Weekly Wildcards: Gameweek Thirty-Eight
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 37)
Extreme highs and abyss lows in this week’s wildcards, with great risk comes great reward and whilst we earmarked van Aanholt, Stewart, Valencia, and Naismith to do well the universe returned John Terry and Craig Cathcart with negative points. This is the first time we have received two negative numbers in our wildcards, even more coincidental is that they both play the same position.
We are not including Aaron Lennon as a success as he didn't get four points...two games in a week should warrant four, the only way to register success is to have achieved something in a gameweek.
Aaron Lennon: 3pts
John Terry: -2
Craig Cathcart: -1
Darren Randolph: 1pt
Steven Naismith: 5pts
Kevin Stewart: 9pts
Antonio Valencia: 8pts
Patrick van Aanholt: 17pts
Kelechi Iheanacho: 2pts
Connor Wickham: 2pts
Gameweek 37 Average Points: 55pts
Gameweek 37 Wildcard Points: 44pts
TEAM OF THE WEEK WILDCARDS
How fitting that we draw so close to the end of the season with a dream team nearly composed of wildcard players. Sunderland have the entire defence covered from goalkeeper to defenders, they totally deserved their stay in the Premier League after crushing Everton and Kone has proven to be a huge signing for them. Andy King stole the show in a fitting and emotional encounter as Leicester also beat Everton comfortably, the Welsh midfielder scored a goal and made the assist for Vardy’s goal, it was amazing to see a player who has been with Leicester for such a long time get his reward.
It is worth noting that Everton witnessed both crowning of the Premier League champions, and also witnessing the end of the relegation race with Sunderland’s survival. The Toffee’s who sit in mid table were caught in the middle as innocent bystanders, with little to no wildcard coverage from their own teams with the exception of Kevin Mirallas who scored to deflate FPL managers everywhere.
The two shock midfielders were probably Ayew and Davis from the week, both away from home, both scoring goals against London clubs. Southampton and Swansea could kick on into next season; they are two teams to watch for next year if Ronald Koeman starts getting the best out of his Saint’s, and the same with Francesco Guidolin and his Swan’s.
Wildcards: Mannone, Kone, van Aanholt, Yedlin, Redmond, Davis, King, Mbokani, Gayle (9)
Non-Wildcards: Mata, Ayew (2)
Points achieved by wildcards: 131pts
Points achieved by non-wildcards: 29pts
THIS WEEKS WILDCARDS
For the final gameweek we are once again selecting ten wildcards, apt because lots of teams will be rotating. Same rules apply: the players we choose must not be selected by more than five percent of the games players. With a full fixture list we choose ten players that could provide the difference for your team this week. Good luck to everyone in their final week.
The wildcard options selection percentage is accurate as of 14/05/2016.
Arsenal: Jack Wilshere, £5.7mil, 0.2% ownership.
Leicester: Daniel Drinkwater, £4.6mil, 2.7% ownership.
Everton: Leighton Baines, £6.0mil, 3.2% ownership.
Man United: Antonio Valencia, £5.1mil, 2.9% ownership.
Spurs: Heung-Min Son, £7.5mil, 0.2% ownership.
Southampton: Shane Long, £5.7mil, 2.7% ownership.
West Ham: Diafra Sakho, £6.2mil, 1.5% ownership.
Man City: Nicolas Otamendi, £6.5mil, 1.4% ownership.
Sunderland: Vito Mannone, £4.3mil, 1.3% ownership.
Liverpool: Sheyi Ojo, £5.0mil, 0.1% ownership.
GW38 Wildcard Notes
A little bit about the final selections, as it is the last week we have to comment on the power of the wildcard throughout the season. The best players are never wildcards for consistency, but FPL managers have earned big by plucking out a gem from the oblivion that is rarely selected players. Christian Fuchs and ‘wildcard king’ Troy Deeney are examples though of real value in this theory, both have ended up in the top ten of their positions, with Fuchs commanding a place in the dream team despite only playing thirty games.
What about this week? Jack Wilshere has been selected as he is yet to score goal of the season, so it is an obvious pick against the bottom placed Aston Villa, lots of points in this game so even if it isn’t goal of the season Mr Wilshere should be in and around the points. We also expect Everton to bounce back since Roberto Martinez was fired which the Toffee supporters expect, so expect a penalty to finally fall onto the left foot of Leighton Baines. Man Utd will retain Valencia who has been a fantastic shout for a wildcard defender in recent weeks, and with them chasing top four we don’t expect the Red Devil’s to loosen up in the final gameweek. Sheyi Ojo is our extreme pick, but one made of complete rational decision making. The English winger who was recalled from his loan spell with Wolves earlier in the season has been in great form since Jürgen Klopp has rotated his team with four assists from seven appearances.
As for everyone else we didn’t have to think too hard on their inclusion, Shane Long’s good form keeps him in the wildcards, meanwhile we hand Nicolas Otamendi his final appearance in this seasons wildcards. The argentine hasn’t fallen in price and still retains the reputation of being un-affordable to most FPL players, but with the final gameweek and some spare capital why not just for the last week?
The Hype Train will have a full season review of the wildcards once the season has drawn to a close, as well as an update for the progress made in this gameweek. Until then, believe in the power of the wildcard.
For all GW 38 build up, check out the Weekly Hype page now.
All aboard.
