Unlocking GW29: Essential Free Hit Picks and Must-Target Teams for FPL Glory!

Many a manager has been meticulously plotting their course for the upcoming blank gameweek, shedding valuable players and taking hits in a bid to navigate these choppy waters. However, there's a different tack being taken by some - the use of the Free Hit (FH) chip. With heavyweight sides like Liverpool, Palace, Villa, and Newcastle sidelined in FPL GW29, it appears to be a prime opportunity for many to deploy the FH chip. This strategy also opens the door for managers to dabble with some lesser-known FPL gems, taking a bit of a gamble on players with the knowledge that it’s only for this one gameweek! In this piece, we’ll explore the crème de la crème of players those looking to wield their Free Hit in FPL GW29 might want to target. For a comprehensive collection of insights and ideas related to FPL GW29, from scout picks to captains metrics and more, peruse our links freely provided. ### FPL GW29 Free Hit Players to Target #### Goalkeepers At the forefront of goalkeeper selections this week stands Nottingham Forest's Sels (5.0m), as the tricky trees gear up to face Ipswich away. Nuno's men head into this encounter buoyed by two consecutive clean sheets against Arsenal and Man City, upping their count to 12 for the season, matching league leaders Liverpool in that respect. Sels is the highest-scoring keeper this season with a notable 124 points, having kept three clean sheets in his last five matches. Previously, Forest managed a tidy 1-0 win at home against Ipswich, limiting the Tractor Boys to under 0.5xG. While he’s a pretty popular pick at 18.1% ownership, does he embody the spirit of the Free Hit? If you fancy a more daring option, the choices aren't particularly thrilling, as the goalkeepers with solid fixtures and clean sheet prospects don’t stray far from the non-differential path. According to the Fantasy Football Hub's points prediction tool, the three keepers projected to score the highest points in GW29 are Raya (26.0%), Pickford (18.8%), and Ederson (5.1%), with Sels trailing in fifth. Both Raya (5.5m) and Pickford (5.1m) present decent choices, yet I’d lean towards Sels—especially given current doubts around Ederson’s value. Arsenal may be facing difficulties, and while their defensive struggles aren’t dire, confidence is a fragile thing; they could falter against a London rival. Conversely, Everton are set to face a resurgent West Ham, who despite suffering a loss to Newcastle in GW28, are looking lively under their new management. Odds are Everton will come through, particularly playing at Goodison. In the end, choosing between these three keepers really boils down to which team among Ipswich, Chelsea, and West Ham is most likely to find the back of the net. Arsenal boasts the best defence statistically, but with a tough matchup round the corner, my nod goes to Pickford or Sels. Either way, when deploying a Free Hit, you’re bound to include at least one defender from each of these three sides, so don’t get too caught up in the goalkeeper conundrum! **Other Goalkeeper Options to Consider:** - **Onana (5.0m):** Solid matchup against a Leicester side that hasn’t found the net since January. #### Defenders In the defensive line-up, let’s keep our sights on key teams: Arsenal, Everton, and Forest, alongside a few interesting under-the-radar picks. With Liverpool out of action this week, there’s more wiggle room financially, allowing us to target Gabriel (6.3m) without the burden of Salah eating into our budget. He’s still leading all Arsenal defenders for xG/90, making him a top set-piece threat. Another key name from Nottingham Forest is Milenkovic (4.8m). Although Williams (4.4m) carries slightly better xG/90 figures, there’s a rotation risk with the Welsh full-back, albeit an insignificant one. Realistically, any of Williams, Aina (5.3m), or Milenkovic could do a job on a Free Hit, but for this one-off punt, I’d lean towards Milenkovic’s set-piece prowess. When it comes to Everton, there isn’t a defender screaming for selection, but you could do worse than Mykolenko, O’Brien, Tarkowski, or Branthwaite. For something a bit more intriguing, while Ederson might not be the best value this GW29, his teammate Gvardiol (5.9m) comes with attacking promise. According to FFH's predicted points, he’s set for second-highest returns among defenders in FPL GW29, trailing only Gabriel. His 0.16xG/90 ranks among the top contenders in the league, placing him in the elite bracket for total points scored among defenders. **Defenders with Most Goals in Premier League this Season:** - **Gvardiol:** 5 - **Cucurella:** 4 - **Gabriel:** 3 - **Milenkovic:** 3 Bournemouth faces Brentford in GW29, making Kerkez (5.1m) a viable pick for the Free Hit. His 0.15xA/90 places him squarely within the top tier for xA/90 among defenders. Both sides have seen mixed fortunes lately, with Brentford winless in their last two and Bournemouth struggling in their last three, but returning to the Vitality should provide a much-needed boost. Now that Evanilson is back on the park, Kerkez should regain that attacking edge from earlier in the campaign. **Other Defensive Picks:** - **Ait-Nouri (4.8m):** A favourite with a good fixture against Southampton, though lacking key attacking figures following injuries. - **Porro (5.3m):** With Spurs players returning from injury, Porro's allure is reigniting thanks to solid stats and a decent matchup against Fulham. - **De Ligt (4.8m):** Solid matchup against Leicester; I’m not fully convinced they can secure a clean sheet, but Leicester may offer them a fighting chance. #### Midfielders Bruno (8.4m) is a must-have for the Free Hit brigade in BGW29. His phenomenal xG/90 and xA/90 figures stand as a testament to his capabilities, particularly given how much he often shoulders the burden for Manchester United. With a clash against a door-busting Leicester side that’s been generous at the back (13 goals conceded in their last five), bypassing the Portuguese maestro would be sheer folly for those with Free Hit ambitions. Meanwhile, MGW (6.5m) has been turning heads lately, racking up the most goal involvements of any midfielder since GW15 (13 contributions, including getting fingers in two clear of second place Mbeumo). His five goals and six assists this season put him second in both metrics for his team. For a player valued at just 6.5m and owned by under 7% of FPL managers, his six attacking returns in the last five outings is an impressive haul. Ipswich have been rather porous, conceding 11 goals in their most recent outings, making it a ripe opportunity for exploiting their defensive vulnerabilities. So, as you wade into the swirling waters of FPL GW29, consider these players to enhance your Free Hit strategy. Best of luck in your pursuits, and may the odds ever be in your favour! - Resource: "https://allaboutfpl.com/2025/03/fpl-blank-gw29-free-hit-players-and-teams-to-target/