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 the options to help you get ahead of your mini-league rivals.
Last updated: 04/02/26

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<h2>FPL chips: What&#8217;s available this season?</h2>
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.
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.
<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.
<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 are the blank and double gameweeks?</h2>
Our first double and blank gameweeks are nearly set.
Arsenal and Wolves will both play twice in Double Gameweek 26 and blank in Gameweek 31.
Manchester City and Crystal Palace are likely to join Arsenal and Wolves in blanking in Gameweek 31, with their double expected to come later on, possibly in Gameweek 33.
See our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-blank-double-gameweek-guide">Blank and Double Gameweek Guide</a> for more information.
<ul>
<li>Double Gameweek 26: Arsenal and Wolves</li>
<li>Blank Gameweek 31: Arsenal, Wolves and likely Manchester City and Crystal Palace</li>
<li>Double Gameweek 33: TBC</li>
<li>Blank Gameweek 34: TBC</li>
<li>Double Gameweek 36: TBC</li>
<li>Blank Gameweek 37: TBC</li>
</ul>
<div id="attachment_73230" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73230" class="size-full wp-image-73230" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Rice-corner.jpg" alt="Declan Rice. Picture by Getty Images" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Rice-corner.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Rice-corner-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Rice-corner-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Declan Rice and Arsenal have a Double Gameweek 26. Picture by Getty Images</div>
<h2>When is the best time to play my Wildcard, Free Hit, Triple Captain and Bench Boost?</h2>
Given we won&#8217;t know the fixtures for the later blanks and doubles for a while, forming a precise strategy at this stage is tricky.
But with Double Gameweek 26 and Blank Gameweek 31 taking shape, there are a couple of options that will be popular.
We discuss them in more detail below:
<ul>
<li>Wildcard GW32, Bench Boost GW33, Free Hit GW33, Triple Captain GW36</li>
<li>Wildcard GW25/26, Bench Boost GW33, Free Hit GW34, Triple Captain GW36</li>
</ul>
<h3>Wildcard: Early or later?</h3>
An early Wildcard ahead of Double Gameweek 26 would work well for teams low on Arsenal players.
Numerous clubs have a good run of games too, including Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Liverpool.
The downside is that the Wildcard could be very helpful in getting through the later blanks and doubles.
With so many unknowns, wildcarding now could leave managers with headaches that are difficult to resolve without the chip in hand.
Planning transfers up to Blank Gameweek 31 and using the Wildcard in Gameweek 32 &#8211; perhaps to bring Arsenal and City players back &#8211; looks the most natural route.
This would also allow straightforward planning for a Bench Boost in Gameweek 33, which could be the largest double.
<div id="attachment_77500" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-77500" class="size-large wp-image-77500" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GW25-29-1024x282.jpg" alt="Gameweek 25-29 - the top of the Hub's fixture ticker" width="1024" height="282" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GW25-29-1024x282.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GW25-29-300x83.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GW25-29-768x212.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GW25-29-1536x424.jpg 1536w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GW25-29-1080x298.jpg 1080w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GW25-29.jpg 1606w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Gameweek 25-29 &#8211; the top of the Hub&#8217;s fixture ticker</div>
&nbsp;
<h3>Triple Captain</h3>
Using this chip in a double gameweek offers the most confidence in your chosen player returning.
Double Gameweek 26 is therefore an option, however with Bukayo Saka likely out injured and Arsenal playing away from home twice, there are limited picks with high upside.
Gabriel or Declan Rice are among the candidates for the armband.
Waiting for a future double could be a better use of the chip &#8211; but the later it&#8217;s left, the more uncertainty there can be.
If the league is wrapped up early for example, teams may begin to focus on other competitions and rest their players in the league, leaving it difficult to predict who will play twice.
And there is a chance there&#8217;s no need for a Double Gameweek 36 at all if the FA Cup semi-finals fall in a certain way.
<div id="attachment_74012" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74012" class="size-full wp-image-74012" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Gabriel-3.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Gabriel-3.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Gabriel-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Gabriel-3-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Gabriel. Picture by Getty Images</div>
&nbsp;
<h3>Free Hit</h3>
The Free Hit could be used in Blank Gameweek 31 or 34, or even in one of the later doubles.
Using free transfers to navigate through Blank Gameweek 31 would be preferable if possible, given there&#8217;s several weeks to make a plan for any blanking players.
<h3>Bench Boost</h3>
A double gameweek is the best time to use the Bench Boost &#8211; and Gameweek 33 may be the best opportunity.
Those on Wildcard in Gameweek 32 would be well advised to plan for a Bench Boost in Gameweek 33 given the close proximity between them.
Injuries often play havoc with our FPL squads, so leaving as little time as possible between the Wildcard and Bench Boost is wise.
&nbsp;
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FPL Chip Strategy Guide 2025/26: When to use the second set of chips

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