The Fantasy Premier League gameweek 3 deadline is nearing and managers are toying with the idea of activating the Wildcard chip.
Whether you made the decision to activate the chip in your FPL pre-season planning or you've already fallen significantly behind in your mini leagues and want to change the outlook of your team, the Wildcard gives you the opportunity to make unlimited transfers for one week only.
We've put together the best team if you're triggering the Wildcard ahead of the gameweek 3 deadline.
Goalkeepers
Bernd Leno - FUL (£4.5m)
We're not spoilt for choice with £4.5m goalkeepers like we have been in previous seasons, but Fulham will be play three consectuive games against newly promoted opposition between gameweek 6 and gameweek 8, making Bernd Leno a solid selection.
Bart Verbruggen - BHA (£4.5m)
Prior to gameweek 2, Brighton kept five consecutive clean sheets (including two friendlies against Roma and Bologna). Their 4-3 defeat to Chelsea doesn't paint the best picture of the Seagulls' back line, but they conceded the third fewest goals in the 2025/26 Premier League campaign and Bart Verbruggen can be relied upon in between the sticks.
Defenders
Riccardo Calafiori - ARS (£5.6m)
Gabriel was the must-have in the Arsenal defence last season, but his £8m price tag has seen FPL managers pivot to Riccardo Calafiori. After recording assists in both gameweek 1 and gameweek 2, the Italian is essential at £5.6m.
Ezri Konsa - ARS (£4.4m)
What's better than one Arsenal defender? Two! £4.4m for a player who is likely to feature regularly in Mikel Arteta's defence is a steal, and while he's not guaranteed to displace Cristhian Mosquera or Ben White instantly, this Wildcard squad is so strong that you don't have to rely on him to start in your team.
Kristoffer Ajer - BRE (£4.5m)
Only Arsenal and Manchester City have conceded fewer xG than Brentford in the 2026/27 campaign, and Kristoffer Ajer's minutes look secure enough for him to become a shrewd pickup at £4.5m
Maxim De Cuyper - BHA (£4.7m)
Is there any FPL manager in the world that doesn't like the sound of a £4.7m defender playing at left-wing? It's yet to be seen as to how long Fabian Hurzeler aims to play Maxim De Cuyper in a more advanced role, but for now the position seems his after a 17-point haul in Brighton's 4-0 victory over Aston Villa in gameweek 1.
Lewis Hall - NEW (£5.1m)
After losing Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes, Newcastle may worry that Lewis Hall is the next one out of the door if he keeps performing at the level he is. After keeping Rio Ngumoha quiet in gameweek 1, he recorded an 11-point score against Tottenham in gameweek 2 and looks a solid pick ahead of Newcastle's favourable run of fixtures.
Midfielders
Cole Palmer - CHE (£9.6m)
People may overlook Cole Palmer when Wildcarding in gameweek 3 due to the fact that Chelsea make the trip to Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, but it'd be naive to do so. Newly promoted Hull City await the £9.6m midfielder in gameweek 4, followed by a run of reasonable fixtures. If you're activating the chip, Palmer is a must.
Dominik Szoboszlai - LIV (£7.0m)
Dominik Szoboszlai has become a set-and-forget asset at £7m in FPL. Boasting the potential for DEFCON returns and proving a threat both from set pieces and open play, the Liverpool midfielder looks nailed on to return decent scores on a weekly basis.
Morgan Gibbs-White - NFO (£7.9m)
Morgan Gibbs-White looks set to be the linchpin of Oliver Glasner's Nottingham Forest -- assigned with direct free-kick and penalty kick duties -- and he represents good value at £7.9m given the positions that he will occupy in the attacking midfield role.
Rayan Cherki - MCI (£7.7m)
It wasn't too difficult to predict Manchester City's front line in the opening two gameweeks, but the arrivals of Iliman Ndiaye and Enzo Fernandez throws a spanner in the works. Still, Rayan Cherki has enjoyed a remarkable start to the season -- scoring twice and assisting twice -- and so it's hard to imagine a world in which Enzo Maresca drops him in the near future.
Mamadou Sangare - BRE (£5.7m)
A DEFCON magnet and a threat in the final third, what's not to like about Mamadou Sangare? Even in gameweek 2 where he didn't score or assist, he returned a steady four points and that cannot be ignored for a £5.7m asset.
Forwards
Erling Haaland - MCI (£15.5m)
If you're planning on making a Wildcard team without Erling Haaland, think about what you're doing. Those who made the irrational decision to sell the Norwegian brute after he blanked in gameweek 1 later came to regret it when he notched a brace against Crystal Palace, and you'd be naive to go without him ahead of Manchester City's 15:00 kick-off against Coventry City on Saturday afternoon.
Joao Pedro - CHE (£7.7m)
This depth of this squad means that if you don't fancy Chelsea's chances to provide attacking returns against the reigning Premier League champions, you can bench Joao Pedro in gameweek 3. Going forward however, it'd be illogical not to start the Brazilian after an electric start to the 2026/27 term.
Thierno Barry - EVE (£5.5m)
While Everton's inability to replace Beto on deadline day was catastrophic, it does mean that Thierno Barry is all but guaranteed to start every game up front for Everton. It's for that reason that he presents good value at £5.5m as a forward enabler who can start in your team when the Toffees have a favourable fixture.
