Welcome back! After kicking things off with my fixture analysis, this is my second article for AllAboutFPL for 2026/27, and we’re moving on to another topic that’s already dominating pre-season discussions, chip strategy. With prices now out, drafts taking shape and managers debating every possible combination of premiums and budget enablers, it’s also the right time to start thinking about how we want to use our chips during the first half of the season.
For the second consecutive year, FPL managers have two sets of chips to use across the campaign, with one full set needing to be played before the Gameweek 19 deadline. That has changed the way we approach the game. Instead of automatically saving every chip for Double Gameweeks later in the season, we’re encouraged to look for opportunities much earlier – whether that’s capitalising on favourable fixture runs, attacking fixture swings or simply getting certain chips out of the way early.
That’s led to some fascinating discussions across the FPL community. Should you Bench Boost in Gameweek 1 or 2? Is an early Free Hit worth using to target exceptional fixtures? Is Gameweek 6 the perfect Wildcard window after the international break? Or is it better to stay flexible and react as the season unfolds?
The reality is that there isn’t a single ‘correct’ strategy.
Different managers will have different appetites for risk, and the beauty of the current chip system is that it supports multiple viable approaches. Throughout this article, we’ll look at the strengths and weaknesses of each chip, identify the standout windows during the first half of the season and finish with a few chip combinations that could suit different styles of play. Hopefully, by the end of it, you’ll have a clearer idea of which strategy best fits your own FPL approach.
Link to all our 2026/27 Pre-Season articles including all team pre-season friendly updates, best drafts, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, differentials, players to target, budget enablers and more. Completely free to access as well!
A Quick Refresher: What Does Each Chip Do?
Before discussing strategy, let’s quickly revisit what each chip actually does.
1. Wildcard
The Wildcard remains the most powerful chip in FPL. It allows unlimited transfers for one Gameweek, permanently changing your squad. Unlike a Free Hit, those transfers stay in place after the deadline, making the Wildcard the best tool for attacking major fixture swings or completely rebuilding a struggling squad.
2. Free Hit
Free Hit also allows unlimited transfers, but only for a single Gameweek. Once that Gameweek finishes, your squad automatically reverts to exactly how it looked before activating the chip. That makes it perfect for targeting one exceptional week of fixtures without committing to those players long term.
3. Triple Captain
Probably the simplest chip. Instead of your captain scoring double points, they score triple. Historically, most managers have waited for Double Gameweeks, but with one set of chips expiring by Gameweek 19, many are now considering using it much earlier against promoted opposition.
4. Bench Boost
Bench Boost allows every player in your squad, including your four substitutes, to score points. It’s traditionally viewed as a chip that requires the most planning because it encourages managers to own fifteen playable assets rather than carrying cheap bench fodder. The big question this season is whether it’s worth getting the chip out of the way early or saving it until after a Wildcard.
One important rule to remember this season is that every chip in your first set must be used before the Gameweek 19 deadline. There’s also another restriction that often catches managers out. You can only activate one chip per Gameweek, meaning combinations such as Triple Captain and Free Hit in the same week aren’t possible.
Fantasy Football Hub(FFHUB) Free AI Team Rating Tool
Best Windows to play FPL Chips in first half of the season
FPL Chip Strategy- Triple Captain Options
If there is one chip where the community seems to agree more than any other, it’s Triple Captain. The overwhelming consensus is simple. Target Erling Haaland against a promoted side at home.
Manchester City have three standout home fixtures during the first half of the season:
- GW3 vs Coventry
- GW7 vs Ipswich
- GW16 vs Hull
Those three matches immediately jump off the fixture list and are expected to be the leading Triple Captain opportunities before Gameweek 19. While GW16 against Hull looks excellent on paper, it falls during one of the busiest periods of the season when fixture congestion and rotation become much bigger concerns. GW3 and GW7 therefore feel like slightly safer opportunities if Haaland starts the campaign strongly.
Interestingly, not all promoted teams appear equally attractive – Hull is the best team to target. Last season they massively overperformed their underlying defensive numbers – 66 actual goals against an expected goals against (xGA) of approximately 82.7.
Only three Championship sides conceded more goals, while their expected goals against suggested they should have conceded around 17 more goals than they actually did. In simple terms, their defensive record flattered them. That’s exactly the sort of profile FPL managers want to attack with a Triple Captain chip.
While Haaland dominates the discussion, he isn’t the only premium player worth considering.
