We’re approaching the tail end of the 2022/23 Premier League season but there are still plenty of FPL points up for grabs, especially with a huge double gameweek this coming week.
Due to the World Cup taking place in the middle of the season, there are twelve Premier League teams featuring twice this Gameweek, giving you the chance to pocket some big points.
The World Cup also handed players an extra wildcard this season and, if you’ve still got one in your back pocket, this could be the perfect time to use it.
With that in mind, we’ve assembled a 15-man squad (within a budget of 100M) you should be considering, taking into account value, points, performances and fixtures when using your wildcard.
Gameweek 29 Wildcard picks
Nick Pope (£5.4m)
FPL points so far: 111
Fixtures: Man United (H), West Ham (A)
Pope has been in great form for Newcastle this season and has been the fourth highest scoring goalkeeper in FPL this season, averaging 4.3 points per match. There’s a slight doubt over this fitness heading into this weekend but he’s likely to play and, if he is unable to start, we’ve got a great back up option in David Raya. Both keepers face Man United this gameweek but Pope has 12 clean sheets this season, compared to Raya’s nine and has the slightly more favourable fixture of West Ham, as opposed to Brighton. Both men are great options but, for this week at least, we’re favouring Pope.
Kieran Trippier (£6.1m)
FPL points so far: 154
Fixtures: Man United (H), West Ham (A)
It’s been a standout year for Trippier, with the right back scoring 154 points so far this season, 30 more than any other defender. Averaging 5.9 points per match, the highest average for a defender this season, it’s clear to see why we’ve included Trippier in this list. The bulk of Trippier’s most successful weeks have come when he’s provided an assist for a teammate but Newcastle have also had their fare share of clean sheets this season, allowing him to bolster his points in 14 of the 28 gameweeks so far.
Pervis Estupinan (£4.8m)
FPL points so far: 79
Fixtures: Brentford (H), Bournemouth (A)
The Brighton scouting machine picked another winner when Estupinan joined the club in the summer. It was a relatively slow start, at least in FPL terms, for the Ecuadoarian but he’s now scored at least six points in seven of the last eight gameweeks. With Brighton having two appealing games this week, it could be another bumper week for the Seagulls, and Estupinan in particular. He’s picked up points for a cleansheet in five of the last eight gameweeks too with the majority of his points coming from solid defensive performances, rather than excelling in the final third.
Luke Shaw (£5.2m)
FPL points so far: 94
Fixtures: Newcastle (A), Brentford (H)
Starting games is a big plus in FPL and Shaw has started for Man United in 21 gameweeks this season, including the last 19 in a row. An average of 4.3 points per game ranks him as the seventh highest scoring defender this season and he looks set to break the 100 point barrier this weekend. Man United have secured clean sheets in three of their last four games, giving Shaw a points boost along the way but he’s also been able to contribute going forward too with four assists this season, as well as finding the net once himself.
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Kaoru Mitoma (£5.5m)
FPL points so far: 96
Fixtures: Brentford (H), Bournemouth (A)
Yet another example of Brighton’s superb scouting, Mitoma cost just £2.5m last summer but has emerged as one of the leading attacking players in the league this season. He’s been the 14th highest scoring midfielder this season but has scored 81 of his 96 points in the last 13 games Brighton have played. With six goals and five assists in that period, Mitoma has become one the most valuable, low cost midfielders in the game. He’s scored for 10 or more points in four of the last six weeks and should be a shoe in for your squad this week.
James Maddison (£8.2m)
FPL points so far: 105
Fixtures: Crystal Palace (A), Aston Villa (H)
It’s been a disappointing season for Leicester so far but that hasn’t done much to effect Maddison’s FPL value, with the midfielder averaging 5.2 points per game, the eighth highest average of any midfielder. With two favourable games, and with The Foxes fighting for Premier League survival, it could be another bumper week for Maddison. A trip to Crystal Palace seems like the ideal fixture for Maddison to excel in and, with Aston Villa having nothing to play for, it could be a great match for Leicester, and Maddison, to pick up some much needed points.
Bruno Fernandes (9.6m)
FPL points so far: 119
GW29 fixtures: Newcastle (A), Brentford (H)
For the reasons spelt out above, it’s time to load up your fantasy team with Manchester United assets. Fernandes has 10 goals and 10 assists across all competitions this season and is also Erik ten Hag’s go-to man from the penalty spot. OK, it’s been a relatively quiet spell in terms of Premier League attacking returns by Fernandes’s high standards, but the Portuguese scored two in the FA Cup win over Fulham before the international break and also represents a decent creative option. Only Kevin De Bruyne has provided more big chances for team-mates in the top flight this term and Fernandes ranks third in the league for xA (expected assists).
Marcus Rashford (£7.3m)
FPL points so far: 156
Fixtures: Newcastle (H), Brentford (A)
Rashford is managing a slight injury, but he should be fit for this week’s double-header as domestic football returns. Despite his forward role, Rashford is considered a midfielder on FPL and thus banks five points every time he scores. Only Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have higher overall totals among midfielders on FPL this season. As Manchester United’s leading attacking threat with 27 goals and seven assists across all competitions this term, you’d be daft to leave him out of your fantasy team. After a tasty double gameweek 29, fixtures against struggling Everton and Nottingham Forest present Rashford with the perfect opportunity to rack up the attacking returns in the coming weeks.
Ollie Watkins (£7.5m)
FPL points so far: 115
Fixtures: Chelsea (A), Leicester (A)
Arguably the form player in the Premier League, Watkins has provided attacking returns in seven of his last eight matches (six goals, two assists). Aston Villa head into twin away games in gameweek 29, but that shouldn’t bother Watkins. The England international is on something of a hot streak on the road, with goals in four successive Premier League away games. Watkins represents a decent option for the long-term, too, with a number of favourable fixtures on the horizon.
Ivan Toney (£7.9m)
FPL points so far: 145
Fixtures: Brighton (A), Man United (A)
Fresh from his England debut and averaging eight points across each of the last three FPL gameweeks, Ivan Toney has every reason to have a spring in his step heading into double gameweek 29. Only Haaland and Harry Kane have more points among strikers in FPL this season and Toney has a great opportunity to add to that tally with fixtures against Brighton and Manchester United in the coming days. The 27-year-old is also on penalty duties for the Bees and no player in the league has scored more than his five from the spot this season.
Erling Haaland (£12.0m)
FPL points so far: 203
Fixture: Liverpool (H)
Double gameweek or not, you simply can’t ignore this man, even with a slight knock. The Norwegian has 42 goals across all competitions for Manchester City this season (28 in the Premier League) and remains on course to smash various records. He is averaging an astonishing 1.2 goals per 90 in the top flight this term and looks well positioned to eclipse the record goal tally by a single player in one campaign (34). Manchester City may only have one match against a difficult opponent this weekend, but Haaland’s name is the first on every FPL teamsheet this season and overlooking him sets you up to fail.
David Raya (£4.9m)
FPL points so far: 120
Fixtures: Brighton (A), Man United (A)
Solly March (£5.1m)
FPL points so far: 119
Fixtures: Brentford (H), Bournemouth (A)
Ben Chilwell (£6.0m)
FPL points so far: 56
Fixtures: Aston Villa (H), Liverpool (H)
Vladimir Coufal (£4.0m)
FPL points so far: 35
Fixtures: Southampton (H), Newcastle (H)