Tips

The Complete Guide to FPL Blank Gameweek 27 tips and advice

Drowning in mayonnaise? Swimming in ketchup? Floating in salt and vinegar?

Chip planning can leave you feeling engulfed in a sea of condiments. Thankfully, like David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson striding down the beach ready to dive in and save us, we have our own David (aka DavidMunday815) and Neale (aka Skonto Rigga) to keep our heads above the vinegar.

And if that doesn’t cut the mustard, the Fantasy Football Scout guide to Gameweek 27 features a healthy dollop of fixture planning with a generous serving of discussion, strategising, and debate.

First a warning – don’t miss the deadline: remember this week we have a 18:45 UK Time deadline as two matches are taking place this evening.

The main topic of discussion in the lead up to the deadline has been the fixture developments following the draw for the FA Cup quarter-finals. The ensuing Blank and Double Gameweeks present opportunities for Fantasy managers. Neale, in his article last Tuesday, outlined the three popular strategies for navigating these crucial Gameweeks. However he pointed out that:

“There is no right or wrong way to deploy chips in FPL … Last season, Yusuf Shiekh Wildcarded in Gameweek 25, Bench Boosted in Gameweek 37 and used his Triple Captain chip in Gameweek 38 – and finished first in the world.”

This sentiment was echoed by the FPL General in his opinion piece on why you should tailor your chip strategy to your squad:

“The most important thing is to do what is right for your team. We are all going into this period from a different starting point.”

Discussion continued on the Scoutcast this week as David, Luke, and Az answered questions about chip strategies and outlined their thinking. Plans have also been debated on site with Flapjack looking at deploying his Free Hit chip in Gameweek 31 and Deulofail highlighting which players could do well.

Meanwhile, in his community article, Pep Pig put forward an alternative view focusing on which teams and players to target for those not using their Free Hit or Wildcard chips in Gameweek 31.

Elsewhere, Geoff started a Hot Topic on the three main chip strategies.

Although at this stage the picture is not entirely clear – we know about the Blank fixtures for Gameweek 31 and we have a good idea about the Gameweek 33 Blanks, but we don’t yet know when the rearranged fixtures will take place.

We could find out today when the broadcasters announce which matches they have chosen to show live in April, but there’s a chance we may not find out until after Gameweek 31.

For the moment, many FPL managers have assumed that the fixtures will simply move along to closest available Gameweek but others, such as Jarvish, have had a stab at predicting what would suit the TV companies. A Double Gameweek for Manchester City with fixtures against Fulham and Cardiff anyone?

No I’m not trying to give you nightmares but yes, that was Leroy ‘one-point-in-a-Double-Gameweek’ Sané scoring a belter of free-kick in the Champions League on Wednesday evening. City players continue to be the subject of debate – they Blank this Gameweek and in Gameweek 31, but they have three appealing fixtures in between and are in scintillating form. David gave his thoughts on what to do with their players in FPL Question Time.

Someone who never wants to give you nightmares is Greyhead, who this week enlisted the help of Britney Spears for his regular look at The Great and The Good. One manager who must feel like screaming and shouting after no doubt being driven crazy by his recent run of form is Ville Rönkä – it’s now 10 (ten!) red arrows in a row for the Career Top Ten Hall of Fame Manager.

Elsewhere in ‘The Great and The Good’, Torres Magic continues to stockpile his reserves – he’s made one transfer already this week with his money in the bank increasing from £7.7m to £8.9m. FPL Transfer Spy suggests he’s sold Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso for Leicester’s Ricardo Pereira.

The Portuguese international was the subject of a recent Members’ article, comparing him with his Leicester colleagues Chilwell and Maguire. The Foxes are the only club to avoid any of the “big six” in the next nine Gameweeks, with all five of their home matches during that time against teams currently in the bottom half of the table.

