Summary

  • Recap all the big Fantasy Premier League talking points and team news before gameweek 38

  • This week's deadline is 14:30 BST on Sunday

  • Who is the best final-day captain? Who is the best one-week punt? FPL Pras answered your questions

  • Does your league have a forfeit for finishing bottom? Are you involved in a tight title race? The best final-day FPL stories

  1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 16:26 British Summer Time

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Last season in a work league, this was the live table after 70 mins of gw38. The top 2 tied on 2599, I was 3rd on 2597. Yellow cards and late bps changes decided it. 40 points clear this year, fingers crossed.

    Jonny, Grimsby

    An image of an FPL league tableImage source, Jonny
  2. 'Play your cards and hope for the best'published at 16:24 British Summer Time

    FPL Q&A with Pras

    Pras
    FPL veteran with eight top-25k finishes and co-host of The FPL Wire podcast

    T: I’m currently second in a mini league, 48 points behind. No transfers left but 0.8m in bank. Team is as follows: Pickford, Sels, Mykolenko, Virgil, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri, Saliba, Eze, Luis Diaz, Salah, Mbuemo, J.Murphy, Watkins, Cunha and Wissa. Who do I start? Who do I captain? Or do I take the hit and bring transfers in?

    Not going to lie, 48 points is going to be tough to make up. I wouldn’t suggest any hits here. Play your cards and hope for the best. As to which XI, think you can bench Pickford, Mykolenko, Eze and Ait Nouri.

  3. Fancy a differential? Leandro Trossardpublished at 16:21 British Summer Time

    FPL Q&A with Pras

    Thomas Woods
    BBC Sport FPL writer, best finish 9,100th

    Leandro TrossardImage source, Getty Images

    Leandro Trossard, Arsenal, £6.7m - Southampton (a)

    Some sort of attacking Arsenal asset feels like a must against woeful Southampton.

    But predicting how the Gunners approach the game, with second place effectively wrapped up, is tough.

    Trossard has been Arsenal's top-scoring attacking asset this season and he has started the past seven games, with five returns.

    The Belgian also has four double-digit returns this season and you are looking for that kind of explosiveness for a one-week punt.

  4. Poll: Who is your captain for the final day?published at 16:19 British Summer Time

    Ben Ramsdale
    BBC Sport

    A reminder for those that haven't seen - we have a poll running at the top of this page asking who your captain is for this week.

    Mohamed Salah currently leads the way by a big margin with 40% of the votes.

    My own personal (C) is hovering over Erling Haaland at the moment but just 4% are going with the City man so far.

  5. Marmoush, Murphy or Digne alternatives?published at 16:17 British Summer Time

    FPL Q&A with Pras

    Pras
    FPL veteran with eight top-25k finishes and co-host of The FPL Wire podcast

    Anon: I'm 14 points clear of second in my mini league. We have pretty similar teams. He has double city defence and Wissa being the major differences. I have two free transfers and 1.7m in the bank. I feel like I don't need to take risks, but also don't want to play it to safe just for him to take a gamble and it to pay off against me. Any advice?

    Team looks fantastic. What a great position to be in with two free transfers. I think the areas where you could do something are Marmoush, Murphy or Digne. There are nice alternatives in all those slots, 2 of Kerkez, Bowen or Evanilson should be a good use of two free transfers.

    FPL team
  6. 'Your best differential is Haaland and I would suggest to double down and captain him'published at 16:14 British Summer Time

    FPL Q&A with Pras

    Pras
    FPL veteran with eight top-25k finishes and co-host of The FPL Wire podcast

    Anon: I’m second in my mini league. Brought in Haaland and Palmer these last two weeks to try to gain ground, backfired badly and now 40 points back thanks to Villa, Palace and Bowen. Any suggestions for a last day miracle? How many hits do I want to be taking here to get differentials?

    Unlucky on the City picks so far. I wouldn’t suggest any hits. It’s very hard to make up those points in just one gameweek. Your best differential is Haaland and I would suggest to double down and captain him if chasing. As for transfers, consider Kevin De Bruyne to someone like Saka or Bowen.

    Haaland in action for CityImage source, Getty Images
  7. Fancy a differential? Jacob Murphypublished at 16:10 British Summer Time

    FPL Q&A with Pras

    Thomas Woods
    BBC Sport FPL writer, best finish 9,100th

    Jacon MurphyImage source, Getty Images

    Jacob Murphy, Newcastle, £5.2m - Everton (h)

    Since gameweek 14, Murphy has started every game for Newcastle and in that time only Mohamed Salah (77) has more points than his 76 at home.

