The week in Fantasy Premier League: Do you need to wildcard before it’s too late?
Last week’s truncated set of fixtures left some Fantasy Premier League managers delighted. Others... not so much.
The Gameweek average score of 19 points doesn’t tell the whole story. Basically, those who had both and flourished - pretty much everyone else was left facing those dreaded “red arrows”.
And it was standing room only in the GW28 Hall of Shame. West Ham's and returned two points each. didn't even play.
FPL managers who picked over tore their last remaining hairs out as he departed at half-time, taking his likely clean-sheet points with him.
We're not the only one's happy to see the back of #GW28 this season.
— The Hype Train (@HypeTrainHQ) March 12, 2017
Baines subbed.
Brunt benched.
Llorente injured.
Just 1 clean sheet. https://t.co/oo4F3Va9BI
They all pale into insignificance however compared to , who pulled off the ultimate FPL troll move - running to the bench to deny his loyal owners that precious point.
Coutinho off at 59:59. Goodnight season, it's been real.
— Always Cheating: A Fantasy Premier League Podcast (@hailcheaters) March 12, 2017
If only he had displayed that kind of awareness and pace earlier in the match. Honestly - it’s almost as if these players don’t care about helping us win our work mini-leagues!
So as the dust settled on the Double-Blank Gameweek madness, FPL managers are now surveying the landscape - and it has taken on a distinctly post-apocalyptic look for many.
And when that happens, there’s usually only one thing for it...
— GadFly* 🔻 (@FPL_Fly) March 12, 2017
While it’s always worthwhile being self-aware enough to avoid that ultimate FPL sin - “” - you have to be equally honest enough with yourself to admit that the time is right to go back to the drawing board.
For those poor souls who couldn’t wait bring in before he picked up that nasty-looking injury against Millwall, the wildcard could save them hit points and better still - help that awful gaffe to go unnoticed!
If you already brought Kane in for a -4 would you swap him out again for another -4? Um.. Asking for a friend.. 👀 #FPL
— Pad Ful (@PadFul) March 16, 2017
The wildcard is also an efficient and satisfying way for managers to clear out any lingering and liabilities in one fell swoop.
Thinking more long-term, managers who still have their and chips could benefit from a strategy rethink, too.
Up until now, the prospect of the “bumper” convinced many to keep their wildcard in order to draft in a full squad of DGW players in , before playing their Bench Boost in - thus having an “extra” eight players.
Here are the 12 fixtures that have been postponed this season due to clashes with the EFL Cup Final and the FA Cup QFs & SFs: pic.twitter.com/XBFA3cmmij
— Ben Crellin (@BenCrellin) March 13, 2017
This still has merit, but as all the meticulous planning for the Blanks and Double Gameweek has taught us (again) - we can end up being too clever for our own good in this game sometimes.
Looking ahead, GW37 is actually starting to look more like the week for a .
I think we're going to struggle with BB in DGW37. The only bench (cheap) players with good doubles will probably come from SUN & MID. #FPL
— Peter Blake (@math_safe) March 13, 2017
Although nothing is certain yet, the penultimate week of the FPL season is likely to see play West Brom and either Watford or Southampton, with set to face Stoke and either Sunderland or Leicester. facing both West Brom and Leicester at The Emirates is a possibility also.
Outside of GW37 we could be looking at against Burnley and either Southampton or Man City - both away - in GW34.
’s other DGW against is likely to be rescheduled for GW35/36, where they face tough fixtures against and .
SOT vs ARS should be rescheduled to GW 35 or 36 because Arsenal are playing on Monday night in GWs 32 & 33.
— Ben Crellin (@BenCrellin) March 13, 2017
Not too appealing, is it?
Also, by playing the wildcard now, FPL managers would (in theory, at least) stand to benefit from it for the nine Gameweeks, as opposed to toughing it out until GW36 - by which time your minileague leader may be out of reach.
For those looking to take the plunge, the emergence of under-the-radar players like , , and , as well as more established enablers like , and and should help free up funds for big-name players elsewhere.
It will be ESSENTIAL to own both Hazard and Sanchez in the last 5 #FPL fixtures.
