Navigating the Blank and Double Gameweeks

When the League Cup final takes place in Gameweek 27 four teams will face a blank fixture and have the promise of a double Gameweek on the horizon. Planning needs to start now and this article aims to help Fantasy managers navigate through the fixture challenges ahead. All Fantasy Premier League (FPL) ownership figures were accurate as of January 29.

The Teams

After scraping past Liverpool and Sheffield United respectively in the semi-finals, Chelsea and Tottenham will now face a blank Gameweek 27. So too will Chelsea’s opponent that week, Leicester, while QPR face a blank having been scheduled to play Tottenham that week. With many Fantasy managers already owning key players from these teams, squads are set to be stretched to the limit.

Chelsea

Diego Costa is set to be absent from most active Fantasy squads while he serves his a likely ban (Gameweeks 23-25) for stamping on Liverpool’s Emre Can in the League Cup semi-final. With a blank in Gameweek 27, interest in him for the Gameweek 26 home fixture with Burnley is likely to be lukewarm. His 60% FPL ownership and 11.2 price tag are likely to reduce substantially over the coming weeks should his appeal against his ban fail.

A Chelsea defender and at least one of Cesc Fabregas or Eden Hazard are staple Fantasy assets. But if Fabregas’s current hamstring complaint proves serious he may be discarded by many of the 41% of FPL managers that own him. With money likely to be tied up in Eden Hazard, who is owned by 33% of FPL managers, or a Chelsea defender, arguably these will be the two players most likely to be benched by savvy Fantasy managers in Gameweek 27. If Chelsea have a double in Gameweek 28 keeping their assets would be key. Among Chelsea defenders, Branislav Ivanovic, with 23% ownership, is the most popular. It is also worth noting that Hazard is now 0.7 more expensive than when the season started.

Tottenham

If we assume that most Fantasy managers will want to keep hold of one or two of their Chelsea assets that leaves just one or two bench roles left for those looking to field XI in Gameweek 27. For many, Harry Kane, who has an FPL ownership of 37%, is a prime candidate to be kept and benched in Gameweek 27. Price rises will play a key role, with some having made as much as 0.5 profit on the forward. Owners of Christian Eriksen (17.2% ownership) and Nacer Chadli (ownership 17.6%) may also want to keep and hang on to their price rises. We now know that Tottenham and QPR’s game will be rescheduled in Gameweek 28 and take place on March 7. Hanging on to at least one of their assets looks key for those looking to shore up Spurs coverage for their double Gameweek 28.

QPR and Leicester

There is only one QPR option that is worth even considering taking a bench role in Gameweek 27 and that is their striker Charlie Austin. He has risen 0.5 and sits in 27.6% of FPL teams. As with Tottenham, QPR enjoy a double Gameweek 28 so his owners may decide to sit tight despite three away games in the next four. If you own any other outfield QPR players though now is the time to off load them to ensure you have the option of clinging onto Austin during Gameweek 27.

With Leicester the situation is simpler, all their assets should be slowly offloaded ahead of Gameweek 27, when there will be no room to carry the likes of Leonardo Ulloa, Leicester’s highest owned outfield player.

Double Gameweeks

Gameweek 28

The blank Gameweek is the bad news. The good news is that for every blank comes a double Gameweek. In some previous seasons postponed League Cup final games have been moved to the following midweek and staying with the Gameweek. There is no such option this season as the following midweek becomes Gameweek 28 as it is when the next set of Premier League fixtures takes place.

New dates must be found and already Tottenham and QPR have selected March 7 to play their postponed match. As both teams are already out of the FA Cup they are free to play during the sixth round ties over this weekend and therefore Gameweek 28 will become a double Gameweek for both Tottenham and QPR.

For Chelsea and Leicester the situation is much more complicated as the latter is  still in the FA Cup. If Aston Villa beat Leicester in the FA Cup Fifth Round then the Leicester vs Chelsea match could also take place over the March 7/8 weekend to create a double Gameweek 28 for both sides.

Confirmed double Gameweek matches

QPR v Tottenham

QPR v Arsenal

Tottenham v Swansea

Possible double Gameweek 28 matches should Aston Villa beat Leicester in the FA Cup

Leicester v Chelsea

West Ham v Chelsea

Man City v Leicester

Conclusion

If Aston Villa defeat Leicester in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup Fantasy managers face a selection and transfer headache over the coming Gameweeks. Such a scenario would mean a double Gameweek 28 immediately following a blank fixture for Chelsea and Tottenham. Points will need to be spent or managers may decide to keep their assets in Gameweek 27 and field a weakened side with just nine outfield players. Fantasy managers already know that Tottenham and QPR have a double Gameweek 28 and those owning Harry Kane, Charlie Austin and Christian Eriksen now face some touch decisions as they prepare for Gameweek 27.

Only the savvy planners are likely to survive the choppy fixture schedule ahead.