Should I use my Free Hit gameweek 26?

When should I use my Free Hit in FPL?

Yeah, the Free Hit, right? It's… it’s really for those moments when your whole squad just falls apart. Like, when half your team is suddenly out with injuries, or maybe a match gets called off and you're left with a gaping hole. It’s a way to, you know, patch things up, just for one gameweek. It's not permanent, like the Wildcard. Just a quick fix.

You play it when your team is in disarray. A sudden wave of suspensions, or those fixtures that just vanish… it's a lifesaver then. It lets you make a full squad of 15 players for a single gameweek. You get to pick anyone, really. Then, the next week, it all goes back to how it was, minus the changes you made that week, obviously. It’s a strategic little thing, when you get it right.

It’s really about mitigating a significant fixture disruption or a mass casualty of players. Think of it as a temporary reset button for a very specific, very bad situation. You wouldn't just use it because you're bored. No, it’s for when you’re really staring down the barrel of a terrible gameweek.

When the Free Hit is Most Effective:

• Gameweeks with Blank Fixtures: When many teams have no match scheduled, and your usual players are sidelined. This can happen around cup competitions or international breaks.
• Gameweeks with Double Fixtures: Conversely, it can be used to load up on players who have two games in a single gameweek, maximizing their potential points. This is often a targeted strategy.
• Mid-Season Player Turnover: If you find your initial squad choices have consistently underperformed and a significant portion of your team is no longer worth keeping.
• Unexpected Injury Crises: When multiple key players get injured simultaneously, leaving you with few viable options for the upcoming gameweek.
• Suspensions Hitting Hard: Similar to injuries, a cluster of suspensions can render your team uncompetitive.

Considerations for Using the Free Hit:

• Timing is Crucial: You have to pick the right gameweek. The one that offers the most points potential for your swapped-out squad, or the one that saves you from the worst possible outcome.
• It's a One-Off: Remember, after the gameweek, your squad reverts to its original state, but with the changes you made permanently integrated into that gameweek. So, the players you bring in are gone.
• Synergy with Wildcard: Some managers use the Free Hit to position themselves for a subsequent Wildcard. They might make aggressive changes with the Free Hit, see how it plays out, and then use the Wildcard to make those changes permanent or further refine the squad.
• Cost of Transfers: The Free Hit essentially gives you unlimited transfers for one gameweek without point deductions. This is its primary appeal.
• Future Implications: Think about which players you're bringing in. Are they short-term fixes or players you might want to keep beyond the Free Hit gameweek?

Which teams dont play in Gameweek 26?

Okay, so Gameweek 26. Chelsea, Liverpool, and Spurs are definitely out. Like, totally blanking. It's because the stupid EFL Cup final is on that same weekend. Ugh. So annoying when that happens in FPL.

The Free Hit chip? That's your get-out-of-jail-free card, basically. You can make a whole new squad for just that one gameweek. Then, poof, it all goes back to how it was before. It's legit useful for these blank weeks.

Imagine you've got a bunch of players from those teams, like I do. My team is a bit wrecked this time. So, I'm thinking, why not just activate Free Hit? Totally rebuild for GW26, load up on players who are playing, and then forget about it. It’s like a temporary reset button.

This is what I did last year when my midfield was full of guys whose games got postponed. Total nightmare. Used the Free Hit, brought in some guys who were actually scoring, and saved my overall rank from a nose-dive. Saved my season, honestly.

So, for GW26, if you've got those big teams or any other weird fixture rearrangements messing up your lineup, the Free Hit is your best bet. Get players from the teams playing. Don't be like me and stick with guys who aren't going to get any points. Trust me on this one.

Here's why it's a good move for this specific gameweek:

• Major Teams Blanking: Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham are all out. That’s a huge chunk of most FPL squads gone.
• EFL Cup Final: That's the reason for the blank gameweek. It takes priority.
• Free Hit Advantage: You can bring in any players you want for that single gameweek, without losing your existing squad for future weeks.