    Murphy has five goals and six assists in that spell and, in a must-win game against Everton, you would hope he will be back on the right wing in a 4-4-2.

    That's where he has been most productive - and even more so if Alexander Isak is fit.

  8. 'You need to bring in and captain a player the top 2 won’t own'published at 16:08 British Summer Time

    FPL Q&A with Pras

    Pras
    FPL veteran with eight top-25k finishes and co-host of The FPL Wire podcast

    Harry: I'm 33 points behind first place an 14 points behind second place. Need a big differential but only 1 free transfer with £3.9 in the bank. Who should I buy?

    Hi Harry, the answer needs a bit more context. You need to bring in and captain a player the top 2 won’t own. For ultra differential captaincy Evanilson, Saka or Welbeck are all good choices.

  9. Postpublished at 16:07 British Summer Time

    Ben Ramsdale
    BBC Sport

    Phwoarrrr!

    Can anyone beat that from Anon?

    That is going down to the wire - or should I say FPL Wire?

    You're welcome, Pras!

  10. A far more interesting title racepublished at 16:05 British Summer Time

    FPL Q&A with Pras

    Have you seen a tighter title race than my work one?

    Anon

    A Fantasy Premier League screenshot
  11. 'If your goal is overall rank then Evanilson or Saka'published at 16:04 British Summer Time

    FPL Q&A with Pras

    Pras
    FPL veteran with eight top-25k finishes and co-host of The FPL Wire podcast

    Paul: I have 1 transfer this week to bring in a player with a high points ceiling. Who would you recommend out of Bowen, Saka, Isak and Evanilson?

    Hi Paul. It really depends on your goals. If you are catching a mini-league rival then get any of the four they they don’t own. If leading the league then get the popular pick like Bowen. If your goal is overall rank then Evanilson or Saka will be the low owned choices.

    Evanilson and Saka contest for the ballImage source, Getty Images
  12. 'I generally think hits this late is unwise'published at 16:02 British Summer Time

    FPL Q&A with Pras

    Pras
    FPL veteran with eight top-25k finishes and co-host of The FPL Wire podcast

    Andy: Hi Pras, I hope you’re well. I have a problem that must be really common but I haven’t heard any FPL content specialists discuss

    I’m 2nd in my mini league and would love to beat my nemesis in 1st. He hasn’t put a foot wrong for the past few weeks and has slowly edged 51 points ahead. I’m tempted to take a 16 point hit to effectively build a free hit team of differentials to him. Bringing in Burn, Trossard (not Saka as he’s too obvious), Gordon, Semenyo and Evanilson. A 16pt hit to replace good assets seems crazy but I can’t think of any other way to catch him.

    It’s a proper Hail Mary punt. What do you think? Is it madness? If so, what’s the best strategy to overhaul a big points deficit?

    Hi Andy! While the free hit with hits sounds really fun, I am afraid it doesn’t equal more points. I generally think hits this late is unwise. Use your free transfer to pick an ultra differential and hope the other players in your team all decide to smash it this week. It’s the only way to close the gap, in my opinion.

  13. Why captain Mbeumo?published at 16:00 British Summer Time

    FPL Q&A with Pras

    Thomas Woods
    BBC Sport FPL writer, best finish 9,100th

    Bryan MbeumoImage source, Getty Images

    Bryan Mbeumo (captain), Brentford, £8.2m - Wolves (a)

    Mbeumo has six returns in his past five games and would have hauled more if not for a rare penalty miss last week.

    He takes on a Wolves side who have conceded seven goals in the previous three games.

    At this point, Mbeumo might be the most obvious FPL pick. He's been involved in 43% of his side's goals, so feels about as nailed on as you can be for at least some sort of return on Sunday.

  14. BBC Sport's team of the weekpublished at 15:57 British Summer Time

    FPL Q&A with Pras

    Thomas Woods
    BBC Sport FPL writer, best finish 9,100th

    FPL teamImage source, BBC Sport

    Right, what do you need from your Fantasy Premier League team on the final day?

    If you're in a close title race in your mini-league - especially if you are chasing a rival - then this is the dream scenario.

