Now that Crystal Palace vs Everton has been arranged for Gameweek 33, there are four main weeks that require our attention in order to maximise the number of players we field. Everton now have a double in Gameweeks 33, 34 and 37 as well as facing a blank in Gameweek 35. As a result I’ve now updated my double Gameweek strategy to focus on the eight key groups of teams.
Teams To Focus On
Double Gameweek 33, Double Gameweek 34, Blank in Week 35, Double Gameweek 37
Due to their progression in both the FA Cup and the League Cup, Everton have three double Gameweeks, including back-to-back doubles in Gameweeks 33 and 34 but they also have a blank in Gameweek 35.
Double Gameweek 33, Double Gameweek 34, Blank in Week 35, Single Gameweek 37
Like Everton, Crystal Palace also have back-to-back double Gameweeks in weeks 33 and 34 followed by a blank in Gameweek 35. But while Gameweek 33’s two home ties look favourable, they face a pair of hard away fixtures in Gameweek 34 and then a blank in Gameweek 35. They are a team that may be best to consider for Gameweek 33 only.
Double Gameweek 34, Game in Week 35, Double Gameweek 37
With seven fixtures in the last five weeks and no blank Gameweeks to worry about, Liverpool continue to offer the gold standard of fixture congestion.
Double Gameweek 34, Game in Week 35, Single Gameweek 37
These teams will be good to have going into Gameweek 34 as they have three fixtures over two weeks but we may want to sell them ahead of Double Gameweek 37.
Double Gameweek 34, Blank in Week 35, Double Gameweek 37
These teams are good to have in moderation in Gameweek 34, but if we pick too many we will find ourselves struggling to field 11 players in Gameweek 35. Along with Everton, a goalkeeper and three outfielders seems optimal for maximising players from both of the big double Gameweeks whilst still being able to hide them on your bench in Gameweek 35.
Single Gameweek 34, Game in Week 35, Double Gameweek 37
Chelsea and Sunderland can be avoided in an early Wildcard and then bought from Gameweek 35 onwards to replace players without any more double Gameweeks.
Single Gameweek 34, Blank in Week 35, Double Gameweek 37
Norwich only have three very good fixtures but no double in Gameweek 34 and then a blank in Gameweek 35 so they may be best avoided until Gameweek 36 at the earliest, but even then they play away at Arsenal so perhaps Norwich punts are best avoided until Gameweek 37 itself.
The Straight and Narrow Teams
These teams have no Double Gameweeks but no Blanks either. We may want to hold a couple of assets from these teams purely as good single Gameweek options, especially if you have already used your Wildcard early or if you are struggling to get 11 double Gameweek 34 players you like with fixtures in Gameweek 35.
The Strategies
Navigating the double Gameweeks successfully will be dominated by how we want to approach Gameweek 34 and then planning around it.
Bench Boost Gameweek 34, Triple Captain Gameweek 33 or 37
Although it may mean selling some Leicester and Spurs players even earlier than desired, wildcarding this week (Gameweek 32) gives us the best chance to take advantage of the two early doubles while fielding 11 in Gameweek 35. An ideal squad would be built around these guidelines:
3x Liverpool players (DGW34, GW35, DGW37)
3x Everton players (DGW33, DGW34, Blank35, DGW37)*
3x Crystal Palace players (DGW33, DGW34, Blank35, SGW37)*
6x Arsenal/Man City/WBA/Newcastle players (DGW34, SGW35, SGW37)**
* Between them these need to include a goalkeeper so that four can be benched in Gameweek 35.
** Have a goalkeeper from one of these teams to bench in Gameweek 37.
This gives us six players ready for DGW33, 15 players ready for our DGW34 Bench Boost and 2 free transfers ready for Gameweek 34 too. In Gameweek 34 we can then spend one free transfer to sell a Palace player for a West Ham, Manchester United or Watford player (DGW34, Blank35, DGW37), maintaining or DGW34 count and improving our DGW37 count and roll the other transfer.
Then in Gameweek 35 we can sell our other two Palace players for Chelsea or Sunderland players so that we can field 11 players in Gameweek 35 and boost our DGW37 count. Then in weeks 36 and 37 we can use our next two free transfers to buy in two more Double Gameweek 37 players and field a full XI playing twice.
In this strategy Triple Captaining Lukaku in Gameweek 33 or 37 is possible, or else Payet, Costa and Sturridge all represent strong options in Gameweek 37.
This strategy absolutely maximises the number of double Gameweek players played but has an obvious flaw in that options from West Ham, Manchester United and Watford are limited for Gameweek 34. Adding players from these teams into our wildcards over Crystal Palace players will reduce our options in Gameweek 33 but gives us greater flexibility with our transfer strategy as well as potentially better players in Gameweek 34.
Another option is to wildcard in Gameweek 33, holding onto our current squads for a week longer and picking one less Crystal Palace player in favour of another player who will have double Gameweeks in weeks 34 and 37.
Triple Captain Gameweek 34, Bench Boost Gameweek 37
This strategy opens up the door to triple captaining heavy hitting Arsenal or Man City players such as Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, or Sergio Aguero or even a Manchester United player while they have two easy home games against Aston Villa or Crystal Palace. Two clean sheets and a goal for Smalling would be in the range of 60-72 points for a triple captaincy. It also allows us to hold key Leicester, Tottenham and Southampton players through their favourable fixtures in Gameweek 35.
This strategy works best if one already has seven double Gameweek 34 players and two free transfers currently.
With two free transfers and another before Gameweek 33, we can build draft in three Everton and Crystal Palace players to boost our numbers for both of the early double Gameweeks.
In Gameweek 34 we can then buy any double Gameweek player that doesn’t leave our squad short for Gameweek 35. Then with our free transfer in Gameweek 35 we can sell a blank player for a one week punt of our choice. In Week 36 we can then wildcard and then in 15 DGW37 players and Bench Boost appropriately.
For players with enough Double Gameweek 34 players already this may be the simplest approach even though we may miss out on fully maximising our Gameweek 33 opportunities.
Caveats
For all this planning, both scenarios above are about maximising double Gameweek players and don’t legislate for the actual appeal of the players, their fixtures, rotation worries, red cards or injuries.
These strategies are pushing the boundaries of Double Gameweek availability, but Bench Boosting a team with 13 DGW players and keeping Harry Kane and Riyad Mahrez could easily do better on its day than 15 DGW players. Also hanging on to these two stars of the season also ensures you have a pair of strong options in place to play for the tricky blanks of Gameweek 35.
Finally, all this planning is designed to be hit-free, a well-planned four point hit here or there can reap rewards if it gives you access to better players with better fixtures.
My Plan
I was looking to Triple Captain Sanchez or Aguero in Gameweek 34 and I have six double Gameweek players already so I could still take the second route with 10 double Gameweek players and Mahrez for week 34, however Moreno and Wijnaldum are starting to feel like compromises to make it through. As of yet I am still undecided on what I shall do, but I may be wildcarding earlier, perhaps even ahead of Gameweek 32.
