Proactive FPL Strategy: Anticipating Fixtures and Player Returns

FPL Harry · January 05, 2026 · Listen to Original Episode →

Original Title: MY FPL GW21 TRANSFER PLANS! 📝 Can I Finally Roll...? ♻️ | Fantasy Premier League Tips 2025/26

TL;DR

Taking a -4 hit in Game Week 20 to acquire Tarkowski and Gabriel positions the defense for long-term stability, effectively "purchasing" a future transfer by front-loading defensive acquisitions.
Rolling the transfer in Game Week 21 is advised due to potential player returns from injury and AFCON, and the upcoming fixture congestion from FA Cup and League Cup ties.
Chelsea's favorable fixture run from Game Week 21 onwards, particularly Game Week 24, presents a strong investment opportunity, though managerial uncertainty necessitates waiting for system clarity.
Investing in Chelsea players like Sanchez, Chalobah, Enzo Fernandez, and Palmer is recommended for Game Week 21, but waiting until Game Week 22 is prudent for other options to observe new manager impact.
The author plans to convert Cunha to Bruno Fernandes once Bruno is back from injury, strategically using banked funds to upgrade the midfield for better long-term performance.
Evaluating Elliot Anderson's role and potential replacement is ongoing, with Juesbury Hall identified as a potential target from Game Week 23 onwards due to favorable upcoming fixtures.
The author's early recording of this video is necessitated by travel to Australia, impacting their ability to incorporate full weekend match results and analysis.

Deep Dive

The FPL Harry podcast episode outlines a strategic approach to Fantasy Premier League team management, emphasizing proactive planning and the identification of key fixture swings. The core argument is that successful FPL play requires anticipating future team value and performance based on upcoming fixtures and potential player returns, rather than reacting solely to immediate game week results. This proactive stance allows for more efficient resource allocation and a higher likelihood of achieving top-tier rankings.

The episode details a specific transfer plan, highlighting the use of a "minus four" hit to acquire defensive players Tarkowski and Gabriel, with the long-term goal of freeing up future transfer options and strengthening the defense against upcoming fixtures. This decision, while appearing aggressive in the short term, is framed as a strategic move to build a more robust team for the subsequent weeks. The implications of this approach extend to player valuation; by identifying players like Chelsea's squad members with favorable upcoming fixture runs, FPL managers can invest early, anticipating price rises and increased point potential. The analysis of Chelsea's schedule, in particular, suggests a significant opportunity for points and value creation from game week 21 onwards, contingent on navigating managerial changes and potential rotation due to multiple competitions.

Further second-order implications arise from the discussion of player performance and potential replacements. The temporary underperformance of players like Elliot Anderson is noted, leading to considerations for future transfers to more consistent point-scorers or players with higher upside, such as Bruno Fernandes upon his return. This illustrates a key consequence of long-term planning: the need to constantly evaluate and upgrade underperforming assets, even if they are not immediate liabilities. The episode also touches upon the strategic benefit of "rolling" a transfer in game week 21, suggesting that holding onto a transfer can provide greater flexibility and more options for game week 22, especially given the potential for player returns from injury and AFCON, as well as significant cup competitions impacting team selections. The core takeaway is that consistent success in FPL hinges on a disciplined, forward-thinking approach to transfers and team composition, prioritizing long-term gains over short-term reactive moves.

Action Items

Audit Chelsea defensive options: Identify 3-4 players with consistent minutes for game weeks 21-27, considering managerial changes and fixture congestion.
Track player price changes: Monitor 5-10 key FPL players daily to inform transfer decisions and maximize budget efficiency.
Evaluate Elliot Anderson's role: Analyze his positional output and attacking involvement over the next 3-5 games to determine transfer viability.
Plan for Bruno Fernandes' return: Identify 2-3 potential transfer targets to free up funds for his re-acquisition once available.
Assess player rotation risk: For teams with multiple competitions (e.g., Chelsea, Arsenal), track squad depth and fixture load for 3-5 key players to predict minutes.

