Gameweek 35 presents one of the most unpredictable rounds of the season, with very few clear-cut favourites across the fixtures.
The competitiveness at both ends of the table makes squad selection particularly tricky, as even “safe” picks carry a level of risk.
On a personal note, the last two gameweeks have been strong for me, with returns of 96 and 73 points respectively.
Playing the Free Hit chip at the right time proved valuable, and with the Triple Captain and Bench Boost still available, I’m well-positioned for a strong finish to the season.
This week, however, is all about balance, managing risk while still targeting players capable of explosive returns.
Goalkeepers
I’m currently deciding between David Raya and Karl Darlow, and it’s far from straightforward.
Both goalkeepers have favourable fixtures on paper, but recent experience makes the decision even tougher. Last gameweek, opting for Darlow over Tottenham’s Kinsky instead of Raya cost me valuable points. Raya delivered 10 points thanks to saves and bonus, while the alternative only managed six.
Darlow’s fixture against Burnley looks appealing, especially considering their struggles in front of goal. However, benching the league’s top-performing goalkeeper in Raya feels like a huge gamble.
At the moment, I’m leaning slightly towards Darlow for the fixture upside, but this is definitely one of those calls that could go either way.
Defenders
My defensive setup is more straightforward this week. Diogo Dalot is set to face Liverpool, and I fully expect Manchester United to concede in that fixture.
As a result, Dalot drops to the bench. That leaves a starting backline of Gabriel Magalhães, Adrien Truffert, Nico O’Reilly, and Jaka Bijol.
Arsenal’s Gabriel is the defender with most FPL points this season with an average of 6.6 points per game and he is also the most owned defender.
His three goals and five assists are remarkable for a defender. O’Reilly has really stepped up for Pep Guardiola’s side in the second half of the season, seamlessly slotting into midfield and defensive roles when needed.
His ability to make late runs into the penalty area has seen him score five and assist four this season.
Truffert and Bijol round out the defence as solid, reliable options with the potential for returns.
Midfielders
I’ve opted for a four-man midfield this week due to selection constraints.
Iliman Ndiaye drops to the bench, largely due to a difficult fixture against Manchester City and a recent dip in form. My midfield now consists of Antoine Semenyo, Morgan Gibbs-White, Ryan Christie, and Bruno Fernandes.
Gibbs-White is my key addition this week. After impressing during my Free Hit, he returns permanently due to his importance to Nottingham Forest’s attacking play. Everything goes through him, especially in high-pressure matches.
Bruno Fernandes and Gibbs-White have been in excellent form of late, making them my biggest hope of picking up points from midfield.
Semenyo is currently experiencing a dry spell that has seen him fail to score or assist in the Citizens last four games, but his return of 15 goals and six assists this season means he is capable of turning things around.
Christie offers excellent value as a budget enabler, with the ability to chip in when needed.
Attackers
Up front, I’m sticking with a front two.
João Pedro starts on the bench after missing the last two games, raising concerns over his match fitness. That leaves Erling Haaland and Dominic Calvert-Lewin as my main men upfront.
Haaland hasn’t been at his explosive best recently, but with Manchester City still firmly in the title race, he remains a player capable of delivering big hauls at any moment.
Calvert-Lewin returns to the starting lineup after finally ending his goal drought last week. His upcoming fixture looks promising, particularly against a Burnley side that has struggled defensively all season.
Final Thoughts
Gameweek 35 feels like a “trust your instincts” kind of round. There are no obvious captaincy standouts or guaranteed clean sheets, which makes decision-making even more important.
The key for me this week is backing in-form players like Bruno Fernandes and Gibbs-White, while trusting that premium assets like Haaland will step up when it matters most.
Two major dilemmas remain:
Do I stick with João Pedro on the bench, or bring him in for Ryan Christie? Who do I stick with in goal? Raya or Darlow? Both decisions could define the gameweek, and I will be happy to hear your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below.