The second Wildcard of 2024/25 Fantasy Premier League is available to play NOW after the Gameweek 19 deadline passed.
Typically, the second Wildcard is best kept for later in a season to take full advantage of Double Gameweeks.
However, if your squad needs major surgery ahead of the Gameweek 20 deadline at 11:00 GMT on Saturday 4 January, the Wildcard offers you the chance to start the New Year with a complete refresh.
Remember, if you are playing the Wildcard in Gameweek 20, you should activate it immediately to maximise your chances of profiting from any price rises.
Who are the must-haves?
Right now, Mohamed Salah (£13.6m), Cole Palmer (£11.4m) and Alexander Isak (£9.2m) are the must-have players for any squad.
You can then build your plans around that trio by assessing the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), which helps to identify the clubs with the most favourable upcoming schedules.
Crystal Palace have one of the very best runs of opponents, with three of their next four matches scoring just two in the FDR.
Daniel Munoz (£4.7m) and Ismaila Sarr (£5.9m) are the Eagles’ form players and both rank among the standout value picks in Fantasy for this spell.
Similarly, three of Fulham’s next four matches score just two in the FDR. Again, the leading options are a defender, Antonee Robinson (£4.9m), and a midfielder, Alex Iwobi (£5.9m).
Aston Villa’s schedule, meanwhile, also gives Morgan Rogers (£5.5m) the opportunity to continue thriving as a budget midfield pick. Four of Villa’s next six matches score just two in the FDR.
FDR score for next six matches
| Club | No. matches scoring 2 | FDR total |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal Palace | 4 | 15 |
| Aston Villa | 4 | 16 |
| Fulham | 3 | 16 |
| Southampton | 2 | 16 |
| Chelsea | 2 | 17 |
| Liverpool | 2 | 17 |
| Newcastle | 2 | 18 |
| Forest | 2 | 18 |
| Arsenal | 2 | 18 |
| Everton | 1 | 18 |
*1 = easiest possible fixture, 5 = hardest possible fixture
Other picks
Three clean sheets and 11 goals over the last three Gameweeks highlight the potential offered by Newcastle United at both ends of the pitch. Anthony Gordon (£7.3m) is a great mid-price midfield option to go alongside Isak as a double-up on the Magpies’ attack, while left-back Lewis Hall (£4.7m) has also supplied two assists during that run.
Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez (£5.1m) and Nicolas Jackson (£8.3m) are also worth considering alongside Palmer at this point.
In defence, meanwhile, a double-up on Arsenal duo Gabriel (£6.3m) and Jurrien Timber (£5.7m) can prove a profitable tactic, with the pair offering attacking and bonus-point potential to go along with their clean sheets.
Everton and Nottingham Forest can provide a solution in the budget bracket at the back, with Jordan Pickford (£5.0m), Ashley Young (£4.7m), Mats Sels (£4.8m) and Nikola Milenkovic (£4.7m) all under £5.0m.