Blank and Double Gameweeks: Early Planning and Chip Strategy

As we head into the business end of the season, it’s time to start thinking about the likely blank and double gameweeks and how to use your chips to navigate them. 

While there’s always a bit of uncertainty this far out, we can make some educated guesses about when these key weeks will fall and how to plan around them.

So, I am going to look at blanks and double gameweeks and then set out the “optimal” chip strategies.

Blank Gameweeks

We’re pretty confident that Gameweek 31 (around the League Cup final), Gameweek 34 (around the FA Cup semi-final) and gameweek 37(around the FA Cup Final) will be the blank gameweeks.

• In GW31, you’ll see four teams blanking (the two cup finalists and their league opponents).
• GW34 could be even bigger with up to eight teams involved (four semi-finalists and their league opponents). 
• In GW37, you’ll likely see four teams blanking again (the two cup finalists and their league opponents).

Free Hit Blank Gameweek 34 (or 37)

GW34 is probably the prime candidate for using your Free Hit chip to get through that week. With possibly eight teams blanking that seems like a really good time to save yourself a headache.

GW37 is probably the next most interesting blank – purely for those of you in head-to-head league playoffs and cup competitions at the end of the season. A free hit could basically guarantee you a place in that final.

The Schedule

Double Gameweeks

The League Cup

The first possible double could be in GW26 if Arsenal reach the League Cup final and don’t have to play a Champions League playoff – which looks likely right now. That would give Arsenal and their opponents Wolves a double in GW26.

For the other League Cup finalist – Man City or Newcastle and Chelsea if they beat Arsenal GW33 is likely to host their double. As you can see above, there is some blank space in the midweek between 33 and 34. Doubles would then look like this (depending upon who wins):

We should know by gameweek 25 what the plan is as the Carabao Cup Semis are played between GW24 and GW25.

The FA Cup

The FA Cup Semi-Finalists could also have their fixtures moved into gameweek 33 as we will know before gameweek 32 who makes the semis. But, thats a short turnaround and obviously they may also double for league cup reasons.

So, the next logical spot is in between gameweek 36 and 37 where there is space but then where do you put the games for those that blank for the FA cup final? What if one of them makes the Europa League final? I honestly don’t know, I am a little out of my depth at this point.

The key thing is, nobody knows for certain right now – so factor that uncertainty and the likelihood of a big double gameweek around this time.

When to Play Your Chips?

When to Wildcard?

The time to wildcard is when it is best for you. BUT, I can give you some general advice on the optimal times. And I have three windows in mind.

The first window is between now and gameweek 24. There is a bit of a fixture swing towards Chelsea, United, Bournemouth, Villa and Palace about this time. 

The second window is gameweek 32. In this scenario you dead-end your team into gameweek 31 and then wildcard.

The final window is gameweek 34. Again, in this scenario you dead-end your team into gameweek 33 and then wildcard out of it.

My personal preference is the second window.

When to Bench Boost? And, when to Wildcard?

Again, the ideal time is when it is best for you. Particularly for the bench boost, your team might be best served by playing the best bench you have any given gameweek.

Otherwise, the general advice is to play these chips in double gameweeks OR in your knockout rounds of cups or playoffs.

Going Rogue?

I have set out what I think is probably the “optimal” meta strategy. That doesn’t mean you should follow the plans I set out below.

I think these suggestions are the most sensible but you may want to go rogue and chase rank or just have fun – that’s fine.

We at Full90FPL just want you to make informed decisions.

That’s It.

We will inevitably come back to this in the coming weeks but I hope this gives you a good sense of when you might be playing your chips.