When to Play Fantasy Premier League Wildcard

As we approach Gameweek 5 of the Fantasy Premier League (FPL), managers are eyeing the perfect moment to deploy their first wildcard.

This powerful chip allows for a complete team overhaul, and Gameweek 6 presents a compelling case for its use. In this article, we'll explore the fixture swings from Gameweek 6 onwards, highlighting which teams' schedules improve and which worsen, providing you with the insights needed to make an informed decision.

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Should I Use My FPL Wildcard in Gameweek 6?

It's a common FPL cliché, but the strategy truly depends on your team. However, several of our Elite XI: Team Reveal managers believe that Gameweek 6 is the optimal time to use the chip.

"My tentative plan is still to wildcard in Gameweek 6..." James Cooper.

"...before preparing for a now inevitable wildcard in Gameweek 6." Matt Corbidge.

"I'm still planning on Wildcard in Gameweek 6: it still feels like the best week to manage the fixture changes, but it increasingly feels like the best time to shake my team up." Copenhagen Wednesday

FPL Gameweek 6 Fixture Swings

The image below from the Fixture Planner tool highlights the top five teams with the best fixtures from Gameweeks 6 to 9, ranked by attacking difficulty.

Brentford's Enticing Run

Brentford's fixture list from Gameweek 6 onwards presents an excellent opportunity for FPL managers using their Wildcard. They kick off with a home game against West Ham, followed by a home fixture against Wolves, and then an away match at Manchester United. While the United game might seem challenging, Brentford's subsequent fixtures against Ipswich (home) and Fulham (away) look particularly appealing.

Bryan Mbeumo is arguably Brentford's 'must-have' player. Averaging 6.5 FPL points per game, as shown in the Opta Player Heatmaps tool, he has scored a team-high three goals, made the most assist attempts (10), has the highest expected assists (1.59), and takes penalties.

Yoane Wissa would have been a popular Wildcard pick for managers, but unfortunately, he's sidelined with an injury until November. This could create an opportunity for midfielder Kevin Schade (£5.4m) to step into a more advanced role and see increased game time. It's worth monitoring in Gameweek 5 before using the Wildcard chip.

Arsenal's Attacking Potential

Arsenal's fixtures take a favourable turn from Gameweek 6. They face Leicester at home, followed by Southampton away and Bournemouth at home. This run of games against teams that have historically struggled defensively could be a goldmine for Arsenal's attacking assets.

Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, whose 2024/25 stats are compared in the Fix Comparison Matrix tool above, are likely to be popular offensive picks on Wildcard. However, with Arsenal conceding the joint fewest goals (1) and keeping the most clean sheets (3) this season, FPL managers might also consider a defensive double-up.

Manchester City's Goal-Fest Ahead

While Manchester City faces Newcastle away in Gameweek 6, their subsequent fixtures look extremely promising. With Fulham, Southampton, and Bournemouth in their next four games.

30.6% of FPL managers don’t own Erling Haaland, so using a Wildcard in Gameweek 6 could be a great opportunity to bring in the Norwegian striker.

After that, it may become tricky to choose other Man City players. As shown in the Opta Stats Sandbox, only Ederson and Manuel Akanji have played the full 360 minutes so far this season. Interestingly, Kevin De Bruyne has logged the fourth-most minutes with 357. However, with Phil Foden just returning from injury and the Champions League now underway, it's uncertain how secure the Belgian midfielder's minutes will be moving forward.

FPL Teams with Worsening Fixtures

The image below from the Fixture Planner tool highlights the bottom five teams with the worst fixtures from Gameweeks 6 to 9, ranked by attacking difficulty.

Tottenham's Tough Run

Spurs face a challenging stretch from Gameweek 6, with away matches against Manchester United, Brighton, and Crystal Palace. This tough run may lead FPL managers to reconsider their Tottenham assets.

Pedro Porro is the most-owned Spurs asset, with 41.1% of the top 1 million managers and 33.9% of all FPL managers owning him, as shown in the Insight Live tool above.

Newcastle's Uphill Battle

Newcastle's fixture list takes a turn for the worse from Gameweek 6. They face Manchester City at home, followed by tricky away games at Everton and Brighton. This could be the perfect time to offload Newcastle defenders and reassess the value of attacking options like Alexander Isak who is owned by 50% of managers.

Liverpool's Challenging Run

While Liverpool's attacking strength is undeniable, their fixture list from Gameweeks 6 to 9 poses a significant challenge, which FPL managers should take into account when using their Wildcard.

9.9% of the top 1,000 FPL managers own Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, while 2.9% of all FPL managers own all three. Additionally, 96.6% of managers own at least one, as shown in the FPL Statistics tool above.

Capitalising on FPL Fixture Swings

Gameweek 6 presents a golden opportunity to reshape your FPL team through the use of the wildcard. By capitalising on the fixture swings, particularly the improving schedules for teams like Arsenal and Manchester City, you can set yourself up for a strong run of points in the coming weeks.

Remember, successful FPL management is about anticipating these changes and acting decisively. So, if you've been waiting for the right moment to play your wildcard, Gameweek 6 could be your chance to gain a significant advantage over your rivals.

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