Jarrod Bowen named captain as West Ham chase survival in final-day showdown
West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen leads the FPL team of the week with a captaincy nod, as Leeds await in a must-win relegation scrap. Cole Palmer and Junior Kroupi emerge as high-risk, high-reward punts for managers chasing a late-season points surge.
The final-day chaos of the Premier League season has scrambled Fantasy Premier League rosters, but one name towers above the rest: Jarrod Bowen. The West Ham winger has been handed the captain’s armband for Gameweek 38, with Leeds United the opposition in a relegation six-pointer that could decide who stays up and who falls into the Championship.
Bowen’s inclusion reflects a brutal reality for managers: points now come from assists, not strikes. His last two hauls have both reached double digits, driven entirely by creativity rather than goals. Leeds, meanwhile, arrive at the London Stadium with nothing to play for except pride—and survival.
Key Points
- ✅ Bowen captains at £7.7m, offering high assist potential in a must-win fixture
- ⚡ Cole Palmer at £10.3m is the standout midfield punt, with xG of 1.75 over six games
- 💡 Junior Kroupi at £4.6m offers penalty potential and attacking threat for Bournemouth
Cole Palmer is the headline midfielder, priced at £10.3m but backed by underlying numbers that scream a big finish. Chelsea’s young playmaker has been rested only once in the last five games, and his xG of 1.75 over that span is nearly a goal better than any other Blues player. Sunderland, his opponent, offer a defensive sieve that could see Palmer finally deliver on his promise. His recent England snub has only sharpened his edge.
| Striker | Price | XG (last 6) | Big Chances |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richarlison | £6.4m | 1.99 | 5 |
| Palmer | £10.3m | 1.75 | 3 |
| Kroupi | £4.6m | 1.12 | 2 |
Richarlison remains Tottenham’s most dangerous asset, priced at £6.4m with an xG of 1.99 in his past three starts. Everton’s away record is the sixth-best in the league, but Spurs need a win to secure survival. The Brazilian striker has had nine shots on target in that time—more than double any other Spur—despite just one goal. Managers chasing a late tilt at Europe or survival spots will be watching his every touch.
💡 Pro Tip
If you’ve got the budget, double up on Bowen and Palmer. Bowen’s assist machine status in a relegation six-pointer is underpriced; Palmer’s underlying stats scream regression to the mean. Pair them with a clean-sheet risk like Virgil van Dijk at £6m and you could land a 150-point haul.
Virgil van Dijk takes the defensive slot at £6m, facing Brentford in a game that could swing between defensive solidity and attacking chaos. Liverpool need a result to secure their Champions League spot, while Brentford fight for a Europa League place. Van Dijk has scored six goals and created 12 big chances this season—more than any other defender—though clean sheets may be scarce on the final day.
📋 By The Numbers
- 9 shots on target — Richarlison leads Spurs by a wide margin in final third pressure
- 1.75 xG — Palmer’s per-game threat over six matches is unmatched at Chelsea
Crysencio Summerville at £5.4m offers a lower-cost punt for West Ham, who must win to keep their survival hopes alive. Summerville hasn’t scored in six games, but his explosive potential—four goals in four games earlier in the season—makes him a lottery ticket for managers with midfield gaps. Leeds, meanwhile, are the joint-second lowest scorers away from home and have nothing to play for.
- First-tier captaincy — Bowen’s £7.7m price tag is justified by assist potential in a relegation crunch game
- Second-tier punt — Palmer at £10.3m offers xG dominance, but carries rotation risk
- Third-tier flier — Kroupi at £4.6m delivers penalty points and attacking returns for Bournemouth
Dominik Szoboszlai completes the midfield at £7.1m, facing Brentford in a game that could deliver goals for both sides. Liverpool’s pressing intensity and Brentford’s European ambitions collide in a fixture that promises late drama. Szoboszlai has five goal involvements in his last five outings and is Liverpool’s standout midfielder this season.
Key Points
- ✅ Bowen captains at £7.7m, offering high assist potential in a must-win fixture
- ⚡ Palmer at £10.3m is the standout midfield punt, with xG of 1.75 over six games
- 💡 Szoboszlai at £7.1m faces a high-scoring Brentford side and offers attacking upside