FPL Gameweek 28 Gold Rush: Top Players Set to Deliver Maximum Points
The pressure is mounting for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers as they battle to ascend their mini-leagues and dodge those feared penalties, with the upcoming week potentially being crucial.
Gameweek 28 kicks off on Friday evening and concludes on Sunday afternoon, but managers will have minimal downtime before needing to finalize their teams for Gameweek 29 by the following Tuesday.
Each transfer carries significant weight in the campaign's final stretch as managers pursue rankings and aim to conclude strongly in authentic Pep Guardiola style.
Below are the players worth considering in FPL for GW28.
Goalkeepers
Goalkeepers
Goalkeeper switches are rarely thrilling, but those keen to change keepers need look no further than Caoimhín Kelleher (£4.7m). Despite a letdown last weekend, the Brentford keeper confronts Burnley (A) this round and then encounters Bournemouth (A), Wolverhampton Wanderers (H), Leeds United (A) and Everton (H) in his next four fixtures.
Liverpool remain an unpredictable team but their fixture run is hard to overlook. This makes Alisson (£5.4m) a reliable set-and-forget keeper for the upcoming weeks, facing West Ham United (H) on Saturday followed by matches against Wolves (A), Tottenham Hotspur (H) and Brighton & Hove Albion (A).
Despite lacking the strongest defense, Bournemouth have secured two clean sheets in their previous four and face Sunderland (H), Brentford (A) and Burnley (H) in their next three encounters. Đorđe Petrović (£4.5m) represents a solid budget choice for those matchups.
Defenders
Defenders
While investing heavily in Liverpool's defense might place excessive trust in the Reds' backline, Virgil van Dijk (£6.0m) stands as the most attractive defensive acquisition ahead of GW28. The Dutch captain has accumulated 28 points in his last two outings and possesses the clean sheet potential, defensive contributions and scoring threat to deliver big returns in the coming weeks.
Despite Arsenal's recent defensive lapses, Gabriel (£7.1m) remains a crucial asset given his scoring potential. It seems inevitable that he'll find the scoresheet again soon, with Chelsea (H), Brighton (A) and Everton (H) providing favorable fixtures before he misses Gameweek 31.
Managers should note Manchester City also miss GW31, but Nico O'Reilly (£5.0m) could justify the gamble. He followed his 13-point performance against Fulham with 17 points versus Newcastle United, netting twice as he settles into his midfield role.
Those seeking budget alternatives can't err with Fulham's Joachim Andersen facing Tottenham (H), followed by encounters with West Ham (H), Nottingham Forest (A) and Burnley (H). Bournemouth's James Hill (£4.1m) also serves as an excellent enabler, delivering six points or more in his last five appearances.
Midfielders
Midfielders
Manchester United lack the simplest fixture schedule in the coming weeks, but their midfield options remain worthwhile investments. Bruno Fernandes (£9.9m) and Bryan Mbeumo (£8.7m) are positioned to perform against Crystal Palace (H) this weekend and are generally fixture-resistant. Selecting between these two presents the toughest choice.
Subject to his fitness after missing last weekend's encounter with Nottingham Forest, Florian Wirtz (£8.4m) looks like the premier Liverpool midfield option. Dominik Szoboszlai (£6.8m) offers a solid alternative but lacks the same reliability in attack, particularly if he continues being deployed at right back.
Antoine Semenyo (£8.1m) could be worth backing for the next three gameweeks before his blank. He's collected 37 points since joining Man City and appears a guaranteed starter, with Leeds (A), Nottingham Forest (H) and West Ham (A) approaching.
Consistently offering excellent value, Harry Wilson (£5.9m) appears virtually essential at his price range, particularly considering Fulham's upcoming schedule. Even without finding the net, he contributed eight points at Sunderland in his last outing.
Brentford's Dango Ouattara (£5.9m) and Bournemouth's Marcus Tavernier (£5.3m) represent riskier selections, the latter taking penalties for some promising fixtures but potentially facing minutes concerns after recently returning from injury.
Forwards
Forwards
Another underwhelming performance against Newcastle last weekend means Erling Haaland (£14.8m) has managed just one double-digit score since Gameweek 17. It would be dangerous to doubt him away at Leeds, though, with the Norwegian able to explode into form at any moment.
Hugo Ekitiké (£8.9m) has disappointed in recent weeks but his upcoming fixtures look extremely promising. One would anticipate his involvement in Liverpool's goals against relegation-battling West Ham this weekend.
Igor Thiago (£7.1m) has frustrated managers recently, yet remains worth acquiring for GW28 and beyond. The Brazilian takes penalties and will capitalize on facing some vulnerable defenses, beginning with Burnley's at Turf Moor.
Following an 11-point return against Sunderland, Fulham's Raúl Jiménez (£6.2m) could prove an outstanding differential. The Mexican's playing time is less certain since Rodrigo Muniz's injury recovery, but he's clearly Marco Silva's favored striker.
When Is the FPL Gameweek 28 Deadline?
When Is the FPL Gameweek 28 Deadline?
Avoid being surprised by an earlier cutoff than normal, with all modifications requiring completion by 6:30 p.m. GMT (1:30 p.m. ET, 10:30 a.m. PT) on Friday, Feb. 27 to take effect for GW28.