When to Use Your First Free Hit Chip in FPL 2025/26
Not sure when to use your first Free Hit chip in FPL 2025/26, well you’re in the right place.
FPL have provided managers with two Free Hit chips this season as part of a series of changes. This welcome addition gives the community more opportunities to utilise it rather than targeting Double/Blank Gameweeks.
Choosing when to Free Hit could be really tough without having a Double Gameweek to target. However, there are things we can look out for to determine which rounds to use it in.
The most significant factors FPL managers will consider is:
- When good teams face-off against each other
- Highly owned players with tough fixtures
- Teams with a tough fixture on either side of them
- Teams coming out of tough fixture runs and into a good one
- Teams coming out of easy fixture runs and into a tough one
With this in mind, and using the Fantasy Football Scout Fixture Ticker to identify when the points above are relevant, let’s take a look at some of the best Gameweeks to use the Free Hit chip:
Gameweek 2
Gameweek 2 is the earliest opportunity to use the Free Hit Chip.
Factors making Gameweek 1 a good opportunity to use the Free Hit include:
- Tottenham face Manchester City – Those that stacked up on Tottenham assets for their match against Burnley in Gameweek 1 may now want to rid their sides of Spurs assets.
- Manchester City face Tottenham – A rejuvenated Tottenham side with a new manager may not be an ideal fixture for Manchester City assets straight after a game against Wolves.
- Liverpool clash with Newcastle – Whilst some may not be put off by a meet with the Magpies, Newcastle are a very good side and could limit the Reds.
- Newcastle meet Liverpool – If you take away the Liverpool fixture, Newcastle have a good run in their first five games, so avoiding a match against Liverpool could be ideal.
- Using the Free Hit in Gameweek 2 could help pile in on Arsenal assets against Leeds, Manchester United players v Fulham, Bournemouth assets for a game against Wolves, and Aston Villa players for their meeting with Brentford.
Gameweek 3
Managers should also consider using their Free Hit in Gameweek 3.
Reasons to use it immediately after Gameweek 2 are:
- Liverpool v Arsenal – This is probably the most significant fixture to warrant a Free Hit. Two of the leagues best sides come up against each other, and that could seriously limit the potential of both sides popular assets, even Mohamed Salah.
- Brighton face Manchester City – Take away the fixture against Manchester City and the Seagulls arguably have a fantastic starting schedule. Everton and Bournemouth either side of their clash against Pep Guardiola’s men could see their assets have success.
- Teams to invest in – Manchester United play Burnley, Newcastle meet with Leeds and Everton face Wolves, so stocking up on those sides could bring joy.
You should also check out when to use the Triple Captain Chip!
Gameweek 5
Looking at Gameweek 5 for the Free Hit could work when considering:
- Manchester City v Arsenal – it’s a far from ideal fixture from each side. For those stocked up on those two sides then moving off them temporarily could be beneficial.
- Everton face Liverpool – Outside of Gameweek 5, the Toffees have great fixtures. So, offloading their players for one week should be a given.
- Chelsea v Manchester United – It isn’t a great fixture for either side. It could be Chelsea’ first tricky fixture after a great early run.
- Teams to stock up on – Aston Villa face Sunderland, Wolves clash with Leeds and Nottingham Forest meet with Burnley which could mean plenty of potential for their players.
Gameweek 7
- Liverpool v Chelsea – Most will be stacking up on both sides at the start of the season, so free hitting when they face each other could be really helpful.
- Nottingham v Newcastle – It’s another awkward game for those invested in both. Prior to this match Nottingham Forest would have faced Burnley and Sunderland which means many could have gone all in on them.
- Teams to invest in – Arsenal face West Ham, Tottenham play Leeds, Aston Villa meet with Burnley, Manchester United play Sunderland and Manchester City come up against Brentford. This could mean plenty of options to bring in on the Free Hit.
Other good opportunities
There are lots of Gameweeks you could utilise the Free Hit chip, others include:
- Gameweek 11: When Liverpool face Manchester City and Manchester United play Tottenham.
- Gameweek 12: Arsenal meet with Tottenham, Nottingham Forest play Liverpool, and Manchester City play Newcastle.
- Gameweek 17: Liverpool play Tottenham, Chelsea face Newcastle, and Manchester United clash with Aston Villa.
