Gameweek 16 is a rare and fascinating moment in Fantasy Premier League history. With all FPL managers handed five free transfers due to AFCON, strategy has shifted from short-term fixes to medium-term planning.
Some managers are using the extra flexibility to reshape their squads, while others are holding firm — and a couple are even considering the Free Hit despite the transfer boost.
Here’s how Elite XI: Team Reveal managers are approaching this unique Gameweek, and how their thinking compares.
Tarek Balbaa – 10× Top 10k | Overall Rank: 12,350
Tarek is the clear example of a manager sticking to a long-term plan rather than reacting emotionally to the chaos. His moves this week — Senesi ➝ Timber, Mateta ➝ Thiago, and Anderson ➝ Dewsbury-Hall — were all pre-planned and aligned with earlier notes.
While he admits the Dewsbury-Hall move may feel “a bit knee-jerk,” the reasoning is sound: more attacking threat, better role, and crucially £0.4m saved to enable future transfers. Rather than using all five free transfers, Tarek plans to bank two unless injuries force his hand, showing clear patience despite the temptation of extra moves.
His future focus is defensive, with Van Dijk potentially on the chopping block, and names like Muñoz, Guéhi and O’Reilly on his watchlist. Meanwhile, despite recent blanks, Semenyo survives the cut thanks to favourable fixtures.
Key takeaway: Tarek is using the AFCON transfers to support his strategy — not rewrite it.
Mark Mansfield – 7× Top 10k | Overall Rank: 41,490
Mark’s tone is very different. One thing is non-negotiable: he will not burn a transfer. Beyond that, dissatisfaction is driving his thinking, with Thiaw, Minteh, and Mbeumo all under scrutiny.
Thiaw’s appeal has dropped sharply in Mark’s eyes due to instability behind him with Pope's injury, while Minteh is labelled his “one big Wildcard mistake”, admitted as a recency-bias gamble that hasn’t paid off. Mbeumo is flagged as a short-term hold only, with his AFCON departure looming.
Potential replacements include Andersen or Van den Berg in defence, and Rice or Wilson in midfield. Unlike Tarek, Mark is heavily focused on midweek minutes, especially across Arsenal and Manchester City — and he openly acknowledges the mental load that comes with owning Pep-roulette assets like O’Reilly.
Key takeaway: Mark is using the extra transfers as damage control — cautious, reactive, and matchup-driven.
Corey Baker – 5× Top 10k | Overall Rank: 54,340
Corey is at the opposite end of the spectrum. Price changes forced his hand early, leading to a rapid triple move: Munoz, Enzo and Anderson ➝ Lacroix, Foden and Stach. The headline, unsurprisingly, is Phil Foden, with the rest of the moves enabling that upgrade.
Unlike Tarek’s restraint or Mark’s selective fixes, Corey is fully prepared to use all five AFCON transfers, with plans to move off Mateta and Petrovic next, likely bringing in Sels and Bowen. He admits it’s not ideal — but describes it as necessary “surgery.”
Interestingly, in hindsight, Corey feels Guiu and Rice may have been a cleaner route than Bowen and Stach, though not enough to regret the path taken.
Key takeaway: Corey is embracing the chaos — aggressive restructuring now to avoid repeated transfers later.
Despite the luxury of five free transfers, two Elite XI: Team Reveal managers are contemplating the Free Hit, highlighting just how volatile this Gameweek feels.
Paul is considering the Free Hit, but sees limited upside. At present, he’s more inclined to roll it forward, potentially to Gameweek 19, unless something shifts significantly.
Matt is far more decisive. He expects to activate his Free Hit, framing it as damage limitation rather than upside chasing. His plan is to heavily target players from Arsenal, Brentford, Fulham, Chelsea and Manchester United, aiming simply to outscore his existing squad.
Gameweek 16 perfectly captures elite-level Fantasy Premier League decision-making. Some managers are calm and patient, others are more reactive, while a few are using the opportunity to completely reshape their squads.
The common theme is clear: decisions are being made with the medium term in mind, not just this Gameweek alone. Whether you’re using one transfer, all five, or even activating the Free Hit, you can see exactly what these elite managers are doing via the Elite XI: Team Reveal tool — and set push notifications to get alerted every time they make a transfer or update their team.
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