FPL GW17 is the first gameweek after the World Cup, and we have unlimited transfers for it.
Essentially, it’s a free wildcard, and a perfect time to fix your team if it needs it.
Some players have been immense this season and their price has increased by a lot as a result, so these players are worth keeping due to the value they’ve accumulated.
Of course, the below players are dependent on what happens at the World Cup.
There may be injuries and fatigue for players whose nations go far in the tournament, so transfers could change. Fortunately, they are unlimited.
Here is the best wildcard team for FPL GW17.
David De Gea
- Price: £4.9m
- Picked by: 8%
- Fixtures: Nottingham Forest (H), Wolves (a), Bournemouth (H)
De Gea is part of an improved United defence, keeping 5 clean sheets (5th most). They are conceding an average of 1.25 goals a game though.
Man Utd have good fixtures, facing two promoted sides and the current bottom club in their next three matches.
Bournemouth have the lowest xG (11.6) and Forest have scored the second-fewest goals (11), with Wolves scoring the fewest (8).
The Spaniard is an excellent shot-stopper too, so could earn save points as well.
After those three fixtures, United do face Man City (H) and Arsenal (a) before facing favourable fixtures once again.
Danny Ward
- Price: £4.1m
- Picked by: 31%
- Fixtures: Newcastle (H), Liverpool (a), Fulham (H)
Ward is the perfect alternate goalkeeper. He’s cheap at £4.1m and has started every game.
He’s kept the third most clean sheets (6), making 44 saves as well (7th most).
Goalkeepers that start at £4.0m are never really expected to play, let alone be worth starting, but the Welsh international offers value too.
He’s scored 15 points per million this campaign, the third most.
Joao Cancelo
- Price: £7.4m
- Picked by: 52%
- Fixtures: Leeds (a), Everton (H), Chelsea (a)
Cancelo is the most nailed in the Man City defence, which is the strongest in the Premier League according to xGA (11.2).
City are favourites for every game they’re in, so having one of their defenders is essential.
The Portuguese international is good in possession too, making 31 passes into the penalty area (fourth most).
An alternative to Cancelo is Trent Alexander-Arnold, another attacking full-back but plays in a less reliable defence.
Kieran Trippier
- Price: £5.9m
- Picked by: 66%
- Fixtures: Leicester (a), Leeds (H), Arsenal (a)
Trippier has helped Newcastle reach third place going into the World Cup break, contributing well to both attack and defence.
He has the second-highest xA in the league (4.7), which is impressive for a defender.
The full-back has the second most shot-creating actions (64), the second most passes into the box (42), and the third most key passes (34).
Additionally, he takes all set pieces and Newcastle have some tall players to aim for in the likes of Sven Botman and Dan Burn.
Lastly, he represents good value, scoring the most points per million in the game (16.3).
Reece James
- Price: £5.8m
- Picked by: 19%
- Fixtures: Bournemouth (H), Nottingham Forest (a), Man City (H)
By Boxing Day Reece James should be fit to start for Chelsea again after the knee injury that’s prevented him from playing in the World Cup.
He has an xGI per 90 of 0.4, the 5th highest among defenders and even higher than Trippier (0.3).
Chelsea’s next two fixtures are definitely winnable, facing Bournemouth and Forest who aren’t particularly strong going forward.
They could also have key players back from injuries, such as Wesley Fofana and Kepa Arrizabalaga, so should be better as a defensive unit.
Ben White
- Price: £4.7m
- Picked by: 13%
- Fixtures: West Ham (H), Brighton (a), Newcastle (H)
Arsenal’s defence has conceded the joint-fewest goals this season (11). As a result, having one Arsenal defender is prudent.
Ben White is a perfect choice as he’s started every game this term and is cheap at only £4.7m.
He’s playing as a right-back this season, so he sometimes overlaps and even has the highest xA of any defender on the team (2).
The Gunners are also allowing just 8.1 shots per game (the second-fewest) so that makes him an essential in defence.
There are arguably better options in William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes but they cost £5.3m and £5.2m respectively.
Elsewhere, Luke Shaw (£4.8m) is a great alternative considering Man Utd’s fixtures and his statistically superior attacking threat.
Hugo Bueno
- Price: £3.9m
- Picked by: 5%
- Fixtures: Everton (a), Man United (H), Aston Villa (a)
Bueno has started the last 5 games for Wolves, getting one assist.
He’s just £3.9m and allows you to spend more on your team in other more important areas.
The left-back is purely a bench option to have in case of unexpected absences, so he won’t be in your starting 11 much.
An alternative budget defender is Nathan Patterson (£4.0m).
Kevin De Bruyne
- Price: £12.6m
- Picked by: 39%
- Fixtures: Leeds (a), Everton (H), Chelsea (a)
De Bruyne has shown his quality again this season, scoring three times and leading the league for assists (10), as well as having the highest xA (7.1).
He tops the charts for numerous playmaking metrics, including the most key passes (45), the most passes into the opposition box (50), and the most through balls (14).
Additionally, he’s produced the most shot-creating actions (83) and goal-creating actions (17).
He seems like the best premium midfielder but he’s not the only one worth picking, as Salah (£12.8m) is also a great option if you want to pick Foden (£8.3m) as your City midfielder instead.
Gabriel Martinelli
- Price: £6.8m
- Picked by: 48%
- Fixtures: West Ham (H), Brighton (a), Newcastle (H)
Martinelli is Arsenal’s highest points scorer this season with 77 points, getting 5 goals and four assists to achieve that.
