Fantrax and Sleeper waiver wire pickups for Premier League Gameweek 20, featuring low-rostered players with improved roles and short-term upside.
Ahead of each Premier League gameweek, we identify Fantrax and Sleeper waiver wire pickups rostered in under 50 percent of leagues whose roles, form, or fixtures have recently improved. These are players worth targeting in season-long formats, particularly during congested fixture periods.
Gameweek 20 delivers another busy stretch of Premier League action, and fantasy managers on Fantrax and Sleeper have several high-upside waiver wire pickups to exploit. The holiday fixture congestion is always a question and with injuries piling up, the waiver needs to be utilized by all.
Below are the top Fantrax and Sleeper waiver wire pickups for Gameweek 20, highlighted for form, role security and short-term fixtures.
For more help setting your lineup, check out our Fantrax and Sleeper GW20 rankings, GW20 cheat sheets, and GW20 predicted lineups before the weekend matches.
Goalkeeper Waiver Wire Pickups – Fantrax & Sleeper GW20
Alphonse Areola, West Ham (18% Fantrax, 22% Sleeper)
Any low owned keeper who is facing Wolves is going to find their way into waiver discussion. The top-tier matchup is one thing, but Areola has also been solid of late. Despite conceding three goals in his last two matches, Areola has posted 7.25 and 8.5 point totals, as he’s made nine saves to counteract the goals allowed.
Areola could continue to post a solid save total while getting the potential upside of a clean sheet against one of the worst Premier League sides in recent history.
Defender Waiver Wire Picks – Fantrax & Sleeper GW20
Ferdi Kadioglu, Brighton (21% Fantrax, 25% Sleeper)
The side with the best odds to keep a clean sheet in Gameweek 20 is Brighton in a home match against Burnley. Any of the Seagulls’ defenders are worth considering, but I believe Kadioglu has the most upside, especially if he plays further up the pitch instead of just as a full-back.
Even if he lines up at full-back, there’s still plenty of attacking upside as seen in Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with West Ham. He scored 13.25 points while firing two shots and crossing eight times due to an increased role on corner kicks. Kadioglu should have plenty of opportunity to post a similar stat line in a mouth-watering spot.
Use our Fixture Difficulty Ranker to spot easy or tough schedules for the rest of the season
Oliver Scarles, West Ham (1% Fantrax, 2% Sleeper)
Scarles is another player who has taken up a recent role on set pieces, having made three straight starts with his best performance coming in his last match as he posted 9.75 points. Scarles has combined for 11 crosses and two chances created in his last two appearances and has taken eight of a possible 14 corner kicks over that stretch for West Ham. Throw in the aforementioned matchup and Scarles is a low-owned defender with upside this weekend.
Midfielder Waiver Wire Picks – Fantrax & Sleeper GW20
David Brooks, Bournemouth (15% Fantrax, 23% Sleeper)
I’ve long been a fan of Brooks and his playstyle for fantasy purposes. He’s coming off two excellent appearances, a 14-point substitute appearance against Brentford followed by a 28-point effort in the 2-2 draw against Chelsea.
I believe that if Brooks carves out a consistent role with the Cherries that he’d be a valuable player for managers, as he’s capable of doing a little bit of everything in terms of fantasy. He can shoot, cross and create chances from wide areas.
The issues with Brooks at the moment are twofold. Can he actually carve out that starting role and with back-to-back matches against Arsenal and Spurs up next, it makes it not the best time to pick him up. Antoine Semenyo is rumored to be leaving the club in the January transfer window and Brooks could be the beneficiary of more time in attacking midfield. He’s worth a stash in deep leagues to see what happens.
Tyler Dibling, Everton (2% Fantrax, 1% Sleeper)
I want Dibling to be a thing, but I’m not that confident he ever will be this season. He’s getting his chance while Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye are away, and Jack Grealish hasn’t been 100 percent during the holidays. He’s started two straight matches and scored nine and seven points despite not having a goal involvement.
I believe that the floor is there for him to score fantasy points in a similar style to Brooks as a creative outlet on the flank. Dibling is also excellent at drawing fouls which adds to his floor. Grealish will likely be back for the weekend, but Dibling could continue to start on the opposite wing, especially if Carlos Alcaraz misses out again.
Forward Waiver Wire Picks – Fantrax & Sleeper GW20
Thierno Barry, Everton (31% Fantrax, 34% Sleeper)
David Moyes handed a start to Beto last weekend, but Barry has been the regular starting forward for Everton, having started nine of the last 10 matches up top. Barry is essentially a goal-dependent option at forward, recording one or fewer shots in each of his last five appearances.
Of course, he has two goals over that time, but if he’s not finding the back of the net, he’s doing little else to provide fantasy points.
Joshua Zirkzee, Manchester United (28% Fantrax, 15% Sleeper)
I’m not fully confident recommending Zirkzee, but Bruno Fernandes is likely to remain out this weekend with Mason Mount‘s status also in question. With both out last match, Zirkzee started and scored though it’s worth mentioning that despite the goal he was still given the hook at halftime. If he starts, he’s worthy of a stream this weekend against Leeds, but there is definite risk involved.
Final Thoughts: Fantrax & Sleeper Waiver Wire Picks for GW20
With fixture congestion increasing and rotation becoming more common, identifying waiver wire value is critical in Fantrax and Sleeper leagues. Targeting players with improving roles, secure minutes, and favourable short-term matchups can provide a key edge during Gameweek 20 and beyond.
