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Fantasy Football Captain Picks Gameweek 38

By FF247 on May 24, 2023 16 Comments

Fantasy Football Captain Picks Gameweek 38

Welcome to Fantasy Football Captain Picks Gameweek 38.

As is now traditional we have invited our many site contributors, in all of their guises, to get involved for one final Captains Picks article for the season. Their remit as usual in this one is simple – say whatever the heck you like!

Rosco — Mohamed Salah vs Southampton (A)

(Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

It’s been a tough FPL season for many, and I include myself in that statement. As I write this, I’m still ranked outside the top 100k and in fact, I’ve yet to spend a single week with a 5-digit rank. Given that my worst FPL final rank to date is 28k, it’s fair to say that whatever happens in GW38, this will be my worst season by some distance. I’ve made peace with it now; my goal is still top 100k but if I don’t make it then so be it.

The main reason I think many have struggled this season is that with so many double-game weeks, not to mention the glut of content that is now available, we all have very similar teams. Indeed, those who got off to a good start and followed the crowd have fared well, the only other way to make up ground in the latter half of the season has been to go against the crowd and hope your differentials pay off. It hasn’t worked for me sadly.

So, here we are, GW38. Who will be my captain? In truth, I don’t yet know. It’s on Salah right now, because if I’m to stand any chance of making it into the top 100k I feel like it’s make or break, time to go against the Haaland captaincy that most will stick with. There is every chance however, that I really go for the Hail Mary play; transfer in someone with lower ownership and stick the armband on that player. It’s a go-for-broke strategy that could see me end the season in more pain and misery, but it could pay off. Or maybe I’ll just bottle it as I have all season; stick with Haaland and hope my other 10 players do the business. We shall see.

Good luck to all of you for the final game week and hopefully we will see you all again next season!

Swirly — Mohamed Salah vs Southampton (A)

(Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

And now the end is here
We are now at Gameweek 38
My friend I’ll make it clear
I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain
I’ve played FPL years
I used each and every game chip
And more, much more
I did it, I did it my way

Regrets, I’ve had a lot
Those include missing Callum Wilson
I did what I had to do
I saw it through without much fun
I planned each charted course
I even used an Excel spreadsheet
And more, much, much more
I did it, I did it my way

…But, yeah, Salah for what could be my last ever gameweek. I always thought that finishing in the top 100k could convince me to stay, but recent disasters have likely prevented even that happening. The jury is out over the summer, but I just want to enjoy football again!

DMC – Pedro Porro, an FPL legend in the making, vs Leeds (A)
Not the best FPL season for me, not the worst either. Spent most of the time inside top 100k and looks like I’ll be starting GW 38 just inside 50k. However, despite the decent rank, this season has not been as fun to play as others. Haaland perma captain throughout the season and across the board as well as several low-priced players being in everyone’s teams meant our teams looked basically the same week in, week out, especially after the world cup. So, weekly captain and season chips aside, how does one differentiate from the others if we all share 7-9 players? Well, it’s those little differential picks that come through. Your Almirons and Martinellis early in the season; your Marchs, Mitomas and Mac Allisters if you had them in the right spells; your Odegaards, your Ezes, your Wilsons, etc.

When it comes to GW 38 captains, there are many good candidates among big players. However, title or no title, it will take a very brave man or woman to bet on someone other than Haaland. So, it may be a case of playing the waiting game and make a late call if we hear he’s not starting. If that’s the case, we may be looking at a well spread-out captain GW with the likes of Salah, Bruno/Rashford and Kane to name a few with favourable fixtures.

So, what has Pedro Porro to do with all that waffle I hear? Well, to put it simple, he’s your final game week differential pick. The unsung hero everybody (elsewhere) will overlook. He has a great fixture for an attacking defender; you see, Leeds needs to go all out on Spurs if they are to have a chance of staying up. However, they’ll still need Everton to lose and Leicester to not win. Doable? Yes. Likely? No. What does this mean for Spurs and Pedro Porro? Well, goalscoring opportunities in my eyes. Sure, Spurs are a bit off the boil here, losing their last two, but, if they have anything left on them, they’ll also have a go at Leeds as they need to win and hope Villa don’t beat Brighton to achieve European competitions next season. Expect a full strengthen squad. Now Leeds are bottom for goals conceded (74) and joint bottom for goals conceded at home (33). They have only kept 5 clean sheets and 3 of those were 0-0 meaning they were tight affairs, which this one won’t be. They are in a 14-game conceding run with 2.5 per game in that period. If things go against them in the other games, Leeds will either throw the towel or throw the kitchen sink at it. In both cases, Spurs will score goals. As in several. I can’t promise clean sheet points here, but our friend Porro is good for an attacking return and has already returned 2 goals, 2 assists and 3 bps since nailing a spot in Spurs’ XI in GW 26. I may or not have a slight bias here as he was a great player for my club Sporting here in Portugal before going to London but, on the other hand, I’ve seen what he can do in attack and as so I (timely) bought him for his 12 pointer in GW 35 and I’m considering putting the armband on him should Haaland be out of City’s XI.

