Should we Bench Boost in Double Gameweek 34?

Seven teams feature twice in the big Double Gameweek 34, which is why many managers are intending to use their Bench Boost chip.

The brilliant LiveFPL site says that almost 80% of FPL squads are yet to have it activated. This upcoming round and Double Gameweek 37 will likely be the most popular times for usage.

Obviously, Free Hit 34 users don’t have this debate – we’ve already covered how they can approach this week. But, when deciding the best time to Bench Boost, there are a few things for managers to consider.

WILDCARD ALREADY USED

Everyone gets a second Wildcard to use throughout the second half of 2023/24. Whether it’s already been used or not plays a huge role in the Bench Boost debate.

Those currently without one will struggle to take advantage of both big doubles as they contain completely different teams, with very few free transfers in between.

If used recently, perhaps the resulting squad has cheap, bench-friendly assets with better fixtures in Gameweek 34 than Gameweek 37. Jarrad Branthwaite (£4.3m), Matheus Cunha (£5.6m) and Jean-Philippe Mateta (£5.0m) appear twice, as Alejandro Garnacho (£5.0m) has one match at home to Sheffield United.

WILDCARD SOON TO BE USED

Meanwhile, those planning to Wildcard 35 likely have a plan to stock up on the six Double Gameweek 37 teams.

Another reason these will likely Bench Boost in the penultimate round is that there’s a decent chance that their current, non-Wildcarded squads have a combination of rotation risks Conor Bradley (£4.3m) and Caoimhin Kelleher (£3.9m), alongside the injured Alphonse Areola (£4.2m), Antoine Semenyo (£4.5m) and Jarrod Bowen (£7.7m). Furthermore, Douglas Luiz (£5.5m) is serving a suspension.

Maybe some lucky managers are without all these, have two free transfers and intend to go without Erling Haaland (£14.3m) or Mohamed Salah (£13.5m) in Gameweek 34. Spread the money across the squad to form a good 15-man Bench Boost, then Wildcard 35 to dive immediately back into the premium assets.

SPURS, CHELSEA + BRIGHTON ASSETS

Not only are Areola, Bowen, Bradley and Kelleher a problem but Spurs have no Gameweek 34 at all. So those with Son Heung-min (£9.9m) and Pedro Porro (£5.9m) need to sell both and have an injury-free other 13, all with great fixtures.

Furthermore, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer (£6.1m), Malo Gusto (£4.3m) and Djordje Petrovic (£4.6m) have a solitary Arsenal trip. Brighton host Man City too.

If you have three or more players from these sides, Bench Boost 34 is not recommended. Alternatively, if your pre-transfer squad has 11 or more players that are about to feature twice, the chip is ready to use.

DIFFERENTIAL POTENTIAL

One final factor is that those having a disappointing season will use these late weeks to take exciting, risky punts that could skyrocket them into a respectable closing rank.

Double Gameweek 37 offers very few of these because Chelsea, Newcastle, Man City and Spurs name are already popular. Whereas this upcoming round adds appeal to Crystal Palace, Wolves and more.

Eberechi Eze (£6.0m), Michael Olise (£5.6m), Cunha, Hwang Hee-chan (£5.4m), Ben Brereton Diaz (£5.0m) and Kai Havertz (£7.4m) all have two attractive Gameweek 34 fixtures.