Key Quotes

"The fpl deadlines are absolute chaos again we've got another deadline in game week 21 starting on tuesday but that is the final one in all of the christmas and new year chaos and then we get a week and a half off potentially to get a few of our injured players returning back to full fitness and potentially a few others coming back from afcon as well so there's lots of talk about i know this is a slightly earlier video in the space of game week 20 still going on we're going to take a first look at game week 21 talk about my potential transfers what i'm looking at doing and why i took a quite crazy hit in game week 20"

FPL Harry explains that the upcoming Gameweek 21 deadline is the last in a chaotic period of festive fixtures. He notes the potential for player returns from injury and AFCON during the subsequent break, which will influence transfer strategies. Harry also acknowledges taking a significant hit in Gameweek 20, indicating a willingness to make bold moves for long-term benefit.

"I did want to get you something out as a little bit more of a general discussion about my team my thoughts fixtures players to target and things like that so as a bit of a disclaimer i've i know virtually no results taking place on saturday and i also of course know no results taking place on sunday and i normally wouldn't never do this but i'm also conscious that some of you will want a little bit of something to watch over the next couple of days as you start to think about your teams for game week 21"

FPL Harry provides context for releasing the video early, stating he has limited knowledge of current match results due to travel. He recognizes that viewers may want content to plan for Gameweek 21, even with incomplete information. Harry emphasizes that this is an unusual circumstance driven by his travel schedule.

"I took a minus four i know some of you don't like it but i feel like it has set my defense up well for the long term i play dogu this week away at burnley and then anderson and richards from next week rotate really really well so at the start of the game week before anyone had played but after i took the minus four hit i would have been on 1 162 points and it dropped me down to a rank of about 105k from 90k which is not the end of the world"

FPL Harry defends his decision to take a four-point hit, explaining that it was a strategic move to improve his defense for the long term. He believes this allows for better defensive rotation in upcoming weeks. Harry acknowledges the immediate rank drop but considers it an acceptable consequence for the perceived long-term advantage.

"The big one now is chelsea right they stand right at the top of the fixture ticker fulham away brentford at home palace away before west ham wolves leeds and then burnley at home in game week 27 the next seven fixtures for chelsea are the best in the league so people will be looking to invest the issue is as a chelsea fan there is a lot of uncertainty about who our new manager is going to be"

FPL Harry identifies Chelsea as a prime team to target due to their favorable upcoming fixture list. He highlights that their next seven games are the easiest in the league, making them attractive for investment. However, Harry points out that uncertainty surrounding their new manager creates a risk factor for predicting player minutes and roles.

"The plan with that money in a couple of weeks will be to sell kunya back to bruno fernandes basically as soon as bruno is back bruno is just a much better pick than kunya now kunya will get better when bruno is back he'll have someone to create chances with him so it's not a certainty that i do it straight away but effectively all that money in the bank is to sell kunya back to bruno once bruno is back available"

FPL Harry outlines a future transfer plan involving selling Cunha to bring in Bruno Fernandes once Fernandes returns from injury. He believes Bruno Fernandes is a superior option and that Cunha's performance will improve with Fernandes creating chances. Harry indicates this transfer is a planned move rather than an immediate necessity.

"I do think though with some of the fixtures you've got unless you're buying someone like a tarkowski it might be a good week to roll your transfer because also between game week 21 and game week 22 there is a week and a half fa cup and also carabao cup semi finals first legs so there is a lot of football between game week 21 and 22 with some teams even like chelsea and arsenal playing twice between game week 21 and 22 so if you do have the ability to roll this week it might be a good idea"

FPL Harry suggests that rolling the transfer in Gameweek 21 might be a prudent strategy for many players. He points to the upcoming FA Cup and Carabao Cup semi-finals between Gameweek 21 and 22, which will add more fixtures and potential for disruption. Harry believes that with significant football happening, preserving a transfer could be beneficial.

Resources

External Resources

Articles & Papers

"MY FPL GW21 TRANSFER PLANS! 📝 Can I Finally Roll...? ♻️ | Fantasy Premier League Tips 2025/26" (YouTube) - Discussed as the primary topic of the episode, outlining transfer plans and player targets for Fantasy Premier League Game Week 21.