If you don’t see yourself captaining him, he’s still a great pick to buy this week in my opinion as many of the other candidates are in teams with nothing to play for and subject to mass rotation and other causes of FPL managers frustration so I’d avoid them.
It was a pleasure to once again be part of this great community that is FF247 and I hope to see you again on the boards next season. Enjoy the summer!

Stone Frog – Eze vs Forest (H)
This has been another frantic season, with 10 of the 22 game weeks since the World Cup containing doubles! This has distorted things somewhat, and it has been absolute carnage at times with hits being taken all over the place and jumping from one double to the next. I think plenty of us are ready for a rest, but for one more week we go again.

Having been in a hard-fought mini-league battle with a Palace fan, who has a distinct lack of Eagles in their team, it seemed only fitting to try and snatch a last-gasp victory and rub salt in the wound in one fell swoop. Eberechi Eze has 6 goals and 2 assists in the 9 games since Roy Hodgson returned to Palace, and plays a Forest team who have conceded the most goals on the road this season. To be honest on the final day it’s a bit of a lottery, there are often some high scoring games, may be this could be the one. And finally, a big thank you to all the site team for the fantastic articles throughout the season and to all the contributors that make our great community.

Odd Dane – Nunez vs Saints (A)
Another season has come and gone, and what a season it’s been! Well, no. Not for my team really. But upwards and onwards as they say!
I thought I’d recommend a captain, but with my track record thus far I just couldn’t bring myself to do that to you, not on the last joyful day of football. So then, what to do…

Let’s take a trip to the local gypsy lady for a solid prediction I think to myself. She wasn’t helpful, cryptically saying something like ” Spurs be Spursin’ ”. Whatever the damn hell that means. Well, I put a fiver in at the bookies on a bet that has Kane score a hattrick in the first half, followed by a 2nd half of four goals to Leeds. Just in case.

On to the astrologist for a weekly reading, maybe that can provide a better cap’n choice. ”You shall find much joy in your selections this week” she says. Promising. I login to change my cap’n. A text comes in. It’s the astrologist, ”sorry, that wasn’t your zodiac star-sign – your week will be one of blues and much grief”.

Everton she says, really!? Briefly considering McNeil’s the deal, I realise the terror from Elle’ that would be bestowed upon me if he scored. I moved on. Quickly.

Out of options I find myself asking ChatGPT, who will score the most goals this week? ”Not Chelsea”. Ha! Okay, fair enough. Good bot. So, erm…

In the end, well, let’s try Núñez! That’s worked out well before!***

*for Benfica

**when selling him

Elle – Kane vs Leeds (A)

For most its been perma cappo Haaland all season bar a couple of gws but as we take on gw 38 all the positions at the top of the league are sorted besides 7th, with Spurs and Villa vying for that spot. At the bottom there are still 2 spaces still up for grabs for relegation, with Leeds, Leicester and Everton vying for those 2 places. The 5 teams i’ve just mentioned will go full strength so for me its Mr Kane for cappo with Mr Watkins running him a close second. Good luck to all, enjoy the summer and we’ll see you back here once the fantasy is up and running again.

Floydeth – Salah, Or Haaland… maybe

It’s been another pretty average season for me. Sitting at 370k and on the wrong side of many ‘double gameweeks’ where my players only played one game (or none! Looking at you, KdB), I’ll be glad to see this season done and dusted, and the less said about it, the better.

On the plus side, United have been better, which has helped me stay interested in watching some games.

I haven’t got a clue what I’ll be doing this week transfer wise. My bus team has Mo captain and I’ll switch to Haaland if he starts. Alvarez could come in if he starts, so I guess it down the team leaks and whether FPL sites crashes on me.

Thanks to all who has been active on the site and I wish you all a nice peaceful break and I’ll hopefully see you all again in July/August

Init – Salah vs Saints (A)

KIRKBY, ENGLAND – MAY 17: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Mohamed Salah of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on May 17, 2023 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

I’ve had a pretty crappy season by my own standards, but much like some of the others I’m sort of past caring about such things really. Whilst I have enjoyed watching Haaland he has really taken any jeopardy away from the game itself. Him, and a bit of a template team, have not made me feel like looking forward to that many GW’s.

That said, I did catch a little bit of the old thrill last week when I jumped On Wilson with the armband for the DGW. Alas, it was a little bit too much too late to save myself any respectibilty for this particular season but suffice to say I will be back for more next time around.

