Our of our Fantasy Premier League experts, Az Phillips, is using his Wildcard chip in Gameweek 30. Here, he explains why, and who he's picking.
With a confirmed Double Gameweek 32 (DGW32) for both Newcastle United and Crystal Palace, as well as an understanding of how Gameweek 34 might look due to six sides being unable to play their Premier League match on the same weekend as the FA Cup semi-finals, now is a great time to Wildcard.
Playing my Wildcard in Gameweek 30 makes sense as it allows me to build a squad to target the clubs who Double. I have also been able to set up for a Bench Boost in DGW32. It also allows me not to worry about those players who will blank in Gameweek 34, as I am planning to use my Free Hit chip then.
David Raya (Arsenal) £5.5m
Raya is my preferred set-and-forget goalkeeper for the rest of the season. Arsenal's home fixture against Crystal Palace originally scheduled for Gameweek 34 will need to be rescheduled due to the Eagles' progression in the FA Cup. This should give Raya and Arsenal a Double Gameweek between now and the end of the season.
Bart Verbruggen (Brighton) £4.5m
Verbruggen is my back-up goalkeeper of choice. I am planning to use my Bench Boost chip in Gameweek 32, when the Seagulls have a favourable fixture at home to Leicester City.
Gabriel (Arsenal) £6.4m
The Arsenal centre-back hasn't scored since Gameweek 13, but he is a mainstay in the Arsenal defence as they look to cement a top-two finish. Like Raya, he could also benefit from a Double Gameweek.
Josko Gvardiol (Man City) £6.0m
I'm hoping Gvardiol switches to a more attacking role for Man City, as I think clean sheets will continue to be hard to come by. City do at least have one of the best fixture runs until the end of the season, as well as a likely Double Gameweek after making it through to the FA Cup semi-finals.
Milos Kerkez (AFC Bournemouth) £5.2m
Kerkez has been in immense form this season and has two great fixtures on the horizon, against Ipswich Town and West Ham United. Bournemouth won't have a Double Gameweek now that they are out of the FA Cup, so after the next few weeks, he could be moved on if the points dry up.
Murillo (Nottingham Forest) £4.7m
Murillo is a nailed on option in the Nottingham Forest defence, with an ownership of just three per cent. At his price point, he feels like a good option, especially given Forest's impressive defensive form this season.
Tino Livramento (Newcastle) £4.5m
The full-back provides a cheap way to tap into the Newcastle defence ahead of their DGW32.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) £13.7m
In midfield, there's no chance I'm going without Salah, with Liverpool now solely focused on winning the Premier League.
Anthony Gordon (Newcastle) £7.4m
Newcastle's winger is a bit of a forgotten man since his suspension, but he is free to return against Leicester in Gameweek 31, so I'll just bench him for the midweek round.
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) £6.7m
Like Ismaila Sarr (£5.7m), Eze could have two Double Gameweeks over the remainder of the season, and along with set-piece responsibilities, he boasts plenty of potential.
Justin Kluivert (AFC Bournemouth) £6.3m
Kluivert remains the pick of the Bournemouth midfielders, although I will be looking to sell him when more Doubles are announced.
Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace) £5.7m
I've opted for both Eze and Sarr in midfield, backing the Eagles to score plenty of goals, with defensive returns perhaps likely to be harder to come by for Oliver Glasner's men. It's hard to separate these two midfielders, so why not just get them both? They have a DGW32 and are expected to have another before the end of the season. Since Gameweek 10, Sarr ranks seventh among cheap midfielders for big chances, with 16, impressively ahead of the likes of Cole Palmer (£10.8m), Chris Wood (£7.3m) and Bryan Mbeumo (£8.1m).
Alexander Isak (Newcastle) £9.3m
Isak is a straightforward pick, with 19 goals already this season, a DGW32 and a fantastic run of fixtures to end the campaign.
Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace) £7.5m
Mateta, like Isak, has a DGW32, and as mentioned with the Palace midfielders, will likely benefit from a further Double Gameweek. The Frenchman has also produced attacking returns in seven out of his last eight league appearances.
Omar Marmoush (Man City) £7.3m
The front three pick themselves really. With Erling Haaland's (£14.8m) potential injury, Marmoush looks a standout option and will likely lead the line against Leicester in Gameweek 30, as well as the prospect of a Double Gameweek over the final weeks of the season.
