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. There are normally plenty of goals on the final day so if you've got nothing much to play for, why not slap the armband on a big differential choice - such as Leandro Trossard or Evanilson in this week's team - and just have a bit of fun? This team of the week should give you some final-day ideas, but it could be a week to go with your gut, take a flyer on your captain and then sit back and hope for the best. Don't miss our FPL special week 38 Q&A with expert Pras, live on the BBC Sport website at 15:30 BST on Friday, 23 May. Jamie Vardy, on maybe his final FPL appearance, Jarrod Bowen and double Everton defence were the heroes. Boy, did the double Manchester City clean sheet wipeout in the 96th minute hurt! A total of 53 points,not awful and not great. Listen to the latestFantasy 606 podcaston BBC Sounds. David Raya, Arsenal, keeper, £5.5m - Southampton (a) Worst attack in the league? Haven't scored in three games? Nothing to play for? Arsenal defence is an easy pick this week for clean sheet against bottom-placed Southampton. Jakub Kiwior, Arsenal, £4.9m - Southampton (a) See Raya above! Nikola Milenkovic, Nottingham Forest, £5.2m - Chelsea (h) If you're going for broke on the final day you want a defender with a goal in their locker. Ezri Konsa and Marc Cucurella owners got that luck in gameweek 37. Milenkovic has more goals than any other defender and Chelsea have only scored once in their past four games on the road. In a must-win match, I'd rather back Forest defence than Chelsea attack. Dan Burn, Newcastle, £4.5m - Everton (h) Another Milenkovic-style pick. Burn has two double-digit hauls in four games and Newcastle have kept three home clean sheets in a row. Milos Kerkez, Bournemouth, £5.2m - Leicester (h) Six assists this season for Kerkez - who has been linked with a move to Liverpool - and he is in the top 10 for final-third touches and crosses among defenders. Taking on a blunt Leicester attack with no Jamie Vardy... no-brainer selection. This video can not be played Can Statman catch Bruce in the final gameweek? 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. Jarrod Bowen (vice captain), West Ham, £7.9m - Ipswich (a) Bowen has 53 points in the past seven gameweeks - only Eberechi Eze has more with 57 - so you've got to roll with that kind of form and he's a solid shout for captain this week. 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. 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. Erling Haaland's last goal came in gameweek 29 Evanilson, Bournemouth, £5.8m - Leicester (h) The Brazilian has been unlucky this season - 66 shots in the box, 22 big chances, just 10 goals. His expected goals (xG) is 12.18. By contrast, Chris Wood has 12.61 xG and 20 goals! What I'm saying here is that Evanilson could have ended a decent season with even more points if he'd put away a few more of those big chances - such as when he hit the post at Manchester City on Tuesday. He has a juicy match-up against a poor defence on the final day and could easily get double digits. Erling Haaland, Manchester City, £14.9m - Fulham (a) Call me foolish for going back to Haaland, who has been very quiet since returning from injury, but Manchester City still need a point on Sunday to secure Champions League football. Fulham are decent at home, City probably need to score a couple to win and this is a pure gut-feel final-day pick - backing the old Haaland to return with a couple of goals. Kepa Arrizabalaga, Bournemouth, keeper, £4.6m - Leicester (h) Jorgen Strand Larsen, Wolves, striker, £5.2m - Brentford (h) Morgan Gibbs-White, Nottingham Forest, £6.5m - Chelsea (h) Conor Bradley, Liverpool, defender, £4.7m - Crystal Palace (h) Total team cost: £95m The team of the week is selected based on current FPL prices to fit within a £100m budget, as if you were playing a Free Hit.
