Sam Austin

Weekly Wildcards: Gameweek Thirty-One

Every week The Hype Train analyses the best wildcard options for your Fantasy Premier League teams. Historically weekly dream team’s comprise of mostly wildcard players whose selection falls under 5% of overall players, to which there is no doubt that their influence cannot be ignored. With such an abundance of points coming from the FPL’s hidden gems The Hype Train selects one player from each match in the upcoming gameweek to decide who could be the differential for your teams.

LAST WEEKS PERFORMANCE (GW 30)

Four out of the five wildcard picks for gameweek thirty we made last week turned out to be a success, and as mentioned the art of picking out a gem in the otherwise stripped down gameweek will always be a clever art for keen FPL managers looking for options.

The only failure from GW30 was Xherdan Shaqiri, but in all honesty he was taken off due to injury after thirty minutes and is now red-flagged for the next game against Watford. Two clean sheets from Wimmer and Fuchs (both predictable before the gameweek), and some kind of returns from the midfield picks means we are happy with our selections and look forward to picking a full contingent of players for GW31.

Jesus Navas: 3pts

Matt Ritchie: 5pts

Xherdan Shaqiri: 1pt

Kevin Wimmer: 6pts

Christian Fuchs: 7pts

Gameweek 30 Average Points: 35pts Gameweek 30 Wildcard Points: 22pts

TEAM OF THE WEEK WILDCARDS

Second week in a row where the wildcards have been outplayed by the heavily selected players, and two of them would have been considered to be extreme picks in the Norwich duo of Ruddy and Klose who got the clean sheet over a visiting Manchester City. Nobody would have predicted a stalemate that benefits the Canaries bid for survival more than it does the title challenge of the Citizens in sky blue.

The two players outside the defence also sparked a bit of interest, Barrow for Swansea looks to have obtained a starting berth if he isn’t injured, and Gradel for Bournemouth has returned from injury right where he picked off for the Cherries. Bournemouth have three really good wildcard midfield options in King, Gradel, and Ritchie all scoring lots of points, the only downside is that sometimes you have to wait a while before they hit big such as Josh King who has hot flashes of precious points.

The rest of the team, the non-wildcards, you could have selected before the gameweek as there was an air of predictability about it.

Wildcards: Ruddy, Klose, Gradel, Barrow (4)

Non-Wildcards: Kompany, Simpson, Alli, Arnautovic, Sigurdsson, Pelle, Kane (7)

Points achieved by wildcards: 38pts

Points achieved by non-wildcards: 70pts

THIS WEEKS WILDCARDS

For this gameweek we are once again selecting ten wildcards, one for each game. Same rules apply: the players we choose must not be selected by more than five percent of the games players. We start in order of the games listed on the official Fantasy Premier League site.

The wildcard options selection percentage is accurate as of Thursday 17/03/2016.

AARON LENNON, EVERTON VS ARSENAL

Name: Aaron Lennon

Club: Everton

Position: Midfielder Price: £5.6mil Ownership: 0.7%

Arsenal offer few wildcards to trust in this fixture, their defence can be rotated, as can their forwards. You never know if Walcott or Welbeck will start, or if Gabriel will fill in for the BFG. Also, after a poor showing against Barcelona the Gunners may have their spirits and confidence stricken with their predictable collapse midway through the season. Amidst this Everton are looking to add more fuel to their fire after knocking Chelsea out of the FA Cup last week, Lukaku in particular wants to add to the notion he can play and score against the bigger teams. One player that is stealing a lot of attention away from the midfielders is the nippy Aaron Lennon who has come into a purple patch of form and looks to score every game at this moment in time. The quick winger is causing every defence serious problems with his quick feet, he is one to watch in this fixture, no doubt he will be terrorising Nacho Monreal down the right flank.

Last Three 28 – WBA (H) – 2pts

29 – AVL (A) – 10pts

30 – WHU (H) – 8pts

Next Three

31 – ARS (H) – 19th March, 12:45pm

32 – MUN (A) – 3rd April, 16:00pm

33 – WAT (A) – 9th April, 15:00pm

MICHAIL ANTONIO, CHELSEA VS WEST HAM

Name: Michail Antonio

Club: West Ham

Position: Midfielder Price: £5.4mil Ownership: 3.7%

Chelsea have had ‘one of them seasons’, recently knocked out of the Champions League by the team that now face Manchester City in the last eight they will want to put their troubles in the rear view mirror and continue their surge up the Premier League table. That said, their visitors to Stamford Bridge just happen to be West Ham who are themselves trying to cement a place in the top four. The record the Hammers have away from home is breath-taking, big wins over big sides for Slavan’s men in claret and blue. West Ham wants to continue adding to their scalp collection of Premier League away wins. One player who can help them do that is Michail Antonio who has scored in his last league matches, a true nightmare for defenders. With Payet, Noble, and Lanzini supporting the winger he is proving to be one of the best transfers for this season alongside teammate Dimitri Payet. Antonio is cheap, proven, and has the hunger to make the difference in this match.

