Fixtures

Chips and transfer strategies to navigate the FPL Blank and Double Gameweeks

Fantasy Premier League managers should start formulating a plan in their minds for the upcoming Blank and Double Gameweeks.

These provide an excellent opportunity to make up lost ground or press home a mini-league or overall ranking advantage.

The best way to make the most of these altered Gameweeks is through the use of the FPL chips.

After discussing when the Blank and Double Gameweeks could fall earlier this week, we will discuss the best transfer and chip strategies in this article.

Using Chips to Navigate the Blank and Double Gameweeks

FPL managers may have to rethink an often-used chip tactic from previous seasons this time around.

It has been popular in previous campaigns to Wildcard in a single Gameweek between the Blanks caused by the FA Cup quarter-finals and the first big Double Gameweek. Then after that, use the Bench and Triple Captain chips in two big Double Gameweeks and Free Hit in the Blank Gameweek caused by the FA Cup semi-finals.

However, that strategy will not be possible this season as there won’t be a single Gameweek in which you can Wildcard between the Blanks caused by the FA Cup quarter-finals and the first big Double Gameweek, as these fall in Gameweek 31 and 32 respectively.

Gameweek 31 is likely to be the biggest Blank Gameweek of the season and many FPL managers will use their Free Hit then if they haven’t prepared for it. You’ll have plenty of time to come up with a plan to use your free transfers to prepare for Gameweek 31 and the Free Hit chip may be more useful in the subsequent Gameweeks.

Free Hitting in Double Gameweek 32 would allow you to focus on preparing for the Blanks in Gameweeks 31 and 33. This strategy will work particularly well if you were then to Wildcard in Gameweek 34 to set your team up to play your Bench Boost chip in Double Gameweek 35.

Free Hitting in Blank Gameweek 33 would allow you to focus on preparing your team for the Doubles in Gameweek 32 and 35. This strategy will work better if you can Wildcard in Double Gameweek 32 to get rid of your players who have just played in Gameweek 31 and replace them with players who will have at least one Double Gameweek.

Neither of these Free Hit strategies involves playing your Triple Captain chip in either of the two big Double Gameweeks. You would either Free Hit or Wildcard in Double Gameweek 32 and then Bench Boost in Double Gameweek 35.

That leaves the potential “extra” Double Gameweek as a perfect opportunity to play your Triple Captain chip if one team ends up with three fixture rearrangements this season.

I think an extra Double Gameweek (outside of Gameweek 32 or Gameweek 35) seems likely enough that it’s worth holding on to your Triple Captain chip for.

There have been at least three separate Double Gameweeks in each of the last nine seasons. There will be a third Double Gameweek this season if a team ticks at least three of these boxes:

  • They or their Gameweek 27 opponent reach the Carabao Cup final
  • They or their Gameweek 31 opponent reach the FA Cup quarter-finals
  • They or their Gameweeks 33 opponent reach the FA Cup semi-finals
  • They have a game postponed (and moved to another Gameweek) for another reason such as bad weather or traffic problems etc.

There will also be a third Double Gameweek if a Gameweek 27 Blank is brought forward to Gameweek 25 or 26.

All the Blanks fixtures will be confirmed by March 17th, which is a day after the Gameweek 31 deadline. The Double Gameweek 32 fixtures will be announced between February 19th and March 19th.

It makes sense to prepare for the Blanks in Gameweeks 27 and 31 using free transfers and then decide on a chip strategy during the international break after Gameweek 31. At that point, the Blank and Double Gameweek picture will be a lot clearer.

Trying to navigate this stretch of the season without the use of a Free Hit chip and your Wildcard will be difficult. Transfers that you make to prepare for a Blank Gameweek could directly lead to you having fewer players with two fixtures in a subsequent Double Gameweek and conversely, transfers that you make to prepare for a Double Gameweek could directly lead to you having fewer players with a fixture in a subsequent Blank Gameweek.

Remember, the teams who reach the FA Cup semi-finals won’t have a Premier League fixture in either Gameweek 31 or 33 and are very likely to play twice in both Gameweek 32 and 35. The teams who have a fixture in Gameweek 31 are unlikely to play twice in Gameweek 32 and the teams who have a fixture in Gameweek 33 are unlikely to play twice in Gameweek 35.

