<p>It&#8217;s crunch time in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) and with much of the schedule now set, when is the best time to use your remaining chips?</p>
<p>Our 2025/25 Chip Strategy Guide talks you through the options to help you get ahead of your mini-league rivals.</p>
<p><em><strong>Last updated: 07/04/26</strong></em></p>
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<h2>FPL chips: What&#8217;s available this season?</h2>
<p>The first half of this season had a very different look, with an extra <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/what-is-the-free-hit-chip-in-fpl-and-how-can-we-use-it">Free Hit</a>, <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/what-is-the-fpl-bench-boost-and-when-to-use-it">Bench Boost</a> and <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/what-is-the-fantasy-premier-league-triple-captain-and-when-to-use-it">Triple Captain</a> in play. FPL also scrapped the Assistant Manager chip it trialled in 2024/25.</p>
<p>But the second half of 2025/26 will have a more traditional feel, with a single <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/what-is-the-fantasy-premier-league-wildcard-and-when-to-use-it">Wildcard</a>, Free Hit, Bench Boost and Triple Captain available as usual.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-blank-double-gameweek-guide">Blank and double gameweeks</a> will now play a major part in shaping our strategies going forward, so now is the time to plan every move carefully.</p>
<div id="attachment_73561" style="width: 730px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73561" class="size-full wp-image-73561" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FPL-chip-strategy.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="377" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FPL-chip-strategy.jpg 720w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FPL-chip-strategy-300x157.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /><p id="caption-attachment-73561" class="wp-caption-text">FPL chip strategy</p></div>
<h2>When are the blank and double gameweeks?</h2>
<p>The key blank and double gameweeks &#8211; 33 and 34 &#8211; are now set.</p>
<p>Six teams play twice in Double Gameweek 33 &#8211; and the same teams will be without a fixture in Blank Gameweek 34.</p>
<p>Manchester City are among the six and they are set for a second double, with their postponed Gameweek 31 match against Crystal Palace (H) likely to slot into Gameweek 36.</p>
<p>See our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-blank-double-gameweek-guide">Blank and Double Gameweek Guide</a> for more information.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Double Gameweek 33: </strong>Chelsea, Brighton, Manchester City, Burnley, Leeds and Bournemouth</li>
<li><strong>Blank Gameweek 34: </strong>Chelsea, Brighton, Manchester City, Burnley, Leeds and Bournemouth</li>
<li><strong>Double Gameweek 36: </strong>TBC &#8211; Manchester City and Crystal Palace?</li>
<li><strong>Blank Gameweek 37: </strong>TBC but now unlikely</li>
</ul>
<div id="attachment_76531" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-76531" class="size-full wp-image-76531" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2251814268.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="749" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2251814268.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2251814268-300x219.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2251814268-768x562.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-76531" class="wp-caption-text">Manchester City are expected to have two double gameweeks. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<h2>When is the best time to play my Wildcard, Free Hit, Triple Captain and Bench Boost?</h2>
<p>FPL managers can finally get planning after confirmation of the Double Gameweek 33 and Blank Gameweek 34 fixtures on the weekend of April 4 and 5.</p>
<p>There are a couple of strategies that are set to be popular for playing the Wildcard, Bench Boost and Free Hit in particular.</p>
<p>But Arsenal losing to Championship Southampton in the FA Cup has opened up the possibilities &#8211; and one strategy which was set to be overwhelmingly popular may not be quite so strong now.</p>
<p>We explore the options and the pros and cons below.</p>
<h3>Wildcard GW32, Bench Boost GW33, Free Hit GW34: No longer as obvious?</h3>
<ul>
<li>✅Sets squads up for maximising a Bench Boost full of double gameweek picks</li>
<li>✅Wildcarding close to a Bench Boost gives best chance of getting a full set of 15 starters</li>
<li>✅Allows easy planning for doubling teams blanking the following week</li>
<li>❌Gameweek 34 now easier to navigate for many managers</li>
<li>❌Fixtures for doubling teams not so strong in Gameweek 32</li>
<li>❌Keeping Bruno Fernandes and Gabriel weakens the Bench Boost&#8217;s fixture volume</li>
</ul>
<p>If you&#8217;ve activated the Wildcard and packed it full of double gameweek teams, chances are your squad isn&#8217;t looking too healthy in Gameweek 32.</p>
<p>Bournemouth travel to Arsenal, Leeds face Manchester United (A) and Chelsea and City play each other for example.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, teams loaded with Arsenal assets and Manchester United picks like standout captaincy contender <strong>Bruno Fernandes </strong>look well set up.</p>
<p>But with no other big double gameweek expected, the alternatives for a Bench Boost look poorer outside Double Gameweek 33.</p>
<p>Should you want to use it in Double Gameweek 36 instead &#8211; if confirmed &#8211; the league could be all but over by then and rotation could prove problematic.</p>
