There are a record-high eight chips to use in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) this season &#8211; but when should you use them?
Our 2025/25 Chip Strategy Guide talks you through major changes to the game to help you get ahead of your mini-league rivals.
Last updated: 16/12/25

<a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/join">Join the Hub!</a>

<h2>FPL chips: What&#8217;s available this season?</h2>
The first half of this season has had a very different look.
FPL managers had an extra set of chips, with an additional <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> to use by Gameweek 19.
The Assistant Manager meanwhile, trialled last season, has been scrapped.
Previously, most experienced managers saved their chips until later in the season when <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-blank-double-gameweek-guide">blank and double gameweeks</a> occur.
This initial edition of the guide focuses on the first set of chips.
But with time running out to play them, attention will soon switch to the second half of the season.
<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" />FPL chip strategy</div>
<h2>When is the best time to play my FPL chips?</h2>
There are just a handful of gameweeks left to use up the first helping of chips, so it&#8217;s time to make a plan if you haven&#8217;t already.
<h3>Triple Captain</h3>
Erling Haaland is the obvious Triple Captain candidate for the remaining weeks, thanks to his runaway lead atop the FPL points standings.
And Gameweek 17 looks the clearest time to use it against West Ham (A).
The Norwegian leads the way in all three weeks, so if you spot a better chip to use in Gameweek 17, it&#8217;s not the end of the world if you use it at another time.
The game against the Hammers is however the only home fixture of the trio.
For those who are looking for something different, Haaland&#8217;s teammate Phil Foden or Antoine Semenyo &#8211; who faces Burnley (H) &#8211; are alternatives, as is Bruno Fernandes against Wolves (H) in Gameweek 19.
<div id="attachment_76465" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-76465" class="size-large wp-image-76465" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Predicted-points-GW17-19-1024x386.jpg" alt="Predicted points for Gameweek 17-19" width="1024" height="386" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Predicted-points-GW17-19-1024x386.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Predicted-points-GW17-19-300x113.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Predicted-points-GW17-19-768x289.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Predicted-points-GW17-19-1080x407.jpg 1080w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Predicted-points-GW17-19.jpg 1388w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Predicted points for Gameweek 17-19</div>
&nbsp;
<h3>Wildcard</h3>
We&#8217;ve just passed the point where every manager was topped up to the maximum five free transfers to coincide with players being released for the <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/which-fpl-picks-are-affected-by-afcon-2025-26">Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)</a>.
If you&#8217;ve still got some of these transfers in hand as well as the Wildcard, you should be well set.
Wildcarding should enable you to keep hold of those precious free moves f0r longer, helping deal with the challenges of blanks and doubles later on.
Gameweek 17 is a good entry point for Brighton, Manchester City, Fulham and Bournemouth &#8211; although the Cherries&#8217; fixtures soon take a turn. It&#8217;s less ideal for loading up on Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United players.
Gameweek 18 is a better hop-on point for Liverpool and Arsenal, with Arne Slot&#8217;s side also looking good in Gameweek 19.
Take a look at the Hub&#8217;s <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/my-team/pick">My Team tool</a> to see when your squad could most do with a refresh. 
<div id="attachment_75054" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-75054" class="size-full wp-image-75054" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GettyImages-2231897566.jpg" alt="Bryan Mbeumo, Picture by Getty Images" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GettyImages-2231897566.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GettyImages-2231897566-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GettyImages-2231897566-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Bryan Mbeumo is one of many AFCON-bound players. Picture by Getty Images</div>
&nbsp;
<h3>Bench Boost</h3>
Again, Bench Boost is a highly team dependent chip.
But with many squads having Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka as their back-up shot-stopper, building around his best fixture is a good starting point.
Gameweek 18 against Everton (H) is the pick of the Clarets&#8217; upcoming games &#8211; and this works well alongside a Haaland Triple Captain in Gameweek 17.
<div id="attachment_73837" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73837" class="size-full wp-image-73837" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Dubravka-4.jpg" alt="Martin Dubravka. Picture by Getty Images" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Dubravka-4.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Dubravka-4-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Dubravka-4-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Martin Dubravka. Picture by Getty Images</div>
&nbsp;
<h3>Free Hit</h3>
Here are some teams to target over the next three gameweeks if you still have a Free Hit.
All these clubs have green-rated match-ups on the Hub&#8217;s <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fixture-ticker">fixture ticker</a>:
<ul>
<li>Gameweek 17: Bournemouth, Brighton, Manchester City, Fulham</li>
<li>Gameweek 18: Liverpool, Arsenal, West Ham, Everton</li>
<li>Gameweek 19: Manchester United, Liverpool, Crystal Palace, Newcastle</li>
</ul>
Any of these three weeks could be suitable, depending on the make-up of your squad.
With Bournemouth&#8217;s fixtures taking a turn after Gameweek 17 and many having sold Semenyo &#8211; now on <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-yellow-cards-and-suspensions">four yellow cards</a> &#8211; to buy Foden, taking a one-week punt on him could work well.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-75159" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GettyImages-2239112091.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="696" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GettyImages-2239112091.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GettyImages-2239112091-300x204.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GettyImages-2239112091-768x522.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
Antoine Semenyo. Picture by Getty Images&nbsp;
<h3>Follow the Hub</h3>
🐤<a href="https://twitter.com/FFH_HQ" data-clevertap-listener="true">Twitter</a> 
📱<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ffootballhub/" data-clevertap-listener="true">Facebook</a> 
💻<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/FantasyFootballHub/?sub_confirmation=1" data-clevertap-listener="true">YouTube</a> 
🤳<a href="https://www.instagram.com/FFH_HQ/" data-clevertap-listener="true">Instagram</a> 
⏰<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@FFH_HQ" data-clevertap-listener="true">Tiktok</a>
And view all our latest fantasy football tips on our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/" aria-label="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/" data-clevertap-listener="true">homepage</a>

FPL Chip Strategy Guide 2025/26: Last chances to use the first set of chips

Win at FPL

Community & tools