Attacking defenders were the focus of a community article by Chris Kish this week, who lamented the unreliability of clean sheets. While another Leicester City player, James Maddison features in the differentials article, spotlighting players with under 5% ownership.

However both Maddison and Chilwell were mentioned as injury doubts in Claude Puel’s press conference, as reported by Neale in his first team news bulletin. Neale will round up all the team news later on today after the remaining press conferences, and there should be a summary from Rotation’s Alter Ego.

With City and Chelsea Blanking this week, and Manchester United hosting Liverpool, attention in the short term turns to Arsenal. David has delved into the numbers to uncover who are the best Arsenal players to sign for Blank Gameweek 27. While on this week’s Captaincy video David and Neale discussed Aubameyang’s armband credentials.

With Gabonese international playing the full ninety minutes in last night’s Europa League action, perhaps a rested Alexandre Lacazette could prove the better option. David’s Captain Sensible article will no doubt help us to make up our minds, but it is a tricky debate this week.

According to G-Whizz, who serves up the latest DS stats, fixtures and clean sheet odds, Arsenal are joined by their north London rivals Tottenham as the stand out options ahead of the Gameweek. The inclusion of Spurs is a little surprising given that they travel to a Burnley side who are undefeated in their last seven matches.

Finally, Liverpool players should not be discounted either this week or in the long term: after their trip to Old Trafford they have a favourable fixture run and matches in both Blank Gameweek 31 & 33. David asked whether it might be time to bring in Sadio Mané alongside, or perhaps instead of, Mohamed Salah?

To view all our discussions please visit our Hot Topics page, and if you’ve got some analysis, scout reports or features brewing, be sure to visit our community section to submit your article.

If you’re a member and are yet to get to grips with the custom statistics tables, you can view this movie for an explanation of how they work. Also, remember to tag them so that people can find the tables with ease.

COMMUNITY TOURNAMENTS

Gameweek 26 saw the finals of both FFS cup competitions take place. The free-to-all FFS Cup was won by Man-Chest-Heir F.C, who transferred in Son for Richarlison on his way to a score of 67, while Jay # was victorious in the FFS Members Cup. Jay # took a bold 8 point hit ahead of the final but each of this new signings – Son, Pogba, Lacazette – delivered.

Well done to both managers on their success in the competitions, and commiserations to our losing finalists Jambo17 and Get It Inter Ya.

Happily they don’t have to wait long for another chance at cup glory as the next FFS cup competitions start within a week – FPL managers have from now right up to 18:45 GMT on Tuesday February 26 to enter their teams. For details on how to enter please follow this link.

In TorresMagic’s Last Man Standing competition the safety score in Gameweek 26 was 57, this saw 82 managers eliminated. 534 teams are through to Gameweek 27, when the threshold for elimination moves up to 14%, a minimum of 75 managers will depart. The final will take place in Gameweek 37.

Jay Lovejoy is the new leader of our main FFS League, with Sean Tobin second on the same number of points. They are both 3 points ahead of Omer Weisberg, the previous leader, who drops to fourth. Jay and Sean move up to sixth and seventh overall, only 19 points behind the new world number one Joel Tesfai.

Jay is in his thirteenth FPL season with one previous top 10,000 finish – 9,256 in 2013/14. Sean has had five top 5,000 finishes in eight seasons, the best of which was 923 in 2014/15. He is number one in our Live Hall of Fame and recently appeared in one of J0E‘s Meet the Manager videos.

For insights into the Hall of Fame managers, last week Neale put together an analysis of the current top ten in the Live Hall of Fame, including player ownership and chip usage.

Adam Levy has increased his lead over Tore Bjørheim to 18 points at the head of our FFS Members League. He’s up to eighth overall, only one point behind Jay and Sean. It’s getting very tight at the top! This is Adam’s sixth season, his best finish of 10,847 came last year.