    There's no clear-cut captain and that means taking a punt on someone other than Mohamed Salah could be massively rewarded.

    Check out BBC Sport’s team of the week for a few ideas on one-week punts and captain choice.

  15. Exciting midfielder pick and bench Rogers?published at 15:55 British Summer Time

    FPL Q&A with Pras

    Pras
    FPL veteran with eight top-25k finishes and co-host of The FPL Wire podcast

    James: I got into the top 100k for the first time last week, 75k currently and determined to stay there! In most weeks I would roll but need to do something with my free transfer, am I better to go for a more exciting midfielder pick and bench Rogers (Semenyo or Gordon as options) or bench Ruben and go for a defender (White, Kerkez or Schar)? Love to you know what you would advise.

    Well done on a great rank and season. Team looks in great shape. I would suggest to do the Sarr transfer for a midfielder (I like Gordon). This also gives you a little bit of security in case Isak misses out. I think the defence looks fine. Good luck!

    FPL team
  16. 'Hail Mary’s of all Hail Mary’s for me would be Welbeck'published at 15:52 British Summer Time

    FPL Q&A with Pras

    Pras
    FPL veteran with eight top-25k finishes and co-host of The FPL Wire podcast

    Mike: I’m chasing big time - 14 points back going into Sunday. Please suggest a Hail Mary to top all Hail Marys! Thank you

    The Hail Mary’s of all Hail Mary’s for me would be Welbeck (c). With Joao Pedro absent, he will lead the line and be on penalties. Brighton have all the motivation to secure the eighth place for any chance of European football next season. Who better to face in the final game week than a team who have been partying after a massive trophy lift.

    Welbeck in action for BrightonImage source, Getty Images
  17. Who to captain?published at 15:50 British Summer Time

    FPL Q&A with Pras

    Pras
    FPL veteran with eight top-25k finishes and co-host of The FPL Wire podcast

    Tom: The Beto captain gamble didn’t pay off last GW so I have swapped him and Isak out for Evanilson and Watkins. Now the question is who do I captain?

    I like both Jarrod Bowen and Mohamed Salah this week for captaincy. See my reasons for Salah below. If you are really chasing then I don’t mind Evanilson captain either!

    Mohamed Salah for LiverpoolImage source, Getty Images
  18. Postpublished at 15:49 British Summer Time

    Ben Ramsdale
    BBC Sport

    Question time! Not the TV show.

    Plenty have been coming in already so we better not waste anymore time.

    Pras is typing away frantically as we speak. I can't see him - but I know he is.

  19. My ideal gameweek 38 Free Hit teampublished at 15:46 British Summer Time

    Pras
    FPL veteran with eight top-25k finishes and co-host of The FPL Wire podcast

    FPL teamImage source, Fantasy Premier League

    Milos Kerkez is possibly the most appealing defensive option this week. The left-back is joint-top among Bournemouth players for chances created over the last six gameweeks. They are at home to a Leicester City side who, while improving of late, have still lost five of their last seven away matches to nil. Jamie Vardy has said his goodbyes and thus won’t be wiping out any clean sheets, either.

    Jarrod Bowen has 44 points in his past five matches, thanks to four goals and two assists. He is the man in form, and he now takes on a very open Ipswich team who will want to put on a show for their fans to cap off their premier league stint. Bowen has the highest goal involvement % of all players in the league – there is no one more talismanic than him this season.

    Despite only showing flashes of form recently the opportunity for buying Antony Gordon is certainly clear to see. James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite are out for Everton – a team that bid an emotional goodbye to the Goodison last week and will bring little to no motivation into the final gameweek. With Trippier and Isak doubtful, Gordon could well take most set pieces and penalties. Newcastle have to win to secure a champions league place too, so all the ingredients are in place for a Gordon final day haul.

    With potential European hangover for Spurs, Brighton and Hove Albion attackers could easily haul. Indeed, over the last six Gameweeks, Spurs are both among the worst four teams for big chances conceded. With Joao Pedro seemingly out of favour, Danny Welbeck should not only lead the line, but also take penalties.

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:44 British Summer Time

    WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Unfortunately I started my league on gameweek 4 because I was on holiday and FPL wouldn't work there. Now I have managed to reach 2nd place with 10 points separating me and 1st place. This is going down to the wire I need that free burger meal from the person in 19th.

    Anon