GW38 Season Finale: Defensive Heroes, Transfer Verdicts & Your Off-Season Head Start

Thanks for subscribing to Who Got The Points! Gameweek 38 is done and dusted, the curtain has come down on the 2025/26 FPL season, and we've got everything you need to wrap up your squad, plan your off-season moves, and get ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. From defensive heroes to transfer verdicts and differential picks, let's break it all down.

Before we dive into the player analysis, here's how the final day played out:

And with the season officially over, the FIFA World Cup Fantasy game for 2026 is now live. If you want to keep your fantasy football brain ticking through the summer, get your squad in early - European qualification spots and World Cup stars are already being discussed.

These three players represent the best value from a defensive standpoint heading into your off-season planning. All are low-owned, all kept clean sheets in GW38, and all offer serious budget appeal for 2026/27.

Maguire played the full 90 minutes and kept a clean sheet against Brighton in GW38, earning 6 points. He's kept 7 clean sheets this season and chipped in with a goal and 2 assists. Man Utd conceded just 20 league goals all season - one of the tightest defences in the division - and at £4.4m with only 1.7% ownership, Maguire is an absolute budget gem hiding in plain sight. If United shore up defensively heading into pre-season, he becomes even more attractive.

Robinson played the full 90 minutes as Fulham kept a clean sheet against Newcastle in GW38, picking up 6 points including a bonus point. The standout context here is Fulham's season-long defensive record - conceding just 19 goals all campaign, which is exceptional. With only 0.9% ownership, Robinson is one of the most under-the-radar defensive assets of the season. Low ownership, clean sheet, bonus point - this ticks every box for a budget defence build.

Shaw played 81 minutes in the 3-0 win over Brighton and picked up a clean sheet, earning 6 points in GW38. His season numbers are quietly impressive - 10 clean sheets at £4.5m is genuinely elite output for a full-back at that price point. With Man Utd's backline conceding just 20 league goals all season, both Shaw and Maguire represent a double-up opportunity from one of the division's best defences. At 1.1% ownership, the differential upside is massive.

The season is done, so there's no immediate urgency - but if you're doing end-of-season housekeeping and thinking ahead, these three are worth reconsidering in your 2026/27 planning.

Let's be clear - Gabriel has had an absolutely monstrous season. 18 clean sheets, 3 goals, 5 assists, and 209 total points. He's been one of the standout FPL assets of the entire campaign. However, he only played 45 minutes at Crystal Palace in GW38, earning just 1 point. His price of £7.3m is significant, and with 45.4% ownership, he's essentially a template pick. There's no panic here - but with the season over, it's worth monitoring his pre-season situation closely before auto-selecting him into your 2026/27 squad.

Tarkowski played the full 90 minutes against Spurs in GW38, but Everton lost 1-0, earning him just 3 points. On the surface, 11 clean sheets sounds decent - but the context tells a different story. Everton conceded 48 goals this season, which is one of the leakiest records in the division. That means his clean sheet haul came despite a fundamentally unstable defence. At £5.8m, there are sharper and more reliable defensive assets available at similar or lower prices. His price has nudged up slightly, but value is genuinely questionable.

Mac Allister played 90 minutes as Liverpool drew 1-1 with Brentford in GW38, picking up just 1 point. His form rating sits at just 2.0, and his price has dropped four places this season. He's contributed 2 goals and 5 assists all campaign - underwhelming numbers for a £6.1m midfielder. Seven clean sheets as a midfielder provides some floor, but it's not enough to justify his price tag when attacking returns have clearly dried up. Time to reinvest those funds in players with more attacking upside.

Looking to get ahead of the pack for 2026/27? These two low-owned defensive assets have been among the most productive budget options of the season and deserve serious consideration in your early planning.

This is the differential pick of the season. Mukiele has been an elite FPL asset flying completely under the radar. 151 total points, averaging 4.7 points per game, 3 goals, 5 assists, and 9 clean sheets - all from a defender priced at just £4.6m. That is exceptional production by any metric. His expected points for next season sit at 4.8, and with Sunderland having had a brilliant campaign, the platform for continued returns looks solid. If you're building for 2026/27, Mukiele is a must-watch name.

Truffert picked up 6 points in GW38 against Nottingham Forest, including an assist and a bonus point. His season numbers are remarkable for the price: 11 clean sheets, 6 assists, and 1 goal - all for under £5m. His current form rating is 6.5 and expected points sit at 6.7, making him one of the most attractive budget defensive options heading into the new season. Bournemouth have been defensively solid throughout, and Truffert consistently gets forward to contribute in the final third. At 5.3% ownership, the differential value is significant.

Here's a quick look at some of the top-scoring players from the final gameweek of the season:

With the season wrapped up, here are the key takeaways to carry into your 2026/27 pre-season planning:

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That's a wrap on Gameweek 38 and the entire 2025/26 FPL season. It's been an absolute ride - thank you for being part of the Who Got The Points? community. We'll be back with early 2026/27 analysis, pre-season tips, and everything you need to dominate your mini leagues next campaign. See you next season! 🎉