How to survive Christmas period - the FPL talking point

"The crunch Christmas period is upon us. Gameweeks 18-21 will bring four deadlines in 11 days between 26 December and 6 January. Expect heavy rotation, injuries, suspensions and continued absences due to the Africa Cup of Nations. There is nothing to panic about though. This is the time that FPL managers who plan well, stay engaged with their teams and don't miss deadlines often gain in ranks and mini-leagues."

"The Christmas period is notorious for heavy rotation, so pay attention to the bench order in your squad. If needed, use a transfer to ensure you have a good first and even second sub most weeks. With so many good cheap defenders (4.6m and below) and cheap midfielders (less than 5.5m) in the game, there is really no reason to have a non-playing bench."

"This isn't a period to make short-term gambles. Pick long-term sensible picks that can be reliable and played even in tougher fixtures. At this time of year, players who regularly play 90 minutes for their teams are even more valuable. Not only do more minutes usually turn into more FPL points, but the rotation risk players are also often prime candidates to miss the odd game during this time."

Gameweeks 18–21 include four deadlines in 11 days between 26 December and 6 January, creating fixture congestion with heavy rotation, injuries, suspensions and Africa Cup of Nations absences. Managers should monitor players at risk of suspension and track Afcon departures to prepare timely transfers. Bench order matters; secure a reliable first and second substitute and avoid non-playing benches by using cheap, playing 4.6m defenders and sub-5.5m midfielders. Prioritise long-term, durable picks and players who regularly play 90 minutes to reduce rotation risk. Follow press conferences and injury updates for up-to-date line-ups and availability.

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