See our analysis of which players are likely earn the maximum three bonus points and see that tally boosted to 10 points
This week’s Fantasy Challenge, called “MVP”, will see players who earn the maximum bonus points in each match claim 10 points rather than the usual three.
Managers will need to pick a six-a-side team using an unlimited budget, with a limit of one player per club. You can enter a team AFTER the deadline has passed in the main Fantasy Premier League game, up to 15:00 BST on Saturday 25 April.
There is an incredible prize to be won, with the manager claiming the highest points total winning a signed Premier League shirt. This prize will be available in each of the remaining Gameweeks this season.
Remember, SIX clubs, AFC Bournemouth, Brighton & Hove Albion, Burnley, Chelsea, Leeds United and Manchester City, do not have a fixture scheduled in Gameweek 34 as a result of the FA Cup.
Here, The Scout assesses the best picks for Blank Gameweek 34.
Pick your BGW34 Challenge team NOW
Goalkeepers
Robin Roefs is the goalkeeper with the most bonus points this season. The Sunderland ‘keeper has registered 12 bonus points, picking up maximum bonus on three occasions this season.
Everton’s Jordan Pickford has registered 11 bonus points this season, recording maximum bonus twice. The England international travels to West Ham in BGW34. Despite registering fewer bonus points than Pickford this season, West Ham’s Mads Hermansen and Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez have also registered maximum bonus twice this season, but the latter is without a fixture this week, due to Chelsea having their FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United.
The other goalkeepers with a fixture in BGW34 who have achieved maximum bonus this season once are Emiliano Martinez, Senne Lammens, Caoimhin Kelleher and Matz Sels.
Over their last six matches, Fulham and Spurs are the teams with a scheduled fixture who have scored the fewest goals. Meanwhile, Brentford, West Ham and Crystal Palace have kept the most clean sheets over the same period.
Defenders
Arsenal’s Gabriel has registered bonus points in 11 matches this season and he has picked maximum bonus six times, the most of any defender. The Gunners a Newcastle side who have failed to win in any of their last three league matches. Gabriel is significantly ahead of the rest of the defenders in the game for achieving maximum bonus points in a match – the next-best is Marc Guehi from Man City, who has done so on three occasions. But Man City are one of the six teams who do not have a fixture in BGW34.
Of the defenders with a fixture this weekend, the next-best returns for max bonus points come from Neco Williams, Malick Thiaw, Maxence Lacroix, Micky van de Ven, Nordi Mukiele and Diogo Dalot, who have all achieved this twice. In the majority of cases, the defenders needed a clean sheet plus an attacking return or defensive contribution points to secure the maximum bonus points in those matches.
Managers looking to maximise the potential for achieving the additional challenge points this week are likely best to play one defender and invest more in midfield and up front.
Midfielders
Bruno Fernandes is top-scoring midfielder for bonus points this season, with 36. In fact, this is joint-first in the game this season with Erling Haaland, who does not have a fixture in BGW34. Fernandes has achieved bonus points in 14 of his 30 appearances this season, registering maximum bonus eight times. He has also registered maximum bonus in three of his last six matches. Man Utd host Brentford on Monday evening.
Arsenal’s Declan Rice has also been a bonus point magnet this season, registering 23 across 10 matches. Rice has achieved maximum bonus five times this season. The Gunners host Newcastle in BGW34. The Magpies have just welcomed Bruno Guimaraes back from injury and the Brazilian has registered maximum bonus in four matches this season. Likewise, Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz and Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers all have fixtures this weekend and have all registered maximum bonus on four occasions.
Forwards
Haaland is the forward who has registered maximum bonus the most across the game this season with 10. However, the Man City star will not feature in BGW34 as Man City play in the FA Cup this weekend.
Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike, Brentford’s Igor Thiago and Chelsea’s Joao Pedro have all registered maximum bonus six times this season. But Ekitike will miss Liverpool’s fixture against Crystal Palace through injury, while Joao Pedro, like Haaland, doesn’t have a league fixture this weekend. Thiago is therefore the available forward to have achieved maximum bonus the most times. The Brentford forward registered maximum bonus in the reverse fixture against Monday’s opponents Man Utd back in Gameweek 6.
In-form Jarrod Bowen isn’t far behind Thiago, achieving maximum bonus on five occasions. Bowen faces Everton, who he registered maximum bonus against in the reverse fixture. Bowen is in good form at home, with returns in all of his last five outings at the London Stadium.
Ollie Watkins and Jean-Philippe Mateta have both registered maximum bonus four times this season, with Watkins achieving this twice over the last three Gameweeks. Villa visit Fulham in BGW34, with the forward also coming close to achieving the maximum bonus in the reverse fixture, when he registered two bonus points. Managers wanting to invest in Mateta should keep a close eye on the Crystal Palace teamsheet, as the forward hasn’t started either of their last two league contests.