Bruno Fernandes also has excellent fixtures against promoted opposition during the first half of the season and could become a genuine alternative if Manchester United continue where they left off last season. There is even an argument for an aggressive Gameweek 1 Triple Captain away to Hull if you believe United will hit the ground running.
Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer also deserve honourable mentions. Neither currently matches Haaland’s ceiling, but if either player catches fire during the opening weeks, they could quickly enter the conversation, particularly if their favourable fixtures align with outstanding form.
Final options for Triple Captain Chip:
- GW1 – Bruno Fernandes vs Hull (A)
- GW3 – Haaland vs Coventry (H)
- GW4 – Palmer vs Hull (H)
- GW7 – Haaland vs Ipswich (H)
- GW16 – Haaland vs Hull (H)
Further Read: Ultimate DEFCON Analysis: Top Players & Best Opponents to Target
FPL Bench Boost Options- Attack Early or Wait?
If Triple Captain has a clear favourite, Bench Boost is the complete opposite. It’s easily the most divisive chip heading into the new season. Some managers want to get rid of it immediately. Others don’t want to even think about it until after their first Wildcard. Both arguments have merit.
The appeal of an early Bench Boost comes from one simple idea. Once the chip is gone, you no longer need to worry about maintaining a strong bench for the rest of the first half of the season. Instead, you can happily move towards a cheaper, more aggressive squad structure without constantly thinking, ‘I need fifteen good players because Bench Boost is still available.’
That freedom is one of the biggest reasons why Bench Boost has become such a popular early strategy. The two standout windows are Gameweek 1 and Gameweek 2.
Gameweek 1 offers the highest chance of all fifteen players starting. Managers benefit from pre-season information, fewer injuries and generally more predictable line-ups.
Gameweek 2, however, is arguably even more attractive from a fixtures perspective. The standout match is Coventry vs Hull. With several £4.0m Coventry defenders, cheap Hull starters and budget midfielders all expected to start, managers can build a playable bench without spending heavily. That allows the majority of the budget to remain invested in the starting XI.
The downside, of course, is information. Every extra week introduces new risks. A player could get injured. A surprise signing could arrive. Someone who looked nailed in pre-season might suddenly lose their place after Gameweek 1. That’s the trade-off managers have to weigh when deciding between GW1 and GW2.
At the other end of the spectrum sits the more traditional approach. Several managers still prefer waiting until after their Wildcard, using six or seven Gameweeks of information to identify the best cheap enablers before setting up a stronger Bench Boost. Personally I am in favour of an early bench boost before the earlier wildcard and getting those two chips out of the way.
FPL Chip Strategy- Best Wildcard Windows
If there’s one chip that can completely transform your season, it’s the Wildcard. Unlike the other chips, you’re not simply targeting one good Gameweek. You’re rebuilding your squad for the next six, eight or even ten weeks, which makes timing just as important as the players you bring in.
One thing that stood out while going through all the different strategies is that almost everyone agrees on the fixture swings, but not necessarily on when to trigger the Wildcard. Some managers want to attack as early as Gameweek 4. Others are happy to wait until Gameweek 6 after the international break.
And then there’s the more conservative approach, don’t plan a Wildcard at all, use it when your team actually needs it.
Let’s look at each option.
Option 1: GW4 Wildcard
Gameweek 4 is shaping up to be one of the earliest popular Wildcard windows. Why? Some fixture swings and also by then we’ll have three weeks of actual Premier League data. Pre-season hype will have died down. We’ll know which new signings are nailed. We’ll have a much clearer idea about tactical changes under new managers.
Most importantly, several of the premium sides begin excellent fixture runs around this point.
From GW1-3 the top sides as per the Fantasy Football Hub Fixture Ticker are Manchester United, Arsenal, Brentford, Fulham and Manchester City. If I look at GW4-8 (longer range taken here given the wildcard), it changes to Chelsea, Newcastle, Palace, Fulham and Everton. 4 new teams and Fulham interestingly a constant.
Another reason GW4 appeals is because it naturally complements aggressive Bench Boost strategies. If you’ve already Bench Boosted in either Gameweek 1 or Gameweek 2, your squad is likely carrying more money on the bench than you’d ideally want. Wildcarding immediately afterwards allows you to redistribute that money back into your starting XI without worrying about Bench Boost for the rest of the first half of the season. It’s a very clean transition.
The downside? Three Gameweeks still isn’t a huge sample size. We’ve all seen players explode over the opening fortnight before disappearing for the rest of the season. Wildcarding this early always carries the risk of reacting to short-term noise rather than genuine trends.