People

FPL Harry - Host of the episode, discussing his Fantasy Premier League transfer plans and player analysis.
Elliot Anderson - Mentioned as a player in the host's team, with discussion on his performance and potential replacement.
Gabriel - Mentioned as a player in the host's team, with discussion on his fixtures and consistency.
Tarkowski - Mentioned as a player in the host's team, with discussion on his fixtures and defensive capabilities.
Dogu - Mentioned as a player in the host's team, with discussion on his fixtures.
Declan Rice - Mentioned as a player in the host's team, with discussion on his potential return from injury and upcoming fixtures.
Saka - Mentioned as a player in the host's team, with discussion on his fixtures and captaincy potential.
Foden - Mentioned as a player in the host's team, with discussion on his performance and potential replacement.
Kunya - Mentioned as a player in the host's team, with discussion on his performance and potential replacement by Bruno Fernandes.
Bruno Fernandes - Mentioned as a target player to replace Kunya once he is back from injury.
Sean Dyche - Mentioned for his negative impact on Nottingham Forest's attacking output and player roles.
Gibbs White - Mentioned in relation to the midfield setup at Nottingham Forest.
Dominguez - Mentioned in relation to the midfield setup at Nottingham Forest.
Haaland - Mentioned as a captaincy option and in relation to his fixtures.
Etobo - Mentioned as a player in the host's team, considered too expensive for his current output.
Chelsea Manager - Mentioned in relation to uncertainty surrounding the team's lineup and player minutes.
Strasbourg Manager - Mentioned as a potential new manager for Chelsea.
Sanchez - Mentioned as a potential FPL target for Chelsea, expected to keep his place.
Cucurella - Mentioned as a potential FPL target for Chelsea, but not considered worth the money unless more attacking.
Chalobah - Mentioned as a potential FPL target for Chelsea.
Reece James - Mentioned as a player not to consider for FPL from Chelsea.
Fofana - Mentioned as a player not to consider for FPL from Chelsea.
Enzo Fernandez - Mentioned as a cheap FPL option for Chelsea, with potential for more attacking license.
Cole Palmer - Mentioned as a potential FPL target for Chelsea, but expensive.
Neto - Mentioned as a potential FPL target for Chelsea.
Joao Pedro - Mentioned as a potential FPL target for Chelsea.
Delap - Mentioned in relation to Chelsea's forward line.
Caicedo - Mentioned as a cheap FPL option for Chelsea.
Estevao - Mentioned as a potential FPL target for Chelsea.
Juesbury Hall - Mentioned as a potential FPL target for Everton, expected back around Game Week 22 or 23.
Harry Wilson - Mentioned as a player who could be replaced by Juesbury Hall.
Michael Keane - Mentioned as a short-term hold for Everton's defense until Branthwaite returns.
Branthwaite - Mentioned as a player expected to return for Everton.
Tarkowski - Mentioned as a long-term hold for Everton's defense.
Pickford - Mentioned as a long-term hold for Everton's defense.
O'Brien - Mentioned as a player with questions about FPL potential.
Mikkelsen - Mentioned as a player with questions about FPL potential.
Jared Bowen - Mentioned as a potential FPL target for West Ham.
Paqueta - Mentioned as a West Ham player who did not make the squad, with uncertainty about his return.
Potts - Mentioned as a cheap FPL option for West Ham.
Margay - Mentioned as a player to hold onto for Crystal Palace.
Richards - Mentioned as a player to hold onto for Crystal Palace, and as a bench option.
Mateta - Mentioned as a player to consider for Crystal Palace.
Olise - Mentioned as a player returning from AFCON for Crystal Palace.
Munoz - Mentioned as a player returning from injury for Crystal Palace.
Brennan Johnson - Mentioned as a new signing for Crystal Palace.
Anthony Gordon - Mentioned as a player for Newcastle, with a note to watch minutes.
Bruno Guimarães - Mentioned as a reliable player for Newcastle.
Pope - Mentioned as a reliable player for Newcastle.
Malick Thiaw - Mentioned as a player for Newcastle.
Tavernier - Mentioned as an FPL option for Bournemouth, taking set pieces.
Cleverley - Mentioned in relation to penalties for Bournemouth.
Semenyo - Mentioned as a player who might leave Bournemouth, impacting minutes.
Foden - Mentioned in relation to Manchester City's forward line and potential impact of Semenyo.
Turkey - Mentioned in relation to Manchester City's forward line.
Van de Ven - Mentioned as an FPL option for Spurs.
Kudus - Mentioned as a player for Spurs, not considered worth the risk.
Rogers - Mentioned as an FPL option for Aston Villa.
Watkins - Mentioned as an FPL option for Aston Villa, with concerns about early substitutions.
Tielemans - Mentioned as a cheaper FPL option for Aston Villa, who takes set pieces and potentially penalties.
Cash - Mentioned as a defensive FPL option for Aston Villa.
Mukiele - Mentioned as a player for Sunderland for rotation.
Audrey - Mentioned as a player for Sunderland for rotation.
Kevin Schade - Mentioned as a short-term FPL option for Brentford.
Calvert-Lewin - Mentioned as a cheapest FPL option.