Last Three 28 – SUN (H) – 11pts

29 – TOT (H) – 11pts

30 – EVE (A) – 6pts

Next Three

31 – CHE (A) – 19th March, 15:00pm

32 – CRY (H) – 2nd April, 15:00pm

33 – ARS (H) – 9th April, 12:45pm

CHRISTIAN FUCHS, CRYSTAL PALACE VS LEICESTER

Name: Christian Fuchs

Club: Leicester

Position: Defender Price: £5.0mil Ownership: 4.6%

Surprise, surprise, Fuchs keeps his place in the wildcards. The Austrian is very close to actually leaving our weekly list, his doings have not gone unnoticed and as he raises in price he remains as one of the best outlets for points in the Leicester squad that is charging towards their shock Premier League win. If you are new to the wildcard articles you should know that we rate Fuchs because he can keep clean sheets, is on set-piece duty, and also obtains bonus points like it’s nobody’s business. Crystal Palace aren’t a goal scoring unit as they have been and by now all doubt in Leicester’s abilities is resolute, they aren’t going anywhere.

Last Three 28 – WBA (H) – 1pt

29 – WAT (A) – 5pts

30 – NEW (H) – 7pts

Next Three

31 – CRY (A) – 19th March, 15:00pm

32 – SOU (H) – 3rd April, 13:30pm

33 – SUN (A) – 10th April, 13:30pm

TROY DEENEY, WATFORD VS STOKE CITY

Name: Troy Deeney

Club: Watford

Position: Forward Price: £5.2mil Ownership: 4.6%

The wildcard king returns are setting up the goal that knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup on their own soil. Troy Deeney must be feeling confident are their win at the Emirates, and the Hornets will be looking to add momentum to their newfound confidence with a win over injury riddled Stoke City who are struggling defensively at the moment. Deeney has been true quality this season and still a threat from the penalty spot, the Watford skipper is still a cheap alternative in a week with few genuine striker options. Go wildcard, go Deeney.

Last Three 28 – STK (H) – 2pts

29 – ARS (A) – 2pts

30 – EVE (H) – 2pts

Next Three

31 – STK (H) – 19th March, 15:00pm

32 – ARS (A) – 2nd April, 15:00pm

33 – EVE (H) – 9th April, 15:00pm

BEN FOSTER, WEST BROM VS NORWICH

Name: Ben Foster

Club: West Brom

Position: Goalkeeper Price: £4.9mil Ownership: 0.3%

The Albion are happy that their first choice keeper has returned from injury, since his return he has been one of the form goalkeepers in the league and with a home tie against Norwich he can look forward to potentially adding to his already impressive tally. The Canaries are really struggling in front of goal and none of their forward players seem to pose any sort of threat, and this will suit West Brom who likes to defend and break quickly. Foster makes plenty of saves if all else fails, but nobody expects them to trouble the England internationals goal when these two teams meet.

Last Three 28 – CRY (H) – 1pt

29 – LEI (A) – 2pts

30 – MUN (H) – 8pts

Next Three

31 – NOR (H) – 19th March, 15:00pm

32 – SUN (A) – 2nd April, 15:00pm

33 – MCI (A) – 9th April, 17:30pm

LEROY FER, SWANSEA VS ASTON VILLA

Name: Leroy Fer

Club: Swansea

Position: Midfielder Price: £4.8mil Ownership: 0.0%

Back in the Premier League the Dutch midfielder has quickly hit the ground running at his new club, recently making two assists in his last two matches played. When Fer was with QPR last season he was a legitimate option for always being on the lookout for a goal, and Swansea will need more of that if they are to secure their status in the league for one more year. Their opponents don’t come any easier as Aston Villa visit the Liberty Stadium. Fer is a game changer and can add plenty of FPL points to those brave enough for his selection. Given license to roam forward he should find himself around Brad Guzan’s goal for large portions of the weekend’s game. Owned by a mighty 0.0% the midfielder could turn more heads if Swansea further sink the Villains.

