FPL wildcard tips: Gameweek 22 Premier League fantasy football picks

All 20 Premier League clubs will be back in action during FPL Gameweek 22, which arrives hot on the heels of a full weekend schedule.

It’s another exciting week at the bottom with Sheffield United hosting West Brom in the opening match of round 22, while Tottenham welcome Chelsea to conclude the midweek action.

Kevin De Bruyne, Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane are all sidelined, so it could be a big week for differentials. Whether you’re weighing up using your Wildcard, Free Hit, or simply want to take the odd nugget from our tips, we’ve pulled together a full 15-man squad of players you should be considering this week.

Opta’s stats power the FPL game and help steer the Sky Bet market so what better way to figure out how to build your squad this week? Be warned, Tuesday’s deadline is at 16:30 ahead of West Brom’s trip to Sheffield United (18:00 kick-off).

Ederson: Pep Guardiola’s habit of rotating his defence means Ederson is probably your best bet for City clean sheet points. He has the most shutouts (12) of any goalkeeper this season and has conceded the fewest (12) of any shot-stopper to have played more than nine matches. Man City to keep a clean sheet 4/5.

Sam Johnstone: A cheap back-up option ahead of West Brom’s trip to basement club Sheffield United. Johnstone has made more saves (85) than any goalkeeper in the league and while you won’t get many clean sheet points, he’s bound to clock up extras with an average of 4.25 stops per game.

James Justin: Leicester head into a favourable run of fixtures and Justin looks a steal at 5.0. He has played every minute of their campaign, providing four key passes and scoring once from defence. He has 23 more points than the next-best Leicester defender on FPL this season. Leicester to beat Fulham to nil 5/2.

Ruben Dias: The only Manchester City defender who appears immune to Guardiola’s rotational approach. Dias has played in 18 consecutive matches since returning from injury in October and has the most clean sheets of any Premier League defender this term (11). He’s also had 10 shots from defence and it is surely only a matter of time before he delivers attacking returns with one of the highest xG stats for a defender in the entire Premier League (1.6).

Matt Targett: Aston Villa have got one of the kinder schedules across the next six matches and Targett is in fine form. He averages more than seven FPL points per gameweek since the start of the 2021, with two assists and three clean sheets in that time.

Aaron Cresswell: This one needs little explanation. Cresswell is the highest-scoring defender on FPL this season (96 points) with seven assists, seven clean sheets, and 11 bonus points to boot. The Hammers face Aston Villa, Sheffield United and Fulham in their next three so it’s fair anticipate some decent hauls in the coming weeks. West Ham to win to nil at Villa is 11/2. 

Nathaniel Clyne: Perhaps a slight gamble with Clyne and Joel Ward battling for the right-back position at Palace. However, the more attacking Clyne can expect a run of games with Palace facing middling opposition in their next five. Roy Hodgson’s men have kept three clean sheets in five since the turn of the year and look a good bet for defensive returns in the coming weeks.

Ilkay Gundogan: Gundogan is great value and has benefitted from a run of nine starts, scoring seven in that time. He has a higher xG than Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden and Ferran Torres, plus more goals than Sterling, who will cost you 5.9 more on FPL. Gundogan also assumed penalty duties against Aston Villa after Sterling’s miss against Brighton earlier this month. City to win to nil against Burnley is 10/11. 

Harvey Barnes: Leicester face Fulham, Wolves, Sheffield United and Brighton in four of their next seven and will be leaning on midfielders to chip in going forward with Vardy sidelined. Barnes is their top-scoring midfielder on FPL this season with four goals and two assists in his last seven. The Foxes have also been awarded a league-high 10 penalties. Leicester to take a penalty 3/1.

Bruno Fernandes: Manchester United’s title push has suffered something of a wobble in recent days but it’s still so difficult to look past Fernandes. United have the second-most penalties this season (6) and now have successive home games – against Southampton then Everton – before facing West Brom and Newcastle. Fernandes has picked up 35 FPL points across his last four home games. Fernandes to score first against Saints 3/1. 

Mohamed Salah: Manchester City and Leicester aside, Liverpool’s next seven games look appetising. Salah has more goals (15), more shots on target (31), and creates more big chances (7) than any of Liverpool’s forwards. He looked back to his best with a brace in the victory over West Ham on Sunday.

Wilfried Zaha: Palace have got a decent run of games and Zaha remains their chief attacking outlet. He has a club-high nine goals this term, scoring against West Ham in Gameweek 20 and hitting the bar against Wolves in Gameweek 21. He has had the most shots of anyone in the Palace side (44) and is also one of the most creative in Roy Hodgson’s side.

Callum Wilson: A reliable striker who Newcastle can trust to bury key opportunities. Ranks among the best for output in the league despite few chances. Indeed, he has 10 goals from just 15 shots on target this term, while also creating the most big chances (3) of anyone in Steve Bruce’s squad. Newcastle appeared to turn a corner in Saturday’s win at Everton and successive home games against Palace then Southampton could help them kick on. Wilson to score first against Palace is 3/1. 

Ollie Watkins: We’ve covered Aston Villa’s favourable fixture list and it coincides with Watkins’ return to form – he was unlucky not to score in a third straight game at Southampton. Villa now have successive home games, and Watkins has had a total of seven goal contributions in 677 minutes played at Villa park (0.93 goal contributions per 90) compared to just three goal contributions in 1069 minutes played away from home (0.25 per 90).

Michail Antonio: The West Ham man is back and firing. He has scored two and assisted another in the last three Gameweeks, and could’ve had a hatful against Palace. He has more shots on target per 90 (1.48) than any of his West Ham team-mates and the average league position of  their next three opponents is 15th.

Odds correct at the time of writing. 18+ Only. UK only. Terms and Conditions Apply. GambleAware.