Pro Pundits

My FPL Gameweek 37 Bench Boost plans – and why I might write the chip off

Pro Pundits 29

I can’t believe Neale has asked me to write this (ED: I needed some Bench Boost coverage for Gameweek 37 and the bad Gameweek was a very happy coincidence).

I can’t promise this will be the most essential bit of reading you will take in before the penultimate Gameweek but hopefully, it will serve as a bit of entertainment.

At the time of writing, I’ve slipped to a 487% red arrow (thanks, LiveFPL.net), falling from just inside the top 1k (987th) down to 5,689th. If Son Heung-min (£11.0m) carries on his recent form tonight, things will get worse as well.

I’m sure I won’t get too much sympathy. Being nestled within the top 10k with just a few Gameweeks remaining is a great position to be in but it’s hard not to be disappointed when seven weeks ago I was 500th in the world, with two chips left, and ready to start an assault on the top 100. Some poor judgment has ended that dream, with the main problem being my dreadful decision to play the Free Hit chip in Gameweek 34. That cost me 30+ points on my original team and meant I couldn’t play it in Gameweek 36, where we have seen people use it to great effect.

But anyway, the past is the past and there’s no more time for lamenting. Onto my next decision, and my next chip, which is the much-maligned Bench Boost. Let’s see how I’m currently set up, with £1.3m in the bank.

GAMEWEEK 37 BUS TEAM

Oh, dear. A reluctance to stock up on pricier assets on my Gameweek 29 Wildcard now sees me scrape the barrel with some of my selections.

In truth, I don’t mind playing Martin Dubravka (£4.4m) and Bruno Guimaraes (£4.9m) in their home game against Arsenal, who have the small matter of the north London derby tonight. St James’ Park will be rocking and Newcastle have only lost once in their last nine home matches: a narrow 1-0 defeat to Liverpool just a few weeks ago. A minutes per non-penalty expected goal involvement (NPxGI) of 173.8 cements Guimaraes as the Newcastle option with the best underlying stats. The injury to Jonjo Shelvey (£5.3m), the deepest-lying midfielder in the team, is a concern but with Joe Willock (£5.4m) out too, I’m expecting to see Bruno continue in his box-to-box role and Sean Longstaff (£4.3m) to continue as the anchor.

Now, and I can’t believe I’m writing this, the question is what to do about Hwang Hee-chan (£5.4m) and Connor Roberts (£4.4m). The obvious thing to do is sell them. Hwang barely plays with Pedro Neto (£6.2m) preferred up front, and Roberts has little attacking potential and faces two decent attacking sides in Spurs and Villa.

However, are the hits required to move these players on worth sacrificing potentially more significant upgrades in the likes of Aaron Ramsdale (£5.1m) to Jordan Pickford (£4.8m)? Will using some of my saved £1.3m that I had reserved for a potential Matty Cash (£5.2m) to Reece James (£6.4m) move come back to haunt me in Gameweek 38 if I am priced out of it? By using transfers, I will also make it more difficult to move for Son in his final game against Norwich if I want to. With two free transfers, I could move Harry Kane (£12.3m) and Anthony Gordon (£4.6m) to Son and Ivan Toney (£6.7m) in Gameweek 38, for example.

NEGLECT THE BENCH BOOST?

This is the horrible bit about the Bench Boost. By focusing transfers on improving your bench for, and I mean no disrespect, more “mediocre” players, it can be harder to get in the assets that are more likely to bring home the big points. With so few games left, my instinct is telling me to just write this Bench Boost off, take the likely 7-10 points and better attack the final two Gameweeks with players I actually want to see in my XI.

POSSIBLE BENCH BOOST OPTIONS

If I do decide to upgrade my bench, Hwang to Danny Welbeck (£5.9m) is probably a move at the top of my list. I’ve been so impressed with how Welbeck has been leading the line for Brighton and with returns in his last three games, he’s been a key figure in our impressive recent form. He needs to work on his conversion rate though (I’m sure I’ve heard that before when it comes to Brighton strikers…) with just 5.6% of his shots finding the net over his last six games – but his minutes per NPxGI of 160.7 is encouraging and better than the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo (217.7), for example. Leeds seems a good game to target, given that only Norwich (44.8) and Southampton (43) have a worse minutes per expected goals conceded (xGC) average over the last six Gameweeks (49.7).

