Fantasy Premier League: how differentials, Wildcards and Bench Boosts can help managers as EPL enters the home straight
- Founders of the Hong Kong Fantasy Premier League share tips on what managers can do to make late surge up points table
- Plan a few weeks ahead, they say, use Bench Boost and Wildcard options, and look for differentials – but don’t pick Spurs players
As the Premier League season approaches its final furlong, games are coming thick and fast. On Saturday, clubs in England’s top flight will be starting a third round of fixtures in just two weeks.
For Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers, the points gained or the ones that slip away during this period could make or break their campaign.
The founders of the city’s largest FPL community, Hong Kong Fantasy Premier League (HKFPL), shared tips with the Post on what left-field tactics players could employ to potentially help them climb up the league table.
The trio – social media content creators Gavin Cheung, Boris Chow and Ocean To – met as students at Hong Kong University in 2007 and have been playing FPL since 2012. They launched HKFPL in late 2020 and have amassed more than 5,000 fans across all platforms.
Their own FPL mini-league boasts about 1,400 players this season.
What should players look to do ahead of Gameweek 32?
“I would say it’s important to look a few weeks ahead and plan [Gameweek 32 transfers on players that will benefit in the long run],” Chow said.
Chow, whose best finish was inside the top 8,000 in the world, said he was data-driven and picked players based on their expected goals, assists and so on.
“Look at players you want and compare the stats, but don’t go for Tottenham players, because they blank in Gameweek 34.”
Although Spurs do not play in Gameweek 34, Liverpool, Arsenal, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Wolves, Everton and Sheffield United all have two games.
Most players will be looking to Wildcard in Gameweek 35 and Bench Boost in 37. Are there any viable alternatives?
“I think you have to use the Bench Boost in a Double Gameweek or you could end up losing more points,” To said.
To, who is currently sitting inside the world’s top 11,000, suggested that players could build a squad of 15 with as many Double Gameweek 34 players as possible and activate their Bench Boost chip in that week.
“Maybe look at Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace and some Wolves players,” he added.
Any other end-of-season tips to get ahead?
“If you have to do something different, you could captain different players or buy differentials,” To said
The HKFPL team suggested David Datro Fofana at Burnley, Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves and Newcastle’s Lewis Hall as players who have performed well recently and could be a differential.
“Alternatively, you could look at Manchester United players, because in Gameweek 34 they play Sheffield United, so you could get a high return from Alejandro Garnacho or Rasmus Hojlund,” Cheung said.
Cheung described himself as a risk-taker who opts for differentials rather than the same players that everyone else has. His highest rank was about 100,000.
“It depends on your rank. If you’re going for a personal record, you’ll probably want to play it safe,” he added
“But, if you want to do something different to boost your position (like me), I am thinking about not only Man United players but also maybe Brentford – who need results.”
