Is Free Hit the smartest play for Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 31?

Blank Gameweek 31 has arrived, stripping the schedule of Arsenal, Manchester City, Crystal Palace and Wolves and forcing Fantasy Premier League managers into a familiar dilemma: burn the Free Hit chip or hold firm and accept a reduced XI. With millions of rivals facing the same void, the decision is less about panic and more about mathematics.

The golden rule, according to seasoned analysts, is simple: if you can field nine starters without assistance, keep the chip. Fewer than nine active players and the Free Hit becomes almost compulsory. A calculated –4 hit can also bridge the gap, because the outgoing player would have contributed zero anyway, while a well-chosen replacement still has 90 minutes to recoup the penalty.

Those leaning against the chip point to Gameweek 34, forecast to be an even larger blank, and to the double-fixture Gameweek 33 that precedes it. Squads that survive this round with transfers alone will have far more flexibility when the calendar tightens again later in the run-in.

Should you trigger the chip, the target list is short and enticing. Fulham, at home to last-placed Burnley—the division’s worst defence by goals and expected goals conceded—head the queue. Three Cottagers are viewed as essential: Harry Wilson at £6.0 m, bargain centre-back Joachim Andersen at £4.5 m, and either Alex Iwobi (£6.4 m) or Raul Jimenez (£6.2 m) for a third attacking slot. A double defensive stack is also in play.

Newcastle’s visit from local rivals Sunderland offers the next-best route to points. Anthony Gordon (£7.3 m) arrives in form with goals in back-to-back league outings, assured minutes and penalty duties, while full-back pair Malick Thiaw (£5.0 m) and Lewis Hall (£5.3 m) give budget access to a home clean-sheet shot.

Manchester United, under Michael Carrick, supply the most reliable captaincy anchor in Bruno Fernandes (£10.2 m). The Portuguese combines set-piece responsibility, penalties and near-certain starts, making him the standout armband choice. Carrick’s other recommended asset is midfielder Bryan Mbeumo (£8.6 m).

Liverpool assets such as Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Hugo Ekitike and Virgil van Dijk will be popular among Free Hitters for their away date with Brighton, yet the prevailing view is that this is a week to fade the Reds and invest elsewhere.

A template Free Hit side built on these principles features a spine of Fulham and Newcastle talent, Fernandes as skipper, and a bench stocked with playing defenders like Ezri Konsa and Van Dijk alongside keeper Martin Dubravka. The emphasis is on guaranteed minutes rather than long-term value, because the entire squad resets next Monday.

For managers who have already played their Wildcard—or plan to deploy it in Gameweek 32 to set up a Bench Boost in the Double Gameweek 33—the Free Hit offers a clean slate without compromising future structure. Conversely, anyone Wildcarding in 32 can afford one-week punts now, knowing a full squad overhaul is only days away.

Whether you spend the chip or soldier on with nine men, the priority is protecting rank ahead of the season-defining doubles ahead. Navigate Blank Gameweek 31 with restraint, and the rewards could resonate through May.