<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are a record-high eight chips to use in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) this season &#8211; but when should you use them?</span></p>
<p>Our 2025/25 Chip Strategy Guide talks you through major changes to the game to help you get ahead of your mini-league rivals.</p>
<p>Expect lots of chips to be played in the early weeks of the season as managers target an aggressive start.</p>
<p><em><strong>Last updated: 28/08/25</strong></em></p>
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<h2>FPL chips: Major changes for 2025/26 explained</h2>
<p>As well as the usual two <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/what-is-the-fantasy-premier-league-wildcard-and-when-to-use-it">Wildcards</a>, FPL managers will get double the <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/what-is-the-free-hit-chip-in-fpl-and-how-can-we-use-it">Free Hits</a>, <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/what-is-the-fpl-bench-boost-and-when-to-use-it">Bench Boosts</a> and <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/what-is-the-fantasy-premier-league-triple-captain-and-when-to-use-it">Triple Captains</a></p>
<p>The first of each of these must be used by Gameweek 19 &#8211; and it&#8217;s a case of use them or lose them.</p>
<p>The Assistant Manager meanwhile, trialled last season, has been scrapped.</p>
<p>Such major changes will result in a significant strategy shift.</p>
<p>Most FPL managers previously 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.</p>
<p>But a rethink will be needed this time &#8211; certainly for the first half of 2025/26.</p>
<p>In this initial edition of this guide, we&#8217;ll focus on the first set of chips, before updating it ahead of the second stage of the season.</p>
<div id="attachment_48381" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-48381" class="size-full wp-image-48381" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Poker.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Poker.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Poker-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Poker-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Poker-610x407.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-48381" class="wp-caption-text">There are more chips available in 2025/26 than ever before. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<h2><b>Will there be a blank or double gameweek before Gameweek 19?</b></h2>
<p>The main blank and double gameweeks are expected well into the second half of the season &#8211; after the time limit for the first helping of chips passes.</p>
<p>These are expected due to league matches clashing with cup ties.</p>
<p>But things don&#8217;t always go entirely to plan and there have been blanks and doubles in the first half of the season in recent years.</p>
<p>Luton couldn&#8217;t get their ground ready for the opening weekend of 2023/24, while the Queen&#8217;s death led to early blanks in 2022/23.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/ai-team-rating"><strong>🤖 Get your FPL team rated FREE by Hub AI</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p>And since the 2025/26 season started, the potential for a small blank and double before Gameweek 19 has emerged.</p>
<p>If Crystal Palace reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, there could be a <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-blank-double-gameweek-guide">Double Gameweek 16 and Blank Gameweek 17</a>.</p>
<p>The Free Hit or Wildcard could be handy if this happens, however all FPL managers get a <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/whats-new-in-fpl-2025-26-more-transfers-new-assist-rules">top up of to five free transfers</a> in Gameweek 16.</p>
<p>Finally, weather can play havoc with the football schedule &#8211; and with Gameweek 19 taking place at the end of December, there is a chance of some unexpected postponements.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But there’s no guarantee the Premier League would get round to rearranging fixtures before the first set of chips expire. </span></p>
<div id="attachment_55299" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-55299" class="size-full wp-image-55299" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Morris-Luton-1.jpg" alt="Luton had an early double gameweek. Picture by Getty Images" width="1024" height="746" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Morris-Luton-1.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Morris-Luton-1-300x219.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Morris-Luton-1-768x560.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Morris-Luton-1-610x444.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-55299" class="wp-caption-text">Luton had an early double gameweek. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<h2>When is the best time to play my FPL chips?</h2>
<p>The lack of blank and double gameweeks early on means there is lots of flexibility &#8211; and deciding when to play each chip will be highly team dependent.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-team-reveals"><strong>See how our expert FPL managers are set up</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p>But here are a few options that we&#8217;ll explore in detail below:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Triple Captain: </strong>GW4, GW6, GW9, GW12, GW13, GW14, GW15</li>