Last Three 28 – ARS (A) – 2pts

29 – NOR (H) – 4pts

30 – BOU (A) – 5pts

Next Three

31 – AVL (H) – 19th March, 17:30pm

32 – STK (A) – 2nd April, 15:00pm

33 – CHE (H) – 9th April, 15:00pm

PATRICK VAN AANHOLT, NEWCASTLE VS SUNDERLAND

Name: Patrick van Aanholt

Club: Sunderland

Position: Defender Price: £4.7mil Ownership: 2.6%

Curses in the Premier League are real, very real. One prime example is the humiliation Sunderland has caused Newcastle for the past five years. Since 2011 the Toon haven’t tasted victory in this fixture and most worryingly they have not conceded to Newcastle in four games. Confidence in Big Sam’s team will be high and they will look to continue their great record regardless of Rafa Benitez being appointed as their manager. One player who has an eye for goal and also keeping clean sheets is the Dutchman van Aanholt who was a big player in this very fixture last season. He has both qualities that make him the best option for this week and if the curse on the Toon holds up he and the rest of the Black Cats defence will be laughing all the way back to Wearside.

Last Three 28 – WHU (A) – 2pts

29 – CRY (H) – 1pt

30 – SOU (A) – 2pts

Next Three

31 – NEW (A) – 20th March, 13:30pm

32 – WBA (H) – 2nd April, 15:00pm

33 – LEI (H) – 10th April, 13:30pm

MAMADOU SAKHO, SOUTHAMPTON VS LIVERPOOL

Name: Mamadou Sakho

Club: Liverpool

Position: Defender Price: £4.7mil Ownership: 0.6%

Liverpool’s renaissance under the charismatic Jürgen Klopp looks like it is shifting gears as the Anfield club mount an attack on the teams around them in the table. One player who has been instrumental has been France’s number once centre-back Sakho who has been putting in some tremendous effort since the German has taken the reigns at Liverpool. Sakho currently walks into the Liverpool team and with him and Lovren striking up a decent spine and showing the promise they have been touted for there should be no rotation of key players. The Red’s opponents Southampton have been inconsistent in their form for the past five games and based on Liverpool’s recent record against them you would bank on the visitors causing the hosts plenty of problems and dictating the game. Key injuries to the Saints attackers means Klopp’s mean should be largely unchallenged, and if there is one thing about Sakho that makes him appealing is that when he plays well he nabs plenty of bonus points.

Dejan Lovren and Adam Lallana are also recommended shouts for this game, but so are the likes of Origi and Sturridge too who were not chosen because there is uncertainty on who will be starting the fixture.

Last Three 28 – AVL (A) – 6pts

29 – MCI (H) – 0pts

30 – CRY (A) – 2pts

Next Three

31 – SOU (A) – 20th March, 13:30pm

32 – TOT (H) – 2nd April, 17:30pm

33 – STK (H) – 10th April, 16:00pm

GAEL CLICHY, MANCHESTER CITY VS MANCHESTER UNITED

Name: Gael Clichy

Club: Manchester City

Position: Defender Price: £5.3mil Ownership: 0.8%

The Manchester ‘Derby’ is always a fixture of great debate, it actually means something even if it is a little because of the emphasis on securing fourth place in this year’s Premier League and qualification to the Champions League. The last time these two met was a goalless draw earlier in the season, and since then both attacks of the Manchester clubs have faltered. Another tough gritty performance could be on the cards as blue host red in another chapter of the City’s history. The best wildcard from the game is Gael Clichy at left-back for the sky blues, he has been playing every game since Kolarov was dropped to the bench and has been solid in providing goals and keeping clean sheets. Manchester United just doesn’t offer enough of a threat in attack or security in defence which is why none of their players were selected for this match. Even without Kompany it should finish with victory for the home team.

Last Three 28 – LIV (A) – 1pts

29 – AVL (H) – 7pts

30 – NOR (A) – 6pts

Next Three

31 – MUN (H) – 20th March, 16:00pm

32 – BOU (A) – 2nd April, 15:00pm

33 – WBA (H) – 9th April, 17:30pm

MAX GRADEL, SPURS VS BOURNEMOUTH

Name: Max Gradel

Club: AFC Bournemouth

Position: Midfielder Price: £5.7mil Ownership: 0.2%

Bournemouth has been unbeaten in the last four Premier League fixtures. Many people believe Spurs will once again prove too much for the coastal club when they visit White Hart Lane. On the contrary Bournemouth were in a bad way when they lost in GW10 thanks to a Harry Kane hatrick, they seem to be a better team now they have figured out how to compete in the Premier League. One influential player to their team is the Ivorian Max Gradel who has recently returned from injury to great effect. Not dropping points in his last three appearances was capped off with a goal and assist against Swansea in GW30. If there is any player to trouble the Spurs defence then surely it would be Gradel. Spurs aren’t invincible, and Bournemouth have plans of revenge on their minds.

Last Three 28 – SOU (H) – 3pts

29 – NEW (A) – 3pts

30 – SWA (H) – 11pts

Next Three

31 – TOT (A) – 20th March, 16:00pm

32 – MCI (H) – 2nd April, 15:00pm

33 – AVL (A) – 9th April, 15:00pm