LAGOS, NIGERIA – The picture for Blank Gameweek 34 (BGW34) don clear for Fantasy Premier League managers after di weekend FA Cup quarter-finals results. Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, and Manchester City don all progress to di semi-finals, meaning none of dem go play Premier League matches for di weekend of BGW34.
A Blank Gameweek na when teams no play their games, and players from dem teams no fit score any points for di Fantasy Premier League (FPL). For di weekend of Gameweek 34, three matches go miss: Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City, and one other match, leaving managers with limited options.
As dis BGW34 fit become di biggest Blank Gameweek for di season, plenty managers dey plan to use their Free Hit chip to help manage di fewer fixtures. Dis weekend clash coincide with di FA Cup semi-finals, as teams like Arsenal also face scheduling issues. Existing fixtures still dey connected to di FA Cup ties.
“For BGW34, we need to re-strategise,” said John Okwu, a Fantasy Premier League enthusiast. “I plan to use my Free Hit chip to navigate di missing games.”
Although BGW34 go be di final Blank Gameweek for di 2024/25 season, di full details of di Double Gameweek plans no don reveal yet. A Double Gameweek dey refer to when teams get more than one match scheduled for a week, allowing players from dem teams to earn double points.
Currently, di only confirmed Double Gameweek na for Gameweek 32 (DGW32), with Crystal Palace as di focal point as dey go play twice. Until di three matches wey dey shelved for Gameweek 34 don get new dates, managers fit only plan broadly. Di timing for future Double Gameweeks still dey unclear, but if history repeat, we fit see a Double Gameweek 37 for some teams.
Some managers go prefer to play di Wildcard in Gameweek 30 or 31, based on when di new fixtures confirmed. There be just over 48 hours after di FA Cup quarter-final end and Gameweek 30 deadline, making timing crucial.
“I dey look to triple up on Crystal Palace players like Daniel Munoz and Ismaila Sarr with di upcoming fixtures,” said Chika Adama, another Fantasy manager. “Dey fit deliver plenty returns if dem manage to run through di game week strong.”
As FPL managers strategize, many dey eye Newcastle players for DGW32, planning to use other chips like di Bench Boost for maximum advantage. “It’s all about timing your chips right,” Okwu added. “This time of di season be crucial for managers.”
Whether to deploy di Free Hit chip or another strategy all lie on di goings-on between now and di next set of fixtures. Di importance of both di main and bench players for dis final stretch dey emphasized by di fixture congestion expected, especially among di teams still in di FA Cup.
Amid di uncertainty, FPL managers need to remain flexible with their strategies, ensuring dey adjust to any new developments coming out from di fixture rescheduling.
