As the FPL season enters its final fortnight, every decision carries extra weight. This week, all eyes turn to the Emirates, where champions-elect Arsenal host a Burnley side whose leaky defense is ripe for exploitation. It's the kind of fixture that can transform your season with a single captaincy call.
Our team of the week is built like a Free Hit squad, staying within the £100m budget. And with Pep Roulette once again disrupting double gameweek plans—our squad managed just 63 points last time out—it's time to get smart.
Goalkeeper: Caoimhin Kelleher (£4.8m) vs Crystal Palace (H)
Since Gameweek 29, Kelleher has delivered a clean sheet every other week. This weekend, he faces a Crystal Palace side likely distracted by their upcoming Europa Conference League final. Manager Oliver Glasner has been rotating key players, and the trip to the Gtech Community Stadium could be another rotation-heavy affair. That makes Kelleher a steady, budget-friendly pick.
Defender: Gabriel (£5.5m) vs Burnley (H)
If you're not picking the best defender in the game at home against a relegated team, something has gone wrong. Gabriel racked up 11 points last week with defensive contribution (defcon) bonuses, and in the past eight games, he's only blanked once—away at Manchester City. This is a stonewall clean sheet opportunity.
Defender: Myles Lewis-Skelly (£4.3m) vs Burnley (H)
Doubling up on Arsenal defense feels like a no-brainer, but this time we're going with Lewis-Skelly. With the youngster potentially lining up in midfield for the Gunners, he offers both clean sheet security and increased attacking threat from a central role. Burnley at home is as close to a guaranteed shutout as it gets.
Defender: James Tarkowski (£5.2m) vs Sunderland (H)
After a 15-point haul at Crystal Palace, Tarkowski is impossible to ignore. The fourth-highest scoring defender in FPL has registered defcon in 20 of 35 games this season, and Sunderland have managed just one goal in their last three outings. Expect another strong return.
Defender: Malick Thiaw (£4.9m) vs West Ham (H)
Thiaw has been knocking on the door of a massive haul for weeks. Another defcon specialist, he's been unlucky not to convert his consistent performances into big points. At home against West Ham, this could finally be his week to deliver.
For more expert insight, don't miss the FPL special Q&A with Holly Shand, live on the BBC Sport website this Friday at 15:30 BST. Your final push for FPL glory starts here.