Opinion

Why I’m not worried about the Free Hit ‘template’ team

The first big Double Gameweek of the season is upon us and FPL managers around the world are dreaming of 150+ points totals.

After another painful international break, the Premier League is treating us to nine matchdays in the next ten days (starting on Saturday). A feast to follow the famine. It’s sure to be a rollercoaster ride as always.

The key for me in attacking the Double Gamweek is to target players who are likely to get close to 180 minutes of game time. Unlike previous Double Gameweeks, players from teams who have just one fixture are not very appealing. Arsenal do have a plum home tie against Newcastle but are you realistically going to opt for someone like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.8m) over a striker who plays twice? Loading up on 11 players times two to make 22 is a lot more fun.

With a lot of managers activating their Free Hit chip this week, there has been a lot of talk about the ‘template Double Gameweek 32 team’ and whether we should be including differentials to differ from the crowd.

It is easy to forget that the FFScout, Twitter and Reddit communities make up a tiny percentage of the overall number of people who play the game. If you scroll through Twitter this week, it feels like every man and his dog are playing the Free Hit chip, but this is not the case.

Being on Free Hit is a differential in itself, especially considering it was a heavily deployed chip in Blank Gameweek 31, so don’t go chasing differentials just for the sake of having a different XI to the teams you are seeing.

The so-called template is a template for a reason, it’s made up of the best players on paper for this Gameweek. Don’t overthink it.

Focus on picking the XI players you feel will score the most points, ignore what others are doing or saying. It’s your team. When Friday evening/Saturday morning comes, block out the noise and choose the team that you want.

To Kane or not to Kane is a big talking point this week. £12.5m is a lot of money. Liverpool away is a tough fixture and there is no guarantee that Spurs will hit the ground running in their new stadium, they struggled when they first moved to Wembley.

Crystal Palace are in a relegation scrap which is another reason I don’t want to fork out a large proportion of my budget on Kane. If it was a team like Huddersfield or Fulham, it would be much easier to justify the outlay.

The last five Premier League meetings between Spurs and Palace have all finished 1-0. If I go for any Spurs asset in my Free Hit squad, it will be either Dele Alli (£8.8m) or Heung-min Son (£8.6m) who are much more budget friendly.

The closer the weekend gets, the more I want to squeeze Gonzalo Higuain (£9.6m) into my team. The Argentine has registered 13 shots in the box over the last four Gameweeks, more than any other player.

Cardiff and Brighton are the ideal fixtures for him to get back amongst the goals. He could be an explosive differential at just 4.2% ownership. Will he start both games is the big question?

The third Manchester City spot is another hot topic this week. Sergio Aguero (£11.8m) and Raheem Sterling (£11.6m) pick themselves and are the standout captaincy options, but who fills the third spot?

Ederson (£5.6m) and Aymeric Laporte (£5.9m) seem the most likely to get 180 minutes but like with Higuain, I have a gut feeling that David Silva (£8.5m) will do well. City could easily score ten goals over the two games and if Silva gets significant game time, he’s sure to be involved.

There’s a lot more tinkering to be done yet!

Good luck for the Gameweek and enjoy your weekend folks.

505 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Good enough? 😉

    Kepa
    Schlupp/Young/Duffy
    Sterling/Hazard/Pogba/DSilva
    Kun/Rash/Higuain

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Apart from defence, yes. Just “looks” at bit lightweight

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Like the Dilva pick - prefer Azpi & Bats/Jimmy to Higuain & Duffy though... but Higs could do well obviously

      1. Atimis
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Could yet consider this!

        1. nico05
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 day ago

          I’d down grade one of Pogba or DAilva and bolster the defence a little

    3. FOMFF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      I like the "weaker" defense. Chase goals not clean sheets on a DGW. No team has a great CS record this year and you've got the "easy" fixtures covered with Kepa.

      Looking at something similar myself

  2. the snazzy viking
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Eriksen + Kepa or Higuain + 5.1m GK ?

