Stay Ahead of the Game: Fantasy Premier League Tips During FA Cup Weekend
This weekend might be devoid of Premier League fixtures due to the FA Cup, but Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers should still focus on the fifth round results. These outcomes are crucial because they will shape the number of Premier League games played during Gameweek 34.
During this weekend, several clubs may miss out on their top-flight matches. The reason? The FA Cup semi-finals are set for the weekend of April 6/7, coinciding with Gameweek 34, meaning players from those teams will unfortunately score zero points in FPL.
Thus, it’s vital for FPL managers to strategize and plan in advance so they can field a competitive lineup for Gameweek 34.
So, where do things stand in the FA Cup right now?
Nine Premier League clubs have already exited the FA Cup, ensuring they can play their scheduled Gameweek 34 fixtures: Arsenal, Brentford, Chelsea, Everton, Leicester City, Liverpool, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham United.
However, any of the remaining 11 clubs advancing past this weekend’s fifth round and onto the quarter-finals will face a “Blank Gameweek 34” (BGW34) in Fantasy, potentially missing their Premier League matches.
In fact, their opponents for the Premier League matches on that weekend would also endure a Blank Gameweek.
As it stands, only two Premier League games are confirmed for BGW34: Chelsea vs. Everton and Liverpool vs. Spurs.
In essence, when a Premier League team exits the FA Cup, it often benefits Fantasy managers because it increases the likelihood of scheduled top-flight fixtures happening in Gameweek 34, making more players available to earn crucial Fantasy points.
Significantly, four all-Premier League ties are bound to knock out one team each: AFC Bournemouth vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers, Manchester United vs. Fulham, Newcastle United vs. Brighton & Hove Albion, and Nottingham Forest vs. Ipswich Town.
If Bournemouth clinches a victory over Wolves, Leicester’s Premier League fixture at Wolves would remain in BGW34. Similarly, a Manchester United win over Fulham would ensure Fulham’s match at Southampton goes ahead in BGW34. Newcastle triumphing over Brighton would keep Brighton’s home game against West Ham scheduled. Lastly, if Ipswich bests Nottingham Forest, Forest’s match with Brentford would still occur in BGW34.
What happens with the postponed matches?
Games postponed from BGW34 will have to be rescheduled, potentially leading to the season’s biggest Double Gameweek. Typically featuring more than the standard 10 fixtures, Double Gameweeks can feature clubs with two Premier League matches within the same week, giving players multiple opportunities to rack up Fantasy points.
This could be the perfect time to deploy your Bench Boost chip, if you haven’t already, maximizing scoring potential from your squad’s 30 matches.”