Activating your FPL Wildcard is one of the biggest decisions of the Fantasy Premier League season — and timing it correctly can make or break your rank.
Most managers are waiting for the FA Cup results before pulling the trigger, but Corey Baker, a five-time top 10k finisher and Elite XI: Team Reveal manager, has taken a different approach.
After finishing 8,587 last season and currently ranked 89,855, Corey has gone early with his FPL Wildcard in Gameweek 32.
We caught up with him to understand why 👇
Why have you gone early on activating your Wildcard rather than waiting for the FA Cup results?
"My team wasn't is great shape for Gameweek 32 so it was a no brainer for me. One Arsenal defender, no Mbeumo or Szoboszlai, double Bournemouth, double Fulham, and Rogers.
Double Gameweek 33 might be small but still likely the best call for me to Bench Boost. I should hopefully be able to get to 3 free transfers for Double Gameweek 36 so should be ok to make the most of the fixtures. Potentially 4 if all goes well.
I really don't like Wildcard in 33 and then to Free Hit immediately after. You are blunting your Wildcard that way. So if you don't Wildcard in 32 you pretty much have to in 33 or 35 by in the latter case you still need strong team for 33.
It's tough. Doable if you have a lot of free transfers but I didn't."
Which players are a lock in the Wildcard?
"Bruno Fernandes and Gabriel are the only must haves."
It’s easy to see why Bruno Fernandes is top of Corey’s list.
Since returning from an uncharacteristic injury that kept him out for three Gameweeks, he has been in outstanding form. From Gameweek 21 onwards, he leads all players for FPL points (90) — nine clear of second-placed João Pedro — as shown in the Opta Stats Sandbox.
He also ranks first for assists (10) during that period and has collected the most bonus points (19), underlining his consistency and all-round impact.
Gabriel is also an obvious inclusion.
He is currently the top-scoring defender in FPL with 173 points, averaging 6.9 points per game, as shown in the Opta Heatmaps tool.
For context, Andrew Robertson holds the record for the most points by a defender in a single season with 213 (set in 2018/19). If the Arsenal defender maintains his current rate, he is projected to reach 221 points, which would see him break that record.
"The rest will be driven by FA Cup results. If Chelsea and Arsenal win as expected, I will be looking at triple Arsenal for sure, likely defence (Raya, Gabriel and Timber/Saliba depending upon health).
For Chelsea, João Pedro would be a must, the rest I'm not so sure about, especially given how difficult their fixtures are. Although Palmer is likely still a solid option."
A quick look at the Match Centre feature highlights just how integral João Pedro has been for Chelsea over the last five matches.
He leads the team for goals (4 of their 5 total), tops expected goals (4.9) — well clear of second-placed Garnacho (1.0) — and also ranks first for shots on target (8).
If Chelsea score, it’s highly likely João Pedro will be involved.
Other players of interest to Corey who could have a Double Gameweek in 33:
Will you be going with any differentials?
"I won't be looking for differentials, just the best players possible. With that said, there are a bunch of low owned players who could be a major value the rest of the way.
Once FA Cup games are done I will have a better idea of who that might be."
One example of a budget differential is Van Hecke, who could be an excellent option for the run-in.
The 25-year-old has registered nine shots on target (fifth among defenders) and scored three goals, highlighting his attacking threat. He also ranks 12th for DEFCON (180), underlining his all-round potential.
Brighton’s defensive form further strengthens his appeal. They have conceded just three goals in the last five matches — fewer than any other side — and kept two clean sheets, with only Bournemouth managing more (three) in that period.
We took a closer look at his stats, along with other options, in our recent article: Best FPL Defenders for the Run-In: Wildcard Must-Haves.
What is your chip strategy for the rest of the season?
"Like most who have spent their Triple Captain and nothing else, I am using my Wildcard in 32, Bench Boost in expected Double Gameweek 33, and Free Hit in 34.
It is possible that 36 will be a better Double Gameweek than 33 but I decided to go ahead and use my Wildcard to handle any price fluctuations given the massive gap between the start of Gameweek 32 and its deadline."
Corey’s approach highlights an important strategic takeaway for Fantasy Premier League managers:
Activating your FPL Wildcard in Gameweek 32 can help you stay ahead of price changes — something you can track using the Price Change Predictor tool.
While many managers are waiting for FA Cup clarity, going early could offer a significant edge — especially if your team value is on the lower side.
📲 You can also follow Corey Baker’s Wildcard team updates using the Elite XI: Team Reveal tool, with push notifications sent every time he makes a transfer — giving you real-time insight into how his Wildcard team evolves.
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