Chip Strategy
7 October 2025 169 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
Share:

In our weekly chip poll, around one in six of responders say they are planning to use their Bench Boost in Gameweek 8.

Only Gameweek 1 has proven be a more popular window to date.

In this article, we ask: is now the time to hit ‘play’ if you haven’t already?

Many of those intending to use the Bench Boost will no doubt have already made their minds up, and have tailored their squads accordingly. You’ve heard of ‘team-dependent’; this is ‘bench-dependent’.

But for those on the fence, we look at the considerations.

GAMEWEEK 8 BENCH BOOST V OTHER WEEKS

Looking at other possible windows in which you could use the Bench Boost, we’ve isolated the fixtures of Burnley, Leeds United and Sunderland above.

Why? Simply because many of our squads will contain one, two or maybe three £4.0m goalkeepers and defenders. It’s usually these type of players, ie the bench fodder, that we ‘boost’ when using the chip.

And the majority come from the newly promoted clubs. The only current £4.0m starting goalkeepers do, as do all six top-scoring £4.0m-ish defenders.

Even four of the five top-scoring £5.0m-and-under midfielders are on the books of the Premier League new boys.

Here is a quick overview of the pros and cons of Gameweeks 8, 9 and 18, when the fixtures look favourable for Burnley, Leeds and Sunderland.

 

 1



The rest of this article below is completely free to read but requires a Fantasy Football Scout user account for access – you can get yours at no cost here

 1

VOTE FOR FANTASY FOOTBALL SCOUT AT THE 2025 FCAS!

169 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. kysersosa
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 months, 28 days ago

    On a WC 3 Arsenal rep seems a no brainer:

    2 or 3 defence
    1 or 0 attackers

    1) Raya
    2) Gabriel
    3) Timber
    4) Calafiori

    A) Saka
    B) Gyokeres
    C) Rice
    D) Eze

    Currently on 2, 3 and B

    TiA

    1. Punned It
      • 1 Year
      5 months, 28 days ago

      23A or C. Leaning mostly towards A.

    2. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      5 months, 28 days ago

      On a WC as well....
      2
      3
      A
      Would go C if you needed the funds.

    3. Malkmus
      • 14 Years
      5 months, 28 days ago

      I have Gab, Eze and Gyo, and now that Saka is confirmed on pens I'm not sure Gyo is the best option tbh. I like 2,3 and A

      1. kysersosa
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 months, 28 days ago

        He’s not confirmed. Think it’s still a coin toss who takes them.

    4. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 9 Years
      5 months, 28 days ago

      I am on 2 4 and A

    5. The Final Boss
      • 8 Years
      5 months, 28 days ago

      GTS..

    6. EDEN THE MAN
      • 9 Years
      5 months, 28 days ago

      With Ode and Rice injuries, don't you guys think Eze could profit massively? He's squandered quite a few chances too, I reckon he comes good.

  2. BR510
      5 months, 28 days ago

      pls explain why too TIA

      1. The FPL Units
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        5 months, 28 days ago

        Just because

        1. Sheffield Wednesday
          • 5 Years
          5 months, 28 days ago

          great song

    • The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      5 months, 28 days ago

      On a WC

      Pope Dubs
      Senesi Guehi Andersen Timber Gabriel
      Saka Caicedo Enzo Semenyo Sarr
      Haaland Bowen Foster

      BB GW11 planned

      How is this looking? Any changes?

      1. Justthis
        • 7 Years
        5 months, 28 days ago

        No need to WC this imo.

      2. Ausman
        • 2 Years
        5 months, 28 days ago

        Looks great!

      3. The Final Boss
        • 8 Years
        5 months, 28 days ago

        Would prepare a team to bb sooner than pushing to gw11. Gw9 has decent bb options right after the wc so that you can get it out of the way..Even this team is a decent gw9 bb team I suppose.

        1. The Final Boss
          • 8 Years
          5 months, 28 days ago

          Also not sure on the caicedo pick.

      4. snow pea in repose
        • 5 Years
        5 months, 25 days ago

        You might also consider BB in GW16. Make sure you go into the GW with no transfers, you will be topped up to 5, making it easy planning for a BB

    • TafOnTour1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      5 months, 28 days ago

      I have a big VVDilemma, do I sell or hold?!

      1. The FPL Units
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        5 months, 28 days ago

        Sell

      2. Ausman
        • 2 Years
        5 months, 28 days ago

        Sell

    • TeddiPonza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      5 months, 28 days ago

      Which option is best on WC8 and BB9:

      A. KDH/Stach (8th attacker), Woltemade
      B. JKing (8th attacker), Mateta

      Rest of team:

      Pope Dubravka
      Gabriel Timber Senesi Ricahards Rodon
      Saka Semenyo Kudus Sarr X
      Haaland Bowen X

    • Malkmus
      • 14 Years
      5 months, 28 days ago

      Is Pope worth 5.1? Or are Roefs, Petro, Kelleher better value?

