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Wildcard Draft 2026-02-10

GW26 Wildcard Draft: Form Meets xGI — A 15-Man Squad Built for the Long Haul

FPL Admin

FPL Elite Analyst

Introduction

Gameweek 26 is the perfect moment to stop chasing last week’s points and start building a squad that can hold value over time: steady starters, strong points-per-game profiles, and enough attacking upside (xGI) to keep the ceiling high. Using the candidate pool only, here’s a long-term Wildcard Draft that respects the max 3 players per team rule.

The GW26+ Wildcard Squad (15 Players)

Goalkeepers (2)

  • •David Raya Martín (Arsenal) — 5.9
    • •106 points | 4.2 PPG | Form 5.0
    • •A premium-feeling pick with strong baseline output and huge backing (35.1% selected).
  • •Emiliano Martínez Romero (Aston Villa) — 5.0
    • •84 points | 4.0 PPG | Form 5.0
    • •A stable second keeper with solid bonus involvement (8 bonus) and reliable season-long returns.

Why this pair works: Raya gives you a high-floor anchor, while Martínez offers dependable cover without forcing a risky budget punt.

Defenders (5)

  • •Gabriel dos Santos Magalhães (Arsenal) — 7.1
    • •135 points | 7.1 PPG | Form 5.8 | xGI 2.56
    • •The standout defender in the pool: elite points-per-game and genuine goal threat (1.72 xG).
  • •Marc Cucurella Saseta (Chelsea) — 6.1
    • •89 points | Form 5.0 | xGI 4.35
    • •Massive attacking profile for a defender (1.64 xG, 2.71 xA). If you want upside from the back, this is it.
  • •Jake O'Brien (Everton) — 4.9
    • •88 points | Form 5.2 | xGI 1.50
    • •A value enabler with real involvement at both ends (0.83 xG, 0.67 xA).
  • •Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham) — 4.1
    • •Form 5.2 | xA 0.73
    • •Budget-friendly route into West Ham with assist potential and a low entry cost.
  • •James Justin (Leeds) — 3.9
    • •Form 6.2 | xGI 1.65
    • •The definition of a Wildcard bench weapon: cheap, in form, and surprisingly strong underlying attacking numbers.

Defence structure: one premium cornerstone (Gabriel), one high-upside attacking defender (Cucurella), and three cost-controlled picks with xGI that keeps your bench “alive.”

Midfielders (5)

  • •Bruno Borges Fernandes (Man Utd) — 9.8
    • •141 points | 6.4 PPG | Form 8.8 | xGI 14.60
    • •The midfield engine: elite ICT (224.7) and the best all-round data profile here.
  • •Bryan Mbeumo (Man Utd) — 8.6
    • •103 points | 5.2 PPG | Form 7.2 | xGI 10.67
    • •Strong season output with a big xGI base (6.98 xG, 3.69 xA) to sustain returns.
  • •Cole Palmer (Chelsea) — 10.5
    • •Form 7.8 | xGI 6.42
    • •A premium attacking mid with goal-heavy threat (5.98 xG) and a high ceiling.
  • •Crysencio Summerville (West Ham) — 5.6
    • •Form 9.0 | xGI 4.41
    • •The form pick: explosive recent output and strong underlying numbers for the price.
  • •Florian Wirtz (Liverpool) — 8.4
    • •97 points | Form 6.5 | xGI 9.01
    • •A balanced creator-scorer profile (5.02 xG, 4.00 xA) that fits long-term planning.

Midfield strategy: double Man Utd for consistent production, a Chelsea premium, a West Ham form rocket, and a Liverpool all-rounder to diversify upside.

Forwards (3)

  • •Erling Haaland (Man City) — 14.9
    • •182 points | 7.3 PPG | xGI 21.87
    • •The ultimate long-term hold: unmatched expected goal volume (20.23 xG) and the safest captaincy base.
  • •João Pedro Junqueira de Jesus (Chelsea) — 7.6
    • •122 points | Form 9.5 | xGI 9.25 | 23 bonus
    • •A form monster with bonus magnet tendencies and a price that keeps your squad flexible.
  • •Jarrod Bowen (West Ham) — 7.7
    • •115 points | Form 6.2 | xGI 7.67 | 21 bonus
    • •A proven FPL scorer with strong bonus output and a reliable attacking baseline.

Forward line logic: Haaland for captaincy security, João Pedro for form and value, Bowen for steady returns and bonus.

Team Quota Check (Max 3 per club)

  • •Arsenal (2): Raya, Gabriel
  • •Chelsea (3): Cucurella, Palmer, João Pedro
  • •Man Utd (2): Bruno, Mbeumo
  • •West Ham (3): Wan-Bissaka, Summerville, Bowen
  • •Everton (1): O'Brien
  • •Liverpool (1): Wirtz
  • •Aston Villa (1): Martínez
  • •Leeds (1): Justin
  • •Man City (1): Haaland

How to Play This Wildcard (GW26 and beyond)

  • •Captaincy core: Haaland is the default; Bruno is your high-output alternative.
  • •Upside levers: Cucurella (xGI 4.35) and Summerville (Form 9.0) are the “swing” picks that can separate you from template builds.
  • •Bench that matters: Justin (3.9) and Wan-Bissaka (4.1) aren’t dead slots—both carry assist/attacking indicators.

Conclusion

This GW26 Wildcard Draft is built to last: a captaincy foundation, multiple high-form attackers, and defenders with real xGI rather than hope. It’s balanced across clubs, respects the 3-per-team rule, and keeps enough value picks to avoid painting yourself into a corner later.

If you want a long-term squad that can score now and stay structurally flexible, this is a data-driven blueprint worth backing.