Table of Contents
The fixtures are coming thick and fast between now and the end of the season, with six teams having two matches in this gameweek.
As the campaign enters its final stretch, is now the best time to be using your chips?
FPL expert Gianni Buttice and members of the FPL podcast team assess the situation before gameweek 33.
- Listen: FPL Podcast – Bazball or Bruce-Ball?
Should you be using a chip this week?
FPL Gianni: This is the only big double gameweek of the season so using a chip feels absolutely necessary to maximise on the six teams doubling. About 500,000 Wildcards were activated in gameweek 32 so managers could set up for a Bench Boost this week with up to 15 players playing twice.
The Wildcard and the Free Hit are also attractive options and in an ideal world one of these chips (the only two that reset your team completely) need to be used in gameweek 33 or 34 because you cannot have a good team in both without one.
A reminder too that the teams which double in gameweek 33, blank in gameweek 34, so a reset is needed.
Those with the Triple Captain chip available will get another opportunity to use it in a double gameweek with Erling Haaland likely to double again in gameweek 36.
Statman Dave: Last week I said my advice would be, if you have your Wildcard, Wildcard in gameweek 32, to pick 15 players that double in 33 and Bench Boost in 33 if you have that chip.
Alistair Bruce-Ball: I can’t really Bench Boost, I didn’t use my Wildcard last week, so I think I’m going to free hit. But I take Dave’s point is with the free hit, you’ve got 11 players starting. With the bench boost, you’ve got 15 players starting.
I'll have my Bench Boost later in the season, possibly in that double gameweek 36 with Man City and Palace doubling.
Who are the best budget options?
FPL Gianni: Bournemouth, Brighton and Leeds all have winnable fixtures as part of their double gameweek and offer plenty of good affordable options.
With a home fixture against Wolves and a big win at Old Trafford on Monday night, Leeds are perhaps the most desirable of the three teams.
At the back Jaka Bijol (£3.9m) is a defensive contribution beast and Jayden Bogle (£4.4m) offers the average position of a winger with excellent final-ball delivery.
Meanwhile, Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.6m) hasn't scored in his past seven league games but is passing the eye test and putting up good underlying numbers. Surely a goal is close.
Statman Dave: I do think Calvert-Lewin will be perfect for this double. Stick with him, he could be the ace in your pocket.
Who are the best Man City players to pick?
FPL Gianni: Erling Haaland (£14.5m) will be the most popular captain and understandably so, he’s a must-have for a double gameweek that includes a trip to Burnley.
Knowing the title could go down to goal difference, I think we can expect some big attacking displays from Pep Guardiola's men who are rarely shy in front of goal.
Antoine Semenyo (£8.2m) versus Rayan Cherki (£6.3m) will be a debate for some, but those on Free Hit or Wildcard might choose to have both as part of a triple City attack. Semenyo offers the greater goal threat, while Cherki is the more creative and will earn more assists.
The Frenchman has caught the eye of late and has arguably been City's best attacking player in the past two months but he still struggles to avoid early substitutions.
Both midfielders are firmly first choice, but Semenyo has played 90 minutes in eight of his 10 league games since his arrival in Manchester while Cherki has only completed a full game on three occasions in the league all season.
Statman Dave: Cherki’s Manchester City’s most impactful player in the final third. But he is a creator not a goalscorer.
But, for example, if Nico O'Reilly's out and you've got yourself transfers saved up, then Cherki could be a very, very good option because he'll be a big differential.
Will the flagged O'Reilly play?
The 21-year-old O'Reilly (£5m) has had a phenomenal season and carries a consistent source of attacking output with nine open-play goals this season.
In comparison, popular FPL assets Cole Palmer (£10.5m) and Bukayo Saka (£9.8m) have five and seven respectively.
Full-back O'Reilly is, however, yellow flagged after going off against Chelsea with what looked like a hamstring tweak.
All eyes will be on Guardiola's press conference for an update on O'Reilly's fitness as he will be seen as a key cog for the Arsenal match.
Guardiola referenced playing "the tallest team as possible" when City beat Arsenal four weeks ago so he will want his 6ft 4in (1.93m) star boy in the XI this weekend.
Could he get a rest against Burnley in the week though? Maybe.
Chris Sutton: There is a 0% chance O’Reilly will be fit for the Arsenal game. You cannot recover from a hamstring [injury] in that time.
- Follow your club with BBC Sport
- Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast
- Get football news sent straight to your phone
