In this article…
Which chip and when to play it? These are the questions we continually ask ourselves throughout the season. Knowing when is optimal to activate each chip is a minefield full of second guessing and what ifs.
Over years of playing FPL, I have created this guide to identify these answers by the easiest and quickest means possible. Many managers will have grandiose complex plans requiring a high degree of engagement, but throughout the seasons I have followed one crucial rule that has served me well… keep it simple.
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🃏 Wildcard
If your squad is decimated by injury or not performing how you originally anticipated, then use this chip to change your entire team. Your team will change for the upcoming gameweek and that will remain your team moving forward.
The one free transfer you get each week will be banked and carried forward to use whenever you choose. You only have one WC available to you until the Christmas period, when another will be added to your team automatically.
A great use of the chip is to identify great ‘fixture swings’, ideally for the highest-rated teams in the league. Good fixture swings are when a team plays a run of consecutive games against weaker or often promoted opposition, improving the chance of scoring high points. GW6 onwards, consider using.
Top Tip – If you’re set on activating your Wildcard, ensure you do this immediately, don’t wait until deadline day. Once selected, you can change as many players in and out until the deadline as you desire and more importantly, any value increase of the players selected you will keep. Remember though – once activated you must play it.
🆓 Free Hit
The Free Hit chip allows you to change your entire team, but for one gameweek only. At some stage throughout the season, you will notice a weekend of fixtures where you think the stars align, and all the top teams are playing all the bottom ones.
Attack that gameweek, score a mountain of points, then return to your star-studded squad for the upcoming gameweeks. Just like the WC, once activated you must play it and a further stipulation only specific to this chip, it can’t be used in GW1.
Top Tip – The best time to use this, is when not every team are playing during a gameweek. Once sides start their European campaigns in the Champions League and Europa League, fixtures clash and are then rescheduled; leaving only the remaining league sides to play. This won’t happen until later in the season, so hold onto it.
🪑 Bench Boost
This one is easy. Every single player in your squad (15 players) scores points instead of just the normal 11. The only tough part here is ensuring all your players play that gameweek, even the cheap ones.
©️ Triple Captain
Instead of your captain receiving double points for that gameweek, they receive triple. The best time to use this is when a team are fortunate to have two fixtures in a single gameweek, tripling the points for not one, but two games. These decisions often result in either a fantastic or terrible score – either way it will be memorable.
❓ Mystery Chip
This season, FPL have released a new chip. However, it will not be released until the festive football period in December so ignore it for now, and don’t let it affect your game.
Top Tip – Identify what type of manager you are, either a serial planner or a go-with-the-flow type. If you like to plan, map out where you think you can use the chips best and if you’re more relaxed, use it when takes your fancy. Play to your strengths and above all, enjoy it.
📋 My Current Chip Strategy
In playing FPL, ideally, you should always have eyes on the chip strategy you are looking to play throughout the season.
The narrative and points of view on players and teams often change on what seems like a daily basis, constantly altering our strategies. The important thing to remember is when more games are played, the more information we have.
FPL is like a jigsaw, you will never have all the pieces to complete it, but the more pieces you have available to you, the closer that chance of finishing becomes… or for us, scoring the highest points total in the season.
For me currently, I may use the Wildcard in GW4 or GW6, but until a competitive ball is kicked; nothing is concrete.
Top Tip – Build a strong squad for the first four gameweeks and reassess the lay of the land, once the season is in full swing. Early doors, concentrate on selecting the best squad possible, chip strategies will reveal themselves along the journey.
Conclusion
As FPL kicks off, stay tuned for more fantasy football insights and analysis throughout the 2024-2025 season. Follow me on X @FplVeteran_ for daily fantasy football content.
Written by an Andy verified content writer
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