Pro Pundits - Andy

How a single Gameweek Bench Boost went better than expected

In Gameweek 27 I did something I’ve never done before in Fantasy Premier League. I used my Bench Boost in a single Gameweek.

As a Fantasy manager who is fairly set in their ways in terms of when to deploy the chips, this took me as far out of my comfort zone as was possible.

I wanted to use this article to reflect on whether I’d do something similar next season, and whether I have a different thought process now, compared to my previous point of view which was always to save Triple Captain, Bench Boost and Free Hit for managing blank and double Gameweeks only.

Using the Bench Boost early was a result of using the Wildcard early. My season was going from bad to worse and I felt I needed to change something. Whether or not I was right to Wildcard early is probably something that could be discussed in its own article, but because I had used it, it felt right to think about the Bench Boost, and as you can see it went pretty well.

andy-bench-boost-article 5

A 99-point score resulted in a green arrow taking me from a rank of 1,054,696 to 467,182. It’s still not great, and not where I want to be after Gameweek 38, but for now, I’ll take it.

I think the Bench Boost still remains the hardest chip to get right. You’re having to rely on four players who are likely the four worst players in your squad. Most of your transfers throughout the season are centered around improving your first eleven, and it’s not very often we’ll specifically make a move to improve the bench.

Because of that it always feels like using the Wildcard to set up the Bench Boost in the coming weeks is the easiest way, and that’s exactly what I did.

andy-bench-boost-article 1

There’s obviously some luck involved with every chip, a Bench Boost with Dwight McNeil (£6.0m) getting only his second goal of the season, as well as an assist and three bonus points, probably isn’t going to happen very often. But on the flip side I also Triple Captained Sadio Mané (£12.3m) in Gameweek 24, so maybe it was just luck evening itself out.

And it’s this luck that would make me still want to use the Bench Boost in a Double Gameweek nine times out of ten to allow those four players to have two chances at getting points.

Ultimately though, I think it comes down to when you play your Wildcard. I opted for a single Gameweek bench boost because I didn’t know what kind of state my team would be in by the time the big Double Gameweeks came around, and as I mentioned before, it’s not often we have spare transfers just to fix the bench.

This is the change in my thinking following this Gameweek. My strategy for the Bench Boost will simply be to use it soon after I Wildcard, whether that’s close to Double Gameweeks, or in a single Gameweek. I think there’s even an argument to use it in Gameweek 1, although you have other worries then, like potentially not knowing all the preferred starting elevens.

If you’ve recently used your Wildcard then I would still strongly suggest using your Bench Boost sooner rather than later if your squad allows you the opportunity. You can’t account for injuries, loss of form, and team changes that might affect your squad in seven or more weeks time when the first big Double Gameweek comes around. You’ll likely need to spend transfers on your first eleven, without needing to worry about the bench.

Gameweek 29 looks ideal for that and was a Gameweek I had considered instead of 27.

745 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Jdpz
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 22 days ago

    Best midfielder under 5.5 now?
    Armstrong, Snodgrass?

    1. Home Late From Age
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 22 days ago

      Cantwell

  2. Le Bluff
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 22 days ago

    Considering I already have Ings, how viable is Shane Long as an option for the next 3 GWs?

    Currently leaning towards Grealish > Harvey Barnes, which would mean sticking with 3-5-2 and a likely FH in GW 31.

    But Greenwood > Long could also be an option, which would mean keeping Grealish for his potential fixture in GW 31 and may negate the need to FH in GW 31.

    Only 'caveat' is that I prefer Southampton's fixtures across the next 3 over Villa's, so Grealish would most likely be sitting on my bench while I play double Southampton attack...

    1. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 22 days ago

      Depends. I have a front line of 3 so none of my 3 (Vardy, Jimi, Ings) make sense to be booted out for Long. However, if you have a front line of 2 and Greenwood as bench fodder, makes sense to upgrade him to Long.

  3. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 22 days ago

    Bottomed.
    Any love for Chelsea now? Giroud and James look nice for punts - esp if Tammy injured again.

    1. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 22 days ago

      Responded on your previous post 😀 Reece James looks a good candidate. Have him on the watchlist. Not much else interests me from Chelsea assets

    2. Holding Matip
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 22 days ago

      Am thinking quite strongly about bringing in James, they have nice fixtures coming up and he's very attacking. Not giroud though

    3. Le Bluff
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 22 days ago

      Not for me. Will always be a question mark over Giroud's gametime regardless of Tammy's injury or not, and I prefer the likes of Doherty over James.

    4. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 22 days ago

      Mount appeals, but I really think I'm going to take a punt on Dwight McNeil this week.

      I don't trust Chelsea defence, so agree with Le Bluff that Wolves defenders are better value.

    5. FantasyHero
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 22 days ago

      Tammy injured again?

  4. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 22 days ago

    A)Ricardo Pereira
    or
    B)Harvey Barnes
    is gonna score more this gw?

    1. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 22 days ago

      A

    2. Holding Matip
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 22 days ago

      A, Pereira

  5. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 22 days ago

    Getting Richarlison over Bruno correct decision?

    Stats over hype

    1. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 22 days ago

      Both are good picks.

      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 22 days ago

        This

  6. Holmes
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 22 days ago

    Will SHU have press conference this week?

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 22 days ago

      I doubt it as they are not playing. May get some other news though through regular channels.

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 22 days ago

        Cheers

        Some Stevens update would have been nice

        1. Fulchester's New Centr…
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 22 days ago

          UK tour starting in Salisbury this Friday.

