The big Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 33 debate: Captaincy, chips and differentials

Erling Haaland hasn't scored a Premier League goal in a while but is he too tempting to ignore in a double gameweek? Alex Pantling/Getty Images Share articleThe biggest gameweek of the season in Fantasy Premier League is upon us and, mercifully, there’s more than one way to skin a cat when it comes to everyone’s favourite fantasy football game. In Gameweek 33 (deadline 11am UK time/6am ET on Saturday), Brighton, Chelsea, Bournemouth, Leeds, Burnley and Manchester City all play twice, and this bumper fixture list lends itself to all manner of chip strategies. So what is the best chip to use? Who are the players to target and avoid? And what should you do it you’re panicking somewhat ahead of Saturday’s deadline? Holly Shand and Abdul Rehman debate the pros and cons of every move that you could make and lift the lid on their own strategies for one of the most important FPL gameweeks of the season. Holly Shand: Gameweek 33 is the biggest double gameweek of the season and so it is certainly up there, with six sides playing twice. Its proximity to Gameweek 34, the biggest blank gameweek of the campaign, makes for a crucial time for fantasy managers to navigate. Those managers who feel underprepared may fear big changes in the schedule but I’ve personally been looking forward to these gameweeks all season. They have the biggest upside and I’m hoping for two big green arrows to make significant headway for the run-in. The prospect of having a full team of players playing twice is a mouthwatering prospect. Abdul Rehman: Gameweek 33 is one of the most important gameweeks and can be season-defining if you have prepared for it. However, it’s not only about this week and what’s more important is the ‘double and blank’ period which is from Gameweek 33 to Gameweek 36. This stretch consists of two double gameweeks and one blank, so although Gameweek 33 is where most of the points are likely to come from, if you haven’t prepared for the weeks ahead, then any points gained can be lost in the next few weeks. For example, going for 15 double-gameweek players might mean you are left short for Blank Gameweek 34 or making too many transfers this week may mean you do not have enough to deal with Double Gameweek 36. It’s all about balance. Shand: For me, Gameweek 33 was a straight shootout between the Bench Boost and the Free Hit. Having been happy with how my team was set up for Gameweek 32 and Gameweek 34, I decided to hold the second Wildcard, and will be activating the Free Hit chip for Gameweek 33. I’ll then use my banked free transfers to get a full XI out in Blank Gameweek 34 before using the Wildcard and Bench Boost in close proximity in Gameweek 35 and Gameweek 36 respectively. I’m rooting for the title race to go down to the wire as it will make Arsenal and Manchester City’s fixtures over those final four gameweeks far more competitive. Rehman: This was a strategy I was looking at too and it’s looking a lot better now with Arsenal losing last gameweek and the title race looking like it will go down to the last day. Those on this strategy will likely lose points to those on Bench Boost this week, but will make up those points from Gameweek 35 onwards. I am quite worried for my team from 35 onwards, to be honest, and will really need to hope for no significant injuries or rotation issues to my team going forward. My transfers will be focused on bringing in players from Arsenal and possibly Crystal Palace for their double, whereas those like Holly will set up nicely in 35 and can react to other issues which are bound to crop up. I am using my Bench Boost in Gameweek 33. I wildcarded in Gameweek 32 specifically for this. My chip strategy is Wildcard in 32, Bench Boost in 33 and Free Hit in 34. A common and proven strategy since the chips were introduced is to wildcard before the biggest double for a big Bench Boost. Although this isn’t the only viable approach and is team and season-dependent, I thought it was a good strategy again this year. There were other alternative routes I could have taken too but ultimately, I decided it’s always safer to Bench Boost straight after the wildcard due to possible injuries. Case in point was Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly (£5.1m) coming off with a potential injury against Chelsea. Shand: I’m already plagued with regret of not going with the Wildcard 32, Bench Boost 33 and Free Hit 34 strategy. Ultimately, my team looked good on paper for Gameweek 32, but it fell short and now I’m very worried that I’m on the wrong strategy, with Bench Boost Gameweek 33 looking very strong for those managers like Abdul who set up for it in advance! Shand: A triple-up on Manchester City in Gameweek 33 feels like a must, as they are the highest-placed Premier League side with two fixtures. While the template trio includes Erling Haaland (£14.4million) and Antoine Semenyo (£8.2million), I’m also tempted to consider Rayan Cherki (£6.3million) as a third attacker over a defender, or in place of Semenyo. He has been in fine form in recent games, with three assists in the last four gameweeks. He’s started three of the four games in this period, making seven key passes, including three big chances created. He is 8.5 per cent owned, gathering around 150,000 new owners after his pair of assists in the 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge. Rehman: O’Reilly’s injury is a huge plus for those on Free Hit this week. The vast majority of those on Wildcard 32 went for him, Haaland and Semenyo. Free-hitters can now easily bypass him and jump on a very good differential like Cherki. Those already tripled up on City will have to use two transfers to get him, which in most cases won’t be worth it. As Holly mentioned, the French international has been in great form and can be the one who helps managers on Free Hit keep up with those on Bench Boost. Rehman: I actually really like the look of Bournemouth’s Alex Scott (£5.0m). Firstly, he is cheap and you can get him as your fifth midfielder, which means you do not have to hamper your starting XI going forward, but he’s also a solid option in his own right. He is pretty much guaranteed to get 180 minutes in the double and the fixtures against Newcastle United (A) and Leeds United (H) are good too. Scott has a respectable three goals and two assists, but his real appeal lies in his defensive contribution and expected minutes. He has