FPL GW35 Review · 2025/26
GW35 Reviewhow did you do?
Scoreboard
How the field scored
Key takeaways
Gameweek 35 of the 2025/26 season proved to be a brutal affair for many Fantasy Premier League managers, with an average score of just 50 points. Captaincy was particularly challenging, as even highly-owned picks failed to deliver significant hauls. This week highlighted the immense value of differential picks. We'll dissect the key performances and extract reusable principles for GW36 and beyond.
- **Best Decision:** Backing low-owned differentials like Awoniyi (0.3% ownership, 16 points) or Doku (3.1% ownership, 15 points) proved to be an elite move, delivering significant rank boosts. - **Biggest Popular Mistake:** Trusting highly-owned assets Semenyo (50% ownership, 2 points) and Virgil (31.9% ownership, 1 point) proved costly for a vast segment of the manager base. - **Actionable Takeaway for GW36:** Re-evaluate captaincy criteria beyond just perceived fixture difficulty; consider form and spread of attacking threat more closely, as no popular choice truly exploded this week.
Captaincy verdict
Heroes & villains
Heroes
Spearheaded Nottingham Forest's impressive 3-1 victory over Chelsea with significant attacking returns.
Was instrumental in Arsenal's dominant 3-0 clean sheet win against Fulham, contributing heavily to their goals.
Provided crucial attacking output in Manchester City's thrilling 3-3 draw with Everton, finding returns in a high-scoring game.
Combined a clean sheet with an attacking return in Bournemouth's solid 3-0 home win against Crystal Palace.
Villains
The lesson
Embrace the Differential Edge
Gameweek 35 showed that highly-owned players are not the only path to success. Low-ownership players like Awoniyi and Doku delivered massive hauls, providing significant rank gains for those brave enough to back them. Identifying form players outside the template can be crucial for an explosive gameweek.
Actionable for GW36Captaincy is Inherently Volatile
Despite significant ownership percentages for players like Haaland and B.Fernandes, none of the popular captain picks truly 'delivered' by setting a benchmark score of 100 points for the gameweek. This underscores the unpredictable nature of the captaincy decision and the importance of spreading risk or looking for consistent routes to points rather than just perceived 'easiness' of fixture.
Actionable for GW36Defensive Points Are Not Guaranteed
High-ownership defenders, even from top teams, are susceptible to poor returns when their teams concede multiple goals. Virgil's 1-point return highlights that relying solely on perceived defensive strength without considering potential vulnerabilities or fixture difficulty can lead to significant disappointment.
Actionable for GW36Get GW36 captain picks
Utilize robust analysis tools to dissect the data, identify underlying trends, and optimize your squad for upcoming challenges. Sound decision-making is rooted in objective review.
GW36 captain picks