Chip strategy separates template teams from mini-league winners. Before Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 1 (deadline Friday 21 August 2026, 18:30 BST), decide whether Bench Boost belongs in GW1, GW2, or later — and keep Wildcard powder dry until you have real data.
The four first-half chips
- Wildcard — rebuild 15 players free; best after 4–8 gameweeks of injury/form data, not blindly in GW1.
- Bench Boost — your whole bench scores; only when 14–15 players have strong fixtures and confirmed minutes.
- Triple Captain — 3× on one premium; save for a soft home fixture or double gameweek later.
- Free Hit — one-week unique XI; rarely needed in GW1 unless your draft collapses to injuries.
Bench Boost in GW1 — yes or no?
Only boost GW1 if you deliberately built a 15-man squad of starters (no £4.0m kids). Most managers are better waiting for a week where every bench player faces a soft defence. If your bench includes two unlikely starters, skip the chip.
GW2 Bench Boost plan
Some elite managers aim GW2 instead — after one round of team news and price moves. Track risers on /fpl-price-changes so your bench does not become unaffordable.
Practice without risk
FootballDream Gameweek Fantasy lets you field a weekly XI and captain for free — perfect for testing chip logic and fixtures before you commit moves in the official game.