How does Bench Boost work in Fantasy Premier League?

Bench Boost is one of the most useful chips in Fantasy Premier League. The game provides some special chips to help people garner some points and also make the game more interesting. However it is very important to use these chips very strategically to get the best use out of them.

The chips available are Bench Boost, Free Hit, Wildcard, Triple Captain and a Mystery chip that will be revealed later this year. These chips can be used cleverly to get an advantage over your competitors week on week, as Fantasy Premier League is all about maintaining an advantage for the whole season round.

In this article, we will focus on the bench boost chip in particular. So what is this chip and when is it to be used? As we know, in Fantasy Premier League, managers pick a squad of 15 players. As a normal starting XI, you can only get points from the 11 players you ‘start’ on that particular gameweek and the other 4 players make up the bench. Sometimes, a lot of points are lost in the bench as those points are not added to the tally. When the Bench Boost chip is used, for that one gameweek, the points that your bench players pick up are also counted as a part of your total.

This partiular chip can only be played once during a season and is only active for one game week. The chip can significantly increase your points haul for a specific game. However, its effectiveness hinges on strategic timing like the rest of the chips. It turns your benched players into point-scoring players, which means you effectively have a 15-man team, not an 11-man team. It doesn’t matter who you bench when you play the chip because all points are counted.

Also Read: Fantasy Premier League GW10: Key Injury Updates and Team News

When should you play the bench boost?

Experienced Fantasy Premier League managers often strategically save this specific chip for a double gameweek. This tactical move leverages the unique opportunity presented by double gameweeks, where certain players are scheduled to play twice within the same gameweek. By activating it during a double gameweek, you effectively double the potential points contribution of your entire bench. This can significantly boost your overall score and potentially propel you up the league table.

However, it’s crucial to consider the following factors: player availability, dependability, and fixture congestion. Ensuring that your benched players are likely to start both games and avoiding periods of heavy fixture congestion are key to maximizing the impact of your Bench Boost. By carefully considering these factors, you can secure a significant advantage in your Fantasy Premier League mini-league.

Can you pair your Bench Boost with another chip?

Technically you can only use one special chip in a single gameweek. FPL managers frequently employ a strategic approach to their Wildcard and Bench Boost chips. A common tactic involves using the Wildcard in the Gameweek preceding the planned usage of the latter. This strategic move offers several advantages. By utilizing the Wildcard beforehand, managers can meticulously curate their Bench Boost squad. They can eliminate underperforming players who are unlikely to contribute significantly and replace them with players who meet specific boosting criteria.

These criteria typically include regular first-team appearances, favorable fixtures (especially during double gameweeks), and a strong potential for both attacking returns and defensive clean sheets. This strategic alignment of Wildcard and Bench Boost allows managers to maximize the potential of their entire squad, including their bench players, and potentially achieve higher overall points.

How many points can you get from activating Bench Boost?

The Bench Boost in Fantasy Premier League offers immense potential for high-scoring returns, particularly when used during a double gameweek. This strategy effectively allows you to add up to eight extra opportunities for points accumulation.

To gauge the success of using this chip, consider the points gained beyond what you’d normally miss from your bench. Ideally, a double gameweek where it has been used should yield at least 16 points, assuming each benched player averages two points per game.

However, realizing this potential can be challenging. Even with careful planning and a Wildcard, finding players who consistently score across multiple fixtures is difficult due to factors like bookings, injuries, and squad rotation. Therefore, while the Bench Boost is a powerful tool, it’s essential to manage expectations and approach it strategically.

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