Is it time to play my Fantasy Premier League Wildcard already?

Fantasy Premier League teaches us many things throughout the season. That luck counts for a lot. That selection choices don’t always pay-off when you want them to. And, that RvP and Carlos Tevez will always be high scorers in every season’s competition if fit and available. And with the Summer transfer window having slammed shut on Friday 31 August, now might not be a bad time to consider using your transfer wildcard.

Yes, we know Tevez had a 6 month sabatical to play golf and sulk last season, but the Argentinian forward is absolutely on fire for Manchester City this season, and is flourishing in the role as City’s first choice striker.

Carlos Tevez has 3 goals, 3 assists and 6 bonus points from just 3 Fantasy Premier League gameweeks.

Meanwhile, Robin van Persie is proving he’s a snip even though he costs over £13million. Many Fantasy Premier League managers will remember the years when Frank Lampard and Cristiano Ronaldo was the players everyone wanted to have in their team, but few could afford. We’ll now RvP is the new man everyone wants in their fantasy football starting eleven. So if FPL gameweek 3 taught you anything this season, it’s that Tevez and RvP are a MUST if you want to be challenging over the next few gameweeks.

RvP has scored 4 goals in 2 starts for Manchester United this season. Can you afford not to have him in your Fantasy Premier League squad?

Obviously Chelsea didn’t play in gameweek 3, due to European duties, and perhaps they wish they had after getting spanked by a fantastic Athletico Madrid team on Friday evening. Many Fantasy Premier League managers are likely to have been forced into fielding weakened teams in gameweek 3 –  while some managers may not even have been able to select eleven players for gameweek 3. This is why we’re suggesting that the Wildcard could have been played to make a number of transfers to prepare yourself for gameweek 3 and gameweeks to follow. If you didn’t play your wildcard prior to gameweek 3, fear not. Now might be an even better opportunity.

Many feel like the Wildcard should be preserved, like it’s some kind of ancient artifact or ‘trophy’ to boast to your mates and rivals about. The old excuse “you may have beaten me last gameweek but I’ve still got my wildcard available” is only valid if you’re beating your rivals and if you actually use it wisely in the future. And remember, there’s another wildcard to be played in January. While you’re main Wildcard can be played at anytime, the January Wildcard can only be used after Gameweek 21 starts (1 Jan 11:30) until Gameweek 24 ends (2 Feb 11:30). The link here points to the Official rules of the Fantasy Premier League competition.

Gameweek 3 was an opportunity for many Fantasy Premier League managers to use their wildcard to great effect. Not just to compensate for Chelsea and Reading not featuring in gameweek 3, but perhaps more importantly, to buy the likes of Carlos Tevez and RvP before they become unaffordable. Van Persie is currently worth £13.3m compared to his starting price of £13m in gameweek 1. Tevez meanwhile is worth £9.7m whereas his value back in gameweek 1 was just £9.0m. And with Wayne Rooney and Sergio Aguero likely to be out for a while longer, few can argue that both forwards are still good value for money despite their increase in price and popularity in recent weeks.

With the International break rearing it’s ugly head prior to gameweek 4 on 15 September, Fantasy Premier League managers have plenty of time to reflect on how they’ve started the FPL season so far, and whether now is another opportunity to sign in the popular players who are likely to perform week in week out throughout the season. It’s not just RvP and Tevez we’re thinking of here…..there’s Michu and Nathan Dyer from Swansea, Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres from Chelsea, Santi Cazorla from Arsenal, Dimitar Berbatov at Fulham (given his points totals in previous seasons) and the ever reliable Kevin Nolan of West Ham…..the list goes on, and on, and on.

With most Premier League clubs strengthening it’s also worth looking at your club‘s summer transfer dealings. Andy Carroll could be worth a punt given his loan move to Upton Park. Clint Dempsey has always done well in past season’s and could be the solution AVB needs after Spurs’ low scoring start to the season.

As usual, our Fantasy Premier League tips for gameweek 4 will be published in advance of the deadline for transfers on 15 September, but if you’re reading this and thinking now might be a good time to use your wildcard, then trust us – you won’t be alone. Like we’ve said many times before, it’s pointless keeping hold of your wildcard purely as some kind of priceless posession when you’re sitting in No-Mans-Land in your mini-league come December.

Please feel free to ask us about your transfer dilemmas by adding a comment below.