Gameweek 17 Early Deadline Special: Muñoz Injury Chaos & Wilson's Essential Status

Welcome back to Who Got The Points! Thanks for subscribing to our FPL newsletter. We've got an urgent situation on our hands - Gameweek 17 hits with an early Saturday morning deadline at 11am, and there's major team news shaking up the landscape. Let's get you prepared with the transfers, captaincy picks, and tactical decisions you need to make right now.

Daniel Muñoz Out Until Mid-January: The Crystal Palace wing-back has suffered a knee injury that will keep him sidelined until January 17th. At £5.9m with 89 points this season, he's been an absolute steal - but 481,000 managers have already shipped him out. Oliver Glasner has confirmed heavy rotation with Palace competing in Europe, so expect different line-ups against Leeds this weekend.

Man City Defence Revived: After a 3-0 demolition of Palace, Man City defenders are suddenly back in vogue. With 7 clean sheets this season and West Ham at home in GW17, Rúben Dias (£5.7m) has picked up 84,000 transfers already. City have conceded just 15 goals all season.

Forest's Defensive Fortress Continues: Nottingham Forest secured another clean sheet in their 3-0 victory over Spurs at the City Ground. They've kept 3 clean sheets in recent matches, making budget defenders like Neco Williams (£4.7m) increasingly attractive options.

Bruno Fernandes Explosion: The Man United midfielder bagged 13 points in GW16 from a goal, assist, and maximum bonus in the wild 4-4 draw with Bournemouth. He's now averaging 9.6 form points with 5 goals and 7 assists this season. The armband conversation just got very interesting.

The Verdict: Wilson has become the perfect midfield enabler at his price point. His explosive 16-point haul against Burnley showcased exactly why he's essential - he's involved in everything Fulham do going forward. With 5 goals and 5 assists already, he's delivering premium output at a budget price. Fulham face Forest away on Monday night (not the easiest fixture), but Wilson's form is undeniable. If you haven't brought him in yet, this is your final warning. Essential pick.

The Verdict: Ekitiké's double against Brighton demonstrated his clinical finishing ability. With 7 goals already this season, he's competing with premium forwards but offers genuine value at £8.6m. Liverpool are flying under Arne Slot, and while Spurs away in GW17 isn't ideal, the fixtures improve significantly afterward. If you're looking to upgrade your attack, Ekitiké represents the best value striker option in the game right now. Strong option for those with the budget.

The Verdict: Man City's 3-0 victory over Palace reminded everyone why their defence is elite. Dias offers a route into City's backline at a reasonable price, especially with West Ham at home - a fixture screaming for defensive returns. City have conceded just 15 goals all season, and with Pep Guardiola desperate for defensive consistency, Dias represents good value. Consider if you need City defensive coverage or want to differentiate your squad.

The Verdict: This is a no-brainer. Muñoz has been an absolute gem at £5.9m with 89 points, but injured players have to go. The knee injury keeps him out until mid-January, and with Palace rotating heavily due to European commitments, there's no point holding. Use the £5.9m to upgrade elsewhere or pivot to another attacking defender. If you haven't sold already, do it now before his price drops further.

The Verdict: Guimarães blanked against Sunderland with just 1 point despite playing the full 90 minutes. Newcastle face Chelsea away in GW17 (not ideal), but his underlying stats remain solid with 5 goals and 4 assists. Form has dipped to 6.4, but there might not be better options at £7.0m. Newcastle's fixtures improve soon, so hold for now unless you desperately need funds elsewhere. Don't panic sell.

The Verdict: Tarkowski managed just 1 point as Everton lost 2-0 to Chelsea. Now they face Arsenal away - one of the toughest fixtures possible. While 6 clean sheets this season is respectable, Everton are struggling under David Moyes. At £5.5m, he's cheap enough to bench through difficult fixtures, but if you need funds for upgrades elsewhere, he's an easy sell. Consider your squad structure before deciding.

Price: £4.7m | GW16: 7 points (clean sheet + bonus) Forest's defensive solidity continues with 3 clean sheets in recent weeks. At £4.7m playing as a wing-back, Williams is an absolute bargain. Fulham away on Monday night isn't easy, but Forest's defensive structure under Nuno Espírito Santo is rock solid. Perfect bench fodder who can occasionally haul.

Price: £4.6m | Season: 3 goals Three goals for a centre-back is genuinely impressive. Brighton face Sunderland at home in GW17 - a fixture where defensive returns are likely. At £4.6m, van Hecke is bench fodder who occasionally delivers attacking returns. Low-risk differential for those with tight budgets.

Price: £4.9m | Season: 51 points (1 goal, 3 assists) Villa face Man United away on Sunday. Kamara offers a cheap route into Unai Emery's midfield if you're desperate for funds to upgrade elsewhere. At just 0.6% ownership, he's a proper differential play for those looking to separate from the template. High risk, potential reward.

Primary Pick: Bruno Fernandes (£9.3m)

Fernandes is absolutely flying right now. That 13-point haul in GW16 came from a goal, assist, and maximum bonus in the 4-4 thriller with Bournemouth. He's averaging 9.6 form points with 5 goals and 7 assists this season. Everton away is a great fixture - they conceded 4 to Bournemouth recently and their defence looks vulnerable. United's attack is clicking under Ruben Amorim, and Fernandes is at the heart of everything. This is my captaincy pick for GW17.

Safe Alternatives:

Don't Sleep on Man City Defenders: With West Ham at home, City defenders like Rúben Dias (£5.7m) and Gvardiol (£6.1m) offer serious differential potential. City are desperate for defensive consistency after their recent struggles, and this is exactly the fixture where they'll look to dominate. If you want to separate from the template, pivoting to City defensive assets could be the move that delivers green arrows.

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That's everything you need for Gameweek 17's early deadline. Make those crucial transfers, set your captain wisely, and let's chase those green arrows. The Muñoz injury has created chaos, but chaos creates opportunity. Use it wisely.

Good luck in Gameweek 17! 🚀

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