FPL GW31 Review2025/26 GW31 Review how did you do?
Published · refreshed
Hero of the week2.5% owned
Beto made the difference. The template did not.
GW31 was a brutal gameweek, with an average score of just 38, leaving many managers frustrated. Captaincy was a minefield, as many highly-owned assets failed to return, though Bruno Fernandes bucked the trend. This review breaks down the key events and highlights reusable principles for navigating the unpredictable nature of FPL as we look ahead to GW32.
How the field scored
The average manager scored 38. Around 53 was a useful target for a green arrow; 68+ made it an elite week.
Did the armband deliver?
- 55%0→0Missed
Haaland
MCI· 55% owned - 53.5%0→0Missed
SemenyoMCI· 53.5% owned - 50.6%2→4Missed
João Pedro
CHE· 50.6% owned - 44.1%13→26Missed
B.Fernandes
MUN· 44.1% owned - 43.1%0→0Missed
Gabriel
ARS· 43.1% owned
Heroes and villains
- BetoEVE · 2.5% owned16ptsScored in Everton's dominant 3-0 win against Chelsea.
N.Williams
NFO · 2.9% owned15ptsKey performance in Nottingham Forest's surprising 3-0 away victory at Tottenham.
King
FUL · 1.7% owned13ptsIntegral to Fulham's 3-1 home win against Burnley.- B.FernandesMUN · 44.1% owned13ptsScored in Manchester United's 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, salvaging points for many.
- HaalandMCI · 55% owned0ptsA complete blank for the most-owned player, dealing a massive blow to over half of all FPL managers.
- SemenyoMCI · 53.5% owned0ptsAnother highly-owned forward returned zero points, creating widespread disappointment alongside Haaland.
- João PedroCHE · 50.6% owned2ptsDelivered a mere 2 points, further exacerbating the captaincy crisis for over half of managers who entrusted him.
Three lessons
- 01
Trusting the Low Ownership Gem
GW31's top scorers were predominantly low-ownership assets, like Beto (2.5%), N.Williams (2.9%), and King (1.7%). These unexpected hauls highlight that significant points can emerge from less-fancied fixtures and players.
- 02
Captaincy Risk vs. Reward
The widespread blank of highly-owned captains (Haaland, Semenyo, João Pedro) contrasted sharply with Bruno Fernandes's solid return. This underscores the volatility of captaincy and the potential for a differential captain to make a huge rank impact.
- 03
The Value of Defensive Clean Sheets
In a low-scoring gameweek with many attacking blanks, defenders like Bijol (11 pts, Leeds clean sheet) and Pinnock (10 pts, Brentford clean sheet) provided essential foundational points. Their strong returns in a 0-0 draw highlight the importance of robust defensive picks.
Get the GW32 captain picks
Analyze these insights with your FPL tools to refine your strategy for the coming gameweeks.