{"id":5703,"date":"2025-08-08T09:05:55","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T09:05:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/chip-strategy-for-fpl-2025-26-how-to-plan-your-eight-chips\/"},"modified":"2025-08-08T10:23:33","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T10:23:33","slug":"chip-strategy-for-fpl-2025-26-how-to-plan-your-eight-chips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/en\/chip-strategy-for-fpl-2025-26-how-to-plan-your-eight-chips\/","title":{"rendered":"Chip strategy for FPL 2025\/26 – how to plan your eight chips"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

FPL has become more strategic this year. You now have two of each chip (read more about the new rules here<\/a>) – one in the fall (GW1-19) and one in the spring (GW20-38). Only one chip per round. Free Hit cannot be used in GW1 and cannot be played in both GW19 & GW20. In addition, we get an extra five free transfers in GW16 to handle AFCON. All this opens up new ways to time your chips. <\/p>\n\n

At the same time, defensive contribution points (“DEFCON” in community slang) have been introduced, so players can earn up to 2 points per game for defensive actions. Defenders earn at 10 contributions (CBIT), while midfielders\/forwards have to reach 12 (including ball recoveries). This makes cheap backs\/defensive centers more interesting – and makes an early Bench Boost less of a lottery. <\/p>\n\n

Triple Captain (TC)<\/h2>\n\n

Principle:<\/strong> Decide it last so it doesn’t block the other chips – and aim for either a strong single game (preferably at home against the promoter) or a double gameweek later.<\/p>\n\n

Concrete “single round” spots that make sense now:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

    \n
  1. GW14:<\/strong> Salah (LIV) at home against Sunderland.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. GW15:<\/strong> Haaland (MCI) at home against Sunderland.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. GW9:<\/strong> Palmer (CHE) at home against Sunderland as a cheeky outsider.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    However, keep the flexibility to move TC to a Double Gameweek<\/strong> in the spring if the calendar opens up.<\/p>\n\n

    Free Hit (FH)<\/h2>\n\n

    Principle:<\/strong> The most flexible chip. Use it as a “rainy day” chip – or offensively to break the captain rotation<\/strong> between Salah and Haaland. <\/p>\n\n

    Three simple directions depending on your starting point:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

      \n
    • Do you have Salah but not Haaland?<\/strong> Consider FH in GW6<\/strong> to squeeze Haaland in against Burnley and go hard for the captaincy advantage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Do you have Haaland but not Salah?<\/strong> Consider FH in GW14<\/strong> for Salah at home against Sunderland.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Do you have both?<\/strong> Consider FH in GW11<\/strong> to squeeze in three Chelsea and (possibly) give Palmer the tie<\/strong> at home against Wolves while City and Liverpool face each other.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n

      Feel free to save your second FH<\/strong> for a Blank Gameweek<\/strong> later in the season when many teams are missing games.<\/p>\n\n

      Remember: FH cannot be<\/strong> played in GW1 and you cannot FH in both GW19 & GW20.<\/p>\n\n

      Bench Boost (BB)<\/h2>\n\n

      Community take:<\/strong> get it done early (GW1-3)<\/strong> and create the optimal structure faster. If you don’t run it early, don’t plan it too far into the future – play it when it’s “reasonable”.<\/strong> General advice:<\/strong> BB is fine in GW1<\/strong> (you have 15 players anyway), or right after a Wildcard. The second<\/strong> BB is typically best in a Double Gameweek<\/strong>. The new DEFCON points also make budget benches more useful. <\/p>\n\n

      Wildcard (WC)<\/h2>\n\n

      Good windows<\/strong> – choose a direction by temperament:<\/p>\n\n

        \n
      • GW2:<\/strong> BB1 synergy and early optimal structure<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • GW4:<\/strong> Transfer window closed; reaction to starting 11s<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • GW13:<\/strong> “Haaland time<\/strong>” – City get a nice block (Leeds (H) in GW13, Fulham (A) in GW14, Sunderland (H) in GW15 etc.) Good point to restructure against City. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • GW16-19:<\/strong> Safe and prepare the spring calendar<\/strong> – and remember, GW16 gives five free transfers<\/strong> due to AFCON, which can be smartly combined with WC plan. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n

        There is no one right path<\/strong> – but choose a path and be disciplined.<\/p>\n\n

        Two ready-made roadmaps (choose style and adjust later)<\/h2>\n\n

        1. Balanced (safe)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

          \n
        • BB:<\/strong> GW1 or unplanned early if the bench looks strong<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • WC1:<\/strong> GW13<\/strong> for jumping heavy on City<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • TC1:<\/strong> GW14 at Salah – with the option to stay open for a DGW<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • FH1\/FH2:<\/strong> Save at least one for Blank round<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n

