Fantasy Football Hub’s AI selects the best FPL Wildcard team on a weekly basis – and here’s a look at its latest picks for Double Gameweek 35.

With this week expected to be a popular time to play the chip, we’ve also looked in detail at some of the dilemmas facing FPL managers.

Hub members can get the latest squad, updated in real time, in our My Team tool. But see below for a snapshot of how the AI would play its Wildcard as things stand.

AI recommended transfers for your FPL team

Last updated: 25/04/24

Gameweek 35 Wildcard: The remaining fixtures

There are just four weeks of the season left – but plenty of opportunities to make up points.

Two double gameweeks will be the main focus when building Wildcard squads, starting with Gameweek 35 when Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea play twice.

Double Gameweek 37 is the main double, with six teams benefiting, including Chelsea and Spurs again.

This propels the London clubs to the top of the Hub fixture ticker, ahead of Newcastle and Manchester City.

The Double Gameweek 37 teams take the top six positions, while West Ham, Wolves, Bournemouth and Aston Villa are the bottom four.

Liverpool are ranked 15th, with West Ham, Spurs, Villa and Wolves left to play – and what wildcarders decide to do with their players will be a key decision.

The top of the Hub fixture ticker for FPL Gameweek 35-38

The top of the Hub fixture ticker for Gameweek 35-38

Gameweek 35 Wildcard: Predicted points

Players with at least one double gameweek dominate the predicted points charts currently, with a couple of exceptions.

Mohamed Salah is still a factor in seventh and is the fourth highest midfielder on the list.

Bukayo Saka and Ollie Watkins are fine examples of players who those on Wildcard may struggle to find a place for. But they could easily make FPL managers regret their decision.

These points projections are correct as of Thursday afternoon – but check the tool closer to deadline for the most up-to-date information.

Best players without a double gameweek to consider keeping

Predicted points Gameweek 35-38

FPL Gameweek 35 Wildcard dilemmas: Salah or no Salah?

There will be plenty of competition for a space in midfield, given the teams who double.

Son Heung-min and Cole Palmer have two doubles and will be default picks for most, assuming Palmer is fit after missing the Arsenal game on Tuesday, leaving just three spots.

Phil Foden, Bruno Fernandes, Anthony Gordon will be under strong consideration, as will Alejandro Garnacho, Brennan Johnson, James Maddison and Kevin De Bruyne.

Including Salah could come down to chip strategy.

Those without their Bench Boost may be more comfortable picking the Egyptian. Yet those with their Bench Boost might prefer to pack their team with doublers to maximise the potential of the chip.

Liverpool travel to Villa in Gameweek 37, when many will Bench Boost, which could be a tough fixture for the Reds.

Salah is capable of hauling against anyone, however his recent form has been patchy and he has not been immune from an early substitution or rotation since returning from a hamstring injury.

He has completed 90 minutes four times in the last six games but was benched against Fulham in Gameweek 34. He has scored two goals but had seven big chances.

A record 12 shots on goal in Gameweek 30 was a reminder of his influence – but he only managed one goal. No player has had more shots (30) since then.

Mohamed Salah’s recent form

FPL Gameweek 35 Wildcard dilemmas: Clean sheets lacking among doublers

Clean sheets have been hard to come by this season, with the exception of Arsenal.

A Gunners defensive double up has been an excellent approach as a result, however those on Wildcard may look elsewhere.

Spurs and Chelsea – the double doublers – have kept just six each. Spurs’ last shutout came in Gameweek 28 but before that, it was Gameweek 17.

Chelsea won 6-0 against Everton in Gameweek 33, their first clean sheet since Gameweek 21.

Newcastle (10) and City (nine) have the best records among the double gameweek teams.

United have managed eight clean sheets but their recent expected goals conceded (xGC) is the worst in the league. That could put FPL managers off the likes of Diogo Dalot.

Those who are not confident in packing their team with doubling defenders could do worse than stick with Arsenal defenders. They occupy the top four spots for expected points this season.

Gameweek 37 bench boosters would be relying on points against United at Old Trafford though.

Everton defenders could be an alternative, given they play Sheffield United at Goodison Park in Gameweek 37. The Toffees kept back-to-back shutouts in Gameweek 34.

Clean sheets this season – ahead of Brighton v Manchester City

Targeting defenders with attacking threat

Attacking threat could be the deciding factor when considering double gameweek defenders.

Six players rank among the top three defenders this season in one or more of these Opta metrics – expected goals (xG), expected assists (xA), expected points, goals, assists and FPL points per appearance:

Lewis Dunk – xG (t-3rd)
Dan Burn – xG (t-3rd)
Cristian Romero – Goals (1st)
Fabian Schar – Goals (t-3rd)
Thiago Silva – Goals (t-3rd)
Pedro Porro – xA (3rd), assists (3rd)

Kieran Trippier would have been a firm favourite on Wildcard, given he ranks first for xA, assists and points among defenders.