Option 1: GW6 Wildcard
If there is one Wildcard window that is appearing consistently across all forums, it’s Gameweek 6. Personally, I think this is probably the sweet spot. By this stage we’ll have five weeks of Premier League football to analyse. That’s enough data to separate genuine form from early-season variance.
We’ll know which budget enablers are actually starting. We’ll have a better understanding of new managers, tactical systems and player roles. Just as importantly, Gameweek 6 comes immediately after the extended three-week international break. That gives managers far more time than usual to assess injuries, monitor price changes and carefully plan their Wildcard without feeling rushed.
The fixture swings also line up nicely.
For GW1-5, top of the Fantasy Football Hub Fixture Ticker are Brentford, Forest, Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United. From GW6-10, it is Fulham, Arsenal, Coventry, Newcastle and Chelsea,
Fulham, in particular, begin a sequence against all three promoted clubs, opening up several budget options that could prove useful over the following weeks. They have also just signed a new forward from Real Madrid, Gonzalo Garcia.
For managers who prefer playing with more information rather than chasing the very first fixture swing, GW6 feels like the ideal balance.
However, don’t Wildcard Just Because the Calendar Says So Don’t force a Wildcard simply because you’ve circled a date in August. The Wildcard should solve problems. If your squad is performing well, your players are fit and the fixture swings aren’t significant enough, there is absolutely nothing wrong with waiting.
Equally, if injuries, suspensions, poor form and unexpected rotation have completely wrecked your squad by Gameweek 4, there’s little point stubbornly holding the chip until Gameweek 6 just because that was the original plan. Use the Wildcard when your team starts slipping behind and there’s a good fixture window to attack. Those two conditions together are usually a much stronger trigger than simply following a calendar.
Further Read: FPL Rotational Pairs & Combinations for the 2026/27 FPL Season
FPL Chip Strategy- Best Free Hit Options
Unlike the Wildcard, the Free Hit is all about maximising one exceptional Gameweek. That’s why identifying the right fixture cluster is so important. Looking through the fixture calendar, there are four Gameweeks that repeatedly came up as genuine opportunities.
GW3 Free Hit
Gameweek 3 is probably the most popular early Free Hit strategy. The appeal largely comes from one fixture.
Arsenal vs Chelsea.
Most active managers are expected to own players from both clubs after their favourable opening fixtures. A Free Hit allows you to temporarily move away from those players without selling them permanently. Instead, you can aggressively target teams with standout fixtures.
– Liverpool travel to Ipswich.
– Manchester City host Coventry.
– Aston Villa visit Hull.
– Brighton host Leeds.
– Brentford welcome Sunderland.
It’s one of those rare weeks where several of the league’s strongest attacking teams all have excellent fixtures at the same time. If you don’t already own multiple City or Liverpool players, the upside could be enormous.
GW4 Free Hit
Personally, I think Gameweek 4 is even more interesting. Instead of avoiding Arsenal and Chelsea, you’re now targeting them.
- Chelsea host Hull.
- Arsenal travel to Sunderland.
- Liverpool host Fulham.
- Crystal Palace welcome Ipswich.
- Brighton face Coventry.
Meanwhile, Manchester City and Manchester United meet in the Manchester derby, meaning many managers may already be looking to reduce exposure to assets from these teams. This creates the perfect opportunity to load up on Chelsea attackers, Arsenal defenders and several other teams with outstanding home fixtures. If Gameweek 3 is about escaping Arsenal and Chelsea assets, Gameweek 4 is about buying them all back, for one week only.
GW13 or GW16 Free Hit
There is, however, another school of thought. Instead of using the Free Hit aggressively in September, several experienced managers prefer keeping it in reserve until later in the year. The reasoning is fairly simple. Unexpected events happen – Postponements, injuries, Christmas rotation, late team leaks. Having a Free Hit available when chaos strikes can often be more valuable than targeting one attractive fixture list. Gameweek 13 and Gameweek 16 are also opportunities.
Why GW13? Because of the fixture swings from 12-14:
– Manchester United travel to Newcastle in GW13, but have good fixtures in GW12 and 14 – BRE (H), COV (H)
– Leeds travel to Manchester City in GW13 but host two promoted sides in GW12 and 14 – COV (H), IPS (H)
– Similarly Palace travel to Chelsea in 13, but play HUL (H) and AVL (A) in 12 and 14 respectively.
We can avoid all these tricky fixtures in GW13 without removing our key players from usually preferred FPL teams like Manchester United and Crystal Palace.
