FPL Focus: Wildcard dilemmas as Raya roars again | Feature

After we secured a 1-1 draw from Atletico Madrid in the first leg of our Champions League semi-final, we now refocus on league action – and along comes round 35 of Fantasy Premier League.

With four Premier League fixtures remaining amid a tantalising title race, Saturday evening brings a return to Emirates Stadium to take on Fulham.

RAYA LEADS DEFENSIVE MASTERCLASS

Last Saturday was hugely important in our quest for domestic success, as we sealed a 1-0 win over Newcastle United in north London.

Regarding the Fantasy community, it was a Gameweek for the defensive players, with David Raya (£6.0m) managing a double-digit haul to top the charts in red and white. David’s 10 points in Gameweek 34 brought him to an incredible 141 for the campaign so far, a league-best with Everton’s Jordan Pickford (£5.6m) next in line on 128. Our no. 1 is now the fourth-highest FPL marksman in our squad, behind Gabriel (£7.2m), Declan Rice (£7.2m) and Jurrien Timber (£6.1m).

While Big Gabi did his gargantuan season total no harm with eight more points against Newcastle, another who fared fantastically was Piero Hincapie (£5.1m). Our Ecuadorian scooped nine points in GW34, a Gameweek total only bettered in GW17 when he bagged 10 points against Everton back in December. Piero remains selected by only 0.9% of managers and could be an astute addition to your squad for the run-in.

Elsewhere, William Saliba (£6.1m) earned seven points against the Magpies courtesy of our clean sheet, while Ben White (£5.1m) and goalscorer Ebere Eze (£7.2m) netted six. Ebs’ superb winning strike inducted him into our 100 club for the season, becoming the tenth FPL centurion for the Gunners in 2025/26. The closest to replicating the feat is Riccardo Calafiori (£5.6m), who sits on 93.

THE FULHAM CORNER

Saturday of course reunites us with Fulham, who make the trip across London with European football still very much in their sights. Marco Silva’s men sit halfway down the league table but with just a one-point gap to Bournemouth in seventh, and two points from Brighton in sixth.

Joachim Andersen (£4.5m) is one of four centurions in the Fulham squad, alongside former Gunner Bernd Leno (£4.9m) and striker Raul Jimenez (£6.1m). The leading point-haulier, however, is Harry Wilson (£6.0m), a bargain pickup who has enjoyed a sensational season, netting 159 points and appearing in over 21% of FPL teams.

After their trip to Emirates Stadium, Fulham finish the season with two home games against Bournemouth and Newcastle United, either side of a trip to relegated Wolves. Well-priced considerations could include defender Calvin Bassey (£4.4m), selected by just 0.6% of managers, and Hale End graduate Emile Smith Rowe (£5.6m).

DILEMMAS ON THE HORIZON

While the season is now very much at its business end, in the FPL world, the chaos has simmered somewhat following a rollercoaster set of Gameweeks.

With two sets of chips available to each Fantasy competitor this term for the first time, many managers have enjoyed the luxury of several chips to carry them through.

Of those aiming for the big prizes and personal-best rankings this season, the majority opted for a GW32 Wildcard, supplemented by a GW33 Bench Boost and a Free Hit in GW34. Some have already used their Triple Captain, for example, when the Gunners played the season’s first Double Gameweek in GW26. Others still have the chip intact, and the obvious plan on paper would be to utilise this when Manchester City face a Double Gameweek in GW36 – Erling Haaland (£14.5m) and Antoine Semenyo (£8.2m) the standout candidates there.

This was a hugely popular routine due to the DGW in 33 and consequent Blank in 34, caused by three Premier League clubs’ involvement in the FA Cup semi-finals. With numerous established FPL content creators opting for the strategy, it quickly snowballed – the drawback coming when millions of managers had almost carbon copy squads, mainly involving GW33 doublers from Man City, Chelsea, Brighton and Bournemouth.

With Man City and Crystal Palace confirmed to be playing their postponed GW31 fixture in GW36, the obvious tactic is to include players from each of these sides in a fresh Wildcard squad. Those with free transfers banked would also be advised to follow suit – while City’s best assets have been widely discussed, Palace defenders such as Maxence Lacroix (£5.1m), Daniel Munoz (£5.8m) and Chris Richards (£4.4m) would be recommended due to their threat in both boxes, even despite their likelihood to concede across their remaining games.

However you decide to set out your squad for the start of Gameweek 35, remember the transfer and team selection deadline once again hits this Friday, May 1, at 6:30pm UK time before Leeds host Burnley in the Gameweek’s curtain-raiser!