FPL Chip Strategy Guide 2026/27: When to play the first set of chips
When is the best time to play your chips in FPL 2026/27? We take a look at options for the Wildcard, Bench Boost, Free Hit and Triple Captain.
Our Chip Strategy Guide, newly refreshed for the 2026/27 season, details some of the popular options for the Wildcard, Bench Boost, Free Hit and Triple Captain.
A successful strategy could be the difference between winning and losing your mini-leagues – and with many experienced managers thinking of using some early on, having a plan is essential to getting off to a strong start.
We list our favourite timings for all four chips below. The guide focuses on the first half of the season and will be updated regularly throughout 2026/27.
Many FPL managers used a combination of chips before the first international break but there are still numerous opportunities to use them.
What chips are available this season?
There are two sets of identical chips to play this season, the same as 2025/26.
FPL managers get one set of four to use in the first half of the season, with another for the second half.
Most use the second set of chips to get through the blank and double gameweeks.
But there’s a lot more flexibility and variety of strategies for the first batch, with no blanks or doubles expected by the Gameweek 19 deadline, when they must be used by.
Best time to play the FPL Wildcard
Gameweek 6
Using the Wildcard during the break will allow you plenty of time to refresh your squad, with international matches being played over a three-week period.
There’s the potential to catch numerous price rises, although there have already been a few for players like Pascal Gross, Harvey Barnes and David Raya.
While some activated the chip early, Gameweek 6 wildcarders have the benefit of several weeks of data to look through.
Defensive contribution gems like Antonio Silva of Bournemouth have emerged, while Leeds’ Tarik Muharemovic has impressed.
Fulham, Arsenal, Newcastle and Chelsea are among the teams to target, while Everton’s fixture against Hull (A) is a reasonable entry point for their defenders.
There are some drawbacks though.
Uncertainty over the fitness of Joao Pedro and any international break withdrawals may not be cleared up by the time of the deadline.
And teams like Manchester City and Bournemouth - whose players will be popular in the coming weeks - have a tough Gameweek 6 fixture.
Gameweek 7 is therefore an alternative…
Fixture tickerGW6-GW10
FUL
COV
NEW
ARS
IPS
CHE
SUN
BRE
HUL
MUN
BOU
CRY
EVE
MCI
TOT
AVL
BHA
LEE
NFO
LIVGameweek 7
Manchester City and Bournemouth rise up the ticker once Gameweek 6 is out of the way, with Spurs topping the pile and starting against Coventry (H).
If you’re well set for Gameweek 6 and survive the international break without injuries in your team, then waiting a week could be a good option.
Fixture tickerGW7-GW11COVMCITOTBOUBRECHEFULARSIPSNEWSUNCRYHULAVLBHALEEEVELIVMUNNFOA later Wildcard
There’s no need to play your Wildcard early if you don’t have to and some will save it as late as possible.
In Gameweek 17 for example, three top teams rise to the top of the ticker - Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.
The next international break comes before Gameweek 11 meanwhile, offering another sensible time to change up your team.
But holding your Wildcard is arguably less about picking a specific window, rather saving it for when you need it.
A harsh winter could even see some postponements, putting those who have been patient with chips in the driving seat.
Fixture tickerGW17-GW21LIVARSCHEBest time to play the FPL Triple Captain
The Triple Captain chip can be slotted in around your other chips, with plenty of options in which to play it.
Here are some possible players and gameweeks:
- Erling Haaland: Gameweek 7 v Ipswich (H) or Gameweek 16 v Hull (H)
- Bruno Fernandes: Gameweek 14 v Coventry (H)
- Bukayo Saka: Gameweek 10 v Hull (H) or Gameweek 19 v Ipswich (H)
Man CityForward£15.6mHaaland
Player profileGameweek 1-5- Appearances
- 5
- Goals
- 5
- xG
- 4.43
- Assists
- 0
- xA
- 0.53
- Shots on target
- 10
- Shots in the box
- 19
- Big chances
- 9
- Key passes
- 1
- Big chances created
- 1
- FPL points
- 39
- DefCon points
- 0
Best time to play the FPL Free Hit
The Free Hit could be saved on the off-chance a surprise double gameweek is created over the winter.
Otherwise, you’re looking for a week where you don’t own some of the top predicted points scorers, and/or a time where your squad has a low team rating according to Hub AI.
City face Arsenal (A) in Gameweek 12, a week which looks strong for Crystal Palace and Leeds, who play Hull (H) and Coventry (H) respectively.
Gameweek 14 sees Chelsea host Liverpool and City travelling to Brentford, with Bournemouth and Leeds topping the ticker.
And Gameweek 16 is a week where three targetable teams - Brighton, City and Bournemouth - host promoted clubs.
Fixture tickerGW16-GW18MCIBHABOUBest time to play the FPL Bench Boost
The Bench Boost is a highly team dependent chip.
It was widely used in Gameweek 1 and 2, allowing managers to carefully plan it.
Many use it soon after a Wildcard, helping to ensure a good chance that all their players are fit and likely to start.
The longer it’s left afterwards, the higher chance you’ll need to use free transfers to field a full 15.
The Bench Boost is not the most powerful chip in a single gameweek, so using too many transfers on it is not often the wisest use of moves.
Gameweek 6 or 7 wildcarders could try to set up to play it in the week or two afterwards or simply leave its timing open.
Be aware though that a later use of it could mean carrying vital funds on the bench.
For example, those who have already used the Bench Boost might opt for a non-playing £4.0m goalkeeper, while future bench boosters will have to spend at least £4.5m on their shot-stoppers.