      1. theshazly
        • 2 Years
        5 months, 28 days ago

        Hes worth it for sure
        Petrovic is a good value at 4.5 bracket

        1. Malkmus
          • 14 Years
          5 months, 28 days ago

          Cheers

      2. devil_o_rama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 months, 25 days ago

        Mamardashvili if you havent played your WC yet.. Guaranteed starter until November end

    • theshazly
      • 2 Years
      5 months, 28 days ago

      On WC

      Pope ( Dub )
      Timber Gabrieal Diouf ( Guehi / Guddmnssn )
      Reijnders Rice Kudus Semenyo ( Caicedo )
      Haaland JP Isak

      0.3 ITB

      Comments please lads!

      1. Tartan Brazilians
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        5 months, 28 days ago

        I like the Isak pick as not many people going for him in WC. Think he could score a few vs Man Utd

        1. theshazly
          • 2 Years
          5 months, 28 days ago

          At some point, we have to punt on him before he explodes so we can ride the train right ?

          1. Ausman
            • 2 Years
            5 months, 28 days ago

            Be careful the train isn't heading for a cliff 🙂

    • Cheeky Vimto Loftus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 months, 28 days ago

      GW8 Would you Wildcard this team
      Sanchez/ Dubrvka
      Timber/Sensesi/ Virgil/Richards/Esteve
      Bruno F/Samenyo/Kudus/ Reijnders/E Anderson
      Haaland/ J Pedro/Mateta

      One Transfer 2.4mill in the bank
      Could do Bruno to Saka
      Virgil/Esteve to Gabriel
      Any advice greatly appreciated

      1. The FPL Units
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        5 months, 28 days ago

        Yes

      2. FantasyClub
        • 5 Years
        5 months, 28 days ago

        No. Dont WC

      3. Ausman
        • 2 Years
        5 months, 28 days ago

        That team doesn't need a WC, you would keep 70% of your current squad. Bring in Gabriel or Saka this week and make the other transfer next week and you should be sweet.

    • Ha.
      • 10 Years
      5 months, 28 days ago

      A. Bowen and King

      B. DCL and Paqueta

      I’ve been hurt by DCL before, but I am being tempted

      1. The FPL Units
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        5 months, 28 days ago

        A assuming Kings sits on the bench.

        1. Ha.
          • 10 Years
          5 months, 28 days ago

          Yes would be fodder

      2. Ausman
        • 2 Years
        5 months, 28 days ago

        A

    • BR510
        5 months, 28 days ago

        RMWCT:
        Pope/Dubravka
        Cala/Timber/Senesi/Richards/Rodon
        Saka/Longstaff/Xhaka/Enzo/Semenyo
        Haaland/JP/Isak
        And•••
        Bowen and gordon or woltemade any mid below 8.5 for a differet team

        1. BR510
            5 months, 28 days ago

            appreciate the comments. feel like isak is going to explode soon and mun,bre,avl,mci,nfo,whu,sun,lee looks like the best 8 gws possible if sub out city for wolves imo

        2. tuturututu
          • 5 Years
          5 months, 28 days ago

          BB active, thoughts?

          Petrović (cry), Dubravka (LEE)
          Timber (ful), Chalobah (nfo), Guehi (BOU), VdV (AVL), Esteve (LEE)
          Saka (ful), Doku (EVE), Semenyo (cry), Kudus (AVL), Enzo (nfo)
          Gyokeres (ful), Haaland (C) (EVE), Evanilson (cry)

          1. Punned It
            • 1 Year
            5 months, 28 days ago

            I think the Leeds and Sunderland 4.0s are better bets than Burnley. I'm not sure I'd pursue the Spurs backline. Senesi becoming nigh on essential. Doku comes with Pep Roulette, and I'd try to stretch to Woltemade over Evanilson. Downgrade Gyökeres if you can't accomodate those changes.

        3. PremGem
            5 months, 28 days ago

            Vicario (Dub)
            Gabriel Chalobah Senesi Guehi (Gud)
            Semenyo I.Sarr Caicedo Kudus Reijnders
            Haaland (JP Rich)

            BB yes or no?

          • EL tridente
            • 8 Years
            5 months, 21 days ago

            Isak and Esteve to Woltemade and Gabriel + 1.6mill in the bank?

            1. Stranger Mings
              • 5 Years
              5 months, 21 days ago

              Y

            2. XX SMICER XX
              • 7 Years
              5 months, 17 days ago

              Yes

          • Legohair
            • 9 Years
            5 months, 18 days ago

            Raya
            Gabriel-VVD-Munoz
            Semenyo-Reijnders-Gakpo-Gordon
            Haaland-Gyökeres-Pedro

            Dubravka, Senesi, Andersen, King

            1 FT
            A. Gakpo to Enzo
            B. Gakpo to Sarr
            C. Reijnders to Minteh
            D. Save

            1. XX SMICER XX
              • 7 Years
              5 months, 17 days ago

              C or save

          • Manani
            • 14 Years
            5 months, 17 days ago

            Dub Pope
            Sensi Richard’s Gab Rodon Mukiele
            Saka Gordon Kudus Semenyo Reij
            Gyo Haaland JP

            Gtg? On BB

          • XX SMICER XX
            • 7 Years
            5 months, 17 days ago

            A. Pope
            B. Sanchez

            When which 3 defenders:
            1. Tosin
            2. Richards
            3. Diouf
            4. Anderson

            Thanks