    1. FantasyHero
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      B

    2. the snazzy viking
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      cheers

  3. George James
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Best FH team?

    A)

    Ederson
    Azpil Lindelof Schlupp
    Hazard Pogba Sterling Townsend
    Kun Higuain Rashford

    B)

    Kepa
    Luiz Schlupp Lindelof
    Hazard Bilva Pogba Son Sterling
    Kun Rashford

    C)

    Ederson
    Azpil Tomkins Lindelof Schlupp
    Hazard Pogba Sterling Townsend
    Kun Kane

    1. FantasyHero
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      A

    2. Rushford
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Considering very similar teams, atm leaning towards B. Will probably change before Saturday

    3. KunDogan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      A

    4. CROCosta
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      i like the look of B, son & bilva > higuain and townsend

  4. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Nearly every FH team will have effectively no Man City attack this weekend - If there's a FH team out there without Kun/Sterling, I'd like to see it

    So unfortunately any points those two get are basically zero as everyone will have them

    So it's down to Dilva or Ederson/Laporte for where your Man City DGW points are coming from

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Article says different. Just because every FHRMT has them in doesn't mean every other team outside this site will. Guess most serious players will get them anyway, but that's just part of the game.

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Not every team, but nearly every team

    2. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Good point..choosing which one to capt too

    3. aborg
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Not for those that already used their FH and now are triple captaining one of Kun / Sterling !

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Yes hence ''Nearly every FH team'' 🙂

    4. The_Fish
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      I might go ballsy and pick Sane

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        If I knew he'd start I'd do it in a heartbeat. As it is, its just too risky & I don't have the impulsiveness levels to do it - Dilva I think strikes a good balance between the safety of Ederson and the madness of Sane

    5. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Fine by me.

      1. I have the team I want with 11 DGW's that cost me buggerall
      2. By start of last week in the top 10k, 46% had used their FH and 33% had used the WC2...so they will take hits.

      I reckon we are in pole position.

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        That's interesting that 46% of top 10k have already splurged their FH... I'd wager of that 46% a fair old wallop of them will be Kun/Sterling teams though

    6. elchilangles
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      that's why I'm triple captaining with 10 DGWers this week!

  5. simong1
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    A or B??

    A) Jimenez, Luiz & Schlupp
    B) Bats, Azpi & AWB

  6. Jones Kusi
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    FH active

    DDG
    Laporte Azpi AWB
    Sterling Pogba Hazard Milivojevic
    Rashford Higuain Aguero

    Cheapest bench possible, 0.0 ITB
    What do you think of this? Any tips are welcome.

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Decent

      Not sure on Milli

    2. Rushford
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Had the same outfield players but ended up selling Higuain and mili for bats and spurs midfield

    3. kip kop
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Good to go.

  7. Concrete
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Bottom

    Foster
    Smalling Luiz Schlupp
    Sterling Silva D Hazard Pogba
    Aguero Higuain Rashford

    Any holes in this? Unsure of Foster, Silva and Higuain

    1. Atimis
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Similar to mine, I would say good luck 😉

    2. The Darkest Knight
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      everybody has similar dilemma....
      Do you prefere Dilva+Higuain >>> Deulefeu + Kane??

      1. Concrete
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Yes, I think so

        Had Kane and might revert back with 433 but unsure of Liverpool away

        Deulofeu I’m unsure of too due to rotation

      2. FOMFF
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        My dilema is Bilva + Higuain + Kane or Dilva + Higuain + Rash/Lukaku.

        Braving a no Hazard team.....

  8. Bonus magnet
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Sane or Sterling?

    1. The Darkest Knight
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Sterling for sure mate

    2. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      sterling

      1. nico05
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Sterling

  9. The Darkest Knight
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    A. Ederson + Luiz + Deulofeu + Kane
    vs.
    B. Kepa + Trippier + D.Silva + Higuain

    (in B... it could be Foster+Azpi)

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      A looks better...not sure on Tripp-e-a

      1. nico05
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        I’d say A but I’m tempted by a DSilva punt too

  10. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Why people still considering Sane? You dont remember last DGW?

    Mahrez will play more minutes than hm

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Cheers Pep

    2. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Think it’s a bit mad, I wouldn’t go near him

    3. The_Fish
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      I didn't have him for that one so I'm not scarred like others. I think he could get a good return.

