What’s Happening with Blank and Double Gameweeks?
For seasoned Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers, Blank and Double Gameweeks have always played a big part in chip strategy. However, things might be different in the 2024/25 season due to changes in the football calendar. This season, we’re expecting fewer and smaller Blank and Double Gameweeks. This could significantly shift the way Fantasy managers use their chips.
What Are Blank and Double Gameweeks?
If you’re new to FPL, here’s a quick guide. In a typical Gameweek, every Premier League club plays one match. A Blank Gameweek happens when some teams don’t have a fixture, meaning their players earn no points. This is usually caused by domestic cup competitions, like the FA Cup, clashing with Premier League games.
On the other hand, a Double Gameweek is when a team plays twice within the same Gameweek, offering Fantasy managers the chance to score double the points. The challenge? Balancing your squad for these tricky weeks. Last season’s Gameweek 34 saw seven teams “double” while Tottenham Hotspur blanked entirely!
Why Fewer Blank and Double Gameweeks?
The FA Cup quarter-finals, which often cause a major Blank Gameweek, will now take place in March when there are no Premier League matches. This eliminates the usual fixture clash, meaning fewer postponements and fewer rescheduled matches later in the season.
This is huge for FPL managers who usually bank on a big Blank or Double Gameweek to use chips like Free Hit, Triple Captain, or Bench Boost.
Want to see what chips your rivals have used already this season? You can use the free FPLToolbox chip-usage tool to get a table like the one above for your mini-league
How Should You Adjust Your Chip Strategy?
With fewer Blank and Double Gameweeks, managers may need to rethink when to deploy their chips.
For example, the Free Hit chip could also be a great tool for the final Gameweek. Goals tend to fly in on the last day, and some clubs will be fighting for the title or survival, making it an exciting time to cherry-pick your squad.
While there will still be smaller Blank and Double Gameweeks, the new schedule may offer managers more flexibility in deciding when to use their chips. Just keep an eye on the fixture list as the season unfolds—you never know when an unexpected postponement might shake things up! You can read more from the official website.
