Strategic Chip Usage and Budget Enablers for Festive Fixture Gains

Fantasy Football Scout - FPL Tips · December 23, 2025 · Listen to Original Episode →

Original Title:

TL;DR

The decision to use the Bench Boost chip in Game Week 18 is driven by a confluence of player availability and fixture congestion, aiming to maximize points from the entire squad during a period of intense competition.
Transferring out key players like Szoboszlai and Bruno Fernandes is necessitated by their upcoming suspensions and injuries, forcing strategic replacements to maintain team competitiveness and avoid further rank drops.
Focusing on "bargain basement" enablers in defense and midfield, such as Lewis Potter and La Fée, allows for significant fund reallocation to premium assets, optimizing overall team value and potential.
The analysis of festive fixture tickers reveals strategic opportunities for teams like West Ham, Manchester United, and Newcastle, suggesting potential gains for players within these advantageous schedules.
The discussion highlights the trade-off between short-term gains from in-form players like Calvert-Lewin and the long-term strategic value of players like Morgan Rogers, whose fixtures improve in January.
The podcast emphasizes the importance of identifying players who can provide "death con" (defensive contributions) even when not scoring, such as Trossard, as a means to secure points through alternative routes.

Deep Dive

The core insight of this discussion is that Fantasy Premier League team selections require dynamic adaptation to player injuries, fixture congestion, and strategic chip usage, particularly for upcoming festive fixtures. This necessitates a move from reactive transfers to proactive planning, focusing on identifying "enabler" players who provide value at lower price points and maximizing the impact of limited-use chips like the bench boost.

The immediate implication of this strategy is the need to identify budget-friendly players who can offer consistent points accumulation, often by exploiting favorable fixture runs or filling gaps left by more expensive, injured, or AFCON-bound stars. For instance, the analysis highlights Lewis Potter as a potential short-term defensive enabler due to his out-of-position role and favorable upcoming matches for Brentford. Similarly, midfielders like La Fée and Miley are presented as value options, with La Fée's penalty duties and set-piece involvement offering a direct route to points for Sunderland, while Miley's versatility at Newcastle can provide defensive and attacking contributions. These "bargain basement" picks are crucial for freeing up funds to acquire premium assets or to facilitate strategic transfers, such as moving from a suspended Szoboszlai or an injured Bruno Fernandes.

The strategic use of chips, particularly the bench boost, introduces a further layer of complexity. Activating the bench boost during a period of favorable fixtures for multiple players in the squad, as both hosts intend to do, creates a high-stakes opportunity for significant point gains. However, this also amplifies the risk associated with any player blanking or receiving negative points (death con). The discussion around Trossard moving to an Everton defender, for example, illustrates the trade-off between a potential clean sheet and the risk of a hit, weighed against Trossard's potential for "death con" points even in a loss. Ultimately, the conversation underscores that success in FPL hinges on anticipating these scenarios, making informed transfer decisions based on fixture analysis and player form, and strategically deploying limited resources like transfers and chips to navigate the volatile landscape of the festive football schedule.

Action Items

Audit player transfer strategy: Analyze 3-5 recent transfers for impact on team rank and identify patterns of reactive vs. proactive decision-making.
Create player evaluation framework: Define criteria for assessing player value beyond immediate points, considering fixture difficulty and long-term potential for 5-10 key assets.
Track transfer impact: For the next 3 game weeks, record the points gained or lost from each transfer to measure decision effectiveness.
Develop fixture analysis model: Identify 3-5 teams with favorable upcoming fixture runs and assess their potential for sustained point returns.

Key Quotes

"The author argues, 'I made one transfer Joe I sold Saka actually in the end and moved him on for Foden and we had a lot of discussion last week about how I was going to get to Foden and weighed it all up and I knew I wasn't going to bench boost so I wanted to keep some free transfers in the bank this week wanted to do it in one move and it was between him and Fernandez and I sold Saka in the end.'"

The author explains a strategic transfer decision made in Fantasy Premier League. This highlights the player's process of weighing options and prioritizing future flexibility by retaining free transfers. The author's choice to move from Saka to Foden, despite previous discussions, demonstrates a reactive approach to team management based on current game week needs and long-term planning.

"'The author argues, 'I've got Bruno Fernandes got injured so I took him out for Cunha. I think obviously is going to be a bit of less creativity at Man United now without Fernandez but I think in that second off against Villa I think they were still the better team for for quite a bit of that and I think with Mount and Saka in there I think after Newcastle it's a really good run for United as well so I think those were the two moves I've still got one free transfer.'"

