As we head into the second half of the season, many Fantasy Premier League managers might be wondering how to best utilise the first set of chips — if you still have any left.
Gameweek 19 is the final gameweek that we can use our first set of chips. If you do not use them, you’ll lose them.
Gameweeks 17 to 19 offer some great opportunities. Standout captaincy fixtures, strong home matchups, and clear form trends mean FPL managers can deploy their Triple Captain, Bench Boost, Wildcard or Free Hit with confidence rather than desperation.
Here’s a breakdown of the best times to use your remaining chips for the next three gameweeks.
Triple Captain: Safe and differential picks
The Triple Captain chip is all about ceiling.
You want explosive potential, guaranteed minutes, and a fixture where multiple returns feel likely. While we don’t have the opportunity to use the first set of chips in a double gameweek, there is still plenty of upside to chase.
We have two excellent single-gameweek opportunities that arguably rival any double gameweek scenario.
Gameweek 17: Haaland vs West Ham (H)
This is about as good as it gets. Erling Haaland (£15.0m) at home, Manchester City in great goalscoring form, and West Ham struggling defensively — they have conceded 32 goals (third-most). This fixture has ‘haul’ written all over it.
Haaland has already scored 17 goals and created three assists in the first 16 games. He thrives in games where City dominate and create chances at volume — and that’s exactly what we expect here.
He’s nailed for minutes, is on penalties, and is playing ahead of one of the most creative midfields in the league. If you’re looking for the safest Triple Captain, this is it.
Gameweek 19: Fernandes vs Wolves (H)
For those without Haaland or looking to be a little different, Bruno Fernandes (£9.3m) at home to Wolves in Gameweek 19 is an option.
Wolves have also been terrible defensively, conceding the most goals (35) and sitting rock bottom of the league. Bruno’s role as creator and set-piece taker gives him multiple routes to points.
Verdict: If you still have Triple Captain, Gameweek 17 on Haaland is the optimal play. Bruno is for those who want to go against the herd.
Bench Boost: Target balance, not perfection
Bench Boost is the chip that rewards preparation. The mistake many managers make is chasing perfect fixtures instead of focusing on 15 reliable starters.
Gameweeks 17 and 18 both offer reasonable Bench Boost opportunities, particularly for managers who have cheap benches. What gameweeek you should play it will depend on how your bench looks for the upcoming few gameweeks.
Gameweek 17
- Burnley away to Bournemouth
- Leeds at home to Crystal Palace
- Sunderland away to Brighton
These fixtures aren’t explosive, but they’re playable. If your bench includes nailed budget players with home fixtures, guaranteed minutes or players from the teams above, this is the week to deploy the Bench Boost.
Gameweek 18
- Burnley at home to Everton
This is a better week to play if you have players from Burnley and/or Sunderland, particularly if you have players from these teams who are regular starters. The key here is avoiding hits; a Bench Boost loses value quickly if you’re forcing transfers just to activate it.
Leeds versus Sunderland may be the perfect Bench Boost fixture (Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images)
Verdict: Play this chip when your bench looks the strongest. Keep your bench light and make sure the fixtures are decent — and you have reliable starters.
Free Hit: Attack the right week, not the template
The Free Hit chip is at its best when it allows you to aggressively target fixtures without worrying about long-term structure. The upcoming weeks offer a few significant Free Hit windows, particularly if your current squad doesn’t align with form teams.
Gameweek 17: Fixture heaven
- Man City at home to West Ham
- Bournemouth at home to Burnley
- Brighton at home to Sunderland
This is a week where loading up on City, Brighton, and Bournemouth attackers makes a lot of sense. If your current team lacks coverage from these sides, the Free Hit can give you huge gains here.
Gameweek 18: Premium focus
- Liverpool at home to Wolves
- Arsenal at home to Brighton
If you’re underinvested in Liverpool or Arsenal attackers, this is the week to Free Hit into premium-heavy line-ups without restructuring your squad long term.
Gameweek 19: Balanced upside
- Manchester United at home to Wolves
- Liverpool at home to Leeds
- Newcastle away to Burnley
This is arguably the most well-rounded Free Hit week. Multiple teams with sound fixtures, several captaincy options, and room for differentials.
Bruno Guimaraes was on the score sheet when Newcastle beat Burnley in Gameweek 15 (George Wood/Getty Images)
Verdict: Free Hit works best if your current squad clashes badly with one of these weeks. Gameweek 17 or 19 look ideal on paper, given the amount of good fixtures and differential opportunities.
What about the Wildcard?
The wildcard is the most powerful chip, so it’s worth addressing. You can use it in Gameweek 17 or 18 if your team needs major surgery or if you want to set up for a Bench Boost.
However, if your squad is stable, waiting until Gameweek 19 is optimal. That allows you to reset for the second half of the season, target long-term fixtures, and prepare for future blanks and double gameweeks.
Final thoughts
Gameweeks 17 to 19 provide more than enough quality opportunities to extract real value from every chip.
The Triple Captain is the standout play, while Bench Boost should be treated with caution and used only when your squad depth naturally allows it. The Free Hit, meanwhile, remains a really flexible and powerful option. It’s ideal for attacking fixture-heavy weeks in which your current squad is misaligned.
But there isn’t one perfect strategy, and the decision ultimately depends on your own squad.
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