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 17 days ago

          A

      12. Boom XhakaLacaSaka
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Final call after watching Leicester last night which trio would you rather have in your 11

        A) Kane, Lookman, B Mee
        B) Barnes, Son, A.Robinson

        1. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          A if you capt Kane

          1. Boom XhakaLacaSaka
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Captaining Dcl but think owning kane would ease the losses if dcl blanks

      13. SHOOTER MCGINN
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Is Coleman nailed these days? Need a cheap double gameweek player. Konsa would be my safe pick.

      14. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        G2G? -8 taken, no hits.

        Martinez(Fabri)
        Cancelo Stones Konsa(Dallas)(Coufal)
        Salah Fernandes Son Gundo(Raph)
        Kane DCL Watkins

        Pretty sure the Bamford to Watkins move will punish me

        1. casual69
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          perhaps over this game week, but over the next 2 or 3, good move

          1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            True

      15. JollyGoodYellows
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Which one of these would you do?

        A) Pope + Raphinha > Areola + Barnes
        B) Son + Bamford > Pereira + Kane

      16. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Who would you rather play in GW27? Bamford vs West Ham or Watkins vs Wolves

        and in 28? Watkins vs Newcastle(assume no DGW) or Bamford vs Chelsea

        1. Super John McGinn-
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Watkins

          1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Just worried about this week without Grealish...

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

              You'll manage one week, its not like Traore, El Ghazi and Barkley are the worst attacking support in the league

      17. Bobby's Teeth
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Hi legends,

        On WC and would appreciate you ripping this team to shreds:

        Martinez
        Pereira Stones Digne
        Kdb Gundo Bruno Barnes
        DCL Kane Watkins

        Bench: Areola Raph Konsa N. Phillips

        1. Super John McGinn-
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Can you stretch to Burn instead of Phillips?

          1. Bobby's Teeth
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Maxed out in terms of funds, mate. What do you think about the team otherwise? No Salah is concerning for me, but don't know how to fit him in

      18. EL_FENOMENO
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Is Son + Bamford to Barnes + Kane worth a -8?

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

          Definitely not!

      19. TheCurseOfRaheem
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Bench boosting this week so appreciate any thoughts here. Would you drop Dallas for -4? I could only really afford a Villa defender at best.

        Martinez
        Dias, Cancelo, Shaw, Rudiger
        Bruno, Salah, Son, Lookman
        Kane, Maja

        Areola Bamford, Raph, Dallas

        Loads riding on the Leeds game but I can't see myself having a stronger bench this season.

      20. Helpmepls
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        How essential is Kane going forward?

        A. Son and Bamford to Barnes and Kane (-4)

        B. Keep Son and Bamford but swap Raph for Barnes (0)

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

          I'd go B. Son could easily outscore Kane this week.

      21. jdogg
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Dcl triple captain?x

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

          sure

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

        A. McCarthy to Ederson
        B. Bam to DCL

      23. Are you Shaw?
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Crazy not to go with any city assets? I mean city are bound to have at least 1 bad game.. they got to.. (bad game as in a narrow 2-1 win haha).. plus rotation... The players I go for might miss the goal-fest game.. and then catch a possible bad game..

      24. tissae
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Would you bench boost this?

        Steer Dallas Bamford Targett

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

          If you never have plans to upgrade you sub keeper then it's a good shout

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

        Team is mostly sorted, just have one more dillema:

        A) Play lowton (tot,lei)
        B) Play Dallas (avl)
        C) -4 for Digne (sou, wba)

        Cheers!

        1. Are you Shaw?
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          West brom concede too many freekicks/corners due to sitting back.. Digne might enjoy that quite a bit... not sure he'll get anything from the southampton game, and if he does it'll be a bonus

          1. Are you Shaw?
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            lowton expected: 2 - 2 : 4
            Dallas expected: 6... maybe: 6
            Digne expected: 2 - 10: 12

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

            Yeah, also currently leaning towards Digne. Double start in itself should cover -4 hit, and besides that he has most potential and easiest fixtures compared with rest of the two

      26. *Reformed-Character*
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Would you Bench Boost this ?

        Areola, Dallas, Raphina , Bamford.

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

          Yep