What I realy wanted to say though was a massive thank you to two set of people. Firstly those who help to run the site, we literally could not do any of this without you. That’s writers, admin, organisers, whatever – I can’t thank you enough. Secondly to our readers and more so our community – I’ve said it numerous times in the past but it will be difficult to find a nore friendly and accepting forum out there these days. Everyone is in it together and it is a pleasure to watch that togertherness on a weekly basis. Well done all, and thank you!

Matt — Mohamed Salah vs Southampton (A)

(Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

The Egyptian will likely* have my armband for the final gameweek against the already sunk Saints. It’s pretty obvious as to why… got to give it to the player who has 30+ goal contributions in what has been Liverpool’s worst season in years. A shining light in a bleak landscape. *I have started to consider a completely out there pick like Dwight McNeil but that’s a last minute decision.

My season has been worse than Liverpool, as bad as Chelsea but maybe not as bad as Southampton. I haven’t been around much on the site due to a number of things. Start of the season I required brain surgery (yes, I do actually have one), lost my final grandparent and have had to still lead students through the pressure of state examinations… so yeah…all that. FPL has taken a massive backseat, I’ve fallen out of love with the game and almost out of love with football itself. Hopefully I’ll use this summer to rejuvenate my love and I’ll be back next season to you wonderful people. I’ve missed interacting on site and I hope you have all succeeded in whatever goals and aims you set for yourself, be it overall rank or mini leagues. Enjoy the summer and thank you all for supporting the website as you always have!

Loud Atlas — Mohamed Salah vs Southampton (A)

(Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

The end is nigh. It’s been another action-packed season to remember (or to forget in some quarters!). Highlights of the season for me: the meteoric rise of a certain Norwegian footballing god (no, not Ajer!), an impressive (until the last bit) Arsenal and the dismembering of the classic ‘Big 4’. It’s remarkable that all of the promoted teams have stayed up too!

Let’s face it, Brentford vs Manchester City may be the dead rubberiest PL game that’s ever been played. City’s U18s will be rolled out and they’ll still win 0-5. The big guns (most of their squad) will be wrapped up in bubble wrap for the two finals ahead. Therefore, I’m avoiding Erling ‘Permacaptain’ Haaland.

It’s Salah for me. Liverpool will be in the Europa League next season, and although they now have nothing to play for, they’ll want to end on a high. And is there a better fixture than a relegated Southampton?

It’s been another tricky year FPL-wise. A top 100k finish is still possible for me, but at this stage I’m grateful for anything. What’ll be will be. Enjoy this last gameweek and see you all for preseason after the summer. Good luck, folks, and thanks for keeping this community a shining beacon among the rest.

Kop — Mohamed Salah vs Southampton (A)

(Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Dont’ know where I get my ideas from ….

Jamesimmo — Harry Kane vs Leeds (A)

(Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Sorry ….

(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Hello! Seemingly every season, I find myself slightly embarrassed to be writing here, as many of you readers could be forgiven for not recognising my username… I do, however, monitor FF247 (especially H&L) from the shadows and enjoy reading through everyone’s contributions from time to time. Long may all continue!

GW38 is always a tricky one, but with City pulling Arsenal’s pants down in the latter stages of the season, weighing up Haaland (c) against, say, Salah / Kane vs confirmed / likely relegation fodder feels particularly challenging. I currently only own the former pair… but I’ll be keeping my eyes on Twitter whilst drinking in Belfast with a few FF247 faces.

This has actually been one of my better FPL seasons, with a Top 10k finish still within reach, but it’s felt frustrating: an alternating series of red & green arrows that goes back to GW25 has masked my progress with numerous regrets. That captures FPL quite well, in fairness, and I’ll always come back for more. The best of luck for a GW38 green and then enjoy the summer off!

A final thought from Smash ….

Here we are another season gone.

Not the most enjoyable for me despite the rank seemingly being ok. Bad pricing by the FPL team and too many teams looking absolutely identical for my tastes. Is it just a case of copying? I’m not sure but it’s been a bit dull hence why I’ve been more quiet on the site. I would like to thank everyone on the site who has contributed and hope you have had an enjoyable season.

As for captain, honestly I have no idea! It might depend on early team news and who starts. Haaland has been so dependable all season, Salah plays bottom of the league, United are at home to Fulham and Kane plays Leeds. You could make a case for any of them.

I wish you all good luck for whoever you choose and enjoy the summer. We go again next season (with hopefully some better pricing).

The confessional…

This is where we ask our entire writing team to tell us who they think they will pick this final all-important week.

There are more caveats and get out clauses than an Lionel Messi PSG contract but this is their initial gut feeling based upon who they actually own. And they promise that their picks will be allowed to play for more than 29 minutes each week.

DMC — Ricardo Quaresma