FPL talking point: Is it time to use wildcard?

Erling Haaland claps the fans after a game

Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesImage caption,

Erling Haaland and Manchester City are set for two double gameweeks before the end of the season

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After a three-week break, the Premier League returns this weekend.

With fixtures coming thick and fast between now and the end of the season, Fantasy Premier League managers have plenty of important decisions to make.

As the campaign enters its final stretch, several teams are set to have double gameweeks in the coming weeks.

But is it better to activate your wildcard this weekend or wait until later in the season?

FPL expert Prasun Singhal and members of the FPL podcast team assess the situation ahead of gameweek 32.

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Bazball or Bruce-Ball?

What do the next couple of gameweeks look like?

The FPL landscape is now clear. Six teams (Manchester City, Chelsea, Brighton, Burnley, Leeds and Bournemouth) will play twice in gameweek 33.

But the same same six teams will blank and not play a fixture in gameweek 34.

It is also worth noting that Manchester City's game against Crystal Palace - postponed because of City's involvement in the Carabao Cup final - needs to be rescheduled.

The working assumption is that it could go into the free midweek in gameweek 36, also making that a double gameweek.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

As it stands, Crystal Palace are set to face Everton and Manchester City, while the Carabao Cup winners will play Brentford before welcoming Oliver Glasner's side to Etihad Stadium.

To best navigate these next few weeks, a wildcard and a free hit will be handy chips.

The bench boost is most effective when your squad has a high number of double gameweek players, ideally 13 to 15, to maximise potential points. The triple captain chip can be saved for a player with two favourable fixtures in a double gameweek.

The main decision this week, however, is: Should you wildcard now and set up for the bench boost in GW33 or delay it for later fixtures?

Alistair Bruce-Ball: "My team looks good for 32 and 34. I will free hit in 33 and then wildcard in 35.

"You have to take a punt."

What are the pros and cons to playing a wildcard in gameweek 32?

Pros:

You will be able to use the bench boost chip in gameweek 33. Since the wildcard and bench boost cannot be used in the same week, using the wildcard now will enable a huge bench boost, with possibly up to 15 players having two games each.

It also allows you to capitalise on Manchester City, who will have doubles coming up in gameweek 33 and the unconfirmed second double that includes the game against Crystal Palace later in the season.

Also: Look at a team's opponents. Brighton, for instance, have an excellent fixture against Burnley in gameweek 32.

Cons:

If the wildcard is played to target a bench boost, then a free hit will also be needed in gameweek 34, since a lot of the target teams will have no fixture that week.

Teams such as Arsenal, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Liverpool will need to be avoided to maximise the gameweek 33 bench boost. But these teams have favourable fixtures after gameweek 33.

What if you want to keep hold of your wildcard a little longer?

Pros:

If the team look good in gameweek 32, then the advice is "if it isn't broken, don't fix it".

It also allows you to keep players from strong teams such as Arsenal until the end of the season.

But perhaps the biggest plus-point is that you can react to the state of the league, such as identifying which teams still have something to play for in the final weeks.

Cons:

Only having four gameweeks to target with a wildcard is not ideal. The bench boost, meanwhile, would also not be as strong with fewer players having double games.

Overall, if your team are struggling this week and you have multiple players blanking in gameweek 34, consider using the wildcard now. Otherwise, monitor upcoming fixtures and wait for more information before committing to a strategy.

Statman Dave: "If you have a wildcard and bench boost, you are attacking 33, using the wildcard in 32 and bench boost in 33.

"If you just have a wildcard left, do that in 33. If you have a triple captain or a bench boost but no wildcard, do that in 33.

"If you don't have any of those chips and you have your free hit left, use your free hit in 33."