{"id":589220,"date":"2026-04-06T13:56:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T13:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/589220\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T13:56:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T13:56:13","slug":"3-of-the-best-drafts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/589220\/","title":{"rendered":"3 of the best drafts"},"content":{"rendered":"

The FA Cup quarter-finals are done. Double Gameweek 33 is sorted. The Blank Gameweek 34 line-up is confirmed.<\/p>\n

Now, attention turns to chip strategy \u2013 and a lot of it is being devoted to the Gameweek 32 Wildcard.<\/p>\n

Some Fantasy managers may still be on the fence about activating it, especially after Arsenal\u2019s FA Cup exit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While we\u2019ll follow this piece up with a Gameweek 32 v Gameweek 35 Wildcard comparison (and an article for those without a Wildcard), here we focus on some drafts for those intent on using the chip this week.<\/p>\n

GAMEWEEK 32 WILDCARD, GAMEWEEK 33 BENCH BOOST, GAMEWEEK 34 FREE HIT\"\"NOT GREAT ENTRY POINTS<\/p>\n

One of the \u2018cons\u2019 for playing a Gameweek 32 Wildcard is the fact that so many of the Gameweek 33 doublers have iffy entry points. Bournemouth and Leeds United are away at Arsenal and Manchester United, for instance. Then there\u2019s Manchester City and Chelsea, who play each other.<\/p>\n

You can see the stumbling blocks above. Five of the starting XI will be involved in Sunday\u2019s clash at Stamford Bridge, including two Chelsea attackers versus a City defender. Not ideal.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the compromise Wildcarders will have to accept if they\u2019re keen on lots of doublers from Bournemouth, Leeds, City and Chelsea: an iffy-looking XI this week, but lots of players with two fixtures in Gameweek 33.<\/p>\n

BRIGHTON TRIPLE-UP<\/p>\n

At least in-form Brighton and Hove Albion have an excellent Gameweek 32 fixture, away at Burnley. A defensive triple-up may seem like overkill but a) the Seagulls have conceded zero or one goals in 11 of their last 12 league fixtures and b) the defensive triple-up would likely only be used in Gameweek 32 (Burnley away), for a Double Gameweek 33 Bench Boost and in Gameweek 36 (Wolves at home).<\/p>\n

Danny Welbeck (\u00a36.2m) is, of course, an alternative to one of the defenders. He probably won\u2019t start both Gameweek 33 fixtures, but then 110-120 minutes against the two Premier League clubs on the longest clean sheet droughts may be sufficient. You can read Tom Freeman\u2019s views on Jack Hinshelwood (\u00a35.1m) as another attacking option here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As for the defensive trio we\u2019ve gone for, Bart Verbruggen (\u00a34.5m) is an ever-present starter, Jan Paul van Hecke (\u00a34.5m) has started every match he\u2019s been available for, and Ferdi Kadioglu (\u00a34.4m) is on a 27-match run in Fabian Hurzeler\u2019s XI. Van Hecke is the jewel in the crown: DefCon points in four of his last five, and with a bit of attacking threat. Kadioglu offers not much of either, but Lewis Dunk (\u00a34.5m) is a no-go due to a two-match suspension.<\/p>\n

LEEDS UNCERTAINTY<\/p>\n

The Leeds representatives could change here.<\/p>\n

Anton Stach (\u00a34.8m) was and is under serious consideration but an injury picked up on Sunday doesn\u2019t sound too good.<\/a> The budget-friendly midfielder has delivered 10 attacking returns and 20 DefCon points already this season, with his role on set plays another one of his major selling points. If he\u2019s fit, he may well claim the fifth midfield spot. If not, there\u2019s always the penalty-taking (and streaky) Dominic Calvert-Lewin (\u00a35.6m), who has tested the patience recently with just one goal in nine league games.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s uncertainty at the rear, too. Joe Rodon (\u00a33.9m) came off with an ankle issue against West Ham, while Gabriel Gudmundsson (\u00a33.8m) missed out as a precaution with a minor groin injury. Jaka Bijol (\u00a33.9m), who has a 50% DefCon success rate when starting, could come into the reckoning instead, then, but remember that this Wildcard is not just for Gameweek 33; it\u2019s also to last the rest of 2025\/26. You\u2019re never quite sure if he\u2019s going to start when everyone is fit.<\/p>\n

SINGLE GAMEWEEK REPRESENTATIVES<\/p>\n

Some FPL managers may want to go the full hog and recruit 15 players who double in Gameweek 33. We\u2019ve stopped at 13, with a red-hot Bruno Fernandes (\u00a310.3m) an obvious exception.<\/p>\n

The other is Ismaila Sarr (\u00a36.3m). This is partly to do with the Stach uncertainty, not to mention the shortage of appealing doubling alternatives. Moises Caicedo (\u00a35.7m) is on nine bookings, so is too risky. Enzo Fernandez (\u00a36.5m) may return for Gameweek 33, but it\u2019s still uncertain. Hinshelwood and Pascal Gross (\u00a35.5m) are unspectacular budget options.<\/p>\n

So, rather than just go for a \u2018doubler\u2019 for doubler\u2019s sake, someone like Sarr is an option. This is also with one eye on a likely Double Gameweek 36 for Crystal Palace. Bench Boosting a single Gameweek option isn\u2019t ideal but the Eagles do at least have West Ham at home.<\/p>\n

Alternative idea: This draft is lacking in one big area: Arsenal cover. Injuries may help make up our minds anyway <\/a>but the omission of Gabriel Magalhaes (\u00a37.2m) is obviously a big one. As Hibbopotamous points out<\/a>, it may actually only be Gameweek 32 where a lack of Arsenal hurts, but Gabriel could be included at the expense of a Brighton or Leeds defender, with someone like Stach or Gross taking the place of Sarr. GAMEWEEK 32 WILDCARD, GAMEWEEK 34 FREE HIT\"\"<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve not got the Bench Boost in hand but are Wildcarding in Gameweek 32, you needn\u2019t worry about 15 Gameweek 33 doublers.<\/p>\n

In fact, that helps accommodate Gabriel and an extra Palace player \u2013 Dean Henderson (\u00a35.0m) \u2013 for their future Double Gameweek.<\/p>\n

This squad would still have 11 doublers for Gameweek 33, with the Free Hit again in operation in Blank Gameweek 34.<\/p>\n

Otherwise, it\u2019s similar to the above.<\/p>\n

While this squad is designed for those without a Bench Boost, a Gameweek 36 Bench Boost would actually look half-decent with the above players (and maybe one or two new additions via free transfers).<\/p>\n

GAMEWEEK 32 WILDCARD, NO BENCH BOOST OR FREE HIT\"\"<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re Wildcarding this week but don\u2019t have any other chips left (ie a Free Hit to bail you out of Gameweek 34), a compromise may have to be struck between Gameweek 33 doublers and Gameweek 34 non-blankers.<\/p>\n

How much of a compromise will depend on your free transfer allowance.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve got 4-5 transfers already saved, you\u2019ll likely be able to go for broke with 9-10 Gameweek 33 doublers on this week\u2019s Wildcard. Those aforementioned free transfers can then be used to bring in players with a Gameweek 34 fixture.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve put together the above halfway house for those without a Free Hit. Eight doublers for Gameweek 33, seven starters for Gameweek 34. You\u2019ll then have two free transfers to get your Gameweek 34 side up to nine. You could follow that up with a points hit, or simply shrug your shoulders and say \u2018Nine\u2019s enough\u2019, given the paucity of good fixtures in Gameweek 34.<\/p>\n

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