Fantasy Premier League

Experts' plans for Blank Gameweek 29

By The Scout 17 Mar 2021

The Scout’s panel discuss chip strategy and the key players to consider for the reduced Gameweek

Managers in Fantasy Premier League are starting to firm up their plans ahead of Blank Gameweek 29.

Only eight teams will play in the next round of fixtures, leaving many managers with threadbare squads.

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That could make this week an ideal time to deploy a chip, such as the Free Hit, in order to field a full XI.

The Scout’s panel of experts reveal their chip strategy and who they are targeting to navigate the reduced Gameweek.

Lee Bonfield (@FPLFamily)

Even the best-laid plans can be disrupted due to injuries. Both Son Heung-min (£9.6m) and Patrick Bamford (£6.8m) were in my team and happily waiting to take their place in Gameweek 29.

But if they both miss out, my team is looking very bleak indeed! I could probably just about get a five-a-side team out right now, so I'm going to need a couple of hits just to get six or seven players. It's a full-blown crisis!

Sam Bonfield (@FPLFamily)

With key injuries, many Fantasy managers will struggle to get a full XI out. While taking multiple hits may seem attractive, the lack of fixtures means we should be cautious of taking too many.

Players such as Harry Kane (£11.4m), Gareth Bale (£9.6m), Aaron Cresswell (£5.8m) and Stuart Dallas (£5.1m) will be popular picks, but pinpointing differentials like Jesse Lingard (£6.1m) and Josh Maja (£5.5m) could be a good way to boost overall rank.

Ben McNair (@drbenmcnair)

I will be using my Free Hit chip in Gameweek 29, as planned. It's not going to be a star-studded line-up, but I'm quite looking forward to cheering on a few players I wouldn't normally own.

It is almost certain to score more points than my current team, which comprises only five players with a Gameweek 29 fixture.

The main benefit of the chip is that it avoids the need to use free transfers arranging and re-arranging my squad before and after the reduced Gameweek.

Paul Gee (@FPLPaulGee)

I still have my Free Hit chip and owning both Bamford and Son could make me use it.

However, with each of those players having over 50 per cent ownership, many managers are in the same position. Is the Free Hit the right way to go about it? I'm not sure.

Chuck Booth (@ChuckBoothSport)

With my Free Hit chip long gone, I'm tempted to Wildcard. I have both Son and Bamford and will be waiting to see if there is more news, with Tottenham Hotspur playing in Europe on Thursday.

But it feels like I'll need to drop Son and cross my fingers that Bamford starts.

When it comes to a Son replacement, if Jack Grealish (£7.5m) is passed fit he'll slot right in. Otherwise the set-piece delivery of Pascal Gross (£5.8m) makes him a good option.