WEEKLY WILDCARDS 2017/18: FPL Gameweek 6
Ahead of each round of Premier League games The Hype Train analyses the best wildcard player options for your Fantasy Premier League teams. Historically, weekly FPL Dream Team’s comprise of mostly differential players whose selection falls with a low selection percentage 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 Premier League match in the upcoming Gameweek to decide who could be the differential that sets your team apart. All aboard.
WILDCARDS: WHAT IS A DIFFERENTIAL PLAYER?
The rules for the 2015/16 season were easy enough to follow. The only rule was that a player had be to selected by less than 5% of the FPL's populace. With 2016/17's price changes, and player selection trends, we were been forced to revise our rules on what constitutes a differential. Now in the 2017/18 season, after testing the waters with selection, there are just not enough differentials with the classification in each position from years past, so we have introduced position specific rules regarding what is and isn't a wildcard/differential player in the FPL that we believe is representative to the game this season.
Goalkeepers
- Any shot stopper outside of the top 8 selected. A differential Goalkeeper is now considered outside of the top bracket due to the overwhelming ownership selection % of the top 8 GK's for any one Gameweek.
- A GK's ownership must not exceed 10%
Defenders
- A Defender's ownership must fall below 8%, with the top 20 owned defenders all harbouring 8% ownership or more.
- The Outsider Rule: This new rule applies to defenders who are the last defensive option in a team who we provide an exception to as the 4th of 5th most owned defender from one team if they offer a different value. For Example, if Chelsea or Spurs have three defenders with 10% plus ownership, and their 4th defender choice has downwards of 10% ownership, we will include them as a differential, as they are outside of the common conversation when picking defenders, even from within their own squad. This rule will mostly be used when adding defenders from top half clubs, who lack proper differential status for their defensive options.
Midfielders
- Any Midfielder under 8% ownership is classified as a differential.
- Our percentage criteria of 8% is due to a greater wealth of premium midfielders. There is a monopoly of top midfielders for most Premier League clubs, leaving only a handful of Midfielders that provide differential options on a weekly basis.
Forwards
- The top 10 most owned Forwards in the FPL at any given time can not be touched as a differential.
- Any Forward outside of the 10% ownership range, who is not in the top 10 owned forwards.
DIFFERENTIALS: GAMEWEEK PERFORMANCE (GW5)
Our scoring procedure is exactly the same as the FPL's, and each week a good barometer of success is whether or not our weekly selections outscore the average points for a Gameweek. Each week the results vary due to rotation, and unpredictable scorelines, which applies more so to differential players. We have an invested interest each and every week at finding the different players to make a difference, especially since it is easy to say Aguero or Kane will get on the score sheet.
See below for how our wildcard selections got on this past Gameweek.
Gameweek 5 Average Points: 58 points Gameweek 5 Wildcard Points: 44 points
DIFFERENTIALS: 2017/18 SEASON PERFORMANCE
To help track our progress throughout the 2016/17 season, below you can check how our wildcard selections have done by week to week in the Fantasy Premier League
Best Wildcard Week: GW3 - 48pts, 5 player returns
Worst Wildcard Week: GW4 - 21pts, 1 player return
Average Points: 58 (1), 44 (2), 43 (3), 44 (4), 58 (5) = 247pts Wildcard Points: 36 (1), 40 (2), 48 (3), 21 (4), 44 (5) = 189pts
Best Gamweek Wildcard Player(s)
GW1: Steve Mounie (Crystal Palace vs. Huddersfield) - 12pts
GW2: Jack Butland (Stoke vs. Arsenal) - 11pts
GW3: Alvaro Morata (Chelsea vs. Everton) - 12pts
GW4: Stephen Ward (Burnley vs. Crystal Palace) - 8pts
GW5: Jamaal Lascelles (Newcastle vs. Stoke) - 8pts
FPL Wildcards 2017/18: Our Top Points Returns
1 - Steve Mounie (HUD): 12pts (GW1)
1 - Alvaro Morata (CHE): 12pts (GW3)
3 - Henrikh Mkhitaryan (MUN): 11pts (GW1)
3 - Jack Butland (STK): 11pts (GW2)
5 - Allan Nyom (WBA): 8pts (GW3)
5 - Stephen Ward (BUR): 8pts (GW4)
5 - Jamaal Lascelles (NEW): 8pts (GW5)
Gameweek Wildcard History
GW1: 36 points, 3 player returns
Holding (1), Alexander-Arnold (0), Mounie (12), Josh King (2), Sane (1), Klaassen (1), Yoshida (6), Batshuayi (1), Ritchie (1), Mkhitaryan (11)
GW2: 40 points, 4 player returns
Phil Jones (6), Josh King (2), Stephen Ward (2), Fuchs (6), Wijnaldum (3), Yoshida (5), Butland (11), Mounie (1), Ben Davies (2), Ederson (2)
GW3: 48 points, 5 returns
Danilo (5), Benteke (1), Lossl (6), Antonio (2), Richarlison (3), Blind (6), Morata (12), Nyom (8), Wijnaldum (3), Trippier (2)
GW4: 21 points, 1 return
Emre Can (1), Moses (2), Sigurdsson (2), Phil Jones (1), Alexis Sanchez (1), Yoshida (0), Knockaert (2), Stephen Ward (8), Abraham (2), Mounie (2)
GW5: 44 points, 6 returns
Gross (7), Forster (7), Mahrez (2), Emre Can (4), Lascelles (8), Mendy (6), Nyom (1), Trippier (6), Hazard (1), Rashford (2)
WILDCARDS: HALL OF FAME
To honour the exceptional diamonds in the rough, below is a a Hall of Fame highlighting the top performing differentials in our Weekly Wildcards series, now into its third season.