  11. nico05
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Hi everyone, does this look okay?
    Foster
    Shaw Doherty Laporte Schlupp
    Pogba Sterling Hazard
    Rashford Higuain Aguero

    Oriol Romeu is my first bench player with 0.5 to spend do I upgrade him or elsewhere? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you 🙂

    1. kip kop
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      I would stick to that team as is.

      1. nico05
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Thanks

  12. FPL Maldini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    So Ole doesn’t mention injury news?

    No news is good news, or is there another presser tomorrow?

  13. pol
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    A- Ederson-Young-Azpi-Zaha
    B- Kepa-Lindelof-DSilva-Jimenez

    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      B

  14. DIMITRIS
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Rate my FH team :
    Ryan
    Azpi | Lindelof | Rudiger | Schlupp
    Sterling | Hazard | Pogba | Sane
    Aguero | Rashford

    should I perhaps try to squeeze in Higuain instead of lets say Pogba or Rashford ? Thanks

    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Yeah I think Higuain could scores big this game week, is lean towards moving Pogba out of the two though

      1. DIMITRIS
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        I was thinking probably the same with Pobga now playing more defensively due to all the injury problems at United.
        Cheers

        1. nico05
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 day ago

          Yeah I currently have both but I’m contemplating transferring Pogba out this week

  15. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Nice article!

  16. NecuratuL
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    kepa
    schlupp d luiz walker
    pogba sterling hazard miliojevic
    aguero rashford batshuayi

    1. kip kop
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Walker to Laporte. He is more nailed over 2 DGWs.

  17. good biashara
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    I liked this article. I'm 150k and I'm sure I'd be at least 50k if I didn't try to be different all the time. And yes seeing scores of near identical draft teams on this site does result in me not selecting the best players.
    I can't help it!

  18. loureiro
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Hi everyone! I’m a student in decision-making and I’m doing a study on how Fantasy Premier League players make their decisions when choosing their team for a gameweek. As a passionate Fantasy Premier League player I’m really fascinated by this research topic, and it would mean the world to me if you’d be willing to take just a few minutes of your time to complete my survey. This should take no longer than 5 minutes! Thank you all so much!

    http://ispawjrc.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_e3OwGfDzoO1XkZT

    1. good biashara
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      I'm doing it now but I don't quite get it.. I selected going with intuition but after telling me that worked and I got a great score the new two pages are questions basically asking me if I'm happy with the decision... well of course I'm gonna say maximum, why would I regret a good decision??

      1. loureiro
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        It's check measures. I'm really sorry, but it really might influence other people's responses if you comment on the content of the study here.

        1. good biashara
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 1 day ago

          Ok sorry I just thought I'd tell you because I didn't feel like continuing after the 3rd page..

          1. loureiro
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 1 day ago

            You can email me, so I'll explain to you! Email on the last survey page. Thanks!

  19. FOMFF
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Anyone else braving a No Hazard DGWFHT?

    1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 13 hours ago

      I considered it when I heard Sarris comments.
      But he has said similar stuff before.
      I assume in practice it means winning the game comfortably, subbing him at 60/70 minutes in at least one of the games?

  20. The Colonel
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    A) 3-5-2 with Luiz, Son and Delfoue
    B) 4-3-3 with Azpi, Duffy and Higuian

    1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 13 hours ago

      B looks better - A has two doubts

  21. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 13 hours ago

    I decided to take fplgeneral's advice and go with the obvious picks.

    Ederson
    Luiz-Azipilecueta-Smalling
    Hazard-Sterling-Son-Pogba
    Aguero-Batshuayi-Rashford.

    I like the back three and goalkeeper have not played in the internationals.
    But potential midfield rotation of Sterling/Hazard/Son worries me.
    However, thier potential points outweigh the risk.
    Aguero and Rashford have not played internationals.
    Palace have no other real option other than Batshuayi.

    So all in all I am happy having 6 'non-international week' players in total and risk that the rest will play at least a game and a half, which I would take.

  22. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 12 months ago

    I think FPL General should have been worried about the template after all 😉