<li><strong>Free Hit:</strong> GW4, GW6, GW11, GW16/17</li>
<li><strong>Bench Boost: </strong>GW1, GW2, GW16 onwards</li>
<li><strong>Wildcard:</strong> GW4, GW8, ahead of AFCON, GW16/17</li>
</ul>
<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>Best time to play the FPL Triple Captain chip</h2>
<ul>
<li><strong>Mohamed Salah: </strong>GW4 v Burnley (A), GW14 v Sunderland (H), GW15 v Leeds (A)</li>
<li><strong>Erling Haaland: </strong>GW6 v Burnley (H), GW13 v Leeds (H), GW15 v Sunderland (H)</li>
<li><strong>Cole Palmer: </strong>GW9 v Sunderland (H), GW12 v Burnley (A), GW14 v Leeds (A)</li>
</ul>
<p>We&#8217;ve highlighted premium picks Salah, Haaland and Palmer&#8217;s fixtures against the promoted teams as a starting point for the Triple Captain.</p>
<p>Haaland particularly stands out, with Manchester City facing all three newcomers at home in the first half of the season.</p>
<p>Using it on Salah in Gameweek 4 could be a little early, with limited data available to show who will struggle to adapt to the top flight.</p>
<p>But by Gameweek 9, when Palmer and Chelsea host Sunderland, we&#8217;ll have a better idea &#8211; and the majority of the highlighted options come after this point.</p>
<div id="attachment_73378" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73378" class="size-full wp-image-73378" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GettyImages-2222365095.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GettyImages-2222365095.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GettyImages-2222365095-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GettyImages-2222365095-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-73378" class="wp-caption-text">Erling Haaland. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<h2>Best time to play the FPL Free Hit chip</h2>
<p>There&#8217;s no one standout time to play the Free Hit.</p>
<p>Saving it for a week where you have lots of injuries could be a flexible plan &#8211; or consider one of the following options.</p>
<p>Weeks where there is a good Triple Captain option could also be Free Hit opportunities, offering the chance to triple up on top teams who play a promoted side.</p>
<div id="attachment_70262" style="width: 661px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70262" class="size-full wp-image-70262" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Free-Hit-graphic.jpg" alt="FPL Free Hit" width="651" height="458" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Free-Hit-graphic.jpg 651w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Free-Hit-graphic-300x211.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Free-Hit-graphic-610x429.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 651px) 100vw, 651px" /><p id="caption-attachment-70262" class="wp-caption-text">FPL Free Hit</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Gameweek 4</h3>
<p>Many teams have a challenging Gameweek 4 fixture but better games either side.</p>
<p>Nottingham Forest for example have Arsenal (A) but West Ham (H) and Burnley (A) around it.</p>
<p>If you&#8217;re short of Liverpool players, they could be loaded up on for Burnley (A).</p>
<h3>Gameweek 6</h3>
<p>City v Burnley is a notable fixture in Gameweek 6.</p>
<p>By then, we may have a better idea of who Pep Guardiola favours among his new signings.</p>
<p>Forest play Sunderland (H) at the City Ground, while Spurs, Aston Villa and Chelsea are among teams to invest in. Arsenal and Liverpool are away to Newcastle and Crystal Palace respectively.</p>
<h3>Gameweek 11</h3>
<p>City and Liverpool clash in Gameweek 11, providing an opportunity to hop off both Salah and Haaland for a week.</p>
<p>Arsenal play Sunderland (A), with Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, Everton and West Ham among the potential teams to load up on.</p>
<h3>Gameweek 16/17</h3>
<p>Confirmation of a double and/or blank gameweek in these weeks would open up another Free Hit opportunity.</p>
<p>FPL will top everyone up to the maximum five transfers in Gameweek 16 to help deal with the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) though, so there is a fallback if you prefer to use it in another week.</p>
<div id="attachment_73163" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73163" class="size-full wp-image-73163" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Palmer-Getty-2.jpg" alt="Cole Palmer. Picture by Getty Images" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Palmer-Getty-2.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Palmer-Getty-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Palmer-Getty-2-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-73163" class="wp-caption-text">Cole Palmer. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<h2>Best time to play the FPL Bench Boost chip</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Hub’s <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/my-team/pick">My Team tool</a> is a great way to plan ahead. You can cycle through the gameweeks and optimise your side to see which ones suit a Bench Boost. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bench boosting one or two weeks after a Wildcard is a common way to use the chip. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This would allow you the chance to see how the early stages pan out before giving your team a refresh with a Bench Boost in mind. </span></p>
