Those who think Fantrax Leagues are won and lost at the draft are wrong. Very wrong.
In fact this is where the winners will be winners because of their sharp eye for a bargain and the losers will be losers because…well, they ignore the Waiver Wire.
Each week, we will analyse those low ownership players that could win you your match up or even become a mainstay in your roster for weeks and months. Here is what the Gameweek 36 waiver wire has to offer!
Che Adams
Position: Forward
Team: Southampton
Ownership: 11%
Average Points per Match: 4.03
Final Fixture: SHU (H)
Genie’s Take: Adams scored off the bench vs. Bournemouth and could be set to start the final game of the season. Southampton don’t have anything to play for, but their attack has looked very good the last few games. I would consider Adams a FWD2, and personally will be looking to punt on him for the final gameweek of the season.
Will’s Take: I took a punt on Adams in a Super League match up the other week in the hope he would scrape 5 or 6 points against Manchester City. I didn’t expect him to bag a 40 yard screamer in a 14.5 point performance! He managed 17.5 off the bench with another goal against Bournemouth and looks like he’s finally finding his feet in the Premier League. He’s definitely one to watch in next season’s drafts if he can forge a partnership with the deadly Danny Ings.
Frederic Guilbert
Position: Defender
Team: Aston Villa
Ownership: 18%
Average Points per Match: 6.90
Final Fixtures: whu (A)
Genie’s Take: Guilbert should start in Villa’s final game of the season. Most recently he managed 13.5 against Arsenal, and will hope for another clean sheet on Sunday. Going into the last gameweek you want players with something to play for. Guilbert and Villa will be fighting hard to stay in the EPL next year, making him someone worth starting.
Will’s Take: I love this pick from Genie! I drafted Guilbert in a couple of leagues this season as a late round flier having seen that he was in the top 5 players in Europe for successful tackles in 2028/19! He’s been a solid performer when fit for Villa and an almost faultless display off the bench against Arsenal should see him start in this week’s crunch clash with West Ham. I should think he will come out on top more often than not in that battle with Pablo Fornals.
Johann Berg Gudmundsson
Position: Midfielder
Team: Burnley
Ownership: 47%
Average Points per Match: 6.59
Next Fixture: BRI (H)
Genie’s Take: I am usually never on the Burnley train, but JBG could be set for a massive score on Sunday. Brighton will give up a ton of chances in this game, and JBG could get a return from a set piece or by just pumping crosses to the likes of Wood and Tarkowski. I would consider JBG a MID3 this weekend with the upside of a MID2. If he starts I would play him over your typical defensive midfielders such as Ndidi, Kovacic, Fabinho.
Will’s Take: Despite the fact he is injured 90% of the time, JBG is one of my favourite Fantrax assets and one of those that I pick up off the waiver wire as soon as I see pictures of him back in training! Gudmundsson has made his latest comeback over the last two games and got an assist in the win over Norwich last time out with a trademark cross. Thanks to his accurate crossing towards the large frame of Chris Wood, the winger scores well through ghost points too. JBG will want to use this last game against Brighton to remind the Burnley hierarchy of his talent and persuade them they don’t need to dip into the transfer market in search of a winger this summer.
Trezeguet
Position: Midfield
Team: Aston Villa
Ownership:22%
Average Points per Match: 6.47
Next Fixture: whu (a)
Genie’s Take: As someone who has owned Trezeguet at various points in the season, I think this would be a great MID4 punt for the Sunday games. Trezeguet has almost single handedly given Villa life again through his recent performances, and I would back him to get on the score sheet again. There are probably very few players on your waiver wire with the upside of the Egyptian, who has arguably the biggest game of his career on Sunday.
Will’s Take: Most people (myself included) thought that if Aston Villa did pull off an escape from relegation this season it would be thanks to the heroic efforts of talisman Jack Grealish. Wrong. Ok, John McGinn then? Wrong again. Trezeguet is the Egyptian King in the Midlands is he followed up his double against Crystal Palace with a crucial match winner against Arsenal on Tuesday night. He’s the man in form for Villa as they look to pull off this great escape act. If he can add another to his tally this Sunday to keep them in the league, his post-restart form will go down in Villa folklore! If he’s available in your league, go and get him!
Gameweek 38 Trade-In Target
David Silva
Position: Midfielder
Team: Manchester City
Average Points per Match: 12.30
Final Fixture: NOR (H)
Will’s Take: This Sunday will most likely see the domestic swan song of the player I consider the greatest Manchester City player of the Premier League era. David Silva is guaranteed a start against Norwich on the last day of the season and will look to say farewell in style. If you’re in playoff final contention you will hopefully have thought to trade him in anyway. If not, give almost anything you can to get the Spanish Magician. Would I trade KDB? That’s a push. Bruno Fernandes? He looked jaded against West Ham and ended with a miserable 0.5 so I probably would.
Genie’s Take: This could be David Silva’s final EPL game of his career and he will want to end it on a high note. I would consider Silva a top 3 player on Sunday and would give any player not named De Bruyne or Fernandes to get him in. After resting vs. Watford, Silva will be hungry to get a few goals against already relegated Norwich. Consider Silva a MID1 for the final fixture, with the potential for a 30+ point performance.
Fantasy Football 92 