If you have already used your Wildcard, it still makes sense to Free Hit in Double Gameweek 32 or in Blank Gameweek 33 but another option might be to focus on bringing in players who Blank in Gameweek 31, then Free Hit in that Gameweek and you’ll be well set up for the Doubles in Gameweeks 32 and 35.

Using Free Transfers to Prepare for the Blank Gameweeks

Bringing in players who won’t Blank in either Gameweek 31 or 33 will give you more flexibility when you come to chose a chip strategy for dealing with Gameweeks 32 to 35.

Liverpool are currently the only team who we know definitely won’t Blank in either of these Gameweeks, but more teams will be added to this list after each round of the FA Cup.

Liverpool’s fixtures between now and Gameweek 31 are Crystal Palace (home), Leicester (home), West Ham (away), Bournemouth (home), Manchester United (away), Watford (home), Everton (away), Burnley (home) and Fulham (away). They then play Southampton away in Gameweek 33. Meanwhile, the other top six Premier Leagues sides will likely only have somewhere between seven to nine fixtures in those 10 Gameweeks.

Tripling up on Liverpool players by Gameweek 31 is an obvious move and bringing them in well in advance of Gameweek 31 makes sense given their upcoming fixtures.

Mohamed Salah (£13.4m) is the highest scoring player in the game and with five double-digit scores in his last seven Gameweeks, he’s fully justifying his price tag. He will certainly be one of the most popular captains of the season when Liverpool travel to Craven Cottage in Gameweek 31.

The question is whether you opt to double up on Liverpool’s defensive assets with Salah or just pick one of Liverpool’s back five and double up on their attack with Salah. He could be paired with either Sadio Mane (£9.5m), Roberto Firmino (£9.3m) or even Xherdan Shaqiri (£7.1m) who’s scored five goals in his last ten appearances and tends to only be benched against tougher opposition.

Liverpool players are obviously worth bringing in now, but other than that there’s no need to let the upcoming Blanks affect your transfer decisions this week.

We’ll receive more information about all the Blank Gameweeks in the week leading up to the Gameweek 24 deadline. You might want to use your free transfers between Gameweeks 24 and 27 to make sure you can get an active starting XI in Blank Gameweek 27 whilst also keeping an eye on how your team is looking for Gameweek 31.

Gameweek 26 would be a good time to save a free transfer as the Gameweek 31 Blanks will all be confirmed four or five days before the Gameweek 27 deadline. That will give you six free transfers before Gameweek 31 with full knowledge of which teams will Blank.

Spurs’ fixtures between Gameweeks 23 and 26 are very favourable with Fulham (away), Watford (home), Newcastle (home) and Leicester (home) their opponents. But after that, it has the potential to be less appealing. If they beat Chelsea in the EFL Cup semi-final second leg and win their FA Cup fourth-round tie their schedule would be Blank, Chelsea (away), Arsenal (home), Southampton (away), Blank. Accordingly, Gameweek 27 could be a sensible time to sell your Spurs players.

If Burnley lose away to Man City in the FA Cup next Saturday, Leicester will be added to the list of teams who won’t have a Blank fixture this season. The Foxes have tough fixtures in the next four Gameweeks but in Gameweeks 27 to 31 they would face Crystal Palace (home), Brighton (home), Watford (away), Fulham (home) followed by Burnley (away) if the Clarets get knocked out of the cup. They will host Huddersfield in Blank Gameweek 33 so Gameweek 27 seems like it will be a good time to start bringing in Leicester players. Ricardo Pereira (£5.3) looks like their best Fantasy asset and has received plenty of attention on the site in recent weeks.

If you are one of the FPL managers who activated your Wildcard this week after hearing about Harry Kane (£12.5m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s (£5.2m) injuries, you should be aware that Everton and Man City plus either Spurs and Burnley or Chelsea and Brighton will Blank in Gameweek 27 and you’ll only have four free transfers to prepare for it.

You may be in the unfortunate position of not having your Free Hit chip or your second Wildcard available but it’s still important to come up with a plan for how you’ll approach the Blank and Double Gameweeks, and be prepared to take hits.

Make sure you go back and read Ben Crellin’s article from earlier this week on predicting when the Blank and Double Gameweeks are likely to fall. READ IT HERE.

When we know more about which teams will and won’t be affected by fixture changes, we will publish some more content.

For regular updates on Blank and Double Gameweek information follow Ben Crellin on Twitter, or visit his constantly updated FPL Calendar spreadsheet HERE.

