We’re about to enter an interesting period for Fantasy Premier League managers: Gameweek 26, the first blank gameweek of the season.

It’s now time to think about when you plan to use your chips, as having a rough idea of your strategy will determine how to approach Blank Gameweek 26 and the subsequent weeks ahead.

Here’s how your transfers this week could shape your chip strategy…

Should you Free Hit or Wildcard?

For the majority of engaged FPL managers, we shouldn’t need to use our Free Hit or Wildcard chips this week — unless you have previously planned to do so.

With a bigger blank to come in Gameweek 29 and at least three more double gameweeks, I think these chips will be better utilised later. However, if you are in a position where you have fewer than eight players for Gameweek 26 after using your free transfers, then I would consider it.

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Also, if you require your Wildcard, then I would advise trying to hold out until Gameweek 27 as it’s a much better time to use it as we will know the full fixture list for Blank Gameweek 29 before the Gameweek 27 deadline.

Strategy 1: Using Free Hit in GW29 or Wildcard before GW29 

Blank Gameweek 29 is going to be a popular time to use the Free Hit chip. There are currently only three fixtures confirmed and we are likely not to have any more than five.

As always, Ben Crellin’s fixture spreadsheet will serve you well.

Here are the updated Gameweek 29 Blank percentages.

All the GW29 Blanks will be decided next week.

The FA Cup Round 5 ties featuring Premier League teams are next Tuesday and Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/H30CTOfRsY

— Ben Crellin (@BenCrellin) February 20, 2024

Wolves and Manchester United have appealing fixtures in Blank Gameweek 29 (if they go ahead) and also leading up to it.

Starting this weekend (Gameweek 26), Gary O’Neil’s side play Sheffield United (H), Newcastle (A) and Fulham (H) in their next three matches, which are favourable fixtures for their attack. All three of their opponents are in the bottom six for xGC (expected goals conceded), according to Opta.

Hwang Hee-chan (£5.5m) and Pedro Neto (£5.7m) are both great picks and have big upside. They both have a similar xGI (expected goals involvement) per 90. However, Hwang has the higher goal threat and is likely to be on penalties. Therefore, I prefer the South Korean.

The Wolves defence is a worthy place to invest in this gameweek, if you need reinforcements at the back. Max Kilman (£4.5m) is your best bet as he is nailed to start and has the highest xGI (2.4) of all of Wolves’ defenders.

Manchester United, meanwhile, play Fulham (H), Manchester City (A) and Everton (H). Although the City game is as tough as it gets, United’s two home games around it are good enough to make their players worthwhile.

Rasmus Hojlund (£7.2m) and Alejandro Garnacho (£5.0m) are the best options from United’s attack, and both are cheap enough to acquire too. The former has seven goals and two assists this season, all of which have come in his last seven games.

Garnacho has five goals and three assists and is undroppable at present. Taking his price into consideration, he is the best midfielder to own from Erik ten Hag’s team.

Pascal Gross (£6.4m) is also a great shout for the next three games. He is the only certain-to-start offensive midfielder from Brighton and has four goals and nine assists this season. Roberto De Zerbi’s men also have a plum run of games coming up: Everton (H), Fulham (A) and Nottingham Forest (H).

Pascal Gross has been among the FPL points this season (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

All of Wolves, Manchester United and Brighton are likely to blank in Gameweek 29, so it allows you to attack these promising fixtures. Plus, if you get lucky and there are a few upsets in the FA Cup fifth round, then you might even be able to save your Free Hit chip and get a double advantage.

The other advantage you get is that those who are looking to save their Free Hit or Wildcard past Gameweek 29 won’t buy these players.

Strategy two: Not using Free Hit in GW29 or Wildcard before GW29

For these FPL managers, your transfer targets will be narrowed down to those who play in Gameweek 29.

At the moment, West Ham, Aston Villa, Fulham, Burnley and Brentford are the only teams who have a fixture in both Blank Gameweek 26 and Blank Gameweek 29.

Jarrod Bowen (£7.7m) and Mohammed Kudus (£6.8m) are the best options from David Moyes’ side. West Ham play Brentford (H), Everton (A), Burnley (H) and Aston Villa (H) next, so their fixtures are decent but it is slightly worrying that the east Londoners have failed to score in their last three matches.

However, Lucas Paqueta (£6.0m) should be in contention from Gameweek 26 onwards as he has been in training since last week and will no doubt improve West Ham in the final third.

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa also have a great run of fixtures, consisting of Forest (H), Luton (A), Spurs (H), West Ham (A) and Wolves (H). The likes of Douglas Luiz (£5.5m), Leon Bailey (£5.6m) and Ollie Watkins (£8.7m) would be my top transfers from the Villa attack for this run.

Pau Torres (£4.6m) is the best option if you want to go for one of their defenders. He is guaranteed to start due to Villa’s injury issues at centre-back and has some goal threat, too.

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Which is the right strategy for you? 

Going for players from strategy one allows you to attack the next few games, while the players you bring in will likely be lowly owned.

Players from strategy two, though, allow you to be more flexible with your chip plans as it doesn’t force you to make a decision now.

The high upside strategy is number one, and it can pay off if there are one or two surprise results in the FA Cup fifth round, which then gives a fixture to the players you bought in.

What will I be doing?

I am leaning towards the aggressive strategy one of using my Free Hit in Blank Gameweek 29 or my Wildcard before it. It allows me to maximise points in the attractive short-term fixtures and not worry about adjusting my transfers towards Blank Gameweek 29.

I’m banking on one or two shocks in the FA Cup, which may mean I can save my Free Hit if the results fall my way. Or I may have more teams to pick from if I decide to play it.

I would look at Dominic Solanke (£6.9m) and Neto (£4.6m) from Bournemouth no matter what your chip plans are. They have a double in Gameweek 28 against Sheffield United (H) and Luton (H), and despite having a likely blank in Gameweek 29, they are still worth it.

There is no right or wrong answer for this one and it comes down to how your team is set up — and your appetite for risk.

(Top photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)