— Antarctican (@FPLantarctican) March 16, 2017
Even if you’re not wildcarding, the prospect of should certainly inform - but not shackle - your upcoming transfer plans.
Double gameweeks - don't get forget to aim for players from these teams!
— FPL Champion 🏆 (@FPLchampion) March 16, 2017
Notable players include Sanchez, Gabbiadini and Hazard ⚽️ #FPL pic.twitter.com/QyvKlX4SRR
Just because , and all have two Double Gameweeks doesn’t mean you should be bringing in those players wholesale.
Outside of and a post-suspension , it’s hard to see which Arsenal and United players, if any, can offer consistent points returns at the moment.
When it comes to , the fact that their extra games come against and dampens their appeal somewhat. The free-scoring is an easy pick, but it would take a brave manager to trust him with the armband over some of the more established names.
Manolo Gabbiadini in the Premier League for Southampton:
— Squawka (@Squawka) March 4, 2017
3 games
100% take-ons completed
16 shots
4 chances created
4 goals
Inspired buy. pic.twitter.com/k2kAJwmCL3
, , , , , , and can all look forward to one DGW. Most if not all of them should happen in GW37 - so you have some time to prepare.
We all know the familiar names to pick from these, but ’s resurgence has led to renewed focus on their players.
The #FPL echo chamber has a funny way of luring people into making mistakes that later seem obvious. 'Vardy IN' feels like a classic example
— #FPL Penguin (@FPL_Penguin) March 15, 2017
It could work, but what effect the unprecedented combination of a Champions League campaign and a relegation battle has on team selection is really anyone’s guess.
, , , , , , and won’t have DGWs, but that’s not to say they should be off-limits over the remainder of the season.
and enjoy favourable fixtures in the short term, and it would be folly to rule out players like and .
Most assists in #PL this season? @SwansOfficial's Gylfi Sigurdsson 👏 pic.twitter.com/8aUgiDAUvz
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 13, 2017
Elsewhere, FPL managers can look to bring in players at optimum times, with fixtures set to turn more favourable for in , as well as for and in and respectively.
Or it could be best to just leave everything well alone, as this tweet rather depressingly illustrates…
😱Mind-blow Monday😱#FPL success in 16/17?
— The Editor (@FPLEditor) March 13, 2017
- Pick this side for GW1
- Make no transfers
- Set Sánchez ©
Total score: 1,817
Your rank? 1st! pic.twitter.com/uaSyTBLseo
Every season, without fail, sees “on the beach syndrome” take hold: mid-table teams switch off once that psychologically significant 40-point mark is reached, while relegation battlers start looking like world-beaters.
Bear this in mind when bringing in players for the long haul - particularly defenders.
Right now, are the only team with the holiday brochures out, but could we see the likes of , and join them soon?
Conversely, players from bottom-six teams with a bit of quality about them like and could offer real value.
Despite the fact that tend to score less in ’s absence, an obliging fixture list makes Spurs attacking cover an absolute must.
Attacking stats for Eriksen, Alli & Son during GW’s 6-10 when Harry Kane was out injured https://t.co/b56MrVw0fW pic.twitter.com/1kyfWZu6Hl
— Fantasy Football Fix (@FantasyFootyFix) March 12, 2017
While and are safe options, the 4%-owned could be the one to go for.
The South Korean announced himself in emphatic style with hat-trick after replacing Kane against Millwall and at just £6.8m, the price is certainly right.
Of course he’s not without risk, but let’s face it - if you’re not willing to take a chance on a cheap, out-of-position midfielder starting up front for , you're probably playing this game a little too safe.
If Kane's injury is serious, Son is £6.8m pic.twitter.com/H6Wvqdazgi
— FPL General (@FPLGeneral) March 12, 2017
If you’re hoping for instant returns and can’t wait for to get past that Spurs tie, is an interesting alternative.
The burly striker seems to thrive during the relegation run-in. He’s scored five in his last six games and Watford’s next three fixtures (, and ) could hardly be more favourable.
.
Yep, all of them - even .
For a Tony Pulis side, they’ve been remarkably poor at keeping clean sheets (five all season!). Now that 40points-itis has hit and fixtures have gone south, there’s really no case for holding them.
