The Scout explains the secrets to success in Fantasy Premier League, with the use of chips being vital to your mini-league success.
Be patient with first Wildcard
Of the five chips available to managers, the Wildcard is the most powerful.
It can be used to overhaul an entire 15-man squad and could make or break a Fantasy campaign.
The first Wildcard can be activated at any time up until 13:30 BST on 28 December.
Last season, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) hit a hat-trick in Gameweek 1 while Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min (£10.0m) and Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£8.0m) both scored four goals in their opening two matches.
There is a temptation to use a Wildcard during the opening Gameweeks to sign in-form players.
The better option is to hold on and play this chip when making wholesale squad changes, especially when acquiring players who are soaring in price.
| FPL chips |
|---|
| Bench Boost |
| Triple Captain |
| Free Hit |
| First Wildcard |
| Second Wildcard |
Only one chip can be played in any Gameweek, so it is crucial to use them wisely.
The second Wildcard, which becomes available from Gameweek 21, can be played at any time up to the final deadline of the season.
It is often saved for Double Gameweeks, when teams play more than one fixture.
Last season 14 teams played two matches in Gameweek 26.
Managers who used their Wildcard in Gameweek 25 were able to sign players from those 14 teams and then play the Bench Boost or Triple Captain chip in Gameweek 26 to maximise their points return.
When used after the second Wildcard, the Bench Boost can have a particularly big impact.
This chip allows the players on your bench to score points. Using it around a Double Gameweek enables you to build a squad of 15 players who have two fixtures.
Free Hit
The Free Hit chip is another profitable option when played in Double Gameweeks.
This chip allows for unlimited transfers in a single Gameweek. The 15-man squad of the previous Gameweek then returns for the next deadline.
The Free Hit can also be used to deal with postponements.
Last season, for example, there were only six matches in Gameweek 18.
The Free Hit chip was perfect for this scenario, allowing managers to pick players from the 12 clubs involved without any long-term implications.
Play the long game
Reigning FPL champion Michael Coone showed patience by playing his first chip of the season, his first Wildcard, in Gameweek 15.
He used that to plan ahead for Double Gameweek 19, when 10 teams played twice.
The Irish manager then played his Bench Boost chip with spectacular success in that Double Gameweek, earning his season-high haul of 132 points.
Coone’s Triple Captain chip produced a similar outcome. He handed Harry Kane (£12.5m) the armband for Spurs' matches against Burnley and Fulham in Gameweek 26.
That helped him total 107 points, one of four triple-figure scores in his title-winning campaign.
Also in this series
Part 1: Building a successful squad
Part 2: Finding the right formation
Part 3: Picking the perfect captain
Part 4: How to create a 'mini-Wildcard'
Part 6: Bonus-point kings offer edge