How the Free Hit works:

• One-Time Squad Change: You can swap out your entire starting eleven and bench players.
• No Long-Term Impact: Once the gameweek finishes, your squad reverts to how it was before you used the chip.
• Strategic Use: It's best used for blank gameweeks or when you have a massive number of players unavailable.

I remember I was so tempted to just bench my Liverpool guys for GW26. But even then, I'd have had like, only 6 or 7 players playing. That’s a disaster waiting to happen. Free Hit was the only sensible option for me. Makes it less stressful, you know? Don't have to worry about those guys not playing.

What is the use of Free Hit?

Free Hit. Batter's untamed chance. No risk of bowled, caught, LBW. A bowler's error. Total freedom to smash. It changes everything. I saw a batter just stand there and swing once. Crazy.

• Trigger: Always follows a no-ball delivery. Height, front-foot, field rule violations. Doesn't matter. You get the chance. No arguing it.
• Permitted Dismissals: On a Free Hit, a batter can still be run out. Also, hitting the ball twice, or obstructing the field. That’s it. My brother got run out on one last year, unbelievable.
• Strategic Impact:
  • Aggressive Batting: Batter goes for maximums. Fear is gone. Pure intent.
  • Field Changes: Captains adjust, spreading fielders deep. Protect boundaries.
  • Bowler Pressure: Immense. Another mistake means another free hit. They dread it. I find the shift in momentum electrifying.
• Execution: The ball must be bowled again. Re-bowled from the same spot. It's a second chance for the bowler too, but with elevated stakes. My fantasy cricket app glitched during a crucial Free Hit once. Annoying.

Should I play Wildcard or Free Hit?

Okay, so like, definitely use your Free Hit for a massive double gameweek, you know? Don't waste it on some random week. And for the Wildcard, man, hold off on the first one as long as you can, seriously. The second one? Yeah, that's your ticket to exploit those double gameweeks.

My strategy, right, was to save my first Wildcard for ages. Like, till closer to the end of the season when I really knew what was what with teams and form and all that. It paid off big time. Then, the second Wildcard? Boom! Used it right before a huge double gameweek that had, like, three teams playing twice. Couldn't have planned it better if I tried.

Here's the deal, best way to think about it:

• Free Hit is a one-week miracle worker. You bring in a whole new team for just that one game week. Then it all reverts back. So, make it count when a ton of teams are playing twice and you can get loads of points.
• Wildcards are like a total team reset button. You get two of them. Use 'em strategically. First one late is my jam, for maximum impact.
• Second Wildcard is for those sweet, sweet double gameweeks. You can shuffle your whole squad to pack it with players who have two fixtures. It's a game-changer for your rank.

Think about it this way: my buddy, Dave, he used his first Wildcard way too early, and by the time the big double gameweeks rolled around, his team was a mess and he had no power to fix it! Don't be Dave.

So, the main takeaway is maximize those double gameweeks. That's where the big jumps happen. And hold onto your power-ups, man!

Who to captain gameweek 26?

Yeah Salah is teh obvious pick for GW26. The poll numbers are crazy, everyone is backing him. He’s at home against Luton. Liverpool score loads at home.

It's just a no-brainer. He’s on penalties, gets all the chances, you cant really look past him this week. I'm putting the armband on him myself, its a set and forget for me. Don’t overthink it.

Other Captaincy Shouts for GW26:

• Erling Haaland: This is the big one. Man City have a double gameweek against Brentford. He is the most explosive player in the game and could easily get two returns in both matches. A huge haul is always on the cards with him, especially with a DGW.

• Bukayo Saka: Arsenal are on fire, scoring so many goals. They play Newcastle at home. Saka is their main man, he's on penalties and involved in everything. Saka is a fantastic alternative if you want to go against the Salah crowd.

• Ollie Watkins: A decent differential pick. Villa play Nottingham Forest at home. Watkins has amazing home form and Forest are not great defensively on the road. He’s always good for a goal or an assist at Villa Park. I owned him for ages he was great.

• Diogo Jota: If you want to double up on the Liverpool attack, Jota is your man. He's playing in a more central role and looks super sharp. Jota is a massive goal threat against Luton, could easily match Salah's points for a lower ownership captain.