GW38 Final Whistle: Cherki Benched Again, Essential Transfers & The Captaincy Call You Can't Ignore

Welcome back to the Who Got The Points newsletter - your essential FPL briefing before the final deadline of the season. Gameweek 38 is here, and with just one fixture left to make your mark in your mini leagues, every decision counts. Below we've broken down everything you need to know: the big team news, the transfers to action, the differentials worth considering, and the captaincy call that could define your season.

Cherki benched again. The headline from the FA Cup final team news is a major red flag for FPL managers still holding him. Benched at one of the biggest occasions of the season - that tells you everything about his standing in Pep Guardiola's plans. With Gameweek 38 rapidly approaching and Sunday's 13:30 deadline looming, Cherki owners need to act fast.

Rodri is fit for Man City, which is good for their structural solidity but doesn't change the calculus for Cherki's FPL prospects.

Aston Villa thrashed Liverpool 4-2 in Gameweek 37. Rogers was the standout, bagging a goal and an assist for 12 points. However, Villa now face Man City away in GW38 - a fixture rated 5 for difficulty - which makes Villa assets a much tougher proposition this week.

Okafor (Leeds) is a doubt with a calf injury - just a 50% chance of playing. He faces West Ham, which is a reasonable fixture on paper, but the injury cloud makes him a sell candidate. Don't wait and hope.

Fixtures still to play from GW37: Arsenal host Burnley on Monday and Bournemouth face Man City on Tuesday. Keep an eye on these results as they could influence your final GW38 decisions before Sunday's deadline.

Gyökeres is the standout transfer target for the final gameweek. Fourteen goals this season, five expected points against Crystal Palace at home, and Arsenal have conceded just thirteen goals all season - a testament to the platform they provide for attacking returns. The fixture difficulty is rated just 3, making this one of the most attractive setups of the week. If you can fit him in your squad, this is as close to a must-have as it gets for GW38. View expected points projections to see how he stacks up against the field.

At just £5.3m, Dewsbury-Hall is extraordinary value. 147 total points this season, averaging 5.1 points per game, with eight goals and seven assists - that's a premium midfielder's output at a budget price. 2,129 managers are bringing him in this week, and with Everton hosting Spurs in a fixture rated 3, the conditions are right for another return. If you're looking for a cheap midfielder option to free up funds for Gyökeres or Haaland, Dewsbury-Hall is the answer.

Hinshelwood is the differential gem of the week. At just 1.5% ownership and £5.2m, he offers four goals, five assists, and six clean sheets this season. Brighton face Man Utd in GW38, and with a form rating of 5.0 and 937 managers already bringing him in, the smart money is quietly moving in his direction. Brighton have looked excellent in recent weeks, and Hinshelwood is at the heart of it. Verdict depends on your budget flexibility - but the ceiling is high. Browse more differentials to see if he fits your setup.

The FA Cup final was the final nail in the coffin. Cherki has been benched again at one of the highest-profile fixtures of the season - and that's the signal you needed. Yes, he has 13 assists this season, and yes, Man City face Villa at home in a fixture rated 3 for the hosts. But bench risk is the overriding concern. With 3,821 managers already selling him this week, you don't want to be the one left holding a benchwarmer in the final gameweek. Sell if you have a viable alternative.

Sixteen goals is an impressive season tally, but recent form tells a different story. With a form rating of just 3.2 and over 4,500 managers selling him this week, Semenyo at £8.1m looks overpriced for what he's currently delivering. The fixture against Aston Villa is manageable, but at nearly a third of your budget, that money is better deployed on a player actually firing right now. Sell and reinvest, unless you're already in deep.

We flagged Bowen as a sell last week, and nothing has changed. Despite West Ham hosting Leeds in a favourable-looking fixture (difficulty rated 2), Bowen's expected points sit at just 3.2 and his form is equally flat. West Ham have conceded 60 goals this season - the defensive chaos around the club has clearly affected the whole squad. At £7.7m, there are far better options available. Cut your losses and move on.

If you want to gain ground on your mini-league rivals in the final gameweek, differentials are your weapon of choice. Here are three worth seriously considering:

Casemiro is the standout differential of the three. Nine goals, four assists, nine clean sheets, and averaging five points per game - at £5.9m, he offers attacking and defensive return potential in a Man Utd side facing Brighton at home. 2,337 managers are already moving him in, so the window to own him as a true differential is closing. Lammens at £5.1m is a compelling cheap keeper option - 7 clean sheets and 75 saves this season with 2,118 transfers in this week suggests the wider FPL community is waking up to him.

Erling Haaland is the captaincy pick for GW38, and it isn't close. Twenty-six goals this season, 5.7 expected points in his home fixture against Aston Villa, and a track record of finding a way to score regardless of the opposition. Yes, Villa's fixture difficulty is rated 5 away at the Etihad - but that's the beauty of captaining Haaland. That difficulty rating is for Villa, not for him. He is the danger, not the victim.

⚠️ Chip reminder: If you're planning to play your Triple Captain, Free Hit, or Wildcard chip this gameweek, don't delay. Sunday's deadline is 13:30 - don't waste your free hit by sitting on a blanker. Get your chip decision made early.

Make sure you're fully prepared before Sunday's deadline. Check our predicted lineups to confirm your transfers before submitting, and see the full fixture difficulty ratings to validate every decision.