Welcome back to the Hive FPL blog for GW29.

With the League Cup Final taking place on Sunday between Liverpool and Newcastle there are just 8 Premier League fixtures this weekend with Crystal Palace and Aston Villa also having a blank gameweek.

In total, it means that either as a result of the blanks or in the case of Cunha (FWD) at Wolves due to suspension, 6 of the top 11 point scorers this season are unavailable this weekend. When you then add in form players such as Palace's Munoz (DEF), Sarr (MID) and Mateta (FWD) then it's difficult to imagine a fantasy team that won't be significantly impacted.

What's the solution to this problem?

Well, some managers may well have been preping in advance of this for several weeks. Meanwhile, others may simply shrug their shoulders and say, it's only 1 game week. The third and perhaps most popular option would be to use your free hit chip.

Therefore to break from our routine of analysing the individual fixtures and players within, I'm going to spend this blog firstly looking at whose got what chips remaining for the last 10 weeks of the season and then what AI thinks is the best Free Hit team you can put out for GW29.

The below is pretty self explanatory and shows the teams in the relevant division and when they've used their chips. If no GW is indicated, it means they've got it available to play.

4 teams have already played their free hit and so are likely to have to make do with what they can in their current squad or via the transfer market in GW29.

It's notable that current H2H league leaders Blockchain FPL H2H have used all but their 2nd wildcard and Assistant Manager chip. By contrast, their closest rivals Whyte FC have used their AM chip but have everything else remaining, while FC McKane have a full 5 chips up their sleeve for the rest of the season. It looks likely to be a close finish!

The main difference between the 2 divisions is how earlier many of the managers in Division 2 opted to use their chips to the extent that we have 1 side, Tangram who have already exhausted all their possible bonuses.

At the other end of the spectrum is Ref's Team who have yet to use a chip this season. They are sitting just outside the promotion places and they are 2nd in the Classic League. They have a great chance of making it to Division 1 next year and clinching some of the big prize money in May.

While there are still plenty of teams who could use their free hit this weekend, there are a few who have still have it available but have blocked an opportunity to use it because they've got the Assistant Manager chip in play. Might that be costly?

If you are looking to use your free hit this weekend then here is what AI is suggesting is your best bet for big points in GW29.

Do you agree? In my opinion, it's not actually a great team.

I think there are better options than Kepa (GK) and Areola (GK). Pickford (GK) at home to a West Ham side that don't score too many goals looks a decent bet for a clean sheet as does Sels (GK) whose Forest side travel to Ipswich.

Doubling up on Arsenal defenders feels high risk for what is likely to be a feisty London derby. Seems like you'd be relying on Gvardiol (DEF) to impact the game offensively because City are still vulnerable at the back and I think Brighton will have a go at them.

The 2 players on the bench are simply there to allow you to spend money elsewhere, although as always, it's good to have the insurance of players who are going to start. Zabarnyi (DEF) returns from his suspension so Hill (DEF) may drop back down to the bench for Bournemouth.

Alternatives could be found from Forest playing away at Ipswich or Wolves playing away at Southampton with the likes of Ait-Nouri (DEF) as likely to get a clean sheet and a goal involvement as any of the players the AI has opted for.

Fernandes (MID) is in form at the moment and seems like a good Free Hit pick and potentially an option for the remainder of the season too. It's probably a toss up between Semenyo (MID) or Kluivert (MID), the alternative being both.

The AI has then gone for Palmer (MID) who can't hit a cow's ass with a banjo at the moment and Odegaard (MID) whose offensive outputs have been lean all year.

It feels as though the AI has decided it has to spend the full available budget and so is shelling out almost 20% of it on those 2 players. They are high quality players and they might put up the kind of big points hauls we've seen in the past.

Still, it's prediction that Palmer will get 5.5 points is ambitious for a player whose only beaten that mark once in his last 7 outings (he got 6 points against West Ham in GW24).

Odegaard's predicted haul of 5.3 is even more baffling. He's only scored more than 5 points on 5 occasions all season and his average per game from 19 appearances in 24/25 is 3.7 points.

Arsenal of course have scored just once in their last 3 Premier League matches so none of their attacking players look particularly good bets at the moment although I'd imagine Chelsea won't be quite as defensive as a few of the teams they've come across lately.

Alternatives would include the likes of City's Savinho (MID) and Foden (MID) who enjoy home advantage. Mbeumo (MID) who has been one of the most consistent players in the league this season should also be under consideration.

Alternatively, managers could go with higher risk, one off picks in the likes of Garnacho (MID) with United travelling to a poor Leicester team this weekend. The overpriced Son (MID) does have 5 goal involvements in his last 5 games or you could go for the much maligned Maddison (MID) who despite constant criticism of his performances has 15 goal involvements from 17 Premier League starts.

The forward line is probably where AI has got it right. It's job has been made easier by the fact that Isak, Mateta, Cunha and Watkins aren't available for this week.

Realistic alternatives would include Brentford's Wissa (FWD) up against a Bournemouth side that has faltered of late.

Alternatively, you've got a number of forwards returning to their respective first teams after periods out injured including Evanilson (FWD), Solanke (FWD) and Strand-Larson (FWD). The Bournemouth man scored against Spurs last week while Solanke got 2 assists in Europe with his side looking a far better offensive unit with him leading the line.