What is the best chip strategy for Gameweek 30?
With only four fixtures scheduled for Gameweek 30 it looks to be a difficult week for FPL managers to navigate. We take a look at the best chip strategy for Gameweek 30 and whether managers should Free Hit, play their Wildcard or just use their free transfers.
The FA Cup quarter finals have meant that Gameweek 30 is rather smaller than it was originally scheduled to be.
Many managers will be tempted to play a Free Hit chip this week, whilst others will try to navigate the week with just transfers. Is there also scope for playing the Wildcard chip this week?
Free Hit
For managers with a Free Hit chip still sitting unused it makes a lot of sense to play it in Gameweek 30. It will allow managers to field a full team, whist also meaning that they do not need to sell key blanking assets. Being able to hold the likes of Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rudiger and other popular assets for Gameweek 31 is appealing.
However, With a Free Hit chip many FPL managers look for the potential upside. With only eight teams to choose players from FPL managers who Free Hit in Gameweek 30 will find their options limited. With the news that Jamie Vardy is once again injured that pool of exciting assets is now even smaller.
There is likely to be a template Free Hit team for Gameweek 30 with FPL managers opting for three players from each of Spurs and Arsenal. As well as doubling up on other key, likely heavily owned players, from the other playing teams.
With a limited number of teams and players to choose from is there enough value in using the Free Hit chip in Gameweek 30? The chip has the benefit of allowing managers to field a full eleven. However if the chip was held for a later Gameweek it could allow for a greater level of returns.
Potential template Free Hit squad
Ramdale, Sa
Saiss, Digne, Cresswell, Jansson, Amartey
Saka, Son, Kulusevski, Coutinho, Raphinha
Kane, Lacazette, Toney
Free transfers and hits
FPL managers have known for a few weeks about the difficulty they will face in Gameweek 30. As a result many managers have already started filling their teams with assess who do play in Gameweek 30. The likes of Harry Kane, Son Heung-Min, Raphinha, Bukayo Saka and many more are already in a number of FPL teams.
For managers happy to bench or sell the likes of Salah, Trent and other non-playing options then it is possible to use transfers. With space on the bench for three non-playing options managers will have to decide who they want to keep and who will be sacrificed. FPL managers will likely want to own Salah and Trent for the rest of the season, potentially either Cancelo or the likes of Rudiger too. Therefore these players would be benched.
Managers could then sell other non-playing assets such as West Ham and Southampton assets. Moving Bowen on to Saka, or Broja to Toney would work for FPL managers in Gameweek 30 and beyond.
For managers using free transfers and points hits this weekend is it necessary to have a full eleven?Many managers without a Free Hit chip will likely only have nine or ten players for Gameweek 30. As long as these cover the key picks that Free Hit managers would select this will likely be enough.
Managers like FPL Silva made their Gameweek 29 plans work for Gameweek 30, with the help of the FPL Way planner.
Likewise, FPL Faiz has similar thoughts with using free transfers to manage the doubles and blanks.
Wildcard
Very few FPL managers are planning to Wildcard ahead of Gameweek 30. When playing the Wildcard chip FPL managers are usually looking to set their teams up for a number of Gameweeks. It allows managers to target players with good runs of form and fixtures.
By Wildcarding ahead of Blank Gameweek 30 managers would give themselves a small pot of players to chose from. They would therefore, if they wanted eleven players for Gameweek 30, be needing to make changes for the rest of the season straight after.
A Wildcard in Gameweek 31 makes a lot more sense. It allows managers to sell key assets in Gameweek 30 to field a team. As well as allowing them to bring them back or target key players the week after without taking a points hit.
Playing the chip in Gameweek 31 also means that managers will know which teams have qualified in the FA Cup. This knowledge of who will Blank in Gameweek 33 will be invaluable to managers playing the Wildcard.
Overall
If managers can playing through Gameweek 30 without using a chip makes a lot of sense. With Arsenal and Spurs playing twice in Gameweek 29 many FPL managers will have likely already targeted their assets. This means that many managers will already own the key picks in their normal FPL teams.
With further Double and Blank Gameweeks still to be confirmed holding the Free Hit chip might mean it brings better returns later on. Certainly the Wildcard looks best held for Gameweek 31 or beyond.
Want more advice on how to manage Gameweek 30? We’ve taken a look at the four fixtures in more depth to aid FPL managers planning.
