Wildcard Gems: Top FPL Picks Under 10% Ownership

In the competitive world of Fantasy Premier League, finding the right differential picks can be the key to climbing the ranks, especially when deploying your Wildcard. Players with low ownership can provide unique advantages, setting your team apart from the masses. This week, we delve into three such players, each owned by less than 10% of FPL managers: Diogo Dalot, Brennan Johnson, and Nicolas Jackson. Each offers a potential edge for those looking to make a strategic climb in their league standings.

Eight Elite Managers have played their Wildcard chips, boasting a collective total of 48 top 10k finishes in Fantasy Premier League. Find out who's in their Wildcard drafts by clicking here!

Diogo Dalot (Defender)

FPL Cost: £5.2m

Overall Ownership: 6.8%

Top 100k Ownership: 4.9%

Predicted Points (Next 4 GWs): 15.7

Next Fixture: Burnley (Home)

Diogo Dalot has been a consistent presence on the pitch for Manchester United, clocking 2,723 minutes this season. With 91 FPL points to his name, including 7 clean sheets from 32 appearances, Dalot stands out in a defense that has shown highs and lows against various opponents. However, the Red Devil's upcoming fixture is against Burnley, who have struggled offensively with just 1.14 expected goals (xG) per game this season. This promises a high probability of a clean sheet, with a 40% chance, as projected in the Predicted Points & Stats tool. Dalot's recent form, characterised by ventures forward, makes him a compelling pick for managers seeking defensive potential for points with a touch of attacking potential.

The above image from the Player Heatmaps tool shows the more advanced and frequent touches Dalot was afforded against Sheffield United compared to his teammate Wan-Bissaka.

One of our Elite XI: Team Reveal managers, Daniel Boije - with five top 10k finishes - has currently got Dalot in his Wildcard draft.

Brennan Johnson (Midfielder)

FPL Cost: £5.8m

Overall Ownership: 1.1%

Top 100k Ownership: 0.4%

Predicted Points (Next 4 GWs): 18.8

Next Fixture: Arsenal (Home) & Chelsea (A)

Brennan Johnson, the dynamic Spurs midfielder, has participated in 29 games (1,833 minutes) this season, amassing 110 FPL points. His tally of 5 goals and 9 assists, alongside creating 8 big chances, shows a player who is not only involved in creating opportunities but also finishing them. Johnson, interestingly, has underperformed his expected goals (xG) of 8.36, indicating he could have had more FPL returns. His recent performances have been notable for energetic displays and crucial contributions in tight matches. Over the last six games, he has logged 481 minutes on the pitch, second only to Son (503) among midfielders and forwards for Tottenham. This indicates he is likely to play a significant role in the remaining matches of the season. However, it's worth noting that Richarlison will soon return from injury, which could affect Johnson's playing time.

Over the last six games, Johnson ranks second only to Son for FPL points, achieving more expected FPL points (37.26) than the South Korean (32.44) among all Spurs players, as shown in the Opta Stats Sandbox tool.

Nicolas Jackson (Forward)

FPL Cost: £6.8m

Overall Ownership: 5.9%

Top 100k Ownership: 0.4%

Predicted Points (Next 4 GWs): 23.8

Next Fixture: Aston Villa (Away) & Tottenham (H)

Chelsea's forward Nicolas Jackson has been a frustration in FPL this season, with 29 games (2,266 minutes) of play yielding 109 FPL points. Scoring 10 goals against an xG of 14.37 suggests that there's room for improvement, and even more potential for him to score. Additionally, his 5 assists surpass his expected assists (xA) of 4.57, highlighting his dual threat as both a scorer and a provider. Jackson has shown a knack for being in the right place at the right time, but not always delivering on his potential. He has only managed to score 10 goals from 26 'big chances' (the 7th most in the Premier League). However, the Elite XI: Team Reveal managers appear to have faith in the Senegal international turning the corner and delivering on his underlying statistics. He currently appears in all of their Wildcard drafts.

His upcoming fixtures present opportunities against mixed defenses, making him an attractive option for those in need of a forward who can exploit weaknesses in the opposition's backline.

Chelsea are top for attacking fixture for the reamiander of the season as per the Fixture Planner tool.

Each of these players offers something unique to FPL managers: Dalot with his defensive and attacking potential, Johnson with his midfield creativity, and Jackson with his attacking fixtures. Opting for such differential players could be the strategic pivot needed to gain an edge in your FPL league.