Another move I could make is upgrading Roberts to Marcos Alonso (£5.7m) which loses me a Double Gameweek player but strengthens me for Gameweek 38 given that he now appears to be off Thomas Tuchel’s naughty step. Alonso sits top of all defenders for minutes per NPxGI (210) over the last six Gameweeks and second only to Antonio Rudiger (£6.1m) for minutes per shot (37.1 vs 36).


Anyway, that’s my current thinking. I’d love to hear from people from Fantasy Football Scout who have had similar Bench Boost dilemmas or from those who still have the chip left to play. What are your plans? Is it worth prioritising the bench at the cost of strengthening your main team for the next two Gameweeks? Should FPL do away with the chip altogether!? Let me know in the comments!

Az <p>One half of the FPL BlackBox YouTube series with Mark Sutherns.</p><p>Former Membership Strategy Manager for FFS&nbsp;</p> Follow them on Twitter

169 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FantasyTony
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Ben(ch) White

    1. sulldaddy
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Thanks to the folks on here that told me to sell White for Matip!

      Cheers to you!

  2. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Who wins tonight?

    Rival-Odegaard + Nketiah

    Me-Son + Saka

    Me on 118pts to date.

    Him on 147. Gained about 30 on me so far

    1. FantasyTony
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I'd say you're likely to outscore him tonight but not recoup the 29 point deficit.

      1. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Nope not a hope of that. Lead is down to 29 now.

        I am better set up for remaining two gws than he is. Both used FH this wk.

        My dilemma now is Salah or Kdb

  3. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Lovely jubbly, no Romero, we're going to seal top 4 in their back yard.

  4. Ange Ball
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    40pts clear rival has FH I have BB two games to go. What do need to do to win.

    1. greenybne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Play it safe and hope there isn’t a goal fest in 38.

      1. Ange Ball
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Safe how?

        1. European Bob
          • 11 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          Funny how?

          1. NorCal Villan
            • 2 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Like a clown?

        2. The Ilfordian
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          Team dependent but BB should be better this week. With rotation in the last week, you may not have a bench

    2. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Play the same way that has got you to this position, and don't panic

      1. Ange Ball
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Kdb TC

  5. YoungPretender
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    How’s this FH?

    Pickford
    Cash Digne TAA
    KDB Son Zaha Gordon
    Kane Ings Richarlison

    Steele KDH Amartey Tskimikas

    Kane a better option than Vardy?

    1. greenybne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      If Spurs win tonight then Kane over Vardy.

      Otherwise Vardy is a great differential and you have Spurs covered

  6. greenybne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Only got FH left and saving for 38.

    Struggling with transfers and also who to bench! Any help appreciated as I broke into the top 60k for the first time ever!

    Kasper, Foster
    TAA, Cancelo, Matip, Alonso, Guehi
    Son, Salah, Saka, KDB, Gordon
    Nkietah, Richardson, (Greenwood)

    1 FT and 0.4ITB

    Alonso - Digne?
    Alonso, Saka - Digne, Zaha? (-4)
    Alonso, Nkietah - Digne, Wellbeck? (-4)

  7. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Tavares better not cameo

    1. TheAbear53
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Oops, what ya doing ?

  8. 03farmboy
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Would you rather have a spurs defender or Nkietah for last two games??

    1. greenybne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Spurs. If Everton have something to fight for then they could close shop

      1. 03farmboy
        • 4 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Which spurs defender do you think is best option?

        1. RamaJama
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          Sess

          1. 03farmboy
            • 4 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Do you think he starts both games?

            1. RamaJama
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Yes

        2. greenybne
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          Dier or Romero as he got benched today

        3. The Mentaculus
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 2 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          Sessegnon 100%

          1. 03farmboy
            • 4 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Do you think he starts both remaining games??

            1. The Mentaculus
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 2 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Should do. Reguilon out injured

  9. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    As a non KDB owner shite week sums it up.

    To FH37 or 38, team linked.

  10. BIG TONES
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Anyone else not used their bench boosy yet? I decided to use my second FH this week instead

    1. BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      And yes I meant bench boosy

    2. greenybne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I’d BB this week and FH next. A few cheap players who could go well this week

      1. BIG TONES
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        I did bring in KDB (c), Laporte and others which I wouldn't have had on BB

  11. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Be huge if Arsenal secure top 4 at Tottenham Hotspur tonight.