          2. Slightly aggressive<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

            \n
          • WC1:<\/strong> GW4<\/strong> (after the window)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • TC1:<\/strong> GW6<\/strong> at Haaland against Burnley<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • FH1:<\/strong> GW11<\/strong> (Palmer captain, City v LIV neutralized)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • BB1:<\/strong> When the bench is ready (early), BB2<\/strong> aims for a spring DGW<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n

            BB in GW11<\/strong> can be a real pivot if the form\/rotation is right – keep an eye out and be ready to swing.<\/p>\n\n

            DEFCON changes the meta (map)<\/h2>\n\n
              \n
            • Higher floor<\/strong> for cheap defense\/defensive mid \u21d2 stronger benches<\/strong> \u21d2 BB earlier<\/strong> is less risky<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Points are capped at 2 per game<\/strong>, so still chase clean sheets and offensive threat – DEFCON is the sprinkles, not the cake<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n

              Checklist before locking a chip<\/h2>\n\n
                \n
              • Double-check fixtures & injuries\/rotation<\/strong> close to deadline<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Plan around AFCON:<\/strong> Use five free transfers in GW16<\/strong> smartly (and make sure you have 0 banked FT after GW15 to get all five)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Only one chip per GW <\/strong> – and no FH in GW1<\/strong> \/ not both in GW19 & GW20<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n

                Bottom line:<\/strong> Choose a common thread that suits your playstyle – e.g. a balanced WC13 path<\/strong> or a slightly aggressive WC4 path<\/strong> – and use Free Hit and Triple Captain to hit the biggest captain-edges (Salah GW14<\/strong>, Haaland GW15<\/strong>, Palmer GW9<\/strong>; or save them for a spring DGW). With the new rules (eight chips + DEFCON + AFCON transfers), early structure<\/strong> and late flexibility<\/strong> are rewarded more than ever. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                FPL has become more strategic this year. You now have two of each chip (read more about the new rules here) – one in the fall (GW1-19) and one in the spring (GW20-38). Only one chip per round. Free Hit cannot be used in GW1 and cannot be played in both GW19 & GW20. In […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":5695,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[267],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5703","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fpl-en","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/FPL-chip-strategy-featured.webp",2560,1440,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/FPL-chip-strategy-featured-150x150.webp",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/FPL-chip-strategy-featured-300x169.webp",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/FPL-chip-strategy-featured-768x432.webp",768,432,true],"large":["https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/FPL-chip-strategy-featured-1024x576.webp",1024,576,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/FPL-chip-strategy-featured-1536x864.webp",1536,864,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/FPL-chip-strategy-featured-2048x1152.webp",2048,1152,true],"et-builder-post-main-image":["https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/FPL-chip-strategy-featured-400x250.webp",400,250,true],"et-builder-post-main-image-fullwidth":["https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/FPL-chip-strategy-featured-1080x675.webp",1080,675,true],"et-builder-portfolio-image":["https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/FPL-chip-strategy-featured-400x284.webp",400,284,true],"et-builder-portfolio-image-single":["https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/FPL-chip-strategy-featured-1080x608.webp",1080,608,true],"et-builder-gallery-image-portrait":["https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/FPL-chip-strategy-featured-400x516.webp",400,516,true],"extra-image-huge":["https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/FPL-chip-strategy-featured-1280x768.webp",1280,768,true],"extra-image-single-post":["https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/FPL-chip-strategy-featured-1280x640.webp",1280,640,true],"extra-image-medium":["https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/FPL-chip-strategy-featured-627x376.webp",627,376,true],"extra-image-small":["https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/FPL-chip-strategy-featured-440x264.webp",440,264,true],"extra-image-square-medium":["https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/FPL-chip-strategy-featured-440x440.webp",440,440,true],"extra-image-square-small":["https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/FPL-chip-strategy-featured-150x150.webp",150,150,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Jacob Olesen","author_link":"https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/en\/author\/jaco9115\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"FPL has become more strategic this year. You now have two of each chip (read more about the new rules here) – one in the fall (GW1-19) and one in the spring (GW20-38). Only one chip per round. Free Hit cannot be used in GW1 and cannot be played in both GW19 & GW20. In…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5703","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5703"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5703\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5734,"href":"https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5703\/revisions\/5734"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5695"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5703"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5703"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fantasyleague.gg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5703"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}