There are only three more opportunities for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers to use their first Free Hit chip of 2025/26: Gameweek 17, 18 and 19.
Time is ticking away so, in the article below, we’ll present three drafts for consideration, created on PlanFPL.
WHY FREE HIT?
There are several reasons why FPL managers may consider activating their Free Hit in Gameweek 17, and the fixture ticker below highlights exactly where the opportunities lie.
Bournemouth sit top of the fixture ticker this week as they welcome second-from-bottom Burnley. The Cherries were once home to some of the game’s most popular assets, but a run of underwhelming performances and a tougher schedule has led to a sharp drop in ownership. That context makes this an appealing window to target players such as Marcos Senesi (£4.9m) and Antoine Semenyo (£7.6m) on a Free Hit.
Manchester City’s home fixture against West Ham United also stands out. While many managers will already own Erling Haaland (£15.0m), Phil Foden’s (£8.9m) seven price rises since Gameweek 15 could have made it difficult for some managers to fit him in. Elsewhere, some managers opted for Malick Thiaw (£5.0m) over Nico O’Reilly (£5.3m) in recent weeks. A short-term switch could pay off on a Free Hit, especially with Newcastle United facing Chelsea in the same round.
Wolverhampton Wanderers sit bottom of the table after a difficult start to the season. They rank last in the league for both goals scored and goals conceded, which places Brentford firmly on the radar. For managers using the Free Hit, this opens up scope to target Brentford assets beyond the highly owned Igor Thiago (£7.2m) as short-term options. Thiago is a slight doubt ahead of the upcoming round so monitoring news will be key.
A Free Hit could also present an opportunity to revisit Crystal Palace ahead of their trip to Leeds United. The Eagles have attracted interest for much of the campaign due to their underlying performances and depth of viable picks. However, injuries and availability concerns have reduced ownership levels. Ismaïla Sarr (£6.4m) departs for AFCON this week, while Daniel Muñoz (£5.9m) and Jean-Philippe Mateta (£7.8m) have also suffered through injury.
Several other fixtures merit attention. Brighton & Hove Albion host Sunderland, Fulham face Nottingham Forest at home, and Arsenal’s trip to Everton is of course one many will already be heavily invested in already.
Conversely, managers may wish to limit exposure to fixtures such as Aston Villa v Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool, and Newcastle United v Chelsea, where returns are likely to be harder to come by.
FREE HIT TEAMPLATE
The draft covers most bases effectively. A Manchester City triple-up of Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Nico O’Reilly is likely to feature heavily, alongside reliable Arsenal coverage through David Raya (£6.0m) and Bukayo Saka (£10.2m).
Bournemouth assets such as Antoine Semenyo and Marcos Senesi should attract strong interest ahead of their meeting with Burnley. Targeting Wolverhampton Wanderers also looks sensible, with Igor Thiago and Kevin Schade (£7.0m) offering appealing routes into that fixture.
A cautious approach would see managers avoid Jean-Philippe Mateta, who remained a doubt heading into Gameweek 16. With Ismaïla Sarr departing for AFCON, the remaining options thin out considerably, making Chris Richards (£4.5m) a practical budget alternative.
Passing on Mateta may also allow managers to retain Bruno Fernandes (£9.2m). While a fixture against Aston Villa is not straightforward, his multiple routes to points keep him firmly in contention in any given Gameweek.
Those unconvinced by Thiago’s minutes this week could switch to Bournemouth’s Francisco Evanilson (£7m).
NO RISK NO REWARD
This draft takes a more aggressive route than the previous option. It focuses on defensive double-ups. The aim is to target teams facing weak attacks. That approach shows clearly here. Both Brentford and Bournemouth feature with double defensive coverage.
Rather than sticking with the popular Manchester City pairing of Erling Haaland and Phil Foden, this draft adds a third attacker. Rayan Cherki (£6.6m) completes the City triple-up. Rotation is always a concern under Pep Guardiola. The upside remains significant when City score freely.
Mateta also makes the cut. He has frustrated managers at times this season. The fixture against Leeds United looks favourable. Only Haaland has registered more big chances than the French forward so far this campaign.
BACK THE DATA
Backing the Bournemouth and Brentford defences may look appealing on paper. However, neither side have consistently delivered from a defensive standpoint. An alternative approach is to target teams that have produced strong defensive numbers throughout the season.
With that in mind, we have opted for a double-up on David Raya and Jurrien Timber (£6.5m). Jurrien Timber also offers significant attacking upside. He ranks top among all defenders for non-penalty expected goal involvement.
Crystal Palace have arguably been the second-best defence in the league this campaign. That makes a double-up on Richards and Maxence Lacroix (£5.1m) a high-upside option.
All six starting attackers also rank highly for their respective underlying metrics this season. A back four, supported by Nico O’Reilly, allows all six to start while maintaining defensive coverage from Manchester City.
