What is the best early round strategy?

Focus on surviving the current round. A strong team can be worth using early when your alternatives look much riskier. Compare the fixtures ahead before deciding whether saving it has a useful purpose

When should I use my big teams?

There is no fixed week to use a strong team. Use it when its current fixture makes it your clearest choice, or consider saving it when another credible pick lets you keep a useful future option

How important is fixture difficulty?

Fixture difficulty is crucial. Always check if a team is playing home or away, their recent form, and injury news. A strong team playing away against a mid-table side is riskier than it looks.

Should I follow the crowd or go against it?

Early in the competition, it is usually safer to follow popular picks. As the competition progresses and you have used different teams than others, you may need to take calculated risks on less popular choices.

Last Man Standing Strategy Guide

Conor Hutchins·LMS HQ Founder

Writes the weekly picks from Leeds

Plan your survivor pool picks by comparing this round with the fixtures ahead. Learn when to use a strong team and when keeping it available could help later

Apply These Strategies New to LMS? Start Here

Early Round Strategy

The early rounds are about survival, not glory. Your goal is to get through while weighing this round against the fixtures ahead. Here is how

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Use mid-table teams at home: Teams like Brighton, Aston Villa, or Newcastle at home against relegation candidates are solid picks
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Use a strong team when you need it: If it offers your clearest route through this round, using it early can be the right choice
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Target newly promoted teams at home: They often start strong before being figured out by the league

Pro Tip: Look for teams with kind fixture runs. A team with 3-4 winnable games in a row gives you flexibility

Planning the Next Rounds

As rounds pass, the teams you have already used limit your choices. How many players remain depends on the results and competition rules, so plan around your actual position

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Compare now with later: Save a strong team only when you have a credible alternative now and a useful future fixture in mind
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Track what others have used: If most players have used Liverpool, you might get away with a riskier pick
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Start planning 2-3 weeks ahead: Look at the fixture calendar and plan your team usage strategically

Key Insight: The mid-game is about balancing safety with keeping options. A future option only helps if you survive this round

When Few Players Remain

When few players remain, compare your unused teams and upcoming fixtures. There is no fixed round when this happens, and a saved team only helps if you survive to use it

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Reassess your remaining teams: Choose the fixture you judge strongest now rather than picking on reputation alone
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Consider form over reputation: A mid-table team in great form can be safer than a big team struggling
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Take calculated risks: If you and your opponents have different teams left, a bold pick might be necessary

Fixture Analysis Tips

✓ Look For

• Home advantage
• Teams on winning streaks
• Relegation candidates away
• Teams with full squads
• Midweek rest advantage

✗ Avoid

• Teams with injuries to key players
• Derby matches (unpredictable)
• Teams coming off European games
• Away games at tough grounds
• Teams with internal issues

Use a Strong Team Now or Save It?

A hypothetical example: you have Arsenal and Brighton available, with different fixtures ahead. These are decision scenarios, not current match predictions

Use nowIf Arsenal looks clearly stronger this round and Brighton looks risky, using Arsenal now may be worth losing that future option

SaveIf both look like credible choices now, and Arsenal has a more useful fixture later, consider Brighton while keeping Arsenal available

RecheckReview team news and the actual fixtures before the deadline. A plan can change when the information changes

Trade-offNeither choice guarantees survival. Saving a team has no benefit if your alternative gets you eliminated

Key Takeaways

Patience is key: The best players often win by making consistently safe picks rather than bold moves
Plan ahead: Always look 2-3 weeks ahead to ensure you do not run out of viable teams
Stay informed: Check team news, injuries, and form right up until the deadline

Ready to Test Your Strategy?

Join an active competition and put these strategies into practice. Remember: every champion started with their first game

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