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.
'Play your cards and hope for the best'published at 16:24 British Summer Time 23 May
16:24 BST 23 May
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.
Marmoush, Murphy or Digne alternatives?published at 16:17 British Summer Time 23 May
16:17 BST 23 May
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.
'Your best differential is Haaland and I would suggest to double down and captain him'published at 16:14 British Summer Time 23 May
16:14 BST 23 May
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.
Fancy a differential? Jacob Murphypublished at 16:10 British Summer Time 23 May
16:10 BST 23 May
FPL Q&A with Pras
Thomas Woods BBC Sport FPL writer, best finish 9,100th
Image 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.
'You need to bring in and captain a player the top 2 won’t own'published at 16:08 British Summer Time 23 May
16:08 BST 23 May
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.
'If your goal is overall rank then Evanilson or Saka'published at 16:04 British Summer Time 23 May
16:04 BST 23 May
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.
'I generally think hits this late is unwise'published at 16:02 British Summer Time 23 May
16:02 BST 23 May
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.
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.
Exciting midfielder pick and bench Rogers?published at 15:55 British Summer Time 23 May
15:55 BST 23 May
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!
'Hail Mary’s of all Hail Mary’s for me would be Welbeck'published at 15:52 British Summer Time 23 May
15:52 BST 23 May
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.
Who to captain?published at 15:50 British Summer Time 23 May
15:50 BST 23 May
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!
My ideal gameweek 38 Free Hit teampublished at 15:46 British Summer Time 23 May
15:46 BST 23 May
Pras FPL veteran with eight top-25k finishes and co-host of The FPL Wire podcast
Image source, Fantasy Premier League
Milos Kerkez is possibly the most appealing defensive option this week. The left-back is t-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.
Get Involvedpublished at 15:44 British Summer Time 23 May
15:44 BST 23 May
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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.