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1,472 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Professor Abel X
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    With this TAA news, would you start him above any of these:
    A) Digne (sot)
    B) Doherty (LEI)
    C) Jimenez (LEI)

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      nope

    2. nevins84
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Im starting him, but its ahead of bednarek

    3. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      He'd be top of my list for sure. Tough call there.

    4. Dybala10
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I'm in the same situation and will make him first sub. I do have Robbo playing however.

    5. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      What is the news?!

    6. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Sorry what news? Any update?

    7. Professor Abel X
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Klopp said he'll be close for tomorrow

  2. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Which combo do you prefer to fill the gaps please? Ta.

    Fab
    Robbo - Digne - Pereira
    _____ - Pogba - Salah - Haz - Anderson
    _____ - Rashford

    Bennett - AWB - Kamara

    A) Sterling, Jimenez (leaves 0m ITB)
    B) Sane, Jimenez (leaves 1.7m ITB to upgrade later)
    C) Anything else

    1. Kuzser
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      B

  3. Patches O Hoolahan
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    A) Kane & Arnie > Auba & Long (3-4-3)
    B) Kane & Bednarek > Firmino & Robertson (4-4-2)

    ?

  4. Wolfman180
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Thoughts on this move for a hit??
    OUT
    F Anderson/ Kane /Richarlison
    IN
    Salah/ Rashford/ Nasri

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      just kane to rashford

    2. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Personally I would keep Anderson. Is that possible?

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Keep Fanderson

      2. Wolfman180
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Whats the reasoning behind keeping Anderson?

        1. Bobby_Baggio
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Fixtures, Form - should of scored more points last game

          1. Wolfman180
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Cheers. Been too busy with work to keep track. I could keep Anderson if I sell Wilson instead which would leave me with 5.3 for a striker. Or Aub to Firmino

  5. Feed tha Sheep
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    First to 5...Best option please?
    A. Firmino & Hazard
    B. Firmino & Sterling
    C. Auba & Alli

    I Have Salah Sane Pogba Rashford already.

    *Im leading my mini-league and most people have hazard and a few have sterling & Auba*

    1. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      C as you already have Sane

    2. GoonerSteve
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      A

  6. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    I cannot believe this bollocks about Trent. He was the last straw that made me wildcard and now he's fine? Piss offfffff

    1. SPorting
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      He's what what and a what what?

      1. Bubz
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        He's "close" for tomorrow

        1. SPorting
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Cheers.

  7. Phil's Stamps
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Speroni starts!

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      deadline was today? 😮

    2. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I was about to ask for Guaita news. What's been said?

    3. Phil's Stamps
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Woy confirmed it in the presser. Saw it on the Guardian live team news feed.

  8. Pillson
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Whats the spurs pecking order for pens with Kane and Son away?
    Assume any viable takers are on the pitch

    1. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Believe its Alli

    2. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Maybe Dele??

      1. Pillson
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        thank you both, thats what im assuming, but didnt know if eriksen might be ahead

    3. skodaole2
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Without Kane on the pitch only players having taken a penalty if i remember correctly are Llorente and Lamela. That was before Moura's addition. I guess now Alli, Eriksen, Moura could go either way. But Spurs dont win penalties this year.

  9. Zladan
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Sold Kane to Deeney and planned to get upgrade Bennett or Anderson for a hit.

    With TAA news I may just hold. Get TAA and Auba next week.

  10. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Start TAA ahead of any of this lot?

    Digne, Doherty, Holebas
    Salah, Hazard, Siggy, FAnderson
    Auba, Rashford, Ings

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      probably not, maybe Ings

  11. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Paul Joyce talking shite again? what a surprise

    1. nevins84
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Probably the most reliable LFC jurno's out there....

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        that's what people keep saying, doesn't mean he actually IS reliable though

        1. internal error
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          He is the most reliable journo

  12. Mattias
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Thank you for this article, it's clearly been well researched and I hope updates roll out as the weeks progress. Not many people pay that much attention to blanks and doubles until it's too late.

    Selfishly I'd hoped that this could have been a members only piece... but share the love I suppose 😉

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I havent read since its of no use at the moment, you can take the article as member only 😉

  13. boc610
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    oh dear, a lot of WC'ds activated because of Trent...and turns out he could play tomorrow.

    1. Mattias
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Source?

      1. Mattias
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Only just woken up haha...

  14. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Haha the TAA news. Amazing.

