FPL Wildcard: Philman’s Updated Fantasy Premier League Wildcard Draft

Last week, nine-time top 10k finisher Philman activated his Wildcard ahead of Gameweek 4. In our previous article he revealed his initial best Wildcard team and chip strategy.

But with more information, press conferences looming, and a few players forcing their way into contention, Philman has reshaped his draft.

Here’s the latest version of his Fantasy Premier League Wildcard team.

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Wildcard Goalkeeper: Raya over Sanchez to secure Arsenal defence

You said last week you were happy with your back five. Has anything changed defensively?

“From a defensive side, I am happy with the back five chosen last week, and none of them are likely to change by the deadline. However, I would really like to invest in the Arsenal defence.”

So who comes in, and why?

“Despite the great start made by Calafiori and Timber, you feel there could be plenty of rotation in the full-back positions, and possibly a bit more rotation than last season in the centre-backs. As Raya is nailed, I will be bringing him in, in place of Sanchez. This has the additional effect of freeing up a Chelsea spot in my team.”

This could be a shrewd move by Philman — the Predicted Points & Stats tool projects Arsenal to keep the most clean sheets over the next six Gameweeks.

Home fixtures against Forest (GW4), West Ham (GW7), and Palace (GW9) are all very appealing opportunities for Raya to keep clean sheets.

Wildcard Forwards: Haaland and Pedro locked, Isak the target

Let’s talk about your attack. Who’s locked in?

“Up front I am still a little undecided. Haaland and Joao Pedro are set in my team.”

The Opta Heatmaps comparison makes it clear why these two forwards are locked in for Philman.

Haaland is the league’s current top scorer with 3 goals, while Joao Pedro sits just behind on 2. The Man City striker also leads the league for shots (14), shots in the box (13), and big chances (6) — a staggering four more than any other player.

Meanwhile, Pedro looks secure for minutes at just £7.7m, with Chelsea’s new signing Liam Delap sidelined through injury.

And what about the third striker slot?

“Ideally, I want to have the third spot occupied by Isak. So my plan now is either to pick him straight away, or leave funds to upgrade a short-term punt to Isak once he becomes a regular starter. Will a player I pick instead outscore Isak and 4 points saved by not making the transfer? This decision will be based on the press conference from Liverpool.”

Who are the alternatives if not Isak?

“The alternatives to Isak in the short term will be Gyökeres, Ekitike, or Mateta.”

Looking at Philman’s shortlist for the third forward slot, Ekitike has made the strongest start with 22 FPL points, according to the Fix Comparison Matrix.

He’s also the only one of the three to provide an assist. Both Gyökeres and Ekitike have scored twice, while Mateta trails slightly with a single goal.

All three have attractive Gameweek 4 fixtures: Arsenal face Forest at home under new manager Ange Postecoglou, whose sides are not known for defensive security; Liverpool travel to newly promoted Burnley; and Palace host Sunderland, also fresh from promotion.

Picking the right option could prove crucial, as each has real haul potential.

Wildcard Midfield: Fernandes downgraded, Simons the gamble

Midfield has been the toughest area for many managers. What’s your thinking?

“To generate the funds to afford Isak up front, and the extra £0.5m for Raya over Sanchez, I will be downgrading Bruno Fernandes to Xavi Simons.”

That feels like a gamble. Why Simons?

“At only £7.0m, and with great fixtures, possibly a slight gamble on the unknown, but I feel he could quickly become Spurs’ talisman and worth the gamble.”

If there was ever a time to gamble on a Spurs player, now looks ideal.

The Fixture Planner ranks them top for attacking potential over the next five Gameweeks. They face West Ham away next, followed by Wolves at home in Gameweek 6 and Leeds away in Gameweek 7 — all great opportunities for Simons to deliver attacking returns for his new club.

Wildcard Midfield Dilemmas: Covering for Sarr and the bench slot

Last week you were keen on Sarr. What’s the situation now?

“I really like Sarr, but he looks to be sidelined for a few weeks. So the plan is to put in a placeholder for him. At the moment this is a choice between Enzo, Rice or maybe even Ouattara. Enzo possibly has the edge on fixtures. The swap of Sanchez to Raya makes this option possible, as well as a potential future move to Palmer.”

Sarr’s injury has created a real dilemma for many FPL managers. In a recent article, we compared three possible replacements across different price points to suit a range of strategies.

And what about your bench options?

“The other choice is whether to keep Dewsbury-Hall or downgrade him to Josh King. I’m not sure a double Everton midfield is ideal, and King gives me £0.5m to play with, especially given this player is likely to spend most time on the bench. This will also bring in the likes of Madueke as an alternative to Rice/Enzo as a placeholder for Sarr. News on Saka’s availability will have an influence on this choice.”

Final FPL Gameweek 4 Wildcard Thoughts

Philman’s FPL Wildcard draft is still evolving as more news comes in, with Arsenal’s defence, Isak’s availability, and Sarr’s injury status key factors.

As he puts it, this team is far from locked in — and readers can get instant alerts when Philman confirms his final Wildcard squad by signing up for notifications on the Elite XI: Team Reveal tool.

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