Fantasy Premier League

Keep your head up if you have no FPL chips

By The Scout 15 Feb 2018
Sam Allardyce - Everton v Leicester City

The Scout on how managers who have used their Free Hit and Wildcard can still negotiate fixture postponements

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The Scout is looking at the impact of the FA Cup on Fantasy Premier League Gameweeks and the strategies to cope.

No chips left? What to do

Fixture rescheduling is a problem facing all FPL managers, especially those who have used their Free Hit chip.

Those managers without the new chip for 2017/18 must look ahead and consider their ambitions for Gameweek 31.

Transfers until then will need to be guided accordingly.

Decide your strategy

As it stands, we know four teams are guaranteed to play in Gameweek 31 and, depending on results, at least two more clubs will be available.

If your chosen strategy is to field as many active players as possible, all your free transfers available from this point should target players certain to feature in Gameweek 31.

Whom to target?

Liverpool will face Watford at Anfield, so Mohamed Salah (£10.4m) will likely be the most popular captain pick in that Gameweek.

Roberto Firmino (£9.2m) and Virgil van Dijk (£5.5m) will also be in demand.

Watford's midfield trio of Gerard Deulofeu (£6.0m), Abdoulaye Doucoure (£5.4m) and Richarlison (£6.1m) could also have merit if you back the Hornets to breach the Liverpool defence.

The other guaranteed fixture is Stoke City v Everton at bet365 Stadium.

Theo Walcott (£7.3m) and Oumar Niasse (£4.9m) are strong candidates for Everton, while Xherdan Shaqiri (£6.2m) has also shown form for Stoke.

The risks at play

But FPL managers looking beyond these options need to be wary on two fronts.

Firstly, there is a risk that by being distracted by players active in Gameweek 31, managers may miss more lucrative signings elsewhere.

In addition, squads should not be built specifically for Gameweek 31, only then to need wholesale changes soon after.

Plan for 'Double Gameweeks'

The teams who miss Gameweek 31 will likely have their fixtures rescheduled to give them two matches in a single Gameweek later on.

Managers will then want to target players in teams with these "Double Gameweeks".

Those with a Wildcard chip available can use it to rebuild with this in mind. 

Keep a balance

But managers who have used both the Wildcard chip and the Free Hit one must aim for a balance between players in teams active in Gameweek 31, while retaining in their squads some set for Double Gameweeks further down the line.

The best strategy in this instance is for them to limit their goal to having seven or eight strong options for Gameweek 31, with a focus on the key targets mentioned.

Also in this series

Part 1: FPL managers keeping keen eye on FA Cup
Part 2: Free Hit chip can solve cup conundrum

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