Copenhagen Wednesday: Wildcard in Gameweek 8 – Reset, Refocus, Rebuild

Craig, better known in the FPL community as Copenhagen Wednesday, has activated his Wildcard ahead of Gameweek 8. With six Top 10k finishes, including a personal best of 80th overall, his record speaks for itself.

This season hasn’t started the way he hoped, but the Wildcard offers a chance to steady the ship. As Craig put it:

“The plan was always to Wildcard around Gameweek 8 — though not from quite this far down the rankings. A few fine margins have gone the wrong way, and a few personal calls haven’t landed. But with fixture swings approaching and a clearer picture of form emerging, now feels the right time to reset.”

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Differentials on his radar

When asked about players who could provide an edge, Craig revealed a few names that might surprise some FPL managers.

“Diouf, Paquetá, Bowen, and Xhaka.”

The inclusion of three West Ham players might raise some eyebrows, given the Hammers are second from bottom with just one win and the most goals conceded in the league (16).

But a quick look at the Fixture Planner shows Craig hasn’t lost it — West Ham rank top for attacking difficulty over the next four Gameweeks, with three home fixtures against Brentford, Newcastle and Burnley, plus a trip to Leeds.

At the back, no defender has more FPL assists than Diouf, and the hope is that Nuno Espírito Santo’s defensive style will bring improved solidity.

Bowen’s FPL pedigree needs little introduction. He was the fifth-highest scorer last season with 193 points (13 goals, 11 assists).

This campaign he looks to be running slightly hot, with 3 goals from just 0.98 xG as shown in the Custom Stats Builder.

His teammate Paquetá actually has a stronger xG (1.60) according to the Opta Heatmaps comparison, though Bowen has been more involved in key areas: shots (15 vs 10), shots on target (7 vs 5) and shots in the box (11 vs 7).

Paquetá also carries DEFCON upside, ranking 11th among midfielders with 65 defensive actions so far (9.29 per game). And speaking of DEFCON, Craig’s final differential is Xhaka — his 89 actions trail only Caicedo (96). Priced at £5.0m, the Sunderland midfielder has already delivered 32 FPL points with 3 assists.

These picks underline Craig’s willingness to look beyond the obvious, targeting players with favourable fixtures or the potential to emerge as key assets in the coming weeks.

Why Wildcard now?

Craig explained that fixture swings make this an ideal time to reshape his squad and tidy up risks.

“Several key teams are entering favourable runs. Arsenal, Chelsea, and a possibly resurgent West Ham all stand out, while some of the early-season surprises may start to regress. The Wildcard is also a chance to tidy up rotation risks and build towards a potential Bench Boost in the near future. That’s not pinned down yet, but it won’t be long. Lower-priced assets from Burnley, Sunderland, and Leeds could offer the depth needed when the time comes.”

FPL Players under consideration

Beyond the obvious premiums, Craig is prioritising role security and consistency.

“Beyond the obvious premiums, several players have moved into focus: Bowen – consistent, central, and with improving fixtures. Enzo Fernández – quietly reliable in a Chelsea side with upside. Timber (or Gabriel) – both viable depending on Arsenal’s defensive shape. Anthony Gordon and Woltemade – budget options likely to hold minutes. The emphasis is on stability and role security, not chasing short-lived form.”

As highlighted in our recent Stats That Could Transform Your Fantasy Premier League Season article, Enzo Fernández’s numbers stand out. The Argentine international ranks third for xG (3.42) among midfielders, yet only 12th for shots in the box (8). Interestingly, six of his eight attempts have been classified as ‘big chances’, including a penalty.

Meanwhile, Woltemade is making a strong case to be considered as a forward option, especially with the position underwhelming outside of Haaland. One note of caution, though — the 23-year-old did not join up with the German national team, having been ruled out “due to a flu-like infection.”

At the back, Arsenal’s defence is becoming impossible to ignore. The Gunners have conceded just three goals in seven matches — the fewest in the league. They’ve also kept four clean sheets, a total only Newcastle (five) can better. The Opta Stats Sandbox tool highlights further dominance: Arsenal have conceded the fewest shots (56), the fewest shots in the box (39), and boast the lowest expected goals conceded (4.9).

Team structure and trends

Craig is also adapting to how points have been spread so far this season.

“Early-season returns have leaned heavily toward defenders and midfielders. That may not be coincidence. Building strength in those areas feels a safer route than stretching budget across mid-priced forwards who deliver inconsistently. Data over the next week will clarify how sustainable the trend is, but the logic for a defence-and-midfield-heavy structure is strong.”

As shown in the Opta Stats Sandbox, Craig’s point is backed up by the numbers. Among the current top 10 FPL scorers (12 listed, with three players tied for 10th), there are six defenders, four midfielders, one forward and one goalkeeper.

Interestingly, another Elite XI manager, Corey Baker — with 5× Top 10k finishes — made a similar observation in his recent article on Wildcard strategy. Could this signal a shift towards more FPL managers adopting four or even five at the back as the season develops?

Liverpool: patience over panic

Liverpool’s ceiling remains high, but Craig is content to wait before investing.

“There’s debate around Liverpool’s fixtures through Gameweek 12, but their ceiling remains high. For now, though, they don’t look fully settled. That makes patience the better play — leaving flexibility to reintroduce a Liverpool attacker once one emerges as the standout closer to Gameweek 12.”

Chelsea’s opportunity

Chelsea’s fixtures look strong, but he’s only prepared to trust certain players for now.

“Chelsea’s run from here is excellent, but reliability remains thin. At present, Cucurella and Enzo are the only two who feel genuinely trustworthy. The others may tempt, but the Wildcard is about reducing risk, not adding more.”

Chip strategy going forward

Craig also set out a clear plan for his remaining chips.

“The short-term plan is simple: Wildcard now to stabilise. Bench Boost soon, once fixture depth allows. It’s less about chasing immediate gains and more about laying a solid platform for recovery and flexibility in the months ahead.”

FPL Gameweek 8 Team Reveal

Here’s Craig’s current draft in the Future Planner tool. You can follow his updates throughout the international break via push notifications on the Elite XI: Team Reveal page. Some of the players in his draft are unlikely to make the final cut, but with value tied up in them, Craig is waiting before making any transfers permanent.

Craig is keen to emphasise that this Wildcard is about control, not panic:

“This Wildcard isn’t about panic — it’s about perspective. The aim is to realign with the fixtures, remove the weak links, and build a structure that can evolve rather than constantly react.”

He isn’t the only Elite XI manager to activate the chip during the international break — Cory Baker has also shared his Wildcard plans. You can read his full Wildcard strategy article here.

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