The Scout shows how you can use your Wildcard chip to maximise Double Gameweek 36 (DGW36) and the remainder of the run-in in Fantasy Premier League.

Triple-up on Man City and Palace

Manchester City’s home match against Crystal Palace, which was postponed due to the EFL Cup final versus Arsenal taking place on the same weekend as the original date, has been rescheduled for Wednesday 13 May, handing both clubs a Double Gameweek 36 (DGW36).

A triple-up on Man City looks essential as they battle Arsenal for the title and there’s no doubt that Erling Haaland (£14.5m) will be a great Triple Captain option should Man City get a Double Gameweek. 

Nico O’Reilly (£5.1m) and Rayan Cherki (£6.4m), meanwhile, provide very strong, low-owned alternatives to Marc Guehi (£5.1m) and Antoine Semenyo (£8.2m) in defence and midfield respectively.

Listed as a defender in Fantasy, O’Reilly – who is selected by 15 per cent – has amassed 65 points over his last seven matches, boosted by playing in midfield on multiple occasions.

Guehi can be found in 32 per cent of squads – more than twice that of O’Reilly – and has produced 41 points in his eight appearances in that same period. Notably, the centre-back’s potential for defensive contribution (DC) points has tailed off markedly since joining Man City, earning two extra points for his actions in only two of his 11 matches.

O’Reilly v Guehi, GW26-34

 
O’Reilly
Guehi

Points
65
41

G+A
5
1

Clean sheets
4
4

DC/Bonus pts*
8
5

Pts per start
9.3
5.1

Ownership
15.1%
32.8%

*DC = Defensive contribution points

Cherki, meanwhile, is owned by just 11 per cent and has produced 28 points across his last four starts, scoring once and supplying three assists.

 

By contrast, Semenyo – the most-popular midfielder in Fantasy, with an ownership of 51 per cent – has blanked in each of his last four starts and totalled only nine points.

In the case of Crystal Palace, their ongoing involvement in the UEFA Conference League has resulted in rotation in attack recently.

Doubling up at the back looks the safest tactic here, with goalkeeper Dean Henderson (£5.1m), wing-back Daniel Munoz (£5.8m) and centre-back Maxence Lacroix (£5.1m) the standout picks above £5.0m.

Meanwhile, Jaydee Canvot (£4.5m) has emerged as a strong alternative to Chris Richards (£4.4m) in the budget bracket. Indeed, Canvot is Palace’s top-scoring player since Guehi’s move to Man City allowed him to secure a starting role in Gameweek 27, producing 38 points to the 30 of Richards.

If you’re willing to take a risk on Oliver Glasner’s rotation in attack, Ismaila Sarr (£6.3m) is the form pick. The Senegalese star has been benched in two of the last three Gameweeks but has, nonetheless, scored twice and supplied an assist over his last three appearances across all competitions.

Back Arsenal at both ends of the pitch

Arsenal’s title battle with Man City could be decided by goals scored.

Centre-back Gabriel (£7.2m) is a must-have due to his impact in both defence and attack, with the Brazilian establishing a 27-point lead at the top of the defender standings on 185 points.

As evidenced by his weekend winner against Newcastle United, Eberechi Eze (£7.2m) could prove a great mine-league differential, with an ownership of just eight per cent. The midfielder is expected to recover from the knock that forced him off early against the Magpies. 

Watkins and Bowen up front

Ollie Watkins (£8.8m) and Jarrod Bowen (£7.8m) have the form to merit places in your forward line.

Despite his blank at Fulham last weekend, Aston Villa’s Watkins has six goals and an assist over his last six matches in all competitions.

Villa now face two of the bottom three – Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley – in Gameweeks 35-36. Watkins also looks a great option on a Bench Boost or Free Hit chip in DGW36, when Villa face Burnley. 

Bowen, meanwhile, is proving a huge influence on West Ham United’s bid to stay up, with just two blanks across his last nine matches. 

He has assisted NINE of the Hammers’ 11 goals over Gameweeks 26-34, with two assists and 10 points against Everton last weekend taking Bowen into joint-second place in the forward standings.

Look to fixtures to find good value picks

Leeds United goalkeeper Karl Darlow and defender James Justin (both £3.9m) have the schedule to offer outstanding value over the run-in.

According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), all of Leeds’ final four matches score no more than three. 

Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (£5.1m) has two goals and an assist across his last three appearances, collecting 23 points. Each of his opponents in his final three matches, from Gameweeks 36-38, currently rank among the bottom nine clubs in the Premier League.