Fernandes captains FPL blank week as Gordon, Wilson lead midfield picks
Gameweek 31 offers zero points for four Premier League sides but Fernandes, Gordon, and Wilson headline a budget-friendly team under £100m. Analysts warn against overpaying for underwhelming assets in a high-risk fixture slate.
Fantasy Premier League managers face a blank gameweek 31 where Arsenal, Manchester City, Crystal Palace, and Wolves will not play, forcing captain choices and squad reshuffles to hit the 11-player mark. Bruno Fernandes remains the top-scoring midfielder since returning from injury—11 returns in 10 games—and leads a stripped-back £92.1m team that prioritizes clean sheets and penalty takers over expensive underperformers.
The blank week comes as FPL’s most punishing fixture cycle of the season, with double gameweeks arriving in GW33 and GW36 and another blank in GW34. Analysts advise managers to preserve the Free Hit chip for those high-value windows rather than deploying it now. “This week is about damage limitation,” said one senior FPL analyst. “You’re better off taking a zero from a non-playing team than overcommitting to a player who’ll cost you four points just to reach 11.”
💡 Pro Tip
If you’re left with nine or 10 outfield players due to the blank, avoid benching premium assets in favor of cheaper alternatives who still deliver defensive contributions—look for full-backs with high defcon tallies, not just clean sheets.
Anthony Gordon’s penalty duties and three-game scoring streak make him a must-own despite his xG underperformance—his 8.12 xG has delivered just five goals, yet he ranks among the top creators in big chances. Harry Wilson, Fulham’s highest-scoring FPL asset, faces Burnley’s worst away defensive record and offers a 12% ownership discount to Fernandes, making him a differential pick. “Wilson’s nine goals from three big chances are unsustainable, but at £6m, he’s a high-upside punt in a fixture Burnley can’t afford to lose,” added the analyst.
| Midfielder | Ownership | xG (per 90) | Big Chances |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Fernandes | 28% | 0.42 | 11 |
| Anthony Gordon | 14% | 0.31 | 13 |
| Harry Wilson | 9% | 0.27 | 8 |
Defensively, Virgil van Dijk’s £6.2m price tag looks justified after Liverpool conceded just 5.4 xGC over five games while Brighton’s attack ranks bottom-four for xG. Malick Thiaw offers dual threat—22 defcon points and three goals—while Joachin Andersen’s defcon returns in 17 of 27 starts give him a high floor despite a modest £4.5m tag. “He won’t win you the week, but he won’t cost you either,” noted the analyst.
Key Points
- ✅ Fernandes is the highest-return midfielder since injury return—captain him
- ⚡ Gordon’s penalty duties and three-game scoring streak outweigh his xG deficit
- 💡 Prioritize clean sheet defenses over attacking differentials in blank weeks
Up front, Igor Thiago’s three big chances in a single game against Wolves proves his value as a low-touch, high-efficiency striker. His £7.3m price fits within budget while offering a differential option in Monday’s clash with Leeds. The bench stacks Fulham’s Bernd Leno and Benjamin Sesko for clean sheet insurance and late-game firepower, though Sesko’s £7.4m price risks overstretching budgets.
- First — Fernandes as captain: 20 points last week, five double-digit hauls since return
- Second — Gordon over Wilson: penalty edge and recent form outweigh xG shortfall
- Third — Van Dijk at centre-back: Liverpool’s defensive dominance vs Brighton’s attack drought
The fixture fog of blank gameweeks rewards patience over panic. Managers who resist the urge to overpay for underperforming assets—like triple Arsenal defenders—can emerge with stronger squads for the double gameweek sprint ahead. “This isn’t a week to gamble,” said the analyst. “It’s a week to survive.”
📋 By The Numbers
- 4 — Premier League teams blank in GW31 (Arsenal, City, Palace, Wolves)
- £92.1m — Total cost of the optimal FPL team under £100m budget
- 11 — Double-digit hauls by Fernandes since returning from injury