This quote details two specific player transfers made by the author due to injury and potential future performance. The author justifies the move from Bruno Fernandes to Cunha by assessing Manchester United's team dynamics and upcoming fixture run. This illustrates a proactive approach to mitigating risk from player injuries while aiming to capitalize on favorable team schedules.

"'The author highlights, 'Lewis Potter at Brentford now he's a defender but he's playing as an attacker this is shades of Gareth Bale when he was at Tottenham you remember that one season where he was a 4-5 defender but he was playing as a winger and he was terrible for half the season and the second half of the season he was unbelievable and he was just anyway so his minutes per expected goal involvement last six all of the tables we show will be last six matches by the way is 203 minutes which is very good for a defender because he's playing as an attacker.'"

The author uses an analogy to Gareth Bale to describe Lewis Potter's unusual positional role and potential. This quote emphasizes Potter's value as a budget defender who is effectively playing in an attacking position, suggesting a high return potential. The author's focus on "minutes per expected goal involvement" indicates a data-driven approach to identifying undervalued players.

"'The author explains, 'La Fée at Sunderland he's only 4-9 he's who I'm going to get in so for my team I've already done Bruno Fernandes to Cunha I'm going to move I'm going to keep Thiago because Thiago does well at home he does better at home and Bournemouth are absolutely terrible defensively against center forwards I think they're one of the worst against center forwards as such so I'm going to I'm going to keep Thiago.'"

This quote outlines the author's plan to acquire a specific budget midfielder, La Fée, and justifies keeping another player, Thiago. The author's reasoning for keeping Thiago is based on his historical performance at home and the opponent's defensive weaknesses. This demonstrates a strategic approach to player selection, balancing new acquisitions with the retention of existing assets based on favorable matchups.

"'The author argues, 'Calvert-Lewin he's 5-8 which is still cheap for a striker 6 goals last four starts so this is last six games but yeah four starts in that period 16 shots eight of those on target three chances created he's absolutely good but Leeds' fixtures Sunderland away could be tough Liverpool away could be tough Manchester United at home could definitely score in that Newcastle away that could be tough so it doesn't feel Calvert-Lewin time.'"

The author analyzes the recent performance and upcoming fixtures of a specific striker, Calvert-Lewin. Despite the player's good recent scoring record, the author concludes that his current team's fixtures are too challenging to warrant selection. This illustrates a balanced assessment, considering both individual player form and the broader context of team schedules when making transfer decisions.

Resources

External Resources

Books

"The Gareth Bale Story" by Author - Mentioned as an example of a player who played out of position and was highly effective.

Articles & Papers

"The Gareth Bale Story" - Mentioned as an example of a player who played out of position and was highly effective.

People

Tom Freeman - Deputy editor of Fantasy Football Scout.
Joe - Host of the Fantasy Football Scout podcast.
Dyche - Manager of Everton, mentioned regarding player training and selection.
Emery - Manager of Aston Villa, mentioned regarding player instructions.
Gareth Bale - Former player, used as an example of a player playing out of position.
Harvey Barnes - Player, mentioned in the context of competition for starting positions at Newcastle.
John Victor - Goalkeeper for Nottingham Forest, mentioned as a temporary replacement for Sells.
Neil - Newcastle fan, mentioned for his opinion on Gordon's starting chances.
Thiago - Player, mentioned as a potential doubt due to injury and his performance at home.
Amed - Player, mentioned as being away for AFCON, impacting Manchester United's midfield.
Masraoui - Player, mentioned as being away for AFCON, impacting Manchester United's midfield.
Dubois Hall - Player, mentioned as being injured, impacting Everton's midfield options.
Amad - Player, mentioned as being away for AFCON, impacting Manchester United's midfield.
Amad Diallo - Player, mentioned as being away for AFCON, impacting Manchester United's midfield.
Bruno Fernandes - Player, mentioned as being injured and sold from teams.
Callum Wilson - Player, mentioned as a potential forward option with good recent form.
Declan Rice - Player, mentioned as a reliable option with good fixtures and multiple routes to points.
Ekitike - Player, mentioned as a forward option.
Elliot Anderson - Player, mentioned as a reliable pick with good form and potential for defensive points.
Foden - Player, mentioned as a good long-term option despite a low score in the previous game week.
Gordon - Player, mentioned as a potential option but with concerns about minutes.
Grealish - Player, mentioned as a tempting option for a run of good fixtures.
Haaland - Player, mentioned as a captain option with a high score.
Hincapie - Player, mentioned for his defensive performance.
Issac - Player, mentioned as injured, making Saka a good option.
Jacker - Player, mentioned as a strong reliable pick with potential for defensive points.
Keane - Player, mentioned as a defender option with attacking threat.
Kolo Muani - Player, mentioned as a potential forward option.
Kounia - Player, mentioned as a forward option.
La Fee - Player, mentioned as a standout midfielder option, particularly for penalties.
Lewis Potter - Player, mentioned as a defender playing in an attacking role with good recent form and fixtures.
Miley - Player, mentioned as a strong contender for a midfielder spot, benefiting from injuries.
Morgan Rogers - Player, mentioned for his outstanding goals and potential but with concerns about upcoming fixtures.
Mukele - Player, mentioned as a defender option with attacking threat.
Pape Matar Sarr - Player, mentioned as being away for AFCON, impacting Tottenham's midfield.
Paqueta - Player, mentioned as a potential midfield option.
Pickford - Goalkeeper, mentioned as a more expensive option.
Raul Jimenez - Player, mentioned as a potential transfer target.
Richards - Player, mentioned for his defensive performance.
Rodgers - Player, mentioned as being in great form but with difficult upcoming fixtures.
Saka - Player, mentioned as a good option, and sold by one of the hosts.
Saïss - Player, mentioned as a potential transfer target.
Semenyo - Player, mentioned for his performance and goal.
Sells - Goalkeeper for Nottingham Forest, mentioned as the number one keeper with uncertainty about his return.
Szoboszlai - Player, mentioned as being suspended and needing to be sold.
Thiago - Player, mentioned as a potential doubt due to injury and his performance at home.
Trossard - Player, mentioned as a potential transfer target.
Turkey - Player, mentioned as a potential option for Manchester City.
Walker-Peters - Player, mentioned as a cheap defender option with attacking threat.
Watkins - Player, mentioned as a runner for Rogers.