<div id="attachment_70263" style="width: 660px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70263" class="size-full wp-image-70263" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Bench-Boost.jpg" alt="FPL Bench Boost" width="650" height="411" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Bench-Boost.jpg 650w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Bench-Boost-300x190.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Bench-Boost-610x386.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /><p id="caption-attachment-70263" class="wp-caption-text">FPL Bench Boost</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Gameweek 1/2</h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some managers liked to get the Bench Boost out of the way early even before the chip changes were announced. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It can be a tricky one to plan for because it’s rarely easy to get 15 players fit and starting to maximise its use. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Setting up a Bench Boost squad for Gameweek 1 avoids mid-season planning and using precious transfers to craft the ideal team. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s not a failsafe strategy though, with lots of unknowns over who will play and the form teams, while budget will be limited. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In future weeks, you would hope several players have gone up in price and your team value is higher, offering the chance to build a stronger squad. </span></p>
<p>Gameweek 2 offers similar advantages to Gameweek 1 but with news of <strong>Martin Dubravka </strong>joining Burnley, we are set to have a £4.0m starting goalkeeper.</p>
<p>The Clarets host Sunderland in this week, who have a budget player of their own in <strong>Marc Guiu </strong>at £4.5m. His expected minutes are not likely to be clear by this point though.</p>
<h3>Gameweek 16 and beyond</h3>
<p>FPL will refresh everyone&#8217;s free transfer count to five in Gameweek 16 to compensate for disruption caused by the <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/whats-new-in-fpl-2025-26-more-transfers-new-assist-rules">Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)</a>.</p>
<p>This will give you more flexibility to upgrade your squad &#8211; but the downside is that those transfers could be better banked for later in the season as the blanks and doubles come up.</p>
<p>A surprise double gameweek around this time could be a Bench Boost opportunity too.</p>
<div id="attachment_73288" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73288" class="size-full wp-image-73288" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Salah-7.jpg" alt="Mohamed Salah. Picture by Getty Images" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Salah-7.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Salah-7-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Salah-7-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-73288" class="wp-caption-text">Mohamed Salah will be among those heading to AFCON. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<h2>Best time to play the first FPL Wildcard chip</h2>
<p>This is another chip where the state of your team could dictate when you play it.</p>
<p>An early Wildcard could be handy if your team has got off to a poor start but if it is doing well, saving it for later is wise.</p>
<h3>Gameweek 4</h3>
<p>Gameweek 4 follows the first international break and offers a chance to reset your team.</p>
<p>It could be slightly earlier than ideal though, with just three weeks of data to consider.</p>
<h3>Gameweek 7/8</h3>
<p>The second international break comes before the Gameweek 8 deadline.</p>
<p>This would provide a longer window to monitor the early stages of the season than playing the chip in Gameweek 4.</p>
<p>Gameweek 7 marks the start of Arsenal&#8217;s improved fixture run &#8211; but activating the chip before the break, when injuries could occur, might not be ideal.</p>
<h3>Gameweek 13/ahead of AFCON</h3>
<p>Wildcarding ahead of AFCON in Gameweek 16 is an alternative way of handling the issue than using free transfers. It could also help set up for a Bench Boost soon after.</p>
<p>This would only be an effective use of the Wildcard though if your squad is loaded up with players who are heading to the tournament.</p>
<p>Gameweek 13 is a great time to load up on City picks for Leeds (H).</p>
<h3>Gameweek 16/17</h3>
<p>Should a blank and/or double gameweek be announced, the Wildcard could be used instead of the Free Hit to get through it &#8211; but only the best-planned squads may be able to hold out that long.</p>
<div id="attachment_70258" style="width: 663px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70258" class="size-full wp-image-70258" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Wildcard-chip.jpg" alt="The FPL Wildcard" width="653" height="527" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Wildcard-chip.jpg 653w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Wildcard-chip-300x242.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Wildcard-chip-610x492.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 653px) 100vw, 653px" /><p id="caption-attachment-70258" class="wp-caption-text">The FPL Wildcard</p></div>
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FPL Chip Strategy Guide 2025/26: Best time to play Triple Captain, Free Hit and more

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