Gaffr Scottish Fantasy Football: Detailed Overhaul Guide for GW4
The big decision, to overhaul or not to overhaul...
We don’t often get a perfect window for the Overhaul boost in Gaffr, but GW4 is one of them. With just three rounds played, a lot of squads already look messy: overloaded Rangers, the wrong Celtic triple-up, Hibs/Aberdeen/Dundee Utd players missing ahead of their likely double, or value picks like Just and Longelo of Motherwell being overlooked.
Overhaul in GW4 is all about:
Fixing those problems now
Preparing your squad for the likely Double Gameweek 5 (DGW5)
Building a structure that works with future boosts (GW5, GW8, GW12)
It’s risky, but it’s also the best chance you’ll get to completely reset before the season settles down.
DGW5 is not officially confirmed at the time of writing. I’m ~95% confident that Hibs, Aberdeen, Dundee Utd, Falkirk will double, and ~80% confident Dundee & Livingston will too, based on the SPFL guidance that postponed GW3 ties will be rescheduled in the next available midweek (which is GW5). We expect confirmation in early September before the GW5 deadline. Plan accordingly.
Read this alongside my Fixture Ticker. It’s regularly updated and includes the projected DGW5 and highlights fixture swings, blanks, and easy/tough runs for teams.
Why Overhaul ≠ FPL Wildcard
In FPL, Wildcard is king. In Gaffr, the explosive boosts like Jeepers Keepers, Away Days and Triple-Triple can swing +30 to +50 in one week. That means taking -8, -12, or even -20 hits is often more beneficial if it lines up a huge boost haul.
Overhaul is different. It doesn’t give an instant 40-50 point spike. Its value comes from:
Long-term stability
Fixing broken structures
Setting up multiple boosts at once
If your squad needs 9-11 changes, Overhaul can quietly outscore the hit-takers over the medium term.
Why GW4 (and not GW5)
On paper, Gameweek 5 would look like the “ideal” moment to use Overhaul. It comes straight after the international break, the transfer window will be closed, and you’d have maximum clarity on nailed players. The problem is that in Gaffr you can only play one boost per week.
If you Overhaul in GW5, you block yourself from using the explosive chips such as Away Days, Jeepers Keepers, or Triple-Triple in what is shaping up to be the only and the biggest Double Gameweek of the first part of the season. That’s why if you want to set your squad up properly for DGW5, the Overhaul has to be played in GW4.
👉 Quick test:
Need 5-6 changes? Take hits, keep your explosive chips and don’t overhaul.
Need 9-11 changes? I’d recommend using the Overhaul for GW4.
✅ Pros of Overhaul Now (GW4)
3 weeks of data → better idea who’s nailed and in form.
Fix problem areas immediately (wrong Celtic picks, too many Rangers, missing DGW assets).
Jump on Hibs, Aberdeen, Dundee Utd early.
Grab Motherwell value (Longelo, Just).
Set up DGW5 without taking extreme hits.
Bank early price rises.
Align with future boosts (GW5 → Away Days or Jeepers Keepers, GW8 → Jeepers Keepers or Away Days)
⚠️ Risks of Overhaul Now
You have to sacrifice an explosive chip (Jeepers Keepers/Away Days/Triple-Triple).
-8 or -12 can be clawed back when your boost nets +40.
Transfer window still open; “nailed” picks may move, new signings may reduce nailed picks minutes.
International break next → added injury risk.
DGW5 not official confirmed yet by the SPFL (though very likely).
Under-the-radar upside: Go light on Old Firm & win GW4
One subtle but important advantage of Overhaul right now:
GW4: Celtic v Rangers derby → poor fixture for both sides in theory.
GW5: Neither doubles, while Hibs, Aberdeen, Dundee United, Falkirk, Livi and Dundee very likely do.
By Overhauling, you can go minimal Old Firm (e.g. 2× Celtic, 0-1 Rangers) and pile into DGW teams instead. Post-international break, you can reintroduce Old Firm premiums once lineups settle and you have a clear idea on who will be in form.
And there’s another bonus: GW4 itself. Many squads are a mess right now, overloaded with Old Firm players who face each other and Rangers players who aren’t performing. Overhaul lets you build a genuinely strong XI for this week by targeting form players and fixture swings:
Motherwell → Longelo + Just look excellent, and they host Killie.
Hearts → Braga emerging as a bargain striker.
Hibs → Bowie/Bushiri/Mulligan give strong home coverage vs St Mirren.
Aberdeen → fixture swing starts immediately with Falkirk at home.
So while others stumble with Rangers/Celtic assets cancelling each other out, an Overhaul squad can already bank gains in GW4 before the DGW advantage even arrives.
Overhaul Squad-Building Principles
Celtic (2–3 picks)
Core: Nygren + Maeda (Away Days monsters GW5 @ Killie).
Optionals: Schmeichel (if you don’t want a DGW keeper), Carter-Vickers if desperate for a defender.
Avoid: overloading defence or picking strikers; rotation risk high at the moment.
Rangers (0–1 pick)
Hold only Gassama (saves you a transfer in GW6 when you’ll want him back).