  15. rnrd
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Best route into MU defense bar DDG?

    Is shaw a good option? looks like his attacking threat has decreased lately with Martial on the left side.

    Is he 100% nailed or is it safer to go with lindelof?

  16. Annie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Lost on last page. For the mid term which sounds best...

    a) 1 x mid bench fodder + Firmino
    b) 1 x cheap forward (Ings/Llorente range) + Rich. I'd probably bench the foward this week.

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      A

    2. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      B.

      With TAA back, Robbo + TAA + Salah is the best use of the 3x LFC slots.

      1. Annie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        won't go double defence, not a factor for me.

  17. Beatle
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Took a hit to remove TAA like a wally

    1. SPorting
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I wouldn't bring in Walcott.

    2. Cookie Kid
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Logical move, don't be too hard on yourself

  18. Zladan
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    TAA was so so close to a price fall.

    1. Mysterion
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Won't get unflagged so he'll likely still fall tonight

      1. Zladan
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        I want to buy him next week. These 0.1m will be important with the blanks doubles and crazy xfer activity coming up.

  19. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Is Firmino worth that price tag or could Jimenez match him?

    Thoughts?

    1. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Bobby would be lucky to match Jimmy.

  20. mixology
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    I guess Pochettino’s press conference release is delayed?

  21. pressdpm
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    1FT and 6.1M in the bank.
    A - Barnes > Firmino
    B - Barnes > Auba
    C - Hold

    Fabianski
    Digne - Robertson - Bennett
    Salah - Hazard - Richarlison - Pogba
    Rashford - Jiminez - Barnes

    Speroni - Kolasinac - Wan Bissaka - Biling

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      You could go for VVD or Aguerooo

  22. HamezMace
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    That Liverpool press conference was the exact moment I decided I don't want them to win the league anymore!

  23. dee_top
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Guys, already used my 2 free transfers, what move looks better if I have this line-up for this GW:
    Etheridge
    Robertson-Holebas-Doherty-Digne
    Hazard-Fanderson-Salah(c)-Pogba
    Rashford-Deeney
    Subs: Kane(!), AWB, Puncheon

    A) Kane to Kun (-4)
    B) Kane to Auba (-4)
    C) save Kane and 4 pts and transfer him out next week

  24. No_Mo_Salah?
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Damn - was hoping Arnie would play. Shall I:

    A) Play Bednerak
    B) Take a -8pt hit to do Arnie & Billing to

  25. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Dammnit need to watch klopp's presser I think.So much confusion loll

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Doesn’t sound good to move for Kun from Pep comments about rotation

      1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        What comments

        1. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          “I am going to play one or both (@aguerosergiokun and @gabrieljesus33) I don't know.

          There are many games and everyone is going to play a lot. We don't know what will happen in the future.”

          City twitter.

          He then went on to say there will be rotation over this period

          1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Hmm stating the obvious tho loll.He won't reveal anything.i have not decided now with the taa thing too

          2. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Absolutely no chance he would come out and say I am playing aguero-sane-mahrez front line this week was there?

            1. RAFA THE GAFFA
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              No. But he said they will rotate. So bit of a land mine. What moves you considering?

              1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
                • 6 Years
                5 years, 2 months ago

                Might play taa and autosub bednarek I think.Really unsure .If taa plays could look foolish getting kun for -4

            2. RAFA THE GAFFA
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              Least we know one of them will play Sunday haha. About all it tells us

        2. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Absolutely no comments what are u saying?

  26. Gamer18
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Going into Week 2 of Last Man Standing who should I pick? Comment below
    Already picked:
    Burnley

  27. Now I'm Panicking
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    lol

  28. Emiliano Sala
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    What is poch doing
    Give us an update on Moura and kaneless lineup

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      How's the WC going?

      1. Emiliano Sala
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Not so well.

  29. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Play Fab(bou) or Pat(LEI)?

    1. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Pat

    2. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I’d hedge that if you have Doherty as it’s pretty 50/50

    3. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      always homie

    4. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks all.

    5. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Pat

  30. southernpacific
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Can I get some WC feedback pls

    Etheridge/Patricio

    Doherty robertson Digne Shaw ( AWB)

    Salah Sane Pogba (Guendouzi Camarasa)

    Rashford Jiminez Auba

    0 ITB

    1. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Shaw to TAA
      Etheridge to Button