The first Double Gameweek deadline of the 2025/26 FPL season has passed, and with Blank Gameweek 31 just around the corner — when Arsenal, Wolves, Man City and Palace assets all blank — it presents a great opportunity for FPL managers to capitalise.
Additionally, a potential injury to Haaland, combined with the form of a rejuvenated Palmer, could offer managers the chance to soar up the ranks.
In this guide, we use Fantasy Football Fix’s AI-powered Assistant Manager to build the best FPL Wildcard team for Gameweek 27 — designed to maximise points across the upcoming fixtures while also navigating Blank Gameweek 31 effectively.
This Wildcard draft focuses on fixture strength, rotation management and long-term value, offering a clear advantage over managers relying on individual transfers alone.
The AI-powered Assistant Manager tool helps you create a fully tailored FPL team based on your own strategy.
Whether you want to exclude specific players, load up on midfielders, or experiment with different formations, this smart tool adapts to your preferences.
As shown in the image above, managers can easily lock-in or exclude players such as Haaland and Palmer, while adjusting the rest of the squad around them. Although the Norwegian international is currently a doubt for Gameweek 27, the injury is not thought to be too serious and he is still a worthy inclusion in FPL squads.
Once your criteria is set, the Assistant Manager generates an optimised FPL team designed to maximise points.
The below team has been generated specifically with the conditions that Palmer and Haaland have to be included.
The introduction of Defensive Contribution Points (DEFCON) has made centre-backs particularly attractive options this year, and the Algorithm has selected four, alongside the attacking Palace wing-back Muñoz.
As the image above from our Opta Stats Sandbox feature shows, Andersen (254) and Virgil (250) rank among the top five defenders for DEFCON this season, while no Arsenal defender has reached the DEFCON threshold more often than Gabriel.
As the above image from our Fixture Difficulty Ratings shows, Brentford are ranked top for 'Defence Difficulty' over the next six Gameweeks which makes Kelleher the budget goalkeeper of choice. Fulham, Liverpool and Bournemouth also feature favourably which strengthen the case for the inclusion of Virgil, Andersen and Hill.
Palmer and B.Fernandes (44 FPL points each) have been the standout midfield options over the last six Gameweeks with six goals and as many assists between them.
As the below image from our Stats Sandbox feature shows, no midfielder has been afforded more 'big chances' (seven) than the England international over the aforementioned period.
No midfielder has attempted more assists (27) or created more ‘big chances’ (10) than B. Fernandes over the last six Gameweeks.
Wirtz has registered two goals and two assists over the same period and ranks third among midfielders for xG (2.33).
Over the same timeframe, only Rogers (20) has attempted more shots than Wilson (17).
As the above image from our Fixture Difficulty Ratings shows, Fulham, Liverpool and Bournemouth are ranked in the top five for 'Attack Difficulty' over the next six Gameweeks which makes Wilson, Wirtz and Rayan excellent options.
Thiago has scored three goals over the last six Gameweeks with only Šeško and João Pedro (four each) more prolific amongst forwards. As the below image from our Stats Sandbox feature shows, no forward has attempted more shots in the box (16) than Thiago over that period while only Ekitiké (eight) has been afforded more 'big chances' than his seven.
Haaland is currently flagged as a doubt for the weekend fixture against Newcastle, but the Norwegian international still merits inclusion. Only Šeško (11) has landed more shots on target than his eight over the last six Gameweeks and he is third for xG (3.61) despite playing just 412 minutes of a possible 540.
Budget forward Kroupi.Jr has found the back of the net twice over the last six Gameweeks and is an excellent bench option to fall back on if Haaland does not recover in time for the weekend.
Muñoz, Gabriel and Haaland are the only players included in this Wildcard draft who blank in Gameweek 31, and all can simply be benched without the need for transfers out.
All of the selected players have favourable fixtures across the next five Gameweeks, allowing FPL managers to accumulate free transfers during that period and remain well positioned against those planning to deploy their Wildcard in the popular Gameweek 32 window.
The Assistant Manager tool lets you build your own custom Wildcard draft using FPL AI. You can prioritise certain positions, rotate defenders for fixtures, chase differentials, or tailor the squad to your own management style. Your perfect FPL Wildcard team may only be a couple of smart tweaks away.
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