This FPL Rule Change Offers A Unique GW1 Strategy, If You Like Taking Risks
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Another season of Fantasy Premier League is upon us as managers across the globe prepare to take over their mini-leagues. Whether you are playing for bragging rights, trying to avoid a forfeit, or winning big in your league, having the right strategy will be key.
Of course, selecting your initial team will be the most important decision you have to make, but what if you created your 15-man squad with an idea that could propel you forward in the early beginnings of the season?
FPL has implemented quite a few rule changes so far, and one of them offers a unique way to boost your early points haul. Early bragging rights in your mini-league could give you the confidence to go all the way to the end and lift that FPL league title!
FPL Double Chip Rule Change for 2025/2026
It is always good for a game to keep things fresh. Last year saw FPL introduce the Assistant Manager chip halfway through the season, and while this won’t be returning, there is a major change to chips this season.
FPL has announced that every player will be given two of each chip. This means you will have two Wildcards, two Triple Captains, two Free Hits, and two Bench Boosts.
Each of these chips will be available to use until GW19, and then you will get a refresh, earning them back and being able to use them again.
Over the years, the best time to use chips such as Triple Captain, Free Hit, and Bench Boost would be within a double gameweek. However, these are extremely unlikely to fall within the first 19 matchdays of the season.
The Bench Boost chip can be difficult to score big, as if you use it at a later date, you will need to shuffle your team around to ensure you get the maximum possible value. That is why setting your team up for a BB1 (Bench Boost GW1) could be a highly optimal move.
Why Bench Boosting in GW1 Could Be Optimal
If you set your team up for a BB1, you could hit the maximum potential of getting 15 players giving you points. Before the GW1 deadline, you have unlimited transfers, allowing you to create an excellent 15 man roster to utilise this chip.
If you were to use it at a later date, you may have to make transfers or use a wildcard in order to set up for it. Bench Boosting in the first gameweek removes that headache and could give you an early lead in your leagues!
Of course, you will need to select the best possible squad when using this chip, so if you want to know how well set up your team is for a GW1 Bench Boost, you can get your team rated for free on Fantasy Football Hub!
Some downfalls to using this chip early on could be that you have to miss out on some of the premium assets. Building a 15 player team that will help you get as many points as possible means you likely won’t have room for some of the cheap bench fodder, which allows for more premiums.
However, there may be some good FPL enablers that allow for this as the season draws closer. Of course, the new points system in FPL may also let you choose some players you normally wouldn’t and save a good chunk of your budget!
There is still plenty of time to go until the transfer window shuts, but setting up your team early for a GW1 Bench Boost certainly seems like one of the best strategies. Tonnes of players could still join the Premier League, so let’s wait and see what our teams look like then.
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