Following the draw for the FA Cup quarter finals, we have a much clearer picture of the doubles and blanks projected for gameweeks 33 and 34.
Using the updated โPlanet FPL Projected Fixturesโ on our site, we examine the fixture landscape and consider how to navigate it across different chip strategies.
Changes to Projected Fixtures
Before discussing the changes to the projections, it should be noted that these are the most probable current scenarios, although they still rely on several external factors.
The potential postponements in gameweek 34 are caused by the FA Cup semifinals. These fixtures are likely to move into gameweek 33 based on how the Premier League has acted previously, but there is no guarantee that they will do the same this season.
There is also the Champions League to consider. If Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City or Newcastle are knocked out in the last 16, their midweek between gameweeks 34 and 35 remains free and could provide room for the postponed fixture to stay in gameweek 34.
Onto the changes, and the big news from the FA Cup draw came from the Manchester City โ Liverpool tie. As this was one of the toughest draws Liverpool could have wished for, their chance of reaching the semifinal and therefore blanking in gameweek 34 decreased markedly. As such, they are no longer projected to double in gameweek 33.
With Manchester City favoured to progress, their previously postponed fixture against Crystal Palace still needs somewhere to go. Gameweek 36 could be the destination for this.
Arsenal and Chelsea both received kind draws, increasing their chances of a postponement in gameweek 34. With Arsenal drawing Leverkusen in the Champions League, they also have a higher chance of progressing, which would make the double in gameweek 33 for them, and therefore Newcastle, more likely. Chelsea have a tougher Champions League opponent in PSG, although Chelsea did get the better of them in the final of the Club World Cup last summer. Their fixture in gameweek 34 against Brighton will depend on the outcome of this.
The projection is now that gameweek 34 holds more fixtures than it did before, with 14 teams now likely to feature.
Even though West Ham and Leeds play each other in the FA Cup quarterfinals, neither team is projected to blank in gameweek 34. This is because they do not have European commitments and therefore have a free midweek for any potential postponements.
Navigating with a Wildcard and Free Hit
Although the changes may have made the doubles in gameweek 33 less appealing, having both chips available is still a very strong position to be in.
Ahead of gameweek 32, we will know the teams that have progressed in both the FA Cup and the Champions League and will have all the information relating to the doubles in 33 and the blanks in 34.
The popular strategy before this week was to wildcard in gameweek 32, bench boost in 33, and free hit in 34. This could still work well, but the FA Cup draw may have created an alternative strategy.
With fewer teams projected to double, a full squad of 15 players with double gameweeks becomes harder to put together on a wildcard. In contrast, gameweek 34 has become slightly easier to navigate without a free hit with teams such as Liverpool, Palace, Manchester United and Brentford expected to feature.
As such, free hitting in gameweek 33 could be a good option to create a strong XI of players with double gameweeks, while the wildcard could be useful in gameweek 35 to set up for the potential double gameweek in 36.
Navigating Without a Wildcard but with a Free Hit
For those who have already wildcarded, the updates to the projections may have made life easier.
Since gameweek 34 should have fewer blanks, this can be navigated with existing squads, which will already hold many players with fixtures in 34. This means that the free hit chip can instead be used in gameweek 33.
It would be advisable to save as many free transfers as possible going into this period, as from gameweek 35, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City assets will be in high demand off the back of their potential blanks.
Navigating Without any Chips
People without any chips will have celebrated the Manchester City โ Liverpool draw like a 94th-minute winner.
What was shaping up to be a very tough period to navigate without chips has become much more straightforward. Whilst a manager without any chips will need to make sacrifices in either gameweek 33 or 34, the potential punishment should be far less severe.
Saving transfers heading into gameweek 32 for those without chips is almost vital. This will make navigating gameweeks 33 and 34 much more manageable. Managers can then commit to targeting a certain number of doubling players in 33, while leaving enough room to field a team in gameweek 34.