2015/16: Top 5 Wildcards 1 - Troy Deeney (WAT): 15 appearances, 77 points 2 - Christian Fuchs (LEI): 10 appearances, 48 points 3 - Gylfi Sigurdsson (SWA): 6 appearances, 43 points 4 - Nicolas Otamendi (MCI): 9 appearances, 39 points 5 - Daniel Sturridge (LIV): 5 appearances, 38 points
2016/17: Top 5 Wildcards 1 - Marcos Alonso (CHE): 9 appearances, 70 points 2 - Gylfi Sigurdsson (SWA): 8 appearances, 62 points 3 - Patrick van Aanholt (SUN & CRY): 6 appearances, 55 points 4 - Troy Deeney (WAT): 13 appearances, 47 points 5 - Gini Wijnaldum (LIV): 10 appearances, 45 points
FPL DREAM TEAM: 2017/18 ANALYSIS
Each week we assess the FPL's overall Dream Team, pinpointing who were classified as differentials or non-differentials, and which category of player is appearing more for each Gameweek.
2017/18 Gameweek Dream Team's
GW1: 131pts (8/11 differentials)
GW2: 136pts (7/11 differentials)
GW3: 121pts (8/11 differentials)
GW4: 146pts (7/11 differentials)
GW5: 133pts (6/11 differentials)
Gameweek 5: Dream Team
Wildcards: Fabianski, Valencia, Davis, Ritchie, Surman, Arfield
Non Wildcards: Otamendi, Walker, David Silva, Aguero, Lukaku
Points achieved by Wildcards: 68pts
Points achieved by Non-Wildcards: 65pts
GAMEWEEK WILDCARD DIFFERENTIALS
For each FPL Gameweek we select a wildcard player from each game.
We do not select a back-up player for the differentials we bank on – that’s the whole point, being a wildcard.
The selection percentage and player price is accurate with the posting of the article.
Our rundowns of player selections are representative of the Premier League’s TV fixture list.
Differentials: Gameweek Six
Closing in on another international break and games are coming thick and fast in the Premier League, and most teams will be likely to rotate with having just played in the League Cup, and preparing for European games. As every examine ten differentials that could make the difference to your teams this week. For Gameweek 6 we have a mix of all options to whet your appetite ahead of the weekend.
WHU/TOT: Davinson Sanchez (TOT, £6.0mil, 0.2% ownership)
BUR/HUD: Chris Wood (BUR, FOR, £6.5mil, 2.2% ownership)
EVE/BOU: Jermain Defoe (BOU, FOR, £7.8mil, 2.5% ownership)
MCI/CRY: Benjamin Mendy (MCI, DEF, £6.5mil, 1.7% ownership)
SOU/MUN: Phil Jones (MUN, DEF, £5.1mil, 7.7% ownership)
STK/CHE: Gary Cahill (CHE, DEF, £6.3mil, 4.1% ownership)
SWA/WAT: Lukasz Fabianski (SWA, £4.5mil, 5.8% ownership) LEI/LIV: Philippe Coutinho (LIV, MID, £8.8mil, 3.4% ownership)
BRI/NEW: Matt Ritchie (NEW, MID, £5.9mil, 4.3% ownership)
ARS/WBA: Aaron Ramsey (ARS, MID, £7.0mil, 3.3% ownership)
Goalkeepers (1/10):
Lukasz Fabianski (SWA)
Three clean sheets from five games is a promising sign for Swansea, they will need a stubborn defence if they are to cope without Sigurdsson and Llorente who both departed the club in the summer. Lukasz Fabianski is in the perfect position with the established pairing of Fernandez and Mawson in front of him, it is settled, balanced, and Paul Clement is doing an excellent job at finding a new way for Swansea since their star players of last season moved on. The Polish goalkeeper is a value pick at £4.5mil, and with a strong set of fixtures ahead of him he could be a long-term fixture in many teams. The Hornets and Swans held themselves to a goalless draw in this fixture last season, and after the mauling by Man City the Hornets confidence will be shaken which is perfect for the man in goal.