But ahead of Newcastle’s second game of Double Gameweek 34, Eddie Howe said he was not yet back in training.

While Howe hoped he could feature before the end of the season, Trippier’s current status rules him out of being a Wildcard pick.

Porro is another whose inclusion depends on his fitness. All eyes will be on Ange Postecoglou’s press conference later this week.

Pedro Porro’s stats

Chelsea’s Malo Gusto is another defender for the shortlist. He is third among double gameweek defenders for xA and assists per appearance.

But he is another who is a possible doubt and is undergoing assessment for a knee issue. He missed Chelsea’s midweek game.

Dalot has one goal and three assists – the same return as Harry Maguire, who leads United defenders for xG. Dalot has the best xA among his teammates.

Predicted lineups and team news for Double Gameweek 35

Malo Gusto’s stats

FPL Gameweek 35 Wildcard dilemmas: Selecting a goalkeeper

The same issues among defenders also apply to goalkeepers – but with no attacking returns as a backup.

Andre Onana, Guglielmo Vicario, Dorde Petrovic, Martin Dubravka, Ederson and Bart Verbruggen are the options from double gameweek teams.

Verbruggen goes into Brighton’s clash against City having started the last five games, although Roberto De Zerbi has previously rotated his goalkeepers. This makes him a risk, particularly for those relying on two doubling goalkeepers for a Bench Boost.

Dubravka is also at risk given Nick Pope is scheduled to return from a shoulder injury before the end of the season.

Petrovic looks to have secured Chelsea’s number one shirt, however Robert Sanchez could still be a factor having previously been Mauricio Pochettino’s preferred choice before being sidelined.

Vicario and Onana lead the way for bonus points (nine). They have also made the most saves – 93 and 125 – but Dubravka has the most saves per appearance, ahead of Onana and Petrovic.

Ederson makes the least saves per match of the shortlisted goalkeepers, more than one a game fewer than Vicario.

Goalkeeper options for Gameweek 35

FPL Gameweek 35 Wildcard dilemmas: Struggling strikers and Haaland injury

Team news will be important for more than just Trippier and Porro decisions.

Erling Haaland missed City’s FA Cup semi-final on Saturday, days after coming off against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

City play Brighton on Thursday, offering a chance to assess his injury status again before the weekend.

Wildcarders will be hoping he is passed fit. Even with reduced expected minutes in Gameweek 35, he leads the way for predicted points.

Erling Haaland’s stats

Alexander Isak is likely to take another striker spot. The Newcastle forward has seven goals since Gameweek 27 – more than any other player. He will be locked into many Wildcard teams, although Callum Wilson has recovered from a long-term injury and came off the bench on Wednesday.

The third striker spot is very much up for grabs.

Nicolas Jackson will be a tempting option given his two doubles but can frustrate.

He has failed to convert 18 of his 26 big chances, with his 10 goals lagging behind his xG of 13.41.

A booking in Chelsea’s second game of Double Gameweek 34 would take him out of contention, as the Senegalese striker would then miss the next two games.

Rasmus Hojlund, who doubles in Gameweek 37, scored against Sheffield United on Wednesday, his first since Gameweek 25.

Jackson ranks second for predicted points, with Hojlund seventh behind Joao Pedro.

Watkins in fourth and Dominic Solanke in ninth are two options without a double who could still score well.

Wilcard options up front

Best AI Wildcard team for Gameweek 35 according to Hub AI

The AI team below – correct as of Tuesday – has changed and will likely do so again ahead of deadline, so Hub members should check the My Team page for updates.

It is set up with no other chips in mind, however see our Hub AI team reveal and the best team for Gameweek 37 below if you have a Bench Boost in hand.

Hub AI Wildcard for Gameweek 35

Building a Bench Boost 37 team

The current best team for Double Gameweek 37 is pictured below.

While this will inevitably change nearer to the deadline, it gives a good idea of the squad those with a Bench Boost should work towards when picking their Wildcard team this week.

Salah misses out here but wildcarders could start with the Liverpool midfielder and then move on to Kevin De Bruyne.

Bench Boost 37 draft

Your guide to My Team

New My Team feature: Custom transfers

Hub members will now find our best Wildcard team in the AI teams tab of the My Team tool.

The My Team tools compares its best Wildcard team according to predicted points to your own team.

The Your Team v Best Team numbers on the right-hand side are a five-gameweek projection of predicted points by position.

We have the other main Premier League fantasy games covered too…

Be it Sky Fantasy, Dream Team or Telegraph Fantasy, we have all the very best fantasy football tips, advice, tools and everything else you could wish for to become a better fantasy football manager and dominate your mini-leagues.

Follow the Hub

Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | Tiktok
And view all our latest fantasy football tips on our Homepage

FPL Gameweek 35 Wildcard guide: Best team according to AI, dilemmas and players to target

Win at FPL

Community & tools