As most of you will be aware, the second set of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) chips is now available.
Everyone now has another Wildcard, Free Hit, Triple Captain and Bench Boost to use between Gameweeks 20-38.
Any unused ones from the first half of the season are now lost.
WILL WE GET BLANK/DOUBLE GAMEWEEKS?
Unlike the first half of the season, we are pretty much guaranteed to get Blank/Double Gameweeks between now and May.
Many FPL managers save their chips for these occasions, as they try to maximise points totals.
Gameweeks 31 and 34 clash with the EFL Cup final and FA Cup semis, respectively. Those will almost certainly be blanks. You can read a bit more about Blank Gameweek 31 here.
The standout opportunities for doubles, at this early stage, are Gameweeks 33 and 36.
Furthermore, there’s the potential for the FA Cup final to interrupt Gameweek 37.
| WEEKEND | MIDWEEK | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 21 March | GW31 + EFL Cup final | 24 – 26 March | International break |
| Sat 28 March | International break | 31 March – 2 April | International break |
| Sat 4 April | FA Cup QF | 7 – 9 April | European QFs |
| Sat 11 April | GW32 | 14 – 16 April | European QFs |
| Sat 18 April | GW33 | 21 – 23 April | |
| Sat 25 April | GW34 + FA Cup semis | 28 – 30 April | European SFs |
| Sat 2 May | GW35 | 5 – 7 May | European SFs |
| Sat 9 May | GW36 | 12 – 14 May | |
| Sat 16 May | GW37 + FA Cup final | Wed 20 May | Europa Lge final |
| Sun 24 May | GW38 | Wed 27 May | Conf Lge final |
EARLY THOUGHTS ON USING THE CHIPS
Chip strategy will be a moving picture in the months ahead but just at an initial glance, saving the Bench Boost and Triple Captain for Gameweeks 33/36 may be the play.
A Free Hit could be used to traverse the biggest Blank Gameweek (which should be Gameweek 34)
Alternatively, the chip could be used more aggressively in a Double Gameweek. This enables you to select 11 players who play twice.
The Wildcard is less Gameweek-dependent and best saved for when your squad most needs an overhaul (ie players who are injured, out of form or dropped).
However, it can also be deployed in conjunction with another chip strategy. For instance, a Wildcard can be used to set up a Bench Boost (ie making sure you’ve got 15 starters) or played immediately after one (taking the funds out of your bench and into the starting XI).
Gameweek 32 is one option for the Wildcard. Managers can ‘dead-end’ their teams into Blank Gameweek 31 (getting rid of EFL Cup finalists) before overhauling their squad the following week in readiness for the Blanks/Doubles ahead.
It’s still very early days and we are some way from Blank/Double Gameweeks being announced, let alone played. Naturally, we’ll be keeping you informed when they are finally scheduled.
But while the temptation is to unleash your shiny new chips immediately, it’s worth keeping the above information in mind.
