The immediate priority for managers is to prepare for Double Gameweek 32 (DGW32) in Fantasy Premier League, with Newcastle United and Crystal Palace both playing twice. But when making your moves, it is also worth planning ahead for Double Gameweek 33 (DGW33), when FOUR clubs have two matches. Here, The Scout offers advice.
The best tactics to adopt when planning for this pair of back-to-back Double Gameweeks will depend on whether or not you plan to use the Free Hit chip in Blank Gameweek 34 (BGW34).
Four clubs have a Double Gameweek 33 - Arsenal, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Manchester City - and those same four clubs are without a fixture the following week, in Blank Gameweek 34.
So the more players you have with two matches in DGW33, the fewer players you will have with a match in BGW34.
A large number of managers will use their Free Hit chip in BGW34 as it allows you to load up on DGW33 players without having to worry about the impact of the reduced round of BGW34 matches.
How to plan for DGW33 if you're Free-Hitting in BGW34
1) Prioritise Palace for back-to-back Double Gameweeks
In the case of Crystal Palace, you should already have three players in place as they have a Double Gameweek 32 (DGW32) coming up immediately this week.
Essentially, this gives the Eagles FOUR matches over the next two Gameweeks.
Wing-back Daniel Munoz (£5.2m) and forward Jean-Philippe Mateta (£7.7m) are the standout assets.
Munoz has four goals, five assists and nine clean sheets to his name, while Mateta has blanked just twice in his last nine appearances.
In midfield, Ismaila Sarr (£5.7m) has both price and goal threat in his favour over Eberechi Eze (£6.8m), but Eze boasts the main potential for assists and is on set-pieces.
2) Get Man City players for the run-in
Pep Guardiola’s side have a very favourable run-in, facing only one of the current top seven teams in their final seven fixtures.
That lifts the appeal of investing in their key picks at both ends of the pitch, with Josko Gvardiol (£6.1m) and Omar Marmoush (£7.6m) the form assets.
Gvardiol has already surpassed his tally of four goals from last season and has produced 15 points in the last two Gameweeks thanks to two clean sheets and three bonus points.
Marmoush has scored in three of his last four outings in all competitions and is playing up front due to Erling Haaland’s (£14.8m) injury.
Crucially, both are already among the most-popular players who have a DGW33 in Fantasy. Their ownerships of more than 28 per cent makes Gvardiol the second most-popular defender and Marmoush the third most-popular forward.
3) Be wary of Arsenal and Villa’s Champions League ties
Arsenal’s home encounter with Brentford and Villa’s visit to Southampton make a strong case for investment now, ahead of DGW32.
However, as evidenced by Bukayo Saka’s (£10.4m) withdrawal against Real Madrid in midweek due to a knock, both clubs’ European duties have to be factored in here.
Arsenal and Villa are playing both of their respective UEFA Champions League quarter-final legs on either side of DGW32, which means they will each play three matches in a period where both Palace and Man City have only one match apiece.
Saka was brought in by a massive 921,000 managers in Gameweek 31 following his recent return from injury but was named on the bench and only played for the second half.
Although there’s no question he is the No 1 Arsenal attacker to target if he is passed fit, his owners will be hoping Mikel Arteta doesn’t continue to limit his minutes in the Premier League.
David Raya (£5.5m) and William Saliba (£6.4m) are the most secure picks right now. Similarly to Gvardiol and Marmoush, their popularity means they could have a huge impact on managers’ mini-leagues in DGW33.
Both are found in more than 30 per cent of squad, making them the most-owned goalkeeper and defender in Fantasy.
Villa, meanwhile, have the busiest schedule of all four DGW33 clubs as they have also progressed to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
That run is clearly reflected by Unai Emery’s recent line-ups. Indeed, only TWO players, Morgan Rogers (£5.6m) and Youri Tielemans (£5.5m), have started each of Villa’s last five Premier League matches across the last six Gameweeks.
Rogers has upped his consistency recently, with only one blank in the last four Gameweeks, and his security of starts makes him the one Villa player worth bringing in for the Southampton match – that’s if you’re willing to risk a repeat of the Saka situation, of course.
The likes of Marco Asensio (£6.2m) and Marcus Rashford (£6.7m) also have form on their side, but Emery’s recent team selections have dented their appeal. Only three of Asensio’s six league outings have been as a starter, while Rashford has appeared off the bench in five of his seven appearances.
Budget midfielder Donyell Malen (£5.3m) has scored in back-to-back Gameweeks and is not involved in Villa’s European squad, which could boost his domestic minutes.
At the back, Emery’s line-up against Nottingham Forest last weekend has killed off the appeal of Villa’s defenders due to heavy rotation. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is the secure option but costs £5.0m and is likely to rely on save points against Newcastle and Man City.
What to do if you're NOT Free-Hitting in BGW34
There are plenty of managers who won’t be playing the Free Hit chip in BGW34.
Many have already used the chip to navigate the previous reduced round of matches in Blank Gameweek 29.
Meanwhile, those who are playing the Assistant Manager chip on Oliver Glasner (£0.8m) in DGW32 to profit from Palace’s four matches over the next two Gameweeks will be unable to use another chip until Gameweek 35.
If you don’t have the option of a Free Hit chip, you need to focus on the next three Gameweeks when making any transfers.
1) Triple up on Newcastle
Certainly, a triple-up on Newcastle should be a priority. The Magpies have a somewhat unique schedule, as they have a DGW32 and a match in BGW34, which very handily happens to be at home to Ipswich Town.
Alexander Isak (£9.5m) is now second only to Mohamed Salah (£13.8m) in ownership, with over 60 per cent of managers holding the Swede for his two home matches against Manchester United and Palace. If you still have your Triple Captain chip remaining, now could be the time to use it.
Jacob Murphy’s (£5.1m) season-high 16 points against Leicester City has underlined the huge value he offers in midfield. There’s also budget assets at the back - Dan Burn (£4.5m) offers the greater goal threat, while Tino Livramento (£4.6m) has assist potential.
2) Consider Brighton, Chelsea and Forest players for kind home matches
Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest’s key players should also be on your radar, with all three clubs offering favourable home matches in both DGW32 and BGW34.
Brighton’s Joao Pedro (£5.6m) hosts Leicester and West Ham United, while Chelsea’s Cole Palmer (£10.7m) entertains Ipswich and Everton, and Forest’s backline regulars Matz Sels, Nikola Milenkovic (both £5.1m) and Murillo (£4.7m) welcome Everton and Brentford to the City Ground.
3) Wait before getting Fernandes and Bowen
If you wait another Gameweek, Man Utd’s Bruno Fernandes (£8.6m) and West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen (£7.6m) have the schedules to reward your patience.
Both have very kind home matches in DGW33, with Fernandes facing Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bowen up against Southampton. They follow that up with visits to AFC Bournemouth and Brighton respectively in BGW34.
