With five games to go in the Premier League campaign, we finally have a clear view of the fixture schedule for the run-in, and gameweek 34 could be the best time for FPL managers to activate their wildcard with double-gameweeks coming up in 34, 36 and 37.
My wildcard has been activated ahead of the final five games of the FPL season, and here are the players and teams I will be targeting for the run-in.
GOALKEEPERS
In goal, Kasper Schmeichel (£4.9m) is averaging four saves a game for Leicester and is a rotation-free option who will double twice in gameweek 36 and 37. Accompanying him on the bench is Ben Foster (£4.1m), the cheapest starting goalkeeper in the game at the moment.
DEFENCE
I have opted to go heavy at the back by targeting premium options from Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea – the three best defences in the league. Liverpool full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold (£8.4m) and Andrew Robertson (£7.3m) have been in incredible form in 2022 – racking up 15 clean-sheets and ten assists between them since the turn of the year.
Joining them are the two Manchester City defenders Joao Cancelo (£7.1m) and Aymeric Laporte (£5.9m), as well as Reece James (£6.3m) – who has 11 goals and assists in 15 starts this season – and will be doubling in gameweek 34 and 36.
MIDFIELD
With Chelsea playing twice in gameweek 34 and 36, I have opted to go all-in on Blues assets and add Kai Havertz (£7.9m) and Mason Mount (£7.7m) to my wildcard squad. Havertz has been in excellent form of late – bagging five goals and one assist in his last five appearances – while Mount is the top-scoring Chelsea midfielder in FPL and has played more further forward for Tomas Tuchel’s side in recent weeks.
Mohamed Salah (£13.1m) is a no-brainer as the highest points-scorer in the game and alongside him in midfield are Bukayo Saka (£6.8m) and Anthony Gordon(£4.6m). At £4.6 million, Gordon offers incredible value for an Everton side fighting for their lives, while Bukayo Saka has been Arsenal’s talisman this season, scoring ten goals and bagging six assists in 21/22.
FORWARDS
There is a distinct lack of options in terms of forwards for those on a wildcard in gameweek 34, with very few strikers offering value. Timo Werner has shown some positive signs over the last few weeks, but at £8.6 million, the money is better spent elsewhere.
Eddie Nketiah bagged a brace for the Gunners against Chelsea in midweek and could be starting ahead of Alexandre Lacazette for the remainder of the season. Teemu Pukki (£6.0m) has scored four goals in his last six appearances and is one of the few appealing forwards who will double in gameweek 36, along with Ollie Watkins(£7.4m), who also has a double in gameweek 37.
Shivaan Shah