Time to take a punt on final day - FPL tips & team of week
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Final Day Fantasy Premier League Strategies and Player Recommendations"
TruthLens AI Summary
As the final day of the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) approaches, players are encouraged to adopt a more adventurous approach to their team selections, particularly if they are in competitive mini-league positions. With no clear standout captain, managers may benefit from taking a risk on less conventional choices, such as Leandro Trossard or Evanilson, instead of the usual favorites like Mohamed Salah. The final matchday often sees a flurry of goals, making it an opportune moment to experiment with captaincy picks that could pay off handsomely. The article suggests that this week's team of the week is designed to inspire managers to trust their instincts and make bold decisions, ultimately enhancing the enjoyment of the game as they watch the action unfold on the final day. Additionally, an FPL special Q&A session is scheduled with expert Pras, providing further insights for players looking to maximize their points as the season concludes.
Key player recommendations include David Raya, the Arsenal goalkeeper, who is expected to secure a clean sheet against struggling Southampton, and Jakub Kiwior, also from Arsenal, who shares similar prospects. For those seeking a defender with offensive potential, Nikola Milenkovic is highlighted as a strong choice due to his goal-scoring capabilities and Nottingham Forest's defensive strength against a faltering Chelsea side. Other notable mentions include Bryan Mbeumo, who has been instrumental for Brentford, and Jarrod Bowen, who has shown impressive form recently. Managers are also advised to consider the potential of Erling Haaland, despite his recent quiet performance, as Manchester City aims to secure Champions League football against Fulham. Ultimately, the article emphasizes the need for players to embrace the unpredictability of the final matchday, take calculated risks, and enjoy the culmination of the FPL season.
TruthLens AI Analysis
The article provides insights and strategic tips for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) players as they approach the final day of the season. It emphasizes the importance of making bold decisions, especially for those in close competition within their mini-league. By suggesting less conventional captain choices, the piece encourages players to take calculated risks in order to maximize their potential points, particularly when the stakes are high.
Purpose Behind the Publication
The primary aim of this article is to guide FPL players on how to optimize their teams for the final game week. It motivates readers to think outside the box and consider players they might not typically captain, thus enhancing engagement with the game. This approach can also increase interaction on platforms like BBC Sport, as users may feel compelled to tune into Q&A sessions for further expert advice.
Perception Creation
The article seeks to create a perception of excitement and unpredictability surrounding the final day of the season. By highlighting the potential for high-scoring matches and encouraging a fun, risk-taking mindset, it aims to energize the FPL community. This could foster a sense of camaraderie among players who are all navigating the final stretches of the season.
Information Omission
There does not appear to be any immediate attempt to hide or obscure information. Instead, the article focuses on promoting an engaging and participatory approach to FPL, which could be seen as a way to keep players invested in the game. It does not delve into the broader implications of the final day in terms of actual league standings or the consequences for clubs.
Manipulative Potential
The article's manipulative potential is relatively low. While it encourages a certain behavior (taking risks), this is a common theme in fantasy sports advice and does not seem to serve any ulterior motive beyond enhancing gameplay enjoyment.
Factual Accuracy
In terms of factual content, the recommendations are grounded in current player performance and match-up considerations, making the advice reliable. The mention of specific players and their circumstances lends credibility to the analysis.
Community Engagement
The article is likely to resonate with fantasy sports enthusiasts who enjoy strategizing and competing with friends. It specifically targets those engaged in FPL, appealing to a community that thrives on competition and statistical analysis.
Impact on Markets
While this article may not have a direct impact on financial markets or stock prices, it can influence the popularity of certain players and their market values in fantasy leagues. The excitement generated could also drive increased traffic to related sports platforms and communities.
Geopolitical Considerations
There are no evident geopolitical implications in this article. It focuses solely on the sports domain and the enjoyment of fantasy gaming among fans.
Use of AI in Content
It is possible that AI was utilized in creating this article, particularly in structuring the advice and analyzing player statistics. However, specific indications of AI influence are not discernible in the narrative style or content presentation.
Manipulative Elements
While there are persuasive elements in encouraging risk-taking, the article maintains a light-hearted tone and does not target specific players negatively. The language is motivational rather than manipulative.
Overall, the article serves primarily to enhance the enjoyment and strategic engagement of FPL players as they approach the final day of the season, making it a credible source of advice within that context.