          1. Fulchester's New Centr…
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 22 days ago

            Actually, that was last year. Literally no news.

  7. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 22 days ago

    Auba+Grealish to Vardy+Barnes for free?

    1. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 22 days ago

      Good moves imo

    2. JJeyy
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 22 days ago

      Could do just grealish to barnes if u have a good bench

      1. Home Late From Age
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 22 days ago

        This

    3. John Nerdelbaum
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 22 days ago

      Will you want one or both back?

  8. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 22 days ago

    Alonso. No longer a CL rotation risk so might be worth a look. What's the story? Is he back in favour? Who has been playing LB/LWB?

    1. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 22 days ago

      I still don’t think Lampard trusts Alonso‘s defensive abilities.

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 22 days ago

        I'm not thinking of buying him for those. Just need to know if he's likely to start

        1. jtreble
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 22 days ago

          “... I'm not thinking of buying him for those ...”. Yes you are. If Lampard doesn’t completely trust Alonso he’s not going to be nailed.

          1. Wild Rover
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 22 days ago

            Eh? Who are you to tell me my reasons for considering him?

            1. jtreble
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 22 days ago

              Good luck mate.

    2. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 22 days ago

      Is he nailed now, though?

      For that money I'd rather have Doherty.

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 22 days ago

        I wouldn't, not if he is nailed.

        1. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 22 days ago

          He has competition, don't forget Emerson.

          1. Wild Rover
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 22 days ago

            This is why I'm confused, neither of them have been playing until Alonso started the last two

      2. jtreble
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 22 days ago

        +1.

  9. Where dahoud at
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 22 days ago

    1ft use or save?

    Pope
    Taa, vvd, boly, Stephen's
    Traore, martial, mane
    Ings, jimenez, vardy

    Bench, button, Egan, Saka, kdb

    1. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 22 days ago

      save

  10. Home Late From Age
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 22 days ago

    I have 2 options for the next GW. Which one should I choose considering that I don't have Vardy:

    A. Reid to Pereira (exact money)
    B. Grealish to Barnes

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 22 days ago

      A

    2. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 22 days ago

      A

    3. Home Late From Age
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 22 days ago

      Thanks all, I'm considering the same option as best

  11. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 22 days ago

    Doherty or Pereira?

    1. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 22 days ago

      I will get both. First will be Pereira

    2. Home Late From Age
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 22 days ago

      I think it's up to who else you have from Leicester or Wolves. Both are good options.

      1. Gunners in Haaland
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 22 days ago

        I don't have any Leicester player but Traore and Jimenez are in my team.
        Will get Pereira this week and Doherty for dgw29 🙂

        1. Hitmonlee
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 22 days ago

          Wolves have a DGW29?

        2. Gunners in Haaland
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 22 days ago

          It's still gw29 😀

        3. Home Late From Age
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 22 days ago

          Seems like twin teams 🙂

        4. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 22 days ago

          DGW? 😀

        5. The Overthinker
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 22 days ago

          Fpl of Parallel Universe 😀

  12. The Legend Squad
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 22 days ago

    Team for GW28. Thoughts?

    McCarthy
    TAA Gomez Stephens Lascelles
    Mane Martial Traore
    Vardy Ings Jimmy

    Button Hayden Williams KDB

  13. Front 442
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 22 days ago

    I need to use 1 FT on a keeper for GW28
    I currentky have Henderson & Button.
    The only keeper I can’t buy who isn’t blanking is Alisson as I already have triple Liverpool. 4.5m itb.
    Ideas would be most welcome.

  14. balint84
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 22 days ago

    Söyüncü or Ferneadez?

  15. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 22 days ago

    A) lundstram to pereira
    B) grealish to b.fernandes

  16. balint84
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 22 days ago

    A) Pukki
    B) Fernandez from Newcastle

  17. The Mighty I
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 22 days ago

    Can get 11 players without taking a hit for BGW28.
    Henderson will be transferred out, but is there any need to do anything else to this team?

    No bench if it stays the same.

    1FT

    Henderson Button
    TAA Robertson Boly Stephens Webster
    Salah Cantwell
    Vardy Ings DCL

    Button, KdB, Mahrez, Grealish

    1. Tambling5
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Not worth changing this team for hits

  18. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 22 days ago

    Morning all. Thoughts on where to use 2FT & 0.2m ITB? Thanks.

    Foster
    Rico - TAA - Saiss - Soy
    Salah - Cantwell - Martial - Traore
    Vardy - Ings

    (McGovern) Cathcart - Auba - KDB

    A) Foster > Pope
    B) Cathcart > Taylor or 4.4m max
    C) Rico + Cathcart > Lascelles + Taylor
    D) Anything else?

  19. Smell the Lavender
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 20 days ago

    Just caught up on this. Classic bench boost error is to look at the points on your bench to gauge whether it was successful or not. This BB DIDN'T go well. 5 players scored 2 points or less and they would ideally be on the bench and the other players rake in the points. You'd have a few fewer points, still get your rank rise but crucially still have your chip for when even more points are available.

    "...having to rely on four players who are likely the four worst players in your squad." It just doesn't work like this. You have a squad of XV and, when you play your BB, you want all of them to achieve as many points as possible.

    I'm not saying the chip shouldn't have been played that week (hindsight is a wonderful thing) but the analysis of what makes a chip successful is seriously flawed. Rank rises are great but it's really about how many points you have at the end of the season and I'm glad to still have my BB chip. I agree that you should play it when it suits your team and that may not necessarily be a DGW.