FPL GW33 Review2025/26 GW33 Review how did you do?
Published · refreshed
Hero of the week10.2% owned
Gibbs-White made the difference. The template did not.
Gameweek 33 was a challenging week with pockets of explosive returns, leaving many managers with mixed feelings. While some popular captains delivered a decent haul, no single captain reached the 'delivered' threshold based on the high scoring bar. This Gameweek provides crucial lessons on differentials, popular picks, and captaincy strategy as we look ahead to GW34.
- Best decision of the GWBacking high-upside differentials like Gibbs-White (20 points, 10.2% ownership) or Justin (19 points, 1.1% ownership), especially those with strong matchups or Double Gameweek potential.
- Biggest popular mistakeOver-reliance on highly owned assets from Arsenal and Chelsea, exemplified by Gabriel (44.2% ownership) and João Pedro (42.2% ownership) both blanking for 0 points, causing significant rank drops.
- One actionable takeaway for GW34: Investigate teams with multiple fixtures or favourable single fixtures that might fly under the radar, as demonstrated by the explosive returns from players like Okafor and F.Kadıoğlu.
How the field scored
The average manager scored 66. Around 81 was a useful target for a green arrow; 96+ made it an elite week.
Did the armband deliver?
- 54.6%13→26Missed
Haaland
MCI· 54.6% owned - 49%5→10Missed
SemenyoMCI· 49% owned - 46.9%6→12Missed
B.Fernandes
MUN· 46.9% owned - 44.2%0→0Missed
Gabriel
ARS· 44.2% owned - 42.2%0→0Missed
João Pedro
CHE· 42.2% owned
Heroes and villains
- Gibbs-WhiteNFO · 10.2% owned20ptsDominant performance in Nottingham Forest's 4-1 home victory against Burnley, securing multiple goal contributions.
Justin
LEE · 1.1% owned19ptsInstrumental in Leeds' 3-0 clean sheet win over Wolves, likely contributing defensively and offensively across his Gameweek 33 fixtures.
Watkins
AVL · 17% owned16ptsScored pivotal goals in Aston Villa's thrilling 4-3 victory against Sunderland, showcasing his attacking prowess.
F.Kadıoğlu
BHA · 0.6% owned16ptsKey figure in Brighton's fixtures, especially their impressive 3-0 clean sheet victory over Chelsea.
- GabrielARS · 44.2% owned0ptsA 2-1 loss against Manchester City meant no clean sheet and no attacking returns for one of the most highly owned defenders, delivering a painful blank.
- João PedroCHE · 42.2% owned0ptsFailed to register any returns across two challenging fixtures against Manchester United (0-1 loss) and Brighton (0-3 loss), massively disappointing his high ownership.
RayaARS · 35.5% owned1ptsConceded two goals against Manchester City, resulting in a single point for his significant ownership, a poor return for a highly trusted goalkeeper.
Three lessons
- 01
Differential Advantage in Double Gameweeks
Gameweek 33 underscored the explosive potential of lower-owned players, particularly those benefiting from multiple fixtures or strong matchups. Justin (1.1%), Okafor (1.2%), and F.Kadıoğlu (0.6%) were prime examples, rewarding managers who explored beyond the highly owned.
- 02
Popular Picks Can Hurt
High ownership provides no immunity to blanks. Gabriel and João Pedro, owned by over 40% of managers, both returned 0 points. This highlights the risk of over-reliance on popular assets without considering fixture difficulty or potential for upset results.
- 03
Captaincy: Consistency vs. Explosion
While Haaland delivered a respectable 13 points, other popular captain options like Gabriel and João Pedro blanked entirely. This Gameweek reinforced the critical balance between a safe, consistent captain choice and the higher-risk, potentially explosive differential punt.
Get the GW34 captain picks
Utilize comprehensive analysis tools to navigate upcoming Gameweeks, identifying both foundational assets and high-reward differential picks for your squad, and always cross-reference player form with fixture difficulty.