Organizations & Institutions

Walmart Business - Mentioned for providing business solutions for restocking and team management.
Crustables - Mentioned for their new morning sandwiches with protein.
Aston Villa - Mentioned in relation to a match against Nottingham Forest.
Nottingham Forest - Mentioned in relation to a match against Aston Villa and their attacking output.
Arsenal - Mentioned in relation to fixtures and potential player returns.
Liverpool - Mentioned in relation to fixtures.
Bournemouth - Mentioned in relation to fixtures.
West Ham - Mentioned in relation to fixtures.
Wolves - Mentioned in relation to fixtures.
Burnley - Mentioned in relation to fixtures.
Chelsea - Mentioned for having the best fixtures in the league over the next seven games, with uncertainty about their new manager.
Everton - Mentioned in relation to player returns and defensive holds.
Crystal Palace - Mentioned for upcoming fixtures and potential squad depth improvements.
Newcastle - Mentioned for upcoming fixtures.
Leeds - Mentioned in relation to upcoming fixtures.
Manchester City - Mentioned in relation to player minutes and potential signings.
Spurs - Mentioned in relation to upcoming fixtures.
Sunderland - Mentioned for players available for rotation.
Brentford - Mentioned in relation to upcoming fixtures.
Manchester United - Mentioned in relation to fixtures.

Other Resources

AFCON - Mentioned as a reason for player absences and potential returns.
Fantasy Premier League (FPL) - The main subject of the episode, with discussion on transfer plans, player targets, and game weeks.
Game Week 21 - The specific FPL game week being discussed for transfer plans.
Game Week 20 - The previous FPL game week, where the host made a "crazy hit" transfer.
Game Week 22 - Mentioned for future transfer planning and potential player returns.
Game Week 23 - Mentioned for future transfer planning and potential player returns.
Game Week 24 - Mentioned as a key week to invest in Chelsea due to their fixtures.
Game Week 27 - Mentioned for Chelsea's fixtures.
Defcon - Mentioned as a factor in FPL and player minutes.
European fixtures - Mentioned as a factor affecting player minutes for Chelsea.
Champions League - Mentioned as a competition that will congest Chelsea's schedule.
Carabao Cup - Mentioned as a competition that will congest Chelsea's schedule, with semi-final first legs between Game Week 21 and 22.
FA Cup - Mentioned as a competition that will congest Chelsea's schedule, and as a factor between Game Week 21 and 22.
Fixture ticker - Mentioned in relation to Chelsea's upcoming schedule.
Rotation - Mentioned as a factor to consider due to multiple competitions.
Minutes - Mentioned as a crucial factor for FPL player selection.
Set pieces - Mentioned in relation to player potential for assists and goals.
Penalties - Mentioned in relation to player potential for goals.
Wildcard drafts - Mentioned as a topic to be covered in a future complete guide video.
Sports Social Podcast Network - Mentioned as the network this podcast is part of.
Instagram - Mentioned as a platform to follow the host's holiday.