The Premier League weekend brings a unique challenge for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers. With key teams like Arsenal, Manchester City, Crystal Palace, and Wolverhampton not participating, strategizing becomes essential.
Understanding the Blank Gameweek
This week is classified as a blank gameweek. Managers need to be strategic about their line-ups. The primary concern is fielding a full squad of eleven players. However, the key advice from FPL expert Holly Shand is to remain calm and avoid hasty decisions.
Strategies for Handling Player Selection
In this crucial Q&A session, Holly emphasizes the importance of not using your Free Hit chip unless absolutely necessary. This week’s gameweek can be challenging, yet Shand encourages flexibility by playing with fewer than eleven players.
- It’s acceptable to play with ten or even nine players.
- Sometimes, it’s wiser to take a zero than force in a player for -4 points.
Plan for Future Gameweeks
Upcoming fixtures present double gameweeks during rounds 33 and 36, along with a blank gameweek in round 34. Therefore, retaining players from teams with postponed matches is crucial. City and Palace players are valuable assets worth holding onto, as they’ll likely feature in double gameweek scenarios later.
Ultimately, FPL managers should remain composed. The focus should be on planning for both this challenging gameweek and the exciting double fixtures around the corner.