<p>A good starting point for working out whether this strategy still looks good for you is to check how many players you currently have for Blank Gameweek 34.</p>
<p>If you have enough free transfers saved to get to a full 11, other paths can be considered.</p>
<div id="attachment_78465" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-78465" class="size-full wp-image-78465" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bruno-Fernandes-United.jpg" alt="Bruno Fernandes - keep or sell on Wildcard in Gameweek 32?" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bruno-Fernandes-United.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bruno-Fernandes-United-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bruno-Fernandes-United-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-78465" class="wp-caption-text">Bruno Fernandes is a strong captain option in FPL Gameweek 32 &#8211; but doesn&#8217;t double in Gameweek 33</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Free Hit Gameweek 33, Wildcard 35, Bench Boost 36: The new contender?</h3>
<ul>
<li>✅Many FPL teams look good for Gameweek 32 without a Wildcard</li>
<li>✅Arsenal not doubling weakens the options in Double Gameweek 33 with some tricky fixtures</li>
<li>✅Gunners&#8217; fixtures are highly targetable to end the season &#8211; subject to rotation</li>
<li>✅Easier to target Crystal Palace players</li>
<li>❌Less to target later on in the season lessens power of Wildcard?</li>
<li>❌Uncertainty over when to Bench Boost and the strength of it</li>
<li>❌Depends on free transfers and current make-up of squad</li>
</ul>
<p>If you&#8217;ve got a good-looking team for Gameweek 32, the temptation will be to avoid wildcarding this week and save a precious free transfer.</p>
<p>This prevents the dilemma of selling players with stronger fixtures for the greater good of building a Bench Boost team for Double Gameweek 33.</p>
<p>Free Hit teams in Gameweek 33 may not look much worse than Bench Boost sides too, which may not be fully stacked with doublers due to highly owned Arsenal picks and Fernandes being difficult to drop.</p>
<p>This strategy is one to consider if you can get through Blank Gameweek 34 by using free transfers. Teams like Manchester United, Newcastle and Arsenal being in action should make this easier.</p>
<div id="attachment_75263" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-75263" class="size-full wp-image-75263" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GettyImages-2232274118-1.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GettyImages-2232274118-1.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GettyImages-2232274118-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GettyImages-2232274118-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-75263" class="wp-caption-text">Leeds and Dominic Calvert-Lewin will double in Gameweek 33. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Alternative Wildcard window: Gameweek 33?</h3>
<p>If the Gameweek 32 Wildcard significantly impacts worsens your team this week and you&#8217;re not keen on doing so, the players you pick on Wildcard in Gameweek 33 will be very similar.</p>
<p>Of course, this means the Free Hit cannot be played in the biggest double gameweek, however there are single-gameweek options such as Gameweek 35 or Double Gameweek 36.</p>
<p>Those who want to keep hold of <strong>Gabriel</strong> and Fernandes can bench them in Gameweek 33 without weakening their Bench Boost &#8211; and won&#8217;t lose too many fixtures playing the chip in a different week.</p>
<div id="attachment_77643" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-77643" class="size-full wp-image-77643" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Gabriel-4.jpg" alt="Gabriel. Picture by Getty Images" width="1024" height="692" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Gabriel-4.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Gabriel-4-300x203.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Gabriel-4-768x519.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-77643" class="wp-caption-text">Gabriel. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>What about the Triple Captain?</h3>
<p>Many used this chip on an Arsenal player for their earlier double gameweek.</p>
<p>But if you&#8217;ve still got it in hand, Double Gameweek 36 could be the prime time to play it if it works around your chip strategy.</p>
<p>An <strong>Erling Haaland </strong>Triple Captain against Brentford (H) and Crystal Palace (H) could be stronger than a Gameweek 36 Bench Boost.</p>
<p>There&#8217;s a small chance Manchester City v Palace could be moved to a different week however.</p>
<p>Outside this, a single-gameweek punt may be the only alternative unless you&#8217;ve used the rest of your chips.</p>
<p>An Arsenal player against Burnley (H) in Gameweek 37 is one option, while Gameweek 38 can often be a goal-fest.</p>
<div id="attachment_75219" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-75219" class="size-full wp-image-75219" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GettyImages-2239454673.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GettyImages-2239454673.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GettyImages-2239454673-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GettyImages-2239454673-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-75219" class="wp-caption-text">Erling Haaland. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
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An upcoming blank for Bruno Fernandes and Manchester United. Picture by Getty Images

FPL Chip Strategy Guide 2025/26: When to use the second set of chips

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