Defenders (4/10):
Gary Cahill (CHE), Benjamin Mendy (MCI), Davinson Sanchez (TOT), Phil Jones (MUN)
Options at the back are all the rage now, top six teams are consistently keeping clean sheets, it is a wonderful time to be alive. Man City, Spurs, Man United, and Chelsea all just recently kept a clean sheet in the last gameweek. You can trust defenders, and picking a defender from all four of these clubs would be a smart option if you were playing four defenders.
We've gone into a bit more detail about Man City's explosive wing-back Benjamin Mendy further down this article.
Midfielders (3/10):
Philippe Coutinho (LIV), Aaron Ramsey (ARS), Matt Ritchie (NEW)
Three midfielders are selected this week, and three smart picks. Matt Ritchie has four assists in three games which is unbelievable for a Newcastle player. The Scotsman is on all set pieces for the Toon, and with players like Clark and Lascelles on the end of his delivery it is a match made in fantasy heaven.
Next up is the returning Coutinho who is making amends after trying to force a move to Barcelona, but after an impressive first half against Leicester it could be a story of redemption for the Reds as they seek to put right their wrong from their League Cup disaster. Coutinho is primed for a starting eleven call-up after being managed in the cup game, and with doubts to Can's fitness it could be a first Premier League start. The Brazilian scored in the last league game against Leicester, so it wouldn't be surprising seeing his name on the score sheet again...he was Liverpool's best player in the cup game, and most likely will be again this weekend.
The last midfield pick is Aaron Ramsey, and for no other reason than trusting that he can do better in this fixture to put the ball in the net than his effort against Chelsea.
Forwards (2/10):
Chris Wood (BUR), Jermain Defoe (BOU)
Two strikers have been selected this week, and we pick the in-form Claret forward Chris Wood to make another significant impact on the FPL, but we are also excited to see Jermain Defoe find his feet at Bournemouth. During one of the many Coastline Clashes going to be played this season, Defoe showed exactly the quality he can bring to the Bournemouth team with his clever runs and pinpoint accurate shooting. Josh King also found the net in the League Cup, and with some wins under their belt the Cherries visit Everton who have been shipping goals out by the dozen. The last time Bournemouth visited Goodison Park it was a nine-goal thriller, it won't be the same affair this time, but there is potential for goals in this fixture.
We've gone into a bit more detail about Burnley's forward option Chris Wood further down this article.
Key Differential: Benjamin Mendy (MCI)
Picking a defender as our wildcard captain is bold move, but when you consider what makes a good fantasy captain if you are a midfielder or forward option is the certainty of a return (goal or assist). Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't come off. The same rule applies to defenders, but people are missing the trick by trusting certain clean sheets. Crystal Palace are not scoring goals, and Man City are keeping clean sheets. When you choose forwards, you have that feeling of 'It's going to happen, he is going to score'.
The same rule applies to defenders, and this fixture is one of them gut feelings. Benjamin Mendy is a great differential, mostly due to the high starting price, which means he will be overlooked most weeks. Moving into dangerous positions down the left channel his crossing is a striker’s dream, and he can also be on the end of an attacking return. Mendy is like Marcos Alonso, they play a similar game, and we think that the Frenchman is in for another convincing Gameweek.
Key Differential: Chris Wood (BUR)
The New Zealand international has started life at Burnley with a bang, of the three-league game he's featured in he has netted two goals against Crystal Palace and Spurs, and then a third in the League Cup against his old club Leeds. Huddersfield have faltered from their opening season form, especially the loss against West Ham which shook their confidence. Burnley know a thing or two about confidence (and knocking it out of their opposition), they seem ready to play anyone, and the Clarets incredible run of home form makes Turf Moor a ground that is to be feared. The scene is set for Wood to continue his good form, and he is a great value option for your fantasy team.
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The Hype Train is an entertainment website founded in 2015, specialising in the Fantasy Premier League (#FPL), providing beautiful graphics and weekly insight for hopeful players attempting to climb ranking tables. We are also occasional media reviewers, with a keen interest to review movies, live sport, and professional wrestling.
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All aboard.
