
Approaching blanks/DGWs inevitably leads to chatter about potential chip strategies, and how the chips are(/are not) best employed in order to maximise our FPL points totals. Last year, we had a fantastic discussion about all the FPL implications/potential chip strategies as the landscape slowly unfolded, but fundamentally the layout was quite similar to that of the 15/16 season (with a blank in between two big doubles).

As usual it's looking like two main DGWs this time round, and we'd be forgiven for guessing that the schedule would be similar to that of the 16/17 season. Due to summer international tournaments, the blank/DGW layout has tended to follow a two year cycle. This year, however, we are in relatively new territory and have a significant break from the norm. Luckily, the boffins have us covered on the fixtures side of things, with Ben Crellin continuing to make available his now legendary spreadsheet: Here's the expected schedule for this season:
GW27 (Small BLANK - EFL Cup Final)
GW31 (Big BLANK - FA Cup QF)
GW32 (DOUBLE Gameweek)
GW33 (Medium BLANK - FA Cup SFs)
GW35 (DOUBLE Gameweek)
The DGWs are placed very early in the season, and DGW32 looks conspicuously surrounded by a barren land of fixturelessness. Of course, there could well be one or more additional small DGWs should a team do particularly well in all competitions (and potential carnage if they also require a 5th round FA Cup replay). But, we've got to go all the way back to the 13/14 season until the first main DGW was so early, and not since 10/11 has the second main DGW come before GW36!!

So, how will this two-week shift in DGW times effect all our thinking on 2nd wildcard deployment and when best to play any remaining chips etc?
Will GW32 turn out the obvious place to wildcard (coming as it does after two blanks), or will it prove too early in the season to be able to optimise with a blank immediately after? Indeed, will the FH chip be the ruler of GW32 planning? Or neither?
Can we quickly rule out the use of some chips in GW32, namely BB, with the unusual case of blanks immediately preceding it?
Will it be best to leave the wildcard until after all the blanks are over and use it to recover a team for GW35-38?
It seems hard to answer those questions at this point, and knowledge of the precise fixtures will be key as always. But, what is for certain is that there is fun on the horizon! All FPL eyes should be on the EFL QFs tonight and tomorrow, as the winners give themselves a very strong chance of missing GW27.

What are all your initial thoughts on the unique blank/DGW combination this year, and how will it effect your thinking going into the second half of the season?

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Confirmed GW25 Doubles
Manchester City (ARS, eve)
Everton (WOL, MCI)
Confirmed GW27 Blanks
Brighton, Chelsea, Everton, Man City
Fixtures yet to be arranged
Chelsea vs Brighton