Mark maintained his 39-point lead over David in the FFS Mods & Cons. He is number two in our Live Hall of Fame and recently appeared in another of J0E‘s Meet the Manager videos. Rumour has it that he’s brought in Newcastle’s Salomón Rondón as one of his two transfers this week.

James Wells strengthened his grip on first place in RedLightning’s Top 10k Any Season mini-league. He holds a 32-point lead over Callum Croal (aka Jambo17) the runner-up in our FFS Members Cup.

Jonathan Horrocks is the new leader in RedLightning’s January to May League following an impressive Gameweek score of 96, as previous leader JOZ V drops to tenth. Jonathan has had five previous top 10,000 finishes in twelve seasons, the best being 1,673 in 2010/11.

If you are running a community tournament and would like the latest scores included in future Community Round-Ups, please email us a summary of the current leaders and a link to your league, spreadsheet or head-to-head competition at geoff@fantasyfootballscout.co.uk

TopMarx Fan of Fantasy Football and Monty Python. "Archimedes out to Socrates, Socrates back to Archimedes, Archimedes out to Heraclitus, he beats Hegel. Heraclitus a little flick, here he comes on the far post, Socrates is there, Socrates heads it in! Socrates has scored! The Greeks are going mad, the Greeks are going mad! Socrates scores, got a beautiful cross from Archimedes. The Germans are disputing it. Hegel is arguing that the reality is merely an a priori adjunct of non-naturalistic ethics, Kant via the categorical imperative is holding that ontologically it exists only in the imagination, and Marx is claiming it was offside. Follow them on Twitter

1,640 Comments Post a Comment
  1. amplifiedAnt
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Bottomed.

    Fabianski (Button)
    Robertson, Pereira, Doherty, AWB (TAA)
    Salah, Son, Pogba (Puncheon, Richarlison)
    Aubameyang, Rashford, Jimenez

    Best captain choice from this lot?

    Currently on Auba (C), Son (VC).

    1. TAT
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I'm on the same C/VC. Don't know if that'll change until the deadline, but it's a difficult choice.

    2. Legohair
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      G2G

  2. money face bandwagon
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I have both lacazette n auba. Who to captain?

  3. Patch
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    So Make (FFS Owner) has brought in Rondon and Pereira

    Think I would prefer Anderson and Arnie...

    1. Delph & Safety
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Everyday there are new versions of his transfers

    2. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      So Make's the new guy

    3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      west ham stats are in the dumps, I know it's fulham but still

      1. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Could be 4-4 by the state of both teams defensive stats!

    4. Patch
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Ok I am going to go against Mark, let's see which veteran comes out smelling of Emma Watson's armpits

      Imma back Anderson, let's see how Rondon does in comparison...

      1. Patch
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Actually I think I will follow Marks lead...

        1. fedolefan
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Breaking News!!

  4. abaalan
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Worth taking a hit to field 11:
    Remove Richarlison or Wan B?

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yes. As it’s onlt a -2

  5. fridge
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Foster
    AWB. Robbo. Doherty. Bednarek
    Salah. Pogba. Son
    Rashford. Jiminez

    Speroni** Hazard** Digne** Kamara ** Rich**

    2 FT, 2.3

    A) Rich & Kamara > Fanderson & Laca
    B) Rich & Digne > Fanderson & Pereira
    C) Rich & Digne > Fanderson & Kola

  6. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Looks like Bednarek is coming off my bench lol

    1. gaurava1216
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      He s in my 11 too 🙁

  7. Threat Level Midnight
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Etheridge
    Kola-Robbo-Doh
    Mane-Salah-Pogs-Son (C)-Camarasa
    Rash-Jimmy

    Lossl-Bednarek-Wan Biss-Aguero

    Is it worth doing the Aguero to Auba hokey doke for a week if I have the FT available?

  8. Chrisitis
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Is Lejune a safe option?

    1. gaurava1216
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      should be yes

  9. Bring the Cavalry
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Not been on here in a while, what’s everyone’s plans if you have all your chips intact? I’ve seen people preparing for the blank in 31 instead of using FH?

