GW29 Essentials: Tolu Benched, A £4.1m Defender You Need & An Arsenal Differential Flying Under The Radar

Welcome back, FPL managers! Thanks for subscribing to Who Got The Points - your go-to source for concise, data-driven Fantasy Premier League analysis. With the Gameweek 29 deadline hitting on Tuesday the 3rd of March at 6pm, we've broken down everything you need to know to get your squad absolutely nailed. From a shocking bench decision at Molineux to a dirt-cheap defender racking up expected points, let's get into it.

Here's what happened in Gameweek 28 and what it means for your GW29 planning:

Rice is the captain pick, the reliable premium midfielder, and arguably the most important FPL asset in the game right now. If you don't have him, this is your window.

Brighton away isn't a gift fixture, but Rice's all-round contribution - goals, assists, clean sheets, bonus points - gives him one of the highest floors in the entire game. Twelve clean sheets in a season is extraordinary, and his eight assists show he's involved in everything Arsenal do going forward. His projected 5.3 expected points for GW29 reflects a reliable return even against a tricky opponent.

Verdict: GET HIM IN. One of the most reliable midfielders in FPL this season.

At just 4.1% ownership, Konaté is criminally underowned and represents outstanding value at the back. Liverpool's defensive record under Arne Slot has been exceptional, and Konaté is at the heart of it.

Liverpool hosting West Ham on Saturday is a fixture that screams clean sheet potential. Konaté is a commanding presence at centre-back and with 9 clean sheets already to his name, the returns are stacking up. At £5.5m he's genuinely budget-friendly while offering premium defensive output. The 2,425 transfers in this week show managers are starting to wake up to him - don't get left behind.

Verdict: ESSENTIAL. Get him in before his price rises.

For just £4.1m, Hill is one of the best value defenders in the entire game. His form score of 5.8 is among the best in the data, and Bournemouth have a very favourable home fixture in GW29.

Bournemouth hosting Brentford is a genuinely winnable home fixture for Andoni Iraola's side. Hill has chipped in with 3 assists from defence already this season, meaning he carries an attacking threat on top of the clean sheet potential. At £4.1m, he's the perfect budget defender to free up funds for your premium picks elsewhere. With a form score of 5.8 and nearly 4,000 transfers in this week, the FPL community is catching on fast.

Verdict: ESSENTIAL. The best budget defender available right now.

The writing is on the wall for Tolu after being benched in GW28 against Aston Villa. He registered just 1 point on the day, and with Wolves now facing Liverpool in GW29, there is no guarantee of even a starting place. He has 2 goals and 1 assist this season for 50 total points, but if he's not playing, those numbers are irrelevant. Premium budget spots should not be occupied by benched players.

Rogers has 8 goals and 5 assists for an impressive 129 total points this season, but the recent form has completely dried up. He blanked again in GW28 and without a return, holding onto him becomes increasingly hard to justify. Better options exist at similar price points, and the opportunity cost of keeping a blanking midfielder is too high.

Szoboszlai is an interesting one. He's not an urgent sell, but if you don't already own him, don't rush to buy. At £6.8m with 9.2% ownership, his form score sits at just 3.2, and his attacking output this season - 4 goals and 2 assists - hasn't fully justified his price tag. With 8,145 transfers IN this week he's getting popular, which also limits his differential value.

J.Gomes was absolutely electric in GW28 against Aston Villa. He bagged a goal, an assist, and all three bonus points for a monster 14-point haul, playing the full 90 minutes. At 0.3% ownership, if he fires again against Liverpool in GW29, the differential advantage is priceless.

This is a high-risk, high-reward pick. Liverpool away is not an easy fixture, but at 0.3% ownership, if Gomes delivers anything close to his GW28 performance, the green arrows will flood in. Worth watching closely.

Madueke is the Arsenal differential that almost nobody is talking about. Listed as a midfielder in an Arsenal side with 12 clean sheets, he carries both defensive and attacking upside. His form score of 4.8 and projected 5.8 expected points for GW29 make him a very intriguing option at just 1.2% ownership.

The upside here is enormous at 1.2% ownership. If Madueke starts and Arsenal's attacking machine fires against Brighton, the returns could be massive while the rest of your mini-league gets nothing. A genuine differential gem if you can stomach the risk.

Adli is virtually invisible in FPL at 0.7% ownership, yet he's contributed 3 goals and 2 assists this season in a Bournemouth side with a lovely GW29 home fixture against Brentford. If Iraola's men keep a clean sheet and Adli chips in going forward, at that price and ownership he's gold dust.

Our GW29 captain is Declan Rice. There's no debate here.

Brighton away isn't the softest fixture, but Rice's consistency this season has been extraordinary. Whether Arsenal keep a clean sheet, he scores, or he picks up an assist, Rice gives you multiple routes to a big return. He is the standout captain choice for GW29.

Arsenal assets are looking very attractive heading into GW29. Rice anchors everything defensively and creatively, Madueke provides differential upside, and the team's structure - with 12 clean sheets already this season - means there are multiple routes to points. Keep a close eye on the Arsenal vs Chelsea build-up and team news to confirm your Arsenal investments.

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