Organizations

Aston Villa - Football club, mentioned for their upcoming fixtures and player performance.
Brentford - Football club, mentioned for their good fixtures and player performance.
Brighton - Football club, mentioned for their defense and upcoming fixtures.
Burnley - Football club, mentioned for their fixtures.
Crystal Palace - Football club, mentioned for their fixtures.
Everton - Football club, mentioned for their strong fixtures and player options.
Fulham - Football club, mentioned for their fixtures.
Leeds - Football club, mentioned for their recent unbeaten run and defensive formation.
Liverpool - Football club, mentioned for their fixtures.
Manchester City - Football club, mentioned for their fixtures and player options.
Manchester United - Football club, mentioned for their fixtures and player options.
Newcastle - Football club, mentioned for their fixtures and player options.
Nottingham Forest - Football club, mentioned for their fixtures and player options.
PFF (Pro Football Focus) - Mentioned as a data source for player grading.
Sunderland - Football club, mentioned for their fixtures and player options.
Tottenham - Football club, mentioned for their fixtures.
West Ham - Football club, mentioned for their good fixtures and player options.
Wolves - Football club, mentioned for their fixtures.
ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) - Mentioned in relation to O'Reilly's Verascan service.
Liberty Mutual - Insurance company, mentioned in a sponsored segment.
Meyer - Retail store, mentioned in a sponsored segment.
Fifth Generation Inc. - Distillery, mentioned in relation to Tito's Handmade Vodka.
O'Reilly Auto Parts - Retailer, mentioned in relation to their Verascan service.
Fantasy Football Scout - Podcast and media outlet, hosts of the episode.

Websites & Online Resources

podcastchoices.com/adchoices - Mentioned for ad choices.
ffscout.com - Mentioned as the website for Fantasy Football Scout.
ffscout.co.uk - Mentioned for commercial/sponsorship enquiries.
mperks.com - Mentioned in relation to Meyer's M Perks program.
libertymutual.com - Mentioned for car insurance customization.

Podcasts & Audio

Fantasy Football Scout - FPL Tips - The podcast series featuring the episode.

Other Resources

AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) - Tournament, mentioned as a reason for player absences.
Bench Boost - Fantasy Premier League chip, discussed as being active for the current game week.
Defensive Points (Def Con) - A metric used in Fantasy Premier League.
Free Hit - Fantasy Premier League chip, mentioned as being used by some players.
Triple Captain - Fantasy Premier League chip, mentioned as being used by some players.
Red Arrow - Fantasy Premier League term for a decrease in rank.
Green Arrow - Fantasy Premier League term for an increase in rank.
Con - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to points.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
Conundrum - A term used in Fantasy Premier League, likely referring to a difficult decision.
**Con