FPL: Time to pick Cherries as Gameweek 35 opens the final chapter of the season

Time is running out for FPL managers to make those final squad decisions

FPL: Time to pick Cherries as Gameweek 35 opens the final chapter of the season

FPL gameweek 35 is here and after a strong couple of chip weeks, it’s time for one last push. With only four gameweeks left, this is your final chance to make aggressive moves that actually matter. Don’t be scared to back the players your mini-league rivals are too cautious to buy – that’s where the late gains are made. These five picks all have upside, form, or fixtures on their side, and every one of them has a route to a big score in the run-in.

Rayan Cherki (6.5m)

Cherki is a brilliant chase pick if you’re trying to claw back ground. He’s cheaper than Manchester City team-mate Antoine Semenyo, far less owned, and in better form right now too. The numbers back that up: more shots, more key passes, stronger xGI and more points over recent weeks. He might get subbed off a little earlier than Semenyo, but if you’re chasing rank, that’s a trade-off worth making. Cherki has the kind of creativity that can flip a gameweek quickly, and in the final stretch, that’s exactly the sort of player you want in your squad. Make your move now.

Danny Welbeck (6.3m)

Welbeck has quietly become one of Brighton’s best attacking options, and this run-in suits him. With no more midweek fixtures to worry about, he should be fresh and ready to go with no rotation, and Brighton’s push for Champions League football adds extra motivation. Newcastle away isn’t perfect, but Wolves at home and Leeds away are both fixtures you can attack with confidence. Welbeck is the sort of forward who can punish a side quickly if given the chances, and he’s now high on the list for managers looking for a reliable but slightly different striker punt in the final run in. 

Marcus Tavernier (5.4m)

Tavernier is a proper final four week punt. His underlying data is excellent, and he’s quietly competing with some of the bigger names in his price bracket. Bournemouth’s schedule gives him a real opportunity to keep delivering, starting with Crystal Palace before Fulham, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest. That’s a decent enough run for an attacker who can create and shoot. He’s also the type of player who can outscore more popular picks when everything clicks. If you want a low-key but dangerous midfielder for the run-in, Tavernier fits that bill nicely.

Morgan Rogers (7.5m)

Rogers may lose some minutes as Aston Villa shift focus to the Europa League, but the next two fixtures are too good to ignore. Tottenham at home and Burnley away are exactly the kind of games where he can punish anyone who sells too early. We all know the haul potential is there, and that ceiling becomes even more useful when the season is nearly done. You don’t need him forever – just long enough to do damage. Buy now, enjoy the upside, and move him on in gameweek 37 before the tougher fixtures.

Footballer Morgan Rogers playing for Aston Villa Football Club in a maroon and blue shirt with white shorts bearing his number 27 number in black lettering. Rogers is in front of a large crowd with his arms outstretched

James Hill (4.2m)

Hill is a brilliant budget defender to keep in mind for the final stretch. He’s averaging 12.2 DEFCON per start over his last six, which is an excellent baseline, and Bournemouth’s schedule gives him a real chance to keep ticking along. Crystal Palace are a useful opponent for centre-backs chasing DEFCON, and Hill offers a decent mix of floor and upside thanks to his DEFCON points and set-piece threat (when he’s not bagging own goals). With Fulham, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest still to come, he may not rack up loads of clean sheets, but two returns in this run would still be a good outcome. For his price, that’s useful.