Gameweek 30 Prep: João Pedro Essential, Two Defenders You Need & a Sub-1% Arsenal Differential

Thanks for subscribing to Who Got The Points! Gameweek 29 is in the books and Gameweek 30 is locked and loaded. We've done the hard work so you don't have to - below is your complete transfer guide, differential tips, and captaincy pick for the weekend. Deadline is Saturday 14th March at 1:30pm, so let's get straight into it.

The standout FPL asset of the moment. João Pedro hauled a massive 19 points in Gameweek 29 - three goals, one assist, and maximum bonus points. That takes him to 14 goals and 9 assists this season, totalling 31 goal contributions. He has 160 total FPL points on the season and is simply on fire under Liam Rosenior.

For Gameweek 30, Chelsea host Newcastle at home. Newcastle's defence has been shaky and Chelsea are flying - his expected points for the fixture are 10. If you don't have João Pedro yet, you are actively burning points every single week.

Incredible value at £5.0m. Senesi bagged 11 points in Gameweek 29 with a clean sheet and maximum bonus. He now has 8 clean sheets this season and 4 assists - exceptional output for a budget defender. Over 138,000 managers transferred him in this week, and for good reason.

Bournemouth travel to Burnley in Gameweek 30 - a very favourable away fixture. With 6 expected points and nailed status in a well-organised Bournemouth backline, Senesi is as close to essential as a defender gets at his price point.

Want to track Senesi's price before it rises further? Keep an eye on live price movements heading into the deadline.

Tarkowski continues to deliver. 15 points in Gameweek 29 - a goal, clean sheet, and maximum bonus against Burnley. He now has 10 clean sheets this season and boasts a 4.7 points per game average. With 136 total FPL points, he's one of the premium budget defenders in the game.

The caveat: Arsenal at home in Gameweek 30 is a tough fixture. Arsenal have conceded just 16 goals all season. However, Tarkowski's underlying form is undeniable and over 63,000 managers have moved him in this week. Go in with your eyes open on the fixture.

The wheels have come off for Rogers. Just 1 point in Gameweek 29 after Villa were hammered 4-1 by Chelsea. His expected points for Gameweek 30 are a measly 1.3, his form has dropped to 1.8, and Villa face Man Utd away on Sunday. Real concerns remain about Rogers' role in this team right now. Over 227,000 transfers out this week - that tells you everything you need to know.

Only 2 points in Gameweek 29 after Liverpool lost to Wolves, and Konaté was substituted off at 78 minutes. There's fixture appeal with Spurs at home in Gameweek 30, but with Virgil van Dijk also in the Liverpool backline for that game, Konaté is the less reliable option. Over 13,000 managers moving him out this week.

Zero points in Gameweek 29 - O'Reilly didn't feature at all as Man City drew 2-2 with Nott'm Forest. Over 50,000 managers have moved him on this week. Man City travel to West Ham on Saturday evening in what looks like a competitive fixture, and his place in the team remains uncertain. If you backed him as a differential, the faith is wearing very thin.

Looking for an edge over your mini-league rivals? These are the under-the-radar picks worth considering for Gameweek 30. For more options, browse our differential players tool for the full picture.

Anderson scored and picked up maximum bonus in Gameweek 29 for 12 points. Forest face Fulham at home in Gameweek 30 - a very gettable fixture. He has 7 clean sheets this season, contributes with goals and assists (2 goals, 3 assists), and has 131 total FPL points. Over 126,000 transfers in this week means the secret is getting out fast - act before his ownership balloons further.

The standout differential of the week. Hincapie is owned by just 0.9% of managers and picked up 9 points in Gameweek 29 with a clean sheet and bonus points. Arsenal host Everton at home on Saturday evening - a highly winnable fixture for a side that has conceded just 16 goals all season. Hincapie personally has 4 clean sheets this season and his expected points for Gameweek 30 are 6.6.

Under 1% ownership makes him a massive differential if he starts. The key caveat: check team news before the deadline. If he's in the XI, he's a must-have differential.

Arsenal's defensive stats this season have been phenomenal - check the full defensive contribution data to see why their backline remains one of the best in FPL.

Diouf is a sneaky budget pick at just £4.0m. He scored 6 points in Gameweek 29 with a clean sheet and has registered 6 assists already this season - tremendous attacking output for a budget defender. West Ham host Man City on Saturday evening, which is a tough ask on paper, but Nuno Espirito Santo's side showed real defensive resilience in beating Fulham 1-0 in Gameweek 29. At £4.0m, the floor is high and he's a brilliant option if you need to free up funds elsewhere.

There is only one realistic captaincy choice for Gameweek 30 and it isn't even close.

One key tip: keep a close eye on Spurs injury news before the Liverpool game on Sunday afternoon. If Spurs are even more depleted than expected, Liverpool attackers become massive differential plays in the second half of the weekend - worth bearing in mind for vice-captain options too.

Gameweek 30 deadline is Saturday 14th March at 1:30pm. Get those transfers in before then. Remember to check the latest predicted lineups before you finalise your squad, especially for players like Hincapie where starting status is key.