When to use those final FPL chips?
FPL chips are a key part of the game. Getting the chip strategy correct can often be the difference between reflecting on the previous season as a successful one, or not. Ahead of the Double Gameweek 34 deadline we assess when is best time to play any chips that FPL managers have remaining.
With just five Gameweeks to go to the end of the season some managers will find themselves with four chips still to play. Others will have already played all of their chips earlier on in the season. Regardless of which chips or how many chips managers have remaining the Fantasy Football Scout fixture ticker will be key to building a chip strategy.
Free Hit
This season managers have two Free Hit chips as a result of the impact of Covid earlier on in the season. For managers who still have both the Free Hit chips in play it is important to remember that they can not be played in back-to-back Gameweeks. This means that FPL managers will not be able to play the FPL chips in Double Gameweek 36 and 37.
There are currently scheduled to be three Double Gameweeks over the course of the run in. Gameweek 34, 36 and 37. The following teams play twice in these Gameweeks.
| Gameweek 34 | Gameweek 36 | Gameweek 37 |
| Chelsea Man United | Chelsea Leicester Spurs Aston Villa Norwich Arsenal Everton Leeds Watford | Leicester Aston Villa Burnley Crystal Palace Everton |
Gameweek 36 therefore looks the best opportunity to play a Free Hit chip. This Gameweek appears to have more upside as there are more teams for FPL managers to target. However, with Chelsea already playing twice in Double Gameweek 34 and teams like Spurs and Arsenal already being heavily owned managers may find that they are already heavily invested in the popular assets. If this is the case them managers could look at one of the smaller Double Gameweeks or even Gameweek 38.
With all the teams kicking off at the same time on the final day of the season this can be a good time for managers to play the Free Hit chip. Managers can target the teams who have something to play for on the final day of the season, i.e. teams chasing the title, top four or trying to avoid relegation.
Bench Boost
Like the Free Hit chip FPL managers often like to play their bench boost chip in a Double Gameweek. This is because it maximises the potential number of minutes that their team can play over the course of the Gameweek. However, unlike the Free Hit chip a managers ability to Bench Boost will be very much team specific.
For the bench boost chip to be played managers will need to ensure that they have a fully playing squad. They will also look to ensure as many blue fixtures on the ticker as possible, Gameweek 34 could be a good time for this.
Gameweek 34 has attractive fixtures for popular FPL assets and teams. Man City, Liverpool and Spurs all have blue fixtures meanwhile Chelsea will play twice. Managers have also been targeting teams like Newcastle and Leicester as a result of their fixtures up to this point. These teams also have reasonable fixtures in Gameweek 34 and therefore could produce a good bench boost team.
Managers should try to Bench Boost in a Double Gameweek. However it is not essential and the fixtures in Gameweek 35 also look good for many FPL teams to Bench Boost.
Gameweek 35 however is surrounded by European football and therefore managers should be mindful of potential rotation if they do play the chip then. Legomane‘s matrix highlights when the additional European fixtures fall in comparison to the Premier League matches.
Wildcard
With the exception of Wolves and Man City’s match FPL managers are now in a position to be able to plan for the rest of the season. At this stage the Wildcard chip should be used as soon as possible. The Wildcard is meant to add value to FPL managers squads over multiple Gameweeks.
This means that playing the chip ahead of the Gameweek 34 deadline will allow managers to ensure the most benefit over the coming weeks. Managers will be able to build a squad to target the Double Gameweeks as well as factor in any use of any other chips too.
Overall
For managers who still have their second Wildcard to play it makes sense to play this as soon as possible.
Managers with the Bench Boost chip remaining should ensure that they have a full team of players available. They should also target the fixture ticker to make sure that their players have good fixtures in the week that they want to activate the chip.
Free Hit chips will ideally target a Double Gameweek. However there is real potential to play the chip in the final week of the season.
Playing the FPL chips correctly and with good planning could result in some good rank rises before the end of the season.
Wondering what to expect from the Gameweek 34 fixtures? Check out our recent article.