    1. MTPockets
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Prepare for 31, then worry about the rest later

        1. gaurava1216
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          this

      • _figu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Depends. That's pretty much all you can say. So many variables, so many options.

        Personally, I'm going aggressive route and wildcarding next GW. Chasing and doubling Aguero + Sterling for those 3 games is something I am willing to do to catch up. Setting up team to have players who don't blank in 31 & 33, Free Hit 32 and TC in single GW or 35. My current WC team is perfect for BB30 so might do that.

    2. gaurava1216
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Hi guys- pls help on the below? ( can't afford newcastle defenders)

      best replacement for 4.3 for AWB pls?
      Need a player who plays 27 and 31 as FH in 32

      Currently only can see Diop.... anyone else an option?

      1. gaurava1216
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        anyone pls?

      2. MTPockets
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Bournemouth def?

        • JT11fc
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Hard to beat hams fixtures in 27 31. Bou def maybe?

      3. MattysFantasyFooty
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Who to play already starting Allison, Salah Pogba Rashford?

        1. Robertson
        2. Shaw

        1. gaurava1216
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Robbo all day

        2. Pukki Party
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          1

      4. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Transfer in
        A) Kolasinac
        B) TAA

        Captain
        1) Son
        2) King

        Play
        X) Alisson (mun)
        Y) Guaita (lei)

        Currently on
        A1X

        1. gaurava1216
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          A 1 X

          1. Pukki Party
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Cheers

      5. Marty McFly
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Do we have any news on Balbuena? Surely he must be back soon. Can’t find any updates anywhere online. Anyone know if he’s back in training yet? Considering playing him if there’s a chance he makes tonight’s squad.

        1. Weak Become Heros
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Back in training, could start tonight.

          1. gaurava1216
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            rubbish... ruled out tonight

            1. Mo Mané Mo Problems
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Source?

            2. Marty McFly
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Based on what? I genuinely can’t find anything that confirms he’s out. There’s been no update. If he’s training I’m playing him ahead of Tarkowski vs Spurs.

              1. Mo Mané Mo Problems
                • 9 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                Yeah do it. He’s very unlikely to cameo.

                1. Marty McFly
                  • 11 Years
                  5 years, 1 month ago

                  Even if he’s on the bench and cameos I still think he equals Tarkowski’s points total to be honest.

        2. the axolotl
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          wasn't mentioned in the presser, which has been interpreted as he won't be back. was some noise around that he'd a hope this week as he is back in training, but sounds like he's not quite there yet

        3. gaurava1216
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          i have him too ( glad I'm not alone) holding on now... i think he ll be back by next weekend

      6. tiger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Tempted to captain Arni...madness?

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          What’s mad about it?

        2. MASTER ROSHI
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          I've got him as my captain... am I mad?

          1. tiger
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            you look a bit mad...I'm going to join you!

            1. MASTER ROSHI
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              😆

        3. gaurava1216
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          not at all.. if you think he starts... he s a great choice..

        4. gomez123
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Im gunna!!

        5. tiger
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          It is done...Arni is captain!

      7. Abaddon
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Evening

        A) AWB to Pereira
        B) Richarlison to FAnderson
        C) Play JWP

        Transfers for free

        1. Pukki Party
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          B

      8. Jon Snow
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Finally pulled the trigger, AWB + Richarlison >> Pereira and Anderson for a hit.

        Goodbye AWB we had a good run, and now his watch has ended 🙁

        1. Miniboss
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Long live best of all-time 4.0 defender, true fpl enabler.

      9. GianniBanani
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Bottomed...

        Another hit needed? For Auba/Laca?

        Etheridge
        Robertson, Pereira, Doherty
        Son(c), Salah, Pogba, Anderson(vc)
        Jimenez, Rashford, Firmino

        Hamer - Bednarek, Luiz, Stephens

      10. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Best pick here with 1FT?

