What FA Cup results mean for FPL Blank and Double Gameweeks

The weekend’s FA Cup quarter-finals results have impacted Gameweek 34's schedule in Fantasy Premier League.

Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United have each progressed to the last four of the FA Cup, which coincides with the weekend of Gameweek 34 in FPL.

All three sides – along with their respective Gameweek 34 opponents Brighton & Hove Albion, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United – are now without a fixture in that round of matches.

Matches removed from GW34 and yet to be rescheduled
Brighton v Chelsea
Man Utd v Newcastle
Spurs v Man City

Current GW34 schedule
Aston Villa v Bournemouth
Crystal Palace v West Ham
Everton v Nott'm Forest
Fulham v Liverpool
Luton v Brentford
Sheff Utd v Burnley
Wolves v Arsenal

However, the midweek following the FA Cup semi-final weekend is free, so it could be used to house those matches or some of the other seven fixtures which have yet to be rescheduled. 

In previous seasons, rescheduled matches have tended to fall into Gameweeks 34 and 37, resulting in bumper Double Gameweeks for multiple sides.

Crucially, Chelsea are the only side with TWO matches yet to be given a new date, which is likely to earn them two Double Gameweeks.

As Chelsea are playing in the FA Cup semi-finals, they cannot have a Double Gameweek 34. While one of those two spare matches is expected to be moved into Double Gameweek 37, the other could potentially fall into Gameweek 35 or 36.

Other matches still to be rescheduled
Arsenal v Chelsea
Brighton v Man City
Chelsea v Spurs
Crystal Palace v Newcastle 
Everton v Liverpool
Man Utd v Sheff Utd
Wolves v Bournemouth

Clearly, then, there is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding the remaining nine rounds of fixtures in 2023/24, with 10 matches now requiring a new date in Fantasy.

As we enter another international break, it’s vital that managers remain both flexible and patient with their transfers and chip strategies, waiting for any new information that can help sharpen up their plans for the run-in.