Similarly for GW16, we have Aston Villa who play CHE (A) in 16 but have good fixtures in 15 and 17, COV (A) and LEE (H) respectively. Manchester City in fact has the best fixture in the first half, HUL (H), in GW16 sandwiched between two tricky fixtures of Chelsea and Newcastle in 15 and 17 respectively. A free hit will help you get to a nice Manchester City triple up with 15 Gameweeks of data and really make this week big,
Waiting for the free hit isn’t a bad option. It’s a less exciting strategy. But it might also be the safer one.
Further Read: Best FPL GW1 Drafts for the 26/27 FPL Season with Pros & Cons
Conclusion: Possible Chip Strategy Combinations
Putting It All Together: Which Chip Strategy Should You Choose?
By now, you’ve probably realised something. There isn’t one “perfect” chip strategy. In fact, if there’s one common theme across all the discussions surrounding the new chip system, it’s that multiple approaches can work. Some managers want to attack immediately. Others prefer gathering information before committing any chips. Neither approach is inherently right or wrong.
It simply depends on your appetite for risk and how aggressively you like to play the game. Here are three chip strategies that stood out while going through all the notes.
1. Bench Boost GW1/2 → Free Hit GW3/4 → Wildcard GW6 → Triple Captain GW7/16
2. Bench Boost GW1/2 → Wildcard GW6 → Free Hit GW13 → Triple Captain GW16
3. Wildcard GW6 → Bench Boost GW7/8 → Free Hit GW13 → Triple Captain GW16
The biggest mistake managers can make this season is believing there’s only one correct chip strategy. There isn’t. The introduction of two chip sets has created far more viable routes than we’ve ever had before, and that’s what makes this season so interesting.
Some managers will Bench Boost in Gameweek 1. Others won’t use a single chip until October. Both approaches could be successful. The important thing is making sure your chips complement each other rather than working against each other. If you’re Bench Boosting early, think about how your Wildcard helps you restructure your squad afterwards. If you’re planning to Triple Captain Haaland in Gameweek 16, remember that it probably rules out a Free Hit that week.
And if you’re someone who prefers reacting to the season rather than predicting it, don’t feel pressured into forcing chips simply because they’re popular on social media. Fixtures will change, players will emerge and injuries will happen.
The best FPL managers aren’t necessarily the ones with the most detailed plans in July. They’re the ones who recognize when it’s time to stick to the plan—and when it’s time to abandon it. That’s exactly how I’d approach the first half of the 2026/27 season.
Further reads from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL GW1 of the 2026/27 FPL Season
FPL Basics:
2026/27 FPL Season – New Rules & Changes | What’s New in FPL?
What is Team ID in FPL? | How to Get a Low FPL Team ID for the 2026/27 Season
Best & Funny FPL Team Names for 2026/27 PL Season
Must Read Articles:
Best FPL GW1 Drafts for the 26/27 FPL Season with Pros & Cons
FPL Chip Strategy Guide- Best Windows to Play Free Hit, Wildcard, Triple Captain and Bench Boost
Ultimate DEFCON Analysis: Top Players & Best Opponents to Target
FPL Rotational Pairs and Combinations for 2026/27 FPL Season
Eight Simple FPL Tips to Secure a High Rank | 26/27 Season
FPL Fixture Analysis for 2026/27 Season- Teams with Best and Worst fixtures
Five Must Own Players in GW1 for FPL 2026/27 season
AK’s FPL First Draft & Team Reveal | 3x Top 5K Finishes
Position Analysis:
GKs and Defenders Series:
Best FPL Goalkeepers to Target based on Stats and Fixtures
Best £4.0 Million FPL Defenders for 2026/27 FPL Season
Best Premium Defenders for 2026/27 season based on Stats and Fixtures
Best £5.0-5.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2026/27 FPL Season
FPL Rotational Pairs and Combinations for 2026/27 FPL Season
Midfielders Series:
Best FPL Premium Midfielders(8.0-12.0) for 2026/27 FPL season
Best Mid-Price FPL Midfielders for the 26/27 Season | £6.5 to 7.5M
Best Value for Money Midfielders for 2026/27 season
Forwards Series:
Best FPL Budget Forwards (£4.5 – £6.0 Million) | 26/27 FPL Season
Best £6m Forwards Comparison for the 2026/27 FPL Season
If you’re new to FPL, here is a link to all our FPL Beginners Guide including FPL Beginner’s Guide- How to play?, Bench boost, Team value, Triple captain, Effective ownership, Price Changes, Free Hit, Bonus Points, and more.
Link to all our 2026/27 Pre-Season articles including all position-wise analysis, team previews, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, and more. Completely free to access as well!
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