As the FPL season enters its final four weeks, managers face a crucial balancing act: chasing explosive differentials to climb the rankings while staying loyal to the consistent performers who have delivered all season. With the clock ticking, every decision matters—especially with the last double gameweek of the campaign looming in gameweek 36.
That double gameweek features Manchester City and Crystal Palace playing twice, so if you haven't already loaded up on Pep Guardiola's squad, now's the time to plan your transfers accordingly. This week, our team of the week is built around a Free Hit-style £100m budget, highlighting the best value picks to give you an edge.
This week's highlights
The good: Casemiro's 12-point haul, Jarrod Bowen's solid 10, and Arsenal's rock-solid defence.
The bad: Too many two-pointers from the likes of Harry Wilson and Ollie Watkins.
The ugly: Captain Mohamed Salah limping off injured for just a single point. Still, 56 points for the week was a respectable return.
Goalkeeper & Defence
David Raya (£6.0m), William Saliba (£6.1m), Gabriel (£7.2m) – vs Fulham (h)
If Arsenal are to lift the Premier League title, their defence must finish strong—and backing their backline has been a winning strategy all season. Double Arsenal defence paid off last week, and with Fulham struggling on the road (averaging less than a goal per game away from home), a triple-up feels like anything but a risk.
James Hill (£4.2m) – Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace (h)
It's a close call between Hill and his centre-back partner Marco Senesi, but the cheaper option gets the nod to keep you under budget. Expect defensive contributions (defcon) here, especially with Palace likely to rest key attackers after their European semi-final trip to Poland.
Nico O'Reilly (£5.1m) – Manchester City vs Everton (a)
City are back in action, and it's time to return to O'Reilly, who is in incredible form. He's been the highest-scoring defender over the past 10 gameweeks—despite missing some game time—making him a must-have for the run-in.
Don't forget to catch our FPL special Q&A with expert Gianni Buttice, live on the BBC Sport website this Friday at 15:30 BST. Plan smart, stay bold, and make those final weeks count.