WEEKLY WILDCARDS 2018/19: 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. 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.
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.
Weekly Differentials (GW6)
The first week of Champions League fixtures is done and dusted, and when the Europa League is through tormenting teams in the furthest reaches of the continent. We are sure rotation will follow, so here are ten players to consider the sixth outing of the season.
Goalkeepers (1/10):
Michel Vorm (TOT)
Michel Vorm (Brighton vs. Spurs)
As ever, there are few picks between teams facing Spurs, and the North London team themselves. Brighton are a team who have been patchy, competitive, but patchy. Nobody expects Spurs to do anything with their own dismal form, but it could be the perfect fixture that Mauricio Pochettino can restore his team back to winning ways. There will be few opportunities to pick Vorm this season, so we are taking a left-field pick for Spurs number two.
Defenders (2/10):
Patrick van Aanholt (CRY), Antonio Valencia (MUN)
Patrick van Aanholt (Crystal Palace vs. Newcastle)
Newcastle at home is dream fixture for Roy Hodgson, the Toon are on the down, the Eagles are on the up. Rafa Benitez has struggled getting his team firing on all cylinders and a player like Patrick van Aanholt can take advantage of both offensive and defensive returns this week.
Antonio Valencia (Man United vs. Wolves)
Wolves at home for Man United should be a comfortable fixture at Old Trafford. You can never count them out on home soil, and their captain is now a lock in their team and has potential on either end of the pitch.
Midfielders (4/10):
Andre Schurrle (FUL), Raheem Sterling (MCI), James Maddision (LEI), James Milner (LIV)
Andre Schurrle (Fulham vs. Watford)
The German forward had seventeen shots on goal against Brighton, he was everywhere around the box and made himself a useful outlet next to Aleksandar Mitrovic. His hunt for a goal was successful, and he has notched in two games so far this season. Watford’s confidence has been knocked with their first loss of the season to Man United, so their London rival could add salt to the wound.
Raheem Sterling (Cardiff vs. Man City)
The England winger should have done enough in his last two Premier League games to survive Pep Roulette. Scoring against both Fulham and Newcastle should ensure his place is safe, and with Cardiff up next it could be another promoted team that fouls victim to Man City’s money machine.
James Maddison (Leicester vs. Huddersfield)
The up-and-coming Leicester midfielder has made a splash into life in the Premier League. Utilised as the number ten behind the wingers and Vardy, Maddison is the man pulling the strings, and has three returns from five so far this season. The man from Norwich has made quite the impression and looks right at home in the Premier League. Huddersfield should represent a huge goal threat potential for the Foxes that Maddison could be a part of.
James Milner (Liverpool vs. Southampton)
Four returns from five games this season, and after his goal against PSG in the Champions League it could be another confidence boosting win against the feeder club for Milner and his teammates. Milner has arguably been Liverpool’s best player and there is no way that he’ll be dropped.
Forwards (3/10):
Joshua King (BOU), Olivier Giroud (CHE), Alexandre Lacazette (ARS)
Joshua King (Burnley vs. Bournemouth)
The Cherries forward showed his mettle after picking up eleven points versus Leicester last weekend. The Norwegian forward scored, assisted, and picked up two bonus points in the comprehensive victory against the Foxes. Burnley, who Bournemouth travel to, have not started the season well and look a shadow of the team they were last season. King and Wilson are in form against an out of form team, there could be even more goals for Howe’s forwards.
Olivier Giroud (West Ham vs. Chelsea)
Alvaro Morata has been exiled from the starting eleven to make way for France’s World Cup winning forward. Olivier Giroud’s slick interplay benefited Hazard, making two assists for the Belgians. Giroud has three assists in two games and it is clear he offers more than Morata in this moment of time. West Ham must be rueing their luck after just finally getting their first win, they now have to content with Sarri’s forward line which has scored the most goals in the Premier League so far.
Key Differential: Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal vs. Everton)
Arsenal have been winning games under the guidance of Unai Emery, and that is not surprisingly down to his hindsight of choosing to start Alexandre Lacazette. The Frenchman has been in fine form and already has more points his strike partner, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. One goal and three assists are the tally from just the last three games since the Frenchman has been starting games. Arsenal finally have a focal point, no it isn’t the Gabon striker, it is Lacazette.
Aubameyang has been better occupying the channels down the wings, leaving the central spot for their most lethal marksman. The Frenchman is cheaper, more of a threat, and playing in his correct position compared to Aubameyang, and yet is the lesser owned of the two which makes him a very valuable differential to have. Everton, the team making the trip to the Emirates, showcased their vulnerable defence against West Ham, so just imagine what better players are going to do to it.
Lacazette is a player who everyone will have on their minds but won’t have the courage to trust, but all we see is an in-form striker against a weak defence.
Other Considerations
Troy Deeney (WAT, FWD, £6.1mil, 6.2% ownership)
Andre Gray (WAT, FWD, £6.0mil, 0.8% ownership)
Luciano Vietto (FUL, FWD, £5.5mil, 0.7% ownership)
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All aboard.