        A. AWB+Martial >> Periera+FAnderson (-4)

        B. AWB+Rich >> Schar+FAnderson (-4)

        C. Martial or Rich >> FAnderson (free but likely only field 10)

        Fabianski
        Kolasinac • Doherty* • AWB** • Bednarek
        Mané • Salah • Son • Martial* • Rich**
        Rashford
        (Button** / Aguero** / Digne** / Kamara**)

        1. Royal5
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Why so keen on Anderson? Seems to have coled down

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

            Can’t think of anyone else in that bracket. Would like Arnie but don’t know how

            1. Royal5
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Maddison if fit is an option imo

        2. F0oTBall GuRu
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          A

      11. manu4life99
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        A) Rich to Anderson (-4), bench Robbo
        B) Play Robbo (exact cash for Son to Sterling next gw)

        Fab
        Pereira Doherty Robbo Kolasinac
        Son(C) Pog Salah(vc) Mane
        Rashford Jiminez
        Subs: Long, Rich*, Digne*

        1. MASTER ROSHI
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          B

      12. GianniBanani
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Anderson over Son as a captain?

        1. Pukki Party
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Son for me

        2. Amey
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Could definitely work

        3. Yome
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Anderson

      13. sam4775
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Thoughts on this please chaps?
        -------------
        Fab
        TAA - Doherty - VVD
        Pogba - Salah - Son (C) - Moutinho - JWP
        Jimenez - Rashford

        Subs: Button - Niasse - Digne - AWB
        -----------
        I'm thinking Niasse > Auba, and then benching JWP?
        Not convinced by my defence either though!

      14. Tmel
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Guaita
        Robertson Doherty TAA Jonny
        Anderson Salah Pogba Son(c)
        Jimenez Rash
        (Ederson Kamara Sterling AWB)

        Down to a bare 11:

        a) Kamara > Rondon (-4)and bench Jonny
        b) Stick and hope all 11 are fit and play

        1. OptimusBlack
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          A

        2. Pukki Party
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          B

      15. OptimusBlack
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Choose two players to get for This GW 27 and also play GW 31

        A - Bamba
        B- Lascelles
        C- Rice
        D- Schär

        1. Stats Don\'t Lie
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          BC cos A doesn't play gw 31

        2. Barca_Rover
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          bc or cd

        3. OptimusBlack
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Cheers

      16. Threat Level Midnight
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Aguero to Auba swaparoo if I have the free?

      17. FPL Jogger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        AWB, Richarlison, Digne and Kamara all not playing and £2m ITB. 1FT

        Which is best option(dead ending in GW31)?
        A)Kamara to Rondon/Barnes
        B)Digne to Periera
        C)Rich to Anderson
        D)A & B or C (-4)

      18. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Fulham won just 2 points away so far. They probably have the worst defence iv ever seen in premier league.

        1. Mo Mané Mo Problems
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Cleansheet confirmedz

        2. Amey
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          After spending 100m+
          😀
          Their financial model will get a beating after they get relegated

        3. The 5% Team
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          exactly...perfect for WestHam attackers to find form again

      19. Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Benching Robbo for Clyne madness ??

      20. Iceball
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Would you take a hit to do AWB to Lascelles or just play Höjberg and hope no bench needed?

        1. MTPockets
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Play Hojberg

        2. Johnny too hotty
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          What's the best tactic for people like me who only have Tc and fh left guys ?

          1. Mo Mané Mo Problems
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            FH32, TC35

            Build a team towards 31. This will be okay for 33 too. Keep some DGWers for 35.

        3. Rhodes your boat
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Gtg?

          Foster
          Robbo taa pereira Jonny
          Salah pogba son(vc) martial
          Auba(c) Rashford

          Hamer bednarek success guendouzi

          Not great I admit especially 6 in same game!