FPL Chip Strategy for Gameweek 33 | FPL Companion

Gameweek 33 brings a Double Gameweek for six teams: Leeds, Bournemouth, Brighton, Chelsea, Burnley, and Man City. With Blank Gameweek 34 hitting the same sides, this is where your chip strategy decides your season.

The deadline is Saturday 18 April 2026 at 11:00 BST.

The Two Main Chip Strategies

Most FPL managers are looking at one of two paths. Choose based on your current squad strength and transfer situation.

Option 1: Free Hit 33 + Wildcard 35 + Bench Boost 36/37

This is the recommended path for most managers.

Use your Free Hit in GW33 to load up on double gameweek players from the six DGW sides. Then play your Wildcard in GW35 to restructure for the run-in, before activating Bench Boost in GW36 or GW37 when your bench is at its strongest.

Why this works:

The DGW33 teams are Leeds, Bournemouth, Brighton, Chelsea, Burnley, and Man City. You want 11 double gameweek players in your FH33 team. Do not pick single gameweek players every slot matters.

Key targets on Free Hit 33:

Man City triple: O'Reilly, Semenyo, Haaland (or Cherki as a differential)

Bournemouth double: Tavernier, Evanilson (or Kruppi as a differential)

Leeds double: Darlow, Struijk, Aaronson

Chelsea: João Pedro, Cole Palmer

Forward option: Evan Ferguson over the popular Calvert-Lewin

Brighton bench: Gross guaranteed minutes, useful bench cover

The logic: Haaland, Palmer, and Semenyo are the essential picks. Build your FH33 team around these and fill the remaining slots with Leeds, Bournemouth, and Chelsea assets.

Option 2: Wildcard 33 + Free Hit 34

This is for managers whose GW34 team is already weak.

If you are holding a player like Ekitike who got 0 minutes in GW32, your squad may not survive the blank. Wildcarding in GW33 lets you fix your GW34 squad now rather than gambling on a Free Hit in 34.

Wildcard 33 suggested team:

Defenders: Darlow, Struijk, James Hill (Leeds and Bournemouth coverage)

Midfielders/Forwards: Palmer, Semenyo, Tavernier, Calvert-Lewin, Haaland, João Pedro

Bench: Henderson (Palace), Bruno Fernández, Mateta, Gabriel (Arsenal)

This gives you DGW33 coverage while fixing your GW34 blanks. You then use Free Hit 34 to go heavy on the teams that do play that week.

Who are the bench goals for GW36?

Palace have a double gameweek coming in GW36 (date TBC, against Man City). Henderson and Sarr are the bench targets. Palace also have European semi-finals around GW35 rotation risk is real despite the "Glasner never rotates" narrative. Consider this before committing to Bench Boost in GW35.

Bench Boost Decisions

This is where managers are making the biggest mistakes.

If you wildcarded in GW32 and have Bench Boost active in GW33 use it.

You will never have a better bench. Current options include Darlow, Van Hecke, Bruno Fernández, and Gabriel. Bruno and Gabriel are bench covers who play in DGW33 and will stay important if the title race remains open.

Selling Gabriel for Palace players:

Transfer arithmetic matters. Selling Gabriel at £7.2m and buying him back at £6.2m costs a 0.5m hit plus one transfer. If you are also bringing in Palace players, that is two transfers total.

If you have 3-4 transfers spare and the budget: Sell Gabriel to a DGW player and buy him back later

If you are short on transfers and money: Just bench boost Gabriel against Man City away he will play

Do not overthink the bench boost if your bench is weak. But if you have the players, this is the week.

Bench Boost 35 think carefully:

Palace may rotate in GW35 due to European commitments (currently 3-0 up in UECL quarter-finals). A bench boost in GW35 with Palace rotation risk is not ideal. Most managers should save Bench Boost for GW36 or GW37 when the picture is clearer.

GW34 Planning

GW34 is a Blank Gameweek for the DGW33 teams. Your GW34 Free Hit is a season-defining chip if used correctly.

Salah is a big differential for FH34.

If the title race stays open, Bruno Fernández and Gabriel (Arsenal) stay essential. But for FH34 specifically, having Salah as a differential could swing your overall rank significantly.

Plan your WC34 or FH34 team now. Know which players you need to keep and which blanks you cannot cover without a chip.

What to Do Right Now

Check your transfers: How many do you have spare? What is your ITB?

Count your DGW33 players: If you have 7 or fewer, you likely need a Free Hit

Decide on Bench Boost: If your bench is strong and you wildcarded in GW32, use it this week

Identify your weak GW34 slots: If you are holding dead assets, Wildcard 33 may be your only option

Watch Palace's European result: If they go through comfortably, GW35 rotation risk increases

The Bottom Line

Most managers should follow Option 1: Free Hit 33 + Wildcard 35 + Bench Boost 36/37.

Use Free Hit to maximise DGW33

Wildcard in GW35 to restructure for the run-in

Bench Boost when your bench is strongest

If your squad is already weak for GW34, or if you are holding players who got 0 minutes in GW32, go Option 2: Wildcard 33 + Free Hit 34.

Use our FPL Compare tool to see how your squad matches up. Check the Fixtures page for the latest fixture changes. And read our Captain Picks article for armband options this week.

GW33 deadline: Saturday 18 April 2026, 11:00 BST. Plan your chips now.