FPL Chip Strategy GW1: Should You Play Triple Captain or Bench Boost?
Chip outlook
Gameweek 1 is a weak chip week with no double gameweeks and limited fixture data to work with.
Wildcard
Don't use your Wildcard in GW1. You've just built your squad and need to see how teams perform before making wholesale changes. Save it for when injuries mount or fixtures turn.
Bench Boost
Don't activate Bench Boost in GW1. Your bench consists of £4.0m Darlow, £4.3m Reed, and two £3.7m defenders (Acheampong and Heaven) with a combined expected points of just 11.3. This chip works best during double gameweeks when even bench players have two fixtures. With single gameweeks and budget fodder sitting on your bench, you'd waste approximately 5-7 points of potential value. Wait for a strong double gameweek where all four bench players have two matches.
Triple Captain
Don't use Triple Captain in GW1. While Haaland captaincy makes sense (6.7 xP, 62.5% ownership), the difference between doubling and tripling his points is minimal without a double gameweek. Triple Captain should be reserved for elite assets in confirmed double gameweeks where the ceiling is significantly higher. A single fixture Haaland triple captain returns just 20.1 expected points versus 13.4 as a regular captain—not worth burning your most powerful chip. Save it for when premium players face two favourable fixtures.
Free Hit
Don't play Free Hit in GW1. You've built a balanced squad specifically for this gameweek with strong coverage: Arsenal defence (Raya, Gabriel), premium captaincy (Haaland), and value picks across the board. Free Hit is your get-out-of-jail card for blank gameweeks or when your squad structure is compromised by rotation or fixture congestion. Using it now wastes the opportunity to navigate genuinely difficult weeks later in the season.
Verdict: Hold all chips for GW1. Play your standard team with Haaland captain and build transfer equity for when fixture swings, doubles, or blanks create genuine chip opportunities.Build this squad in the optimizer
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