  12. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    On a FH..

    A) Maddison, Mane, Ings
    Or?
    B) Sterling, Trossard, Vardy

  13. Gianluca Busio's Hair …
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Tavares punt went well then.

    1. The Ilfordian
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Bad luck. Had him in one of my drafts

      1. WALOR
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        This is their best:
        https://youtu.be/S4KHveeGUAs

        1. NorCal Villan
          • 2 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          Respect! Don’t encounter too many who remember them. We’re showin’ our age

          1. WALOR
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            The past is a foreign country

  14. 03farmboy
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Who’s the best spurs defender to get in??

    1. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Sess or Royal

    2. NorCal Villan
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Tim Duncan or STFU

  15. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Seldom if ever has my transfers worked better than this week.
    White weghorst dubravka and Schar
    To
    Holgate Nkeitah Foster and Alonso.
    Minus 8 well spent.

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Nice work - well done!

  16. schlupptheweek
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Tempted to do a -8 with Salah, Martinelli and Pukki to Trincao, Neto and Kane. Looks awful on paper given Wolves score usual 0-1 goals and neither are nailed, but Norwich are terrible.

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      So are wolves.

    2. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Incredibly 1-week focused - Salah could match all 3. And what's your plan for GW38 with 2 Wolves vs Liverpool?

      1. schlupptheweek
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        We've only got 2 weeks left and everyone's getting Palace and Everton players so this is a mad alternative and I can bench both Neto and Trincao GW38

        1. Utopsis
          • 4 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          A bit too mad for me I'm afraid - and as said below unlikely they both start

          1. schlupptheweek
            • 9 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Tbh I can completely agree with the criticism, it's food for thought but I'm definitely wanting to take some crazy risks given I'm 120k with not much to lose.

    3. The Mentaculus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I think if one of Neto/Trincao starts, the other doesn't. Had a brief look at Wolves for FH due to the fixture but none of them really appeal much atm

      1. schlupptheweek
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Pedro Neto has been playing well and with his minutes being managed 65 explosive minutes would be the hope. If 2 are played in CM then that could open up Trincao (or maybe Chiquinho) in a front 3. There's also Hwang and Silva but I'm hoping they'd be competing for Jimenez's place. Needless to say this would be like picking numbers for the lottery but it might be worth looking a predicted teams.

  17. Art Vandelay
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    I see Coutinho has signed a permanent deal. Hopefully he can actually get me some points next GW

  18. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Smith Rowe should be starting for Arsenal.

    He’s the top goal scorer FFS. Always looks dangerous.

  19. Original Sin
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    On 134 points for GW36 so far, so i can afford some hits for GW37. keeping that in mind, please suggest

    A. TAA+Salah+ Broja ->Cash+ Son+Richarlison ( -4)
    B. TAA+Broja->Cash+Richarlison
    C. TAA+Salah+Broja-> Cash+ Zaha+Kane/Vardy
    D. TAA+Robbo+ Broja-> Cash+Clyne+ Vardy ( -4)

    Current team:
    Guaita
    TAA Robbo Cancelo Alonso
    Salah Saka KDB Mount Maddison
    Watkins
    Foster Schar Broja Gelhardt

  20. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Coutinho just signed permanent deal with villa

    Keep for 37 so for the laugh?

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      No longer stressing about money leagues?

      1. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        I am big time. Lead down to 29 after last nite.

        Have Coutinho and not sure he want him tbh.

        1. camarozz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          I*

  21. zon
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    How's this for a FH team

    Pickford
    Cash Digne Mykolenko Robbo
    Salah KDB Son Maddison
    Richarlison Ings

    Hear out my reasoning

    - Salah - Soton are shite and are able to concede 9 at home
    - KDB/Son - they're on fire
    - Double Villa def: both attacking, cleanies would be bonus
    - Double Eve def: expect Eve to keep it tight at home, Pickford for saves and Myko WB
    - Maddison: Watford down and injury crisis, Chelsea not tight either. Vardy's minutes I trust even less.
    - NO ZAHA: CP are shite away, his good records have come against bad form sides recently. Villa & Eve away not The easiest atm.

    1. Wee Jinky
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Another reason you don't want to include Zaha is you have 5 defenders ZAHA will be up against?

    2. Wee Jinky
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Sorry 4 (but still a lot)