This season there will be TWO Bench Boost chips, with the first needing to be played by Gameweek 19. Here, the Scout's panel of Fantasy Premier League experts explain whether they would suggest playing it in the opening week of the season.
Sam Bonfield (@FPLFamily)
I'm currently planning to Bench-Boost in Gameweek 1. We often get a good knowledge of who will start in the final pre-season matches so it feels like a good opportunity - especially as then I can remove money from the bench players and invest it in the starting XI much earlier on than if you don't go early with the chip.
Utkarsh Dalmia (@ZopharFPL)
I think the Bench Boost chip is a bit overrated and often it can cripple your squad in planning for it, because you have to mop up injuries and suspensions in your squad rather than focus on buying emerging players. This is why I like getting it out of the way in Gameweek 1, as you can then focus on your starting XI rather than the fringe players.
Gianni Buttice (@GianniButtice)
I'm committed to Bench-Boosting early as I want it out of the way before I Wildcard. But I'm still unsure where in the first five Gameweeks I will pull the trigger. The fear with playing my Bench Boost chip in Gameweek 1 is we end up making the best possible squad for one week only and don't put enough focus on the other early weeks which could prove to be better Bench-Boost windows.
Lee Bonfield (@FPLFamily)
I'm certainly not against it. It's probably the chip that most influences my thinking as I go through the weeks with it in my back pocket. My transfers tend to be "squad'' transfers, perhaps to the detriment of fielding the strongest possible XI. I'm not currently planning to use it in Gameweek 1, due to uncertainty of who's going to start, but as pre-season plays out, I could be persuaded!
Pras (@Pras_FPL)
If I can find a structure that I am happy with and some budget gems emerge such as a £4.0m goalkeeper or £4.0m defender then I am strongly considering playing the Bench Boost in Gameweek 1. My thinking is not necessarily to maximise the points on the bench itself, but for it not to hinder my future transfers where I am focusing on changing my fifth defender (to Bench Boost) when other more exciting moves make more sense.
Pranil Sheth (@lateriser12)
I like the idea of Bench-Boosting before using the Wildcard because there are a lot more premium players in the game now, and I want to spend money on the pitch and not on my bench when I Wildcard for a longer duration - especially with fixtures for Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea looking good from Gameweek 10 onwards.
Nick Harris (@WGTA_Nick)
I am a strong advocate of using my Bench Boost early, possibly Gameweek 1. Then you don't need to worry about maintaining a strong bench going forward and can start disinvesting and moving more of your budget back into your starting XI, either through transfers or an early Wildcard.
Holly Shand (@HollyShand)
On paper, Gameweek 1 is one of the best times to play the Bench Boost. It might lead to an early Wildcard but I'm open to that anyway. That being said, I haven't currently built a team with a view to Bench-Boosting as I'm still waiting for good budget options to emerge and there's high risk pinpointing who will start, with only pre-season form to go on.
Andy North (@FPLMode)
Gameweek 1 is arguably the hardest week to predict which players will play, let alone picking 15. I'm happy to wait until Gameweek 16-19 when we will be given five free transfers to help plan around this season’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and use it then. We will have also accumulated far more team value by this point, which should help.