Navigating blank and double gameweeks is a crucial part of Fantasy Premier League strategy, especially in the second half of the season.
Understanding when these are likely to fall and why they happen gives managers a strategic edge with transfers and chips.
So here’s a look at when the double and blank gameweeks are likely to occur in the coming weeks and some possible action plans.
Gameweek 26: First possible double gameweek
This only has a chance of happening if Arsenal progress to the Carabao Cup final. They lead Chelsea 3-2 after the first leg and the second match is at the Emirates Stadium, so they are favourites to progress.
Because Arsenal finished in the top eight of the Champions League, they will have a free midweek after Gameweek 26.
The likely and possible double here would be:
- Arsenal vs Brentford (A) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)
- Wolves vs Nottingham Forest (A) and Arsenal (H)
Blank gameweek 31: (Carabao Cup final)
The first blank for this season is expected in Gameweek 31, the weekend of the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, March 22. The scheduled Premier League matches involving the finalists are postponed, resulting in a blank.
Several key fixtures could be pushed back:
- Everton vs Chelsea (blank if Chelsea progress to Carabao Cup final by knocking out Arsenal)
- Manchester City vs Crystal Palace (blank if City progress to the Carabao Cup final by knocking out Newcastle United)
- Newcastle vs Sunderland (blank if Newcastle progress to the Carabao Cup final by knocking out Manchester City)
- Wolves vs Arsenal (blank if Arsenal progress to the Carabao Cup final by knocking out Chelsea)
We typically only know which teams will blank by the Gameweek 25 deadline, so this is a pivotal juncture for planning.
The Tyne-Wear derby could move date if Newcastle turn it around against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
The Wolves-Arsenal game here is the fixture that will move to Gameweek 26 if Arsenal reach the Carabao Cup final. Other teams’ matches are likely to have to wait until after Gameweek 31.
Double Gameweek 33: The most likely double gameweek
This is predicted to be the largest double gameweek, with most ‘blank’ fixtures from Gameweek 34 expected to move to the midweek of Gameweek 33.
Also, the postponed games in Blank Gameweek 31 need to be rescheduled. The most logical midweek without conflicting European competition ties overlaps with Gameweek 33, so we should see a fair few teams double here.
Thus, Gameweek 33 is the most likely candidate for a double Gameweek.
Though fixtures are not confirmed before the Gameweek 25 deadline, FPL managers should be prepared.
Blank Gameweek 34: FA Cup semi-finals
The next anticipated blank comes in Gameweek 34, coinciding with the FA Cup semi-finals on the weekend of Saturday 25 April.
Any club still involved in the FA Cup at this stage and their scheduled Premier League opponents will likely have their Gameweek 34 matches postponed, creating another blank gameweek. Historically, this round has caused some of the biggest blanks of the season.
Managing transfers and chip usage around Gameweek 34 will be crucial, as many popular assets could be unavailable.
Double Gameweek 36: Likely second double gameweek
Some postponed fixtures from Gameweek 34 could also be rescheduled for Gameweek 36, as it is the next open midweek slot that isn’t dominated by European competition, making it another likely candidate for a double Gameweek.
If Gameweek 36 hosts rescheduled fixtures alongside the standard round, managers will have another chance to capitalise with their chips.
Blank Gameweek 37: FA Cup final
Potential blank for the team(s) in the FA Cup final and their Gameweek 37 opponents.
Gameweek 37 comes at the weekend following the FA Cup Final, which is traditionally held on Saturday before the final league weekend.
While postponements could create more blanks, the situation here is fluid and depends on how fixtures are rescheduled around cup and European finals. Some postponed games from previous rounds could be squeezed into this week, reducing the scale of the blank.
How might these affect chip strategy?
Chips will reset in Gameweek 20, giving managers a second Wildcard, Free Hit, Bench Boost and Triple Captain. How we use them should be shaped around blanks and doubles.
Here’s how these anticipated fixture changes align with optimal chip usage:
- Free Hit is traditionally most powerful in a big blank or double Gameweek. This season, using the Free Hit in double Gameweek 33 or blank Gameweek 34 will be almost essential, since the same teams doubling in 33 will blank in 34.
- Bench Boost and Triple Captain are best used in double gameweeks. We can decide which double to use for each of these chips when the fixtures have been rescheduled and doubles are confirmed.
- Wildcard can be used right before this period to restructure your squad toward players who will feature heavily in the upcoming doubles and to free up deadwood.
A Wildcard in Gameweek 32 will be popular — and rightfully so. Setting up your team as close as possible to the blanks and doubles when you have all the confirmed fixtures is the safest play. There is also a three-week gap from Gameweek 31 to Gameweek 32. This is because we will have an international break after Gameweek 31, which will go straight into an FA Cup weekend. Therefore, there will be plenty of games played during this time, and injuries could pile up.
However, a Wildcard in Gameweek 24 can also work as you can target Manchester United, Bournemouth and Chelsea’s great fixtures, picking the optimal three Arsenal players while also cleaning up any deadwood.
This would also give plenty of time to save up your transfers to navigate the blanks and doubles. Because we can save up to five transfers now, an early wildcard is much more justifiable.