The Brazilian is a huge threat down the left flank, producing the third most shot-creating actions (57) and goal-creating actions (9).
He started out at just £6.0m and has risen to £6.8m, so whilst he’s still performing it would be unwise to get rid of him, should you own him.
Arsenal face an out-of-form West Ham team in GW17 and Martinelli has netted twice against them in his Premier League career in four matches.
Marcus Rashford
- Price: £6.4m
- Picked by: 26%
- Fixtures: Nottingham Forest (H), Wolves (a), Bournemouth (H)
Rashford is United’s top scorer with four goals, sometimes playing out of position as a striker.
He has two assists too and has more touches in the opponent’s penalty area than any of his teammates (58).
United have good fixtures after Christmas, facing Forest, Wolves and Bournemouth.
Bournemouth and Forest have the worst defensive records in the league, conceding 32 and 30 respectively.
Miguel Almiron
- Price: £5.8m
- Picked by: 39%
- Fixtures: Leicester (a), Leeds (H), Arsenal (a)
Almiron has been the surprise package this season, scoring 8 goals and getting two assists.
The Paraguayan has taken 37 shots overall (10th most) and 8 goal-creating actions to his name (7th most).
He’s cheap too at £5.8m, scoring the second most points per million (16).
The winger has been key to Newcastle’s great season so far and has become nailed to start every game.
Andreas Pereira
- Price: £4.6m
- Picked by: 24%
- Fixtures: Crystal Palace (a), Southampton (H), Leicester (a)
Andreas has been another cheap gem this season, scoring twice and getting 5 assists.
He surprisingly has the second most key passes (35) and 54 shot-creating actions (10th most).
Furthermore, he takes set pieces, where Mitrovic is often the target, and also scored a penalty in the Serbian’s absence.
At £4.6m he is a must-have but will cause you benching headaches most weeks. Regardless, he’s an enabler elsewhere.
Erling Haaland
- Price: £12.2m
- Picked by: 84%
- Fixtures: Leeds (a), Everton (H), Chelsea (a)
If you didn’t know by now, Haaland is an absolute must-have.
He’s the top scorer with 18 goals in 13 games, averaging 1.6 per 90.
The Norwegian also has the highest xG (12.8), shooting 4.3 times per 90, with 2.2 of his efforts hitting the target.
Read More: Who Are the Highest Scoring Players in FPL History?
Additionally, he takes penalties, scoring three this term.
City’s next two opponents in particular are vulnerable at the back, with Leeds conceding 26 times (fourth most) and Everton having the second worst xGA (25.4).
What’s more is he’ll be fully rested after not going to the World Cup.
Darwin Nunez
- Price: £9.0m
- Picked by: 16%
- Fixtures: Aston Villa (a), Leicester (H), Brentford (a)
It’s 5 goals and two assists for Nunez in his debut season at Anfield.
The Uruguayan has an xG of 6.4 (8th highest) and an xGI per 90 of 1.4.
He tests the goalkeeper often. Per 90, he’s taking 5.8 shots and 2.4 are on target (both the most).
Liverpool now have a run of fixtures where Nunez is able to build on his momentum and potentially score lots of points.
Anthony Martial
- Price: £6.7m
- Picked by: 5%
- Fixtures: Nottingham Forest (H), Wolves (a), Bournemouth (H)
Martial has two goals and two assists in just 201 minutes in the league.
With Ronaldo’s exit from Man Utd confirmed, the Frenchman (who didn’t go to the World Cup) could slot straight into the number 9 role.
He also takes penalties when he plays, scoring once from the spot this term.
As mentioned previously, United have good fixtures, where Martial can show his quality and start to find his form again.
Should he nail down a starting place, at £6.7m his ownership will quickly rise.
| Name | Team | Position | Price | Pick % | GW16 Points | Overall Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David De Gea | Man United | Goalkeeper | £4.9m | 8% | 4 | 50 |
| Danny Ward | Leicester | Goalkeeper | £4.1m | 31% | 11 | 60 |
| Joao Cancelo | Man City | Defender | £7.4m | 52% | 1 | 70 |
| Kieran Trippier | Newcastle | Defender | £5.9m | 66% | 7 | 96 |
| Reece James | Chelsea | Defender | £5.8m | 19% | 0 | 26 |
| Ben White | Arsenal | Defender | £4.7m | 13% | 8 | 66 |
| Hugo Bueno | Wolves | Defender | £3.9m | 5% | 0 | 10 |
| Kevin De Bruyne | Man City | Midfielder | £12.6m | 39% | 2 | 90 |
| Gabriel Martinelli | Arsenal | Midfielder | £6.8m | 48% | 6 | 77 |
| Marcus Rashford | Man United | Midfielder | £6.7m | 26% | 2 | 62 |
| Miguel Almiron | Newcastle | Midfielder | £5.8m | 39% | 6 | 93 |
| Andreas Pereira | Fulham | Midfielder | £4.6m | 24% | 2 | 61 |
| Erling Haaland | Man City | Forward | £12.2m | 84% | 1 | 123 |
| Darwin Nunez | Liverpool | Forward | £9.0m | 16% | 13 | 44 |
| Anthony Martial | Man United | Forward | £6.7m | 5% | 2 | 21 |
Check out our Fantasy Premier League team news for starting 11 predictions.