With only four top-flight games this weekend due to the FA Cup quarter-finals, this is the time of year that many Fantasy Premier League managers use their Free Hit chip.
The Free Hit allows you to pick an entirely new squad of players for one week only, with your old squad returning the following week.
It is perfect for blank gameweeks like this one and this is the biggest blank of the season, though it will not be the last.
A smaller blank is expected in gameweek 33 when Manchester City and Tottenham play in the EFL Cup final, with would-be opponents Fulham and Southampton also missing games.
If plans to give every team a home fixture with fans in stadiums after the 17 May go ahead, we may have another small blank on our hands too.
If you are considering using your Free Hit this week, take a look at your team, weigh up your options and decide whether this is the best time for you to play it.
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You may be able to survive this week with only eight or nine players. It’s about quality not quantity and the more popular picks you have, the less likely you are to fall down the ranks.
If you’ve already used the Free Hit chip, try as best you can to manage through this week with free transfers and hits if necessary.
Watchlist
Harry Kane
An obvious pick but sometimes it pays to be obvious in this game. Kane was unlucky not to return in last week’s north London derby defeat and comes up against an Aston Villa defence which is trending downwards.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Dropped last week for disciplinary reasons, keep an eye on Arsenal’s Europa League line-up before moving for Aubameyang if not on Free Hit. If he has served his punishment and plays against West Ham, he could be a powerful differential.
Lewis Dunk
Expect investment in Brighton’s defence this week. Joel Veltman is worth consideration at £4.3m, though for a bit more you can have Dunk’s set-piece threat against a Newcastle side with a questionable record when defending dead ball situations.
Ademola Lookman
Leeds’ defence has shown signs of improvement of late but Fulham need the points and scored three at Elland Road earlier in the season. Lookman is the midfield pick, though striker Josh Maja has potential too.
Aaron Cresswell
Cresswell has gone under the radar, especially in this column, but it is not too late to jump on the highest-scoring defender in the game. West Ham’s defence is decent and the left-back carries a set-piece threat to boot.
Captaincy
It’s hard to look past Harry Kane, who will be well-backed and is probably the one player that non-Free Hit players have to own in order to protect their rank.
If you’re feeling adventurous, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is an option provided that he plays. Otherwise, it’s an open field. A Brighton attacker like Leandro Trossard would be a bold punt.
Clean sheets
Of the eight sides in action, Brighton appear to have the best chance of a shut-out.
Graham Potter’s side have posted promising underlying defensive numbers all season, while Newcastle are arguably the weakest attack in action.
Otherwise, it is difficult to predict. If on Free Hit, you may want to put all your eggs in Brighton’s basket with three defenders or spread the risk around.
Best XI
Sanchez; Dunk, Dallas, Cresswell; Aubameyang, Raphinha, Lingard, Lookman; Kane, Antonio, Maja.