Clear out excess Gers (including Tavernier).
Hibs (2–3 picks)
Bowie (nailed #9, essential).
Bushiri (nailed, bonus machine), Hanley if you want a cheaper CB option.
Mids: Mulligan (early signs indicate a great season ahead), McGrath (early returns), Boyle (explosive but riskier as less nailed now).
Smith (GK) = avoid unless already owned when he should double to easy hold.
Remember: Hibs are great in GW4 and an excellent potential double in GW5. After that the fixture run is really bad so a double rather than a triple up might be better. Build a deep squad so you can bench them in difficult fixtures if needed.
Aberdeen (1-2 picks)
Mitov (keeper; strong DGW & run after).
Defence: Jensen (most nailed), or watch for a nailed CB.
Mids: Aouchiche (No.10, strong data 0.34 xG/90), Milanovic (data worse but looks threatening). European game will tell us more.
FWD: only if one striker nails down minutes pre-GW4, which is unlikely at this point.
Dundee Utd (1-2 picks)
Kucherenko (GK; save machine, Jeepers Keepers candidate).
Ferry (LB/LW, attacking threat, 5.5m).
Esselink (cheaper nailed CB).
Dolcek (midfielder with early goals, only 5.6m).
Motherwell (1-2 picks)
Longelo (super attacking full-back, 3 goals already).
Just (on fire, GW5 @ Dundee is perfect Away Days pick).
Ward (GK, leads league in saves/90, great Jeepers Keepers option later, appears to be nailed at just 4.1m).
Riskier doublers (use carefully)
Livingston: poor run after DGW, but Prior GK is gold (DGW5 Away Days + Jeepers Keepers later).
Falkirk: only Bain (GK saves).
Dundee: McCracken (GK saves), Graham (4.0 nailed DEF with DGW as enabler).
My Current Overhaul Draft (GW4)
GKs
Prior (Livingston) → two away DGW fixtures for Away Days; later Jeepers Keepers @ Hibs (GW8).
Kucherenko (Dundee Utd) → doubles GW5, Jeepers Keepers option @ Rangers (GW8).
(Together: great rotation GW6–12; Jeepers setup built in.)
DEF
Milne (Hearts) - set pieces, goals, nailed.
Bushiri (Hibs) - nailed, bonus upside.
Jensen (Aberdeen) - nailed, attacking threat.
Ferry (Dundee United) - attacking left-back/wing role.
Longelo (Motherwell) - already scored 3, attacking machine.
➡️ 5 defenders from 5 teams → always 3 fairly solid fixtures through GW12, so plan would be to rotate them every week using clean sheet odds to determine who is best to play.
MID
Nygren (Celtic) - top points scorer after three gameweeks, must-have.
Maeda (Celtic) - complements Nygren, top scorer in game last year, might play through the middle going forward.
Just (Motherwell) - breakout star, great GW5 away pick.
Aouchiche or Milanovic (Aberdeen) - watch Europe, pick one.
Gassama (Rangers) – placeholder for GW6 run. Could flip to Mulligan/McGrath/Boyle if a Hibs mid looks nailed and want to go all in on doubles.
FWD
Bowie (Hibs) - nailed striker, DGW + season-long value.
Braga (Hearts) - still only 6.0, looks like first-choice after 2-goal cameo.
Mandron (St Mirren) – not a doubler but:
GW5: Falkirk A (Away Days eligible).
GW6: Dundee H (perfect when Hibs and Aberdeen attackers both have tough fixtures).
Long-term run solid and St Mirren look decent.
Bank: 1.6m → flexibility to reintroduce Old Firm premiums after DGW5.
Boost planning: Using overhaul to set up GW5
1) Away Days (my preferred option)
You can get to 11 away players in DGW5.
Prior in goal (two away fixtures, double points in both).
Also with at least 1 away fixture in GW5 are: Celtic, Hibs, Aberdeen, Dundee United, Livi x2, Motherwell, St Mirren, Hearts and Livi x2
Post-DGW: use banked cash to bring back Old Firm.
2) Jeepers-Keepers (safety net if IB chaos strikes)
If away stack is wrecked by IB injuries, I can pivot to Jeepers Keepers in GW5.
Prior + Kucherenko = save volume dream, expect both to do well.
Then I would play Away Days later (likely GW8).
It’s close between Jeepers Keepers and Away Days GW5 so go with your gut!
If away days boost works out for GW5 I am then set up well to play Jeepers Keepers in GW8 which is the current plan. You could also flip away days which is also viable GW8
What’s Next: Boost & DGW Planning
If you enjoyed this deep dive on Overhaul GW4, check back this Friday.
I’ll be publishing a full article on:
Boost strategy across GWs 5–12 (Away Days, Jeepers Keepers, Triple-Triple, Midfield Dynamos, Old Firm).
DGW5 prep → which teams to prioritise, and when hits are worth it.
Future chip timings beyond GW5.
This pairs with today’s Overhaul breakdown to give you the complete roadmap: how to structure your squad and when to unleash your boosts.
👉 Keep an eye out Friday - it’ll be live here, and I’ll also share thoughts on Twitter.