Potential early blanks and doubles are starting to take shape

 And it seems that the first fixture shifts might arrive sooner than expected.

• The key blank and double gameweeks are still expected towards the end of the season, mainly due to FA Cup and Carabao Cup clashes.
• However, a potential Double Gameweek 16 and Blank Gameweek 17 could emerge much earlier in the campaign.
• Further disruption could follow from postponed matches or bad winter weather - January and February are often unpredictable.Likely 2025/26 Schedule Outlook

While official confirmation is still pending, current fixture models point to these scenarios:

Double | 16 | Rescheduled fixtures due to Carabao Cup clashes
Blank | 17 | European competition overlap

Possible Double Gameweek 16 / Blank Gameweek 17

It all starts with Crystal Palace.
The club is involved in both the Carabao Cup and the Europa Conference League, and their tie with Arsenal could trigger an early shake-up to the Premier League schedule.

If the Arsenal–Palace fixture lands on the Gameweek 17 weekend, a blank would occur for these teams:

Everton, Arsenal, Leeds, Crystal Palace

However, if the Everton v Arsenal match were moved forward to Gameweek 16, we could see a potential double for both clubs:

Potential Double Gameweek 16

• Arsenal: vs Wolves (H) & Everton (A)
• Everton: vs Chelsea (A) & Arsenal (H)

Nothing is confirmed yet, but experienced FPL managers are already keeping an eye on possible Free Hit or Triple Captain opportunities.

5 Free Transfers Rule Might Help

From Gameweek 16, all managers will receive five free transfers — initially introduced to help deal with the AFCON period.
Ironically, it might prove even more valuable in managing these early blanks and doubles.

Who Could Be the Double Gameweek Captain?

If Double Gameweek 16 goes ahead, Arsenal players will be among the hottest captaincy picks.
Gabriel, Saka, or Gyökeres look like standout options — especially if Arsenal can dominate Wolves at home and then visit Everton in good form.

What About Everton Assets?

For those looking at the Toffees, Pickford, Tarkowski, and even Grealish could emerge as differential picks — particularly if the Goodison Park fixture goes ahead as part of a double.