This week’s re-arranged fixtures announcement revealed that eight teams will play twice in Gameweek 34. This raises the possibility that Gameweek 37 will involve 12 double fixtures.
How should Fantasy Premier League managers react to this news?
One popular strategy, for those with all chips intact, is to use the second Wildcard ahead of Gameweek 32 or 33, deploy a Bench Boost in Gameweek 34, use a Free Hit chip in Gameweek 35’s limited set of fixtures and then fire up the Triple Captain chip in double Gameweek 37.
The advantage of this strategy involves targeting players with two sets of double fixtures in a Wildcard. This ensures that a strong Bench Boost team can be put in place for double Gameweek 34 and the team should be in good shape for double Gameweek 37, when an explosive player like Harry Kane can also be drafted in. The Free Hit chip in blank Gameweek 35 enables this focus on the double doublers.
But is there an alternative approach that could be ideal for those without a Triple Captain chip, as well as those with all their chips?
The Alternative Chip Strategy
- Starting now, use your transfers (free or otherwise) to bring in players from teams with a good fixture in Gameweek 35. Completely ignore the double in 34.
- Free Hit in 34 and bring in a full allocation of double Gameweek players.
- Get your Gameweek 35 players back for 35.
- Wildcard in Gameweek 36, loading up on double Gameweek 37 players.
- Bench Boost in 37.
The Case For This Strategy…
This strategy looks strong if you have already used your Triple Captain.
For those with a Triple Captain to play it must be used in a single Gameweek. But perhaps Gameweek 35, when Manchester City play Swansea at home or when Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah plays bottom of the table West Brom could prove a lucrative time to use this. The Egyptian winger did, after all, score 29 points last weekend in a single Gameweek.
One benefit of this approach, particularly for those in the ranking doldrums, is that teams with good fixtures in Gameweek 32 and 33, but no double in Gameweek 34, will likely be overlooked by those wildcarding now.
For example Arsenal have two plum home fixtures in Gameweeks 32 and 33 (STK and SOT), as do Watford (BOU and BUR), but because of their lack of a double in Gameweek 34 they may be ignored by current wild carders.
Liverpool (cry and eve) and Man City (eve and MUN) are two more high-scoring, attacking teams that can be targeted as you prepare for the blank in Gameweek 35 – and once again with no double in Gameweek 34 their players (apart from the omnipotent Salah) will be in very few wildcarding teams.
Another advantage of this approach is being able to cherry-pick a bespoke team just before the first double in Gameweek 34 and then being able to cherry-pick another bespoke team just before the second double in Gameweek 37.
This allows you to fully maximise both doubles and to react much closer to the time with wholesale changes as new information comes to light, such as teams progressing in cup competitions or teams residing “on the beach” and having little to play for. If wildcarding in Gameweek 32 or 33, it may be difficult to react to these emerging trends.
…and the case against
The biggest argument against this alternative strategy is that a bench boost in double Gameweek 37 will be difficult in terms of nailing down 15 players who play twice in quick succession as the season draws to a close.
Another is that there is a far greater chance of a Triple Captaincy chip being a success in a double Gameweek rather than a single Gameweek. Salah is not going to score 29 points every week.
In addition, those using this alternative strategy miss out on the chance of captaining Harry Kane in Gameweek 37, who as we saw last season can be one of FPL’s most explosive players when chasing down the golden boot during a season run in.
Another argument against is that those wildcarding now will easily be able to draft in Arsenal’s top target, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is cup tied for the Gunners Europa campaign. He can easily be shifted to the likes of Jamie Vardy in Gameweek 34, especially for those wildcarding this week who can save a transfer in Gameweek 33.
6 years, 1 month agoTCing Kane in 37 for me. Can't be changing strategy now but v good option for those without TC