FPL GW5 COMPLETE GUIDE ⁉️ Bench Boost? 🪑 | Fantasy Premier League Tips 2025/26

Summary

This video provides an in-depth guide to managing fantasy football teams, particularly focusing on chip strategies like Free Hit, Wild Card, and Bench Boost. The creator discusses the challenges of this week's fixtures and suggests saving the Free Hit for Gameweek 6, considering the complexities of the Manchester City vs. Arsenal game. They also explore the possibility of activating the Wild Card in Gameweeks 6 or 8, weighing different premium combinations. Ultimately, the plan for this week is to roll the transfer and captain Mo Salah, with future decisions hinging on upcoming performances.

Takeaways

• 😀 Bench Boost is the primary chip to consider for Gameweek 5 due to favorable defensive fixtures and manageable bench rotation.
• 😀 Rolling transfers this week is advised to maintain flexibility for Gameweek 6–8, especially for bringing in Erling Harland or Semeno.
• 😀 Mo Salah remains the safest captain choice despite early kickoff and midweek fatigue; alternatives include Cole Palmer, J Pedro, and Harland (less ideal).
• 😀 Harland is a top-priority forward with strong upcoming fixtures, making him essential for most teams.
• 😀 Wild Card is better saved for Gameweek 6 or 8; GW5 fixtures are low-scoring and difficult to predict, making free hit or wild card less effective this week.
• 😀 Free Hit is not recommended this week due to low predicted goals and tricky fixtures; only use if absolutely necessary.
• 😀 Budget-friendly midfielders like Kaisedo, Rinders, and Jbury Hall can be rotated in wild card teams to maintain fixture flexibility.
• 😀 Defensive picks for GW5 include Sessi, Laqua, Gabrielle, and Anderson, with good clean sheet potential but generally low-scoring matches expected.
• 😀 Goalkeepers recommended are David Rya (Arsenal), Donnaruma (Man City), with backups like Dravka, Keller, and Petravic for budget rotation.
• 😀 GW5 is projected to be a low-scoring week overall, with most teams expected to score 1–2 goals, so clean sheets are relatively more valuable than attacking returns.
• 😀 Injuries and late fitness tests to monitor: Arsenal’s Saka, Ben White, Odigard; Liverpool’s Isak; Man United’s Mount and Mattz Kuna; Wolves’ Strand Lson; Nottingham Forest’s Marillo.
• 😀 Chip strategy should consider future gameweeks: bench boost this week, potential triple captain on Harland in GW6, and timing wild card for maximum long-term benefit.

Q & A

What chip strategies are being considered by FPL managers in Gameweek 5?

The main chip strategies include the Bench Boost (around 20% of managers considering), Wild Card (10%), Free Hit (2%), and very few considering the Triple Captain. Bench Boost is favorable due to strong defensive fixtures, while Free Hit and Wild Card are less ideal this week due to low projected scoring.

Why is Gameweek 5 considered a low-scoring week in FPL?

Projections show only Liverpool is expected to score around 2 goals, with Arsenal, Brighton, Chelsea, and Manchester United all predicted to score less than 1.6 goals. Many fixtures are difficult to call and overall there are fewer standout players to pick.

Which forwards are recommended for ownership in Gameweek 5?

Erling Haaland is the top priority due to strong fixtures (Burnley at home). Mo Salah remains a solid option, especially for captaincy. Other forwards like Yarez and Cole Palmer can be considered in combination depending on the budget.

What is the suggested captain pick for Gameweek 5 and why?

Mo Salah is the main captain pick against Everton, with about two-thirds of managers expected to captain him. Alternatives like Haaland, Cole Palmer, and J Pedro carry more rotation and fatigue risk.

Which midfielders are highlighted as strong options this week?

Recommended midfielders include Cole Palmer, Smeno, Javi Simmons, and Enzo Fernandez. Unai (Chelsea) may drop in price, offering a cheaper alternative to Grealish. Some long-term options like Rinders and Anderson are also viable.

What goalkeepers are suggested for Gameweek 5?

Top choices are David Raya, Donnaruma, Sanchez, and Dravka. These selections are based on strong fixtures and likelihood of playing full matches. Petravic is highlighted as a standout cheap option.

What is the recommended approach to transfers this week?

Rolling transfers is recommended to save for Gameweek 6/7, rather than making immediate moves. This allows managers to prepare for big moves such as buying Haaland or other premium players without taking hits.

Why is playing a Free Hit chip in Gameweek 5 not recommended?

The Free Hit is not ideal because the low projected scoring makes it difficult to create a strong team. It's better to save the Free Hit for a week with higher-scoring potential and more favorable fixtures.

Which defensive players are suggested for this week?

Defensive recommendations include Sessi, Taroski, Laqua, Gabrielle, Anderson, and Van Dijk. Selection depends on fixture difficulty, rotation risk, and whether the manager plans to use a back-four or rotate cheaper defenders.

How does FPL Harry plan to manage his own team in Gameweek 5?

He plans to roll his transfer, play the Bench Boost (~80% certain), and captain Mo Salah. He is considering a Wild Card in Gameweek 6 or 8 depending on team performance and price changes. He avoids rash transfers to preserve flexibility.

What are the key fixture and fitness updates affecting player selection?

Arsenal: Saka, Ben White, Odegaard are late fitness tests. Liverpool: fully fit squad, rotation likely for Isak and Malister. Man United: Mount and Kounu back. Wolves: Strand Larson likely partial play. Nottingham Forest: Marillo doubtful. These updates influence captaincy, transfers, and chip decisions.

What is the projected outlook for clean sheets in Gameweek 5?

While goal-scoring projections are low, clean sheets are slightly more likely, with Liverpool and Aston Villa among the top predictions. However, the week is still considered tricky, and many teams may only manage one goal, leading to potential 1-1 draws.