Final-day frenzy: FPL managers prepare for Gameweek 38

The clock is ticking. Gameweek 38 shuts at 14:30 BST on Sunday 24 May, and with it goes every last chance to climb a mini-league, protect a fragile lead or chase down the overall Fantasy Premier League crown.

This is the weekend when cool heads are rare and hits suddenly feel cheap. The Scout has laid out a full toolkit for the run-in – and every decision now carries weight.

Scout Selection: one last “dream XI”

For the final round of fixtures, The Scout has rolled out a dream line-up built purely for Gameweek 38 upside. It’s not about long-term structure any more. It’s about 90 minutes, one fixture, one shot.

The picks lean into attacking sides facing out-of-form defences, gambling on those chaotic final-day scorelines that can turn a solid season into something special – or salvage one that’s gone flat.

The captaincy call: armband with everything on it

The armband will define countless seasons on Sunday.

The Scout has compared the leading captaincy candidates, weighing their form, their opponents’ fragility and their likelihood of playing heavy minutes in the final match of the campaign.

This is the moment where a safe captain can quietly seal a mini-league, while a bold punt can erase a 20-point deficit in a single swing. The numbers are there; the risk appetite is yours.

How to play it: protect or chase?

Gameweek 38 strategy splits into two clear camps.

For managers guarding a lead, The Scout outlines how to mirror key rivals, limit exposure to explosive differentials and avoid unnecessary hits that hand points back before a ball is kicked.

For those hunting from behind, the advice flips. Look for high-ceiling picks your rivals are unlikely to own, lean into volatile fixtures and use captaincy as a weapon, not a shield. On the final day, a 10-point gap is nothing. Even 30 can vanish in a wild afternoon.

Targeting weak defences: best players to buy

The data points to several clubs facing defences badly out of form in Gameweek 38. That’s where The Scout has gone shopping.

The focus is on attacking assets with both form and fixture on their side, players who can punish tired back lines and stretched midfields as the season winds down. These are the names built for one last haul, not slow-and-steady returns.

Race for the FPL crown: Ibsen in control, but not home yet

At the very top, the stakes are brutal.

Danish manager Erik Ibsen heads into the final day with a 21-point cushion in the battle to be 2025/26 Fantasy champion. It’s a commanding position, not a guarantee.

One wrong captain, one explosive differential from a chasing rival, and that lead can evaporate. The final whistle on Sunday will decide whether Ibsen’s season of consistency ends in glory or in the harshest kind of near-miss.

Barclays transfer radar: four final-day heavy hitters

For managers still tinkering, The Scout’s Barclays transfer radar isolates four players with the potential to deliver big Gameweek 38 returns.

These are targeted, high-upside picks: strong fixtures, attacking roles, and the kind of explosive profile that can flip green arrows across the board in a single match.

Salah’s farewell: an FPL giant bows out

All eyes also turn to Mohamed Salah.

Liverpool’s Egyptian star is set for his farewell, and The Scout asks the question many managers have been circling for years: is he the greatest Fantasy asset of all time?

The contenders are laid out, the records and memories put side by side, and the vote is open for managers to have their say. For many, one last Salah haul on the final day would feel like the most fitting of goodbyes.

Chips on the table: use them or lose them

Any chip left now is a loaded weapon.

The Scout offers clear guidance on squeezing every last drop from remaining chips on the final day, whether that means unleashing a last-minute differential squad or amplifying the strongest core of your current team.

There is no tomorrow for Bench Boosts, Triple Captains or any other chip. It’s now or never.

Team news, bans and the fine margins

Injuries and suspensions will shape late decisions.

Managers are urged to stay across the latest updates on who is out, who is doubtful and who is walking a tightrope with yellow or red cards. A surprise benching or a suspension risk can ruin the best-laid plan in Gameweek 38.

FPL Pod and a new way to share the chaos

Kelly Somers and the FPL Pod panel have broken down the key talking points heading into the final round, from captaincy debates to differentials and chip strategy. It’s the full final-day briefing in audio form.

On top of that, a new feature on the FPL website and Premier League app lets managers share a graphic showing how their team performed at the end of a Gameweek. It’s a clean way to showcase the final-day heroics – or the heartbreak – to friends, family and colleagues.

Fantasy Challenge: Coca-Cola series reaches its climax

The Coca-Cola Fantasy Challenge also reaches its conclusion in Gameweek 38.

Any player on the winning side in this format earns EIGHT points, a huge swing in a single result. One tight match, one decisive win, and the entire challenge leaderboard can turn on its head.

The deadline is set, the scenarios are clear, and every transfer now carries a story. When the final whistles go on Sunday, who will be left celebrating the season of their life – and who will be staring at a screen, wondering about that one move they didn’t make?