hit his defensive contribution threshold 12 times this season. When you are playing the Bench Boost, you need a few cheap gems to afford an all-round 15-man squad and Scott provides everything you need for that type of player. All he needs is an assist and to hit his defensive contribution once over the two games to manage a double-digit haul. Shand: I’ve looked at Bournemouth’s Scott myself but I’ve opted for his team-mate James Tavernier (£5.4m) in my Free Hit squad. He has nine goal involvements to Scott’s five this season and feels worth the extra £0.4 million for a more attacking player. I still haven’t adjusted to the lure of defensive contribution points over attacking returns! I guess with Free Hit, it’s the goals and assists you instinctively chase as a manager. Shand: While I like the look of Brighton’s fixtures over the double gameweek, facing Tottenham Hotspur away and Chelsea at home, I’m still looking to avoid striker Danny Welbeck (£6.3m), who has scored 12 goals this season. The close proximity of Brighton’s fixtures (on Saturday evening followed by Tuesday evening), could see some rotation. Welbeck has been benched once in the last four gameweeks, playing 90 minutes on three occasions. In addition, I believe that there are three forwards with a higher ceiling for points across the double gameweek: Haaland, Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.6m) and Joao Pedro (£7.7m). Rehman: I think the Chelsea defence is the biggest avoid for Gameweek 33. They really haven’t looked great as of late, with three losses on the bounce, conceding seven goals. Furthermore, they have only kept one clean sheet since Gameweek 17. I also think the Brighton midfielders are pretty much all at risk of rotation apart from Pascal Gross (£5.5m). Kaoru Mitoma (£6.1m) was fairly popular amongst Gameweek 32 wildcarders but his benching means they will now likely have to use a transfer to get rid of him. I also agree with Holly regarding Welbeck — he is having a great season but he is very likely to be benched on one of the two games, or at least get reduced minutes. Also, if you are playing your Free Hit this week, I would avoid any single-gameweek players. I think there are enough good double-gameweek options to field a full starting doubling XI. Shand: A triple-up on Manchester City is obvious, but the other team that has caught my eye for a triple-up is Leeds United. Their three points away at Manchester United on Monday night were huge, with another opportunity to move a step closer to safety when they host bottom-of-the league Wolves at home on Saturday afternoon. Clean sheet potential is high across their two games (they have a trip to Bournemouth in midweek). Karl Darlow (£3.9m) is my favoured double-gameweek goalkeeper, with plenty of defenders to pick from too. Leeds have kept two clean sheets in their last three games. Rehman: A Manchester City triple-up is pretty much essential. I don’t think a triple-up on any of the other doubling teams is a must but I do think Leeds is the second-best team to triple up on. Darlow, a defender such as Pascal Struijk (£4.3m), and Calvert-Lewin look fantastic value. Shand: I can’t look beyond Haaland as my double-gameweek captain, especially with what is at stake for Manchester City. They have a huge opportunity when they take on Arsenal at home on Sunday afternoon before travelling to relegation candidates Burnley. He faced Arsenal and Burnley in consecutive gameweeks in September, delivering three goals and one assist across the two fixtures, with 25 fantasy points scored. Rehman: Haaland is, of course, the best captain on paper, especially seeing as City are smelling blood in the title race and one of the two games in the double is Burnley. He hasn’t been in the best form in the league — his last goal came in Gameweek 26 — however his hat-trick against Liverpool in FA Cup quarter-finals is a stark reminder of what he can produce, regardless of form. I do think there is an opportunity to take Haaland on this week, though, if you are chasing. Cole Palmer (£10.5m) and Semenyo are good alternatives to the Norwegian. Shand: On Free Hit, I personally won’t be owning any single-gameweek assets this week. Igor Thiago (£7.3m) is still a very good asset to consider though as Brentford take on Fulham at home in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off. He has produced three goals in the last four gameweeks. I’d also consider Bruno Fernandes (£10.3m), despite a rusty performance from Manchester United last time out against Leeds. He has produced an attacking return in five consecutive games: two goals and six assists. Rehman: As mentioned earlier, on a Free Hit, I wouldn’t pick any single-gameweek players. But if you are not using a chip or playing the Bench Boost, then it is viable. Igor Thiago and Fernandes will still be owned by a lot of managers, and I think they are probably the two best single-gameweek options who can easily match or outscore a lot of double-gameweek picks. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers (£7.4m) at home to Sunderland is also a good pick this week and one who doesn’t need to be sold in a hurry. Shand: Firstly, don’t panic. Consider Gameweek 33 and Gameweek 34 together, thinking about whether your current team is set up well for either. Remember, you can only play one chip per gameweek, with the same six sides who double this week facing a blank next week. There’s an argument for playing any of the chips this week, with Bench Boost possibly the toughest to deploy if you haven’t already played the second Wildcard to set up for it. My biggest piece of advice is to plan on playing at least one chip in one of the next two gameweeks, with plenty of plausible strategies beyond a Bench Boost or Free Hit, which are the template strategies among experienced managers. Rehman: All you can do is the best with what you have got. Maximise what is in front of you and remember that we still have five gameweeks to go outside of Gameweek 33, which includes a blank and another double gameweek. If you are in a really weak position for Gameweek 33, then try to cover the highest-owned players and ones who will likely be the highest captained. Do not sacrifice too many future points to go all in this week. You are trying to get as many points from now until the end of the season, not just for Gameweek 33, so try to keep a balance and attack the gameweeks your team looks strong in. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms