Welcome back to the Who Got The Points newsletter! Gameweek 30 is officially in the books, and with the Gameweek 31 deadline arriving this Friday, 20th March at 6:30pm, there's plenty to act on. Below is your full briefing - transfers in, transfers out, differentials, and captaincy - everything you need to make the right calls before the deadline.
📰 The News Bulletin
João Pedro
Gordon
Before we get into transfers, here are the key headlines shaping your Gameweek 31 decisions:
Chelsea BLANK in GW31 - no fixture this week. João Pedro, Palmer, and all Blues assets will not score a single point on Sunday. Plan accordingly.
Arsenal BLANK in GW31 - Gabriel, Saliba, and Hincapie all unavailable this week despite their strong GW30 returns. Hold them, don't panic sell.
Gordon delivered - Newcastle's Anthony Gordon backed up our buy recommendation with 11 points in GW30 (goal + clean sheet + max bonus). He now faces Sunderland at home on Sunday 22nd March.
Haaland fitness concern - reports have emerged explaining why Haaland was substituted in GW30. Monitor his fitness closely ahead of Friday's deadline before making any decisions.
Semenyo benched again - we called the sell and we stand by it. Move him on if you haven't already.
✅ Transfers IN for Gameweek 31
Three players worth bringing in before Friday's deadline, ranked by priority.
1. Anthony Gordon - Newcastle United
Price: £7.3m | Ownership: 6.1% | Transfers In This GW: ~175,000 | GW30 Points: 11
Gordon was our buy recommendation heading into GW30, and he delivered immediately - a goal, a clean sheet, and maximum bonus points for 11 total. This season he has racked up 5 goals and 4 assists, and he is absolutely central to everything Newcastle do in the final third. This week he faces Sunderland at home in the Tyne-Wear derby on Sunday 22nd March - a fixture that tends to bring out the best in him. With only 6.1% ownership, he also doubles up as a premium differential. Check our differential players tool for more low-ownership picks this week.
Verdict: Essential. If you don't have Gordon, he is the priority transfer in this week.
2. Odsonne Dango - Brentford
Price: £6.0m | Ownership: 3.8% | Transfers In This GW: ~12,000 | GW30 Points: 8
O.Dango quietly put in a solid GW30 shift with an assist and three bonus points for 8 total. But the bigger picture is even more impressive - 5 goals and 7 assists this season for just £6.0m is outstanding creativity and value. Brentford travel to Leeds on Saturday 21st March - a very favourable fixture. At 3.8% ownership, he is a genuine differential who could deliver a massive haul. Low risk, high ceiling.
Verdict: Good Buy. A brilliant low-ownership differential at an affordable price.
3. Raúl - Fulham
Price: £6.2m | Ownership: 3.3% | Transfers In This GW: ~22,000 | GW30 Points: 2
Only 2 points in GW30, but don't let that put you off - Raúl is set up perfectly for a bounce-back this week. Fulham host Burnley on Saturday 21st March, which is about as good a fixture as you can get. Burnley are rock bottom on form and Fulham under Marco Silva have been solid at home. On the season, Raúl has contributed 8 goals and 5 assists - a well-rounded attacking threat at an affordable price point. With nearly 22,000 transfers in this week, the FPL community has spotted the opportunity. See the full fixture difficulty ratings to understand just how good Fulham's schedule looks right now.
Verdict: Good. Buy him before the price rises and the ownership window closes.
❌ Transfers OUT for Gameweek 31
Three assets to consider moving on before Friday's deadline, with context on how permanently you should sell.
1. João Pedro - Chelsea
Price: £7.8m | Ownership: 50.6% | Transfers Out This GW: ~16,000 | GW30 Points: 2
Owned by over half the game and delivering zero points this Sunday - that is the brutal reality of the Chelsea blank. João Pedro played the full 90 in GW30 against Newcastle and scored just 2 points. He has been exceptional this season with 14 goals and 9 assists, and he will likely be essential again from GW32 onwards when Chelsea face Man City. But if you need the funds to bring in a GW31 starter, he is your most obvious source. Don't sell him permanently - just manage the blank if you can.
Verdict: Sell if you need the funds this week. Do not permanently ditch him - he is a top asset from GW32 onwards.
2. Gabriel - Arsenal
Price: £7.2m | Ownership: 40.6% | GW30 Points: 9 | Season Total: 173 pts
Gabriel delivered 9 points in GW30 - lovely. But Arsenal blank in GW31, meaning he will score precisely zero points this Sunday regardless of form. He has 3 goals and 4 assists this season and has accumulated 173 total points - he is unquestionably a top-tier asset. If you can field a full team of 11 starters without him, hold. If you're stuck for a starting XI this week, a temporary sell makes sense. Just don't let him go permanently.
Verdict: Hold if you can field a full team. Sell temporarily if you're struggling to get 11 starters.
3. Mitchell - Crystal Palace
Price: £5.0m | Ownership: 2.1% | Transfers Out This GW: ~7,000 | GW30 Points: 6
Six points and a clean sheet in GW30 is perfectly fine - but Crystal Palace do not have a fixture in GW31. No game means no points, simple as that. Mitchell has 11 clean sheets on the season which is impressive, but with Palace blank and 7,000 managers already moving him out, the market has spoken. Recycle those funds into an asset who is actually playing this week.
Verdict: Sell and recycle the funds into a GW31 starter.
🎯 Differential Picks for GW31 (Under 10% Ownership)
Looking to gain ground in your mini-leagues? These three low-ownership options could be the edge you need. Browse more options on our differential players tool.
Gomez - Brighton
Price: £4.9m | Ownership: 0.4%
Gomez kept a clean sheet in GW30 and has accumulated 7 clean sheets and 5 goals on the season - remarkable output for a midfielder at under £5.0m. Brighton host Liverpool on Saturday 21st March in what promises to be an open, entertaining fixture. Under Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton have shown they can keep things tight at home. At 0.4% ownership, virtually no one in your mini-league will have him. Cheap, differential, and with clean sheet upside - what more do you want?
Diouf - West Ham
Price: £4.0m | Ownership: 2.4%
Six assists this season from a £4.0m defender - that is elite creativity at the absolute floor price. Diouf is your budget enabler if you're looking to free up funds elsewhere. West Ham travel to Aston Villa on Sunday 22nd March, and under Nuno Espirito Santo, Diouf has been a constant attacking outlet from the backline. Six assists from a back four player at £4.0m is almost unheard of in FPL - the risk at this price is minimal.
Anderson - Nottingham Forest
Price: £5.5m | Ownership: 8.3% | Transfers In This GW: ~30,000
Just sneaking under our 10% differential threshold - Anderson is getting nearly 30,000 transfers in this week, so act fast. Forest travel to Spurs on Sunday, and under Sean Dyche, they have been defensively solid throughout the campaign. Anderson has 8 clean sheets, 2 goals, and 3 assists this season - a well-rounded defensive asset at a fair price. Ownership is rising fast, so if you want him at the right price, Friday's deadline is your last chance.
🏆 Captaincy Pick - Gameweek 31
Our captaincy recommendation for GW31: Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United)
Home fixture against Sunderland on Sunday 22nd March - the Tyne-Wear derby
Just scored in GW30 - in red-hot form with 5 goals and 4 assists this season
Only 6.1% ownership - massive differential captain upside
Tyne-Wear derbies tend to bring out the best in local players like Gordon
Newcastle under Eddie Howe are flying, and Gordon is central to their attack
If you prefer a safer armband option, Liverpool assets against Brighton are worth considering - but for the differential captain upside that could win your mini-league this week, Gordon is our pick. Check our expected points projections to back up your captaincy decision with data.
💡 Key Strategic Tip for GW31 and Beyond
With Arsenal, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, and potentially other clubs facing blank or disrupted weeks in the coming rounds, now is the time to think carefully about squad structure. Don't overload on any single team. The managers who spread their assets wisely across Fulham, Brighton, and Newcastle this week will maximise their GW31 ceiling while setting themselves up well for the double gameweek opportunities ahead. Think beyond this Sunday - the decisions you make this week will shape your rank for the rest of the season.
📊 GW30 Points Recap - Key Players
| Player | Team | GW30 Pts | Season Goals | Season Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barkley | Aston Villa | 12 | 2 | 1 |
| Mavropanos | West Ham | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| Saliba | Arsenal | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Gordon | Newcastle | 11 | 5 | 4 |
| Szoboszlai | Liverpool | 11 | 5 | 3 |
| B. Fernandes | Man Utd | 10 | 7 | 16 |
| Gabriel | Arsenal | 9 | 3 | 4 |
| Richarlison | Spurs | 9 | 9 | 3 |
| O.Dango | Brentford | 8 | 5 | 7 |
| Mac Allister | Liverpool | 8 | 2 | 3 |
🔗 Useful Tools & Resources
- Track live player price changes - stay ahead of rises and falls before Friday's deadline
- View predicted lineups - check who is likely to start before you transfer them in
- See who's in form - find the in-form players worth targeting this gameweek
- See our full player recommendations - our complete transfer shortlist for GW31
Want to win your FPL mini-leagues this season? Join Fantasy Football Hub today with 30% off - the ultimate tool to take your FPL game to the next level. And make sure you're subscribed at Who Got The Points for daily FPL insights, price change alerts, and gameweek previews all season long. We'll see you tomorrow!