FPL GW30 Review2025/26 GW30 Review how did you do?
Published · refreshed
Hero of the week0.1% owned
Barkley made the difference. The template did not.
GW30 proved a testing week for many FPL managers, with an average score of 43 indicating a generally subdued performance across the board. The majority of highly-owned captaincy picks failed to deliver, creating significant rank shifts. However, a select few differentials and a standout captain choice ensured some managers celebrated green arrows. We'll unpack the key moments and draw reusable principles to inform your strategy for GW31.
How the field scored
The average manager scored 43. Around 58 was a useful target for a green arrow; 73+ made it an elite week.
Did the armband deliver?
- 56.7%2→4Missed
Haaland
MCI· 56.7% owned - 54.2%2→4Missed
SemenyoMCI· 54.2% owned - 50.2%2→4Missed
João Pedro
CHE· 50.2% owned - 42.8%10→20Missed
B.Fernandes
MUN· 42.8% owned - 41.7%9→18Missed
Gabriel
ARS· 41.7% owned
Heroes and villains
- BarkleyAVL · 0.1% owned12ptsRegistered significant attacking returns in Aston Villa's win over Manchester United.
- Mavropanos
WHU · 0.2% owned12ptsScored a crucial goal and contributed defensively against Manchester City. 
SalibaARS · 13.1% owned11ptsLed Arsenal's defence to a clean sheet against Everton, earning bonus points.
Truffert
BOU · 3.1% owned11ptsSecured a clean sheet and collected bonus points in Bournemouth's goalless draw.
- HaalandMCI · 56.7% owned2ptsMassive ownership and captaincy trust for a paltry 2 points, significantly hurting the majority.
- SemenyoMCI · 54.2% owned2ptsAnother highly-owned forward blank, compounding the captaincy misery for over half the FPL managers.
- João PedroCHE · 50.2% owned2ptsDespite significant backing, he failed to deliver, completing a trio of popular captain blanks.
Three lessons
- 01
Don't chase ownership blindly for captaincy
The collective failure of Haaland, Semenyo, and João Pedro as popular captain choices highlights the risk of relying solely on high ownership without considering recent form or fixture difficulty.
- 02
Defensive returns are crucial in tight gameweeks
Clean sheets from Saliba (ARS), Dunk (BHA), and strong performances from Mavropanos (WHU), Truffert (BOU) provided significant points when attacking returns were scarce, demonstrating their value.
- 03
Differentials can swing your GW
Low-owned players like Barkley (0.1%) and Mavropanos (0.2%) delivered explosive returns, demonstrating the potential of finding overlooked gems who can significantly boost your rank.
Get the GW31 captain picks
Utilise robust FPL analysis tools to navigate the upcoming gameweeks effectively, identifying both reliable assets and differential opportunities.