FPL is back and, like the real thing, it’s crunch time…
Welcome back to FPL, and welcome to chip season. After the drama of the international break and FA Cup, we’re finally back to business with just seven gameweeks left and plenty of chips still live in the community. That means huge swings are still there for the taking if you use them well. This week, the wildcard is the main talking point, and that’s where our focus is heading too. Get it right now and you can leave your mini-league rivals wondering how you made up so much ground so late in the season.
Bruno Fernandes (10.3m)
In simple terms, Fernandes is still the best FPL asset in the game. Even without a double in Gameweek 33, he remains the standout captaincy option this week, especially with so many other premium picks looking awkward. There’s a case to move him on next week for Cole Palmer, then free hit in 34 and bring Fernandes back in 35, but that’s future planning. Right now, if you’re wildcarding, he has to stay. He’s central to everything Manchester United do, on most set pieces, and still chasing the assist record as the run-in begins. It’s hard to imagine a more reliable midfield anchor.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (5.6m)
For managers on the Wildcard 32, Bench Boost 33 and Free Hit 34 plan, Calvert-Lewin looks like a very smart forward. The fixtures are exactly the sort you want to attack: Wolves and Bournemouth in the double, then Burnley at home in Gameweek 35. That’s a run that could easily return points if the form follows. Yes, Manchester United away this week is not ideal, but they’re still capable of conceding chances, and in this structure you’re really buying for the double and the follow-up. With so few appealing striker options around, DCL offers a nice mix of minutes, ceiling and short-term usefulness.
João Pedro (7.8m)
João Pedro is another strong Wildcard 32 pick, even if the fixtures don’t jump off the page straight away. Manchester City this week is tough, but the double in Gameweek 33, followed by Nottingham Forest in 35, makes him a very interesting hold. The real appeal is underneath the hood. Over the last six gameweeks, he’s produced 25 shots, 22 of them in the box, and 5.86 xG – better underlying data than Erling Haaland and Hugo Ekitike combined. That’s the sort of profile you want to back when the goals start landing. Form and process are both on his side, and that usually pays off sooner rather than later.
Pascal Groß (5.5m)
Groß is one of those picks that won’t excite most managers, which is exactly why he might be so useful. Owned by just 0.3% of the game, he’s a brilliant differential for those on the Wildcard 32, Bench Boost 33 and Free Hit 34 route. Burnley this week is a great start, then he has Tottenham and Chelsea in the double, followed by Wolves and Leeds in the final stretch. He’s nailed for minutes, heavily involved in set pieces, and has real DEFCON potential too. He won’t be the flashy pick in your league, but he could easily be one of the most efficient.
Jan Paul van Hecke (4.5m)
Van Hecke is a brilliant wildcard defender if you want a slightly different route into Brighton. Statistically, Brighton have been among the better defences over the last few weeks, and Van Hecke himself is excellent for DEFCON, hitting the threshold four times in his last five appearances. He’s also chipped in with three goals and two assists this season, which is a very handy bonus for a centre-back. Burnley this week looks like a nice entry point before Brighton’s double next week, and at just 5.6% ownership, he gives you enough upside without feeling too left-field. He’s quietly becoming one of the smarter backline picks.
