FPL Gameweek 36 Guide: Best Captains, Transfers, and Scout Picks

Fantasy Premier League managers face a critical juncture as Gameweek 36 arrives, marked by the final Double Gameweek of the 2025-26 season. This window represents one of the most significant opportunities for managers to make substantial climbs in the global rankings, provided they correctly identify the players playing twice.

The strategic focus for May 9, 2026, centers on maximizing the potential of these double fixtures. According to reporting from Fantasy Football Scout, Bukayo Saka is a primary target for the week, appearing as a standout option among five key doublers identified by their analysts.

The Double Gameweek Strategy

Double Gameweeks are pivotal because they allow players to accumulate points from two separate matches within a single scoring period. For Gameweek 36, the emphasis is on securing assets from teams that have postponed fixtures earlier in the season, creating a high-ceiling opportunity for point hauls.

Fantasy Football Fix has highlighted the viability of the Free Hit chip for this period. Using the Free Hit allows managers to field a team specifically tailored for the double fixtures without permanently altering their squad, a move that is often reserved for the final stretch of the campaign to maximize short-term gains.

The decision to use the Free Hit usually depends on the current health of a manager’s squad and the number of remaining transfers. Those with a strong core of players who already have double fixtures may opt to save the chip or use a Wildcard, while those with limited double-asset coverage are more likely to trigger the Free Hit.

Player Picks and Captaincy Dilemmas

Bukayo Saka remains a focal point for many managers due to his consistency and role as a primary playmaker and penalty taker for Arsenal. His inclusion in the Scout Picks for Gameweek 36 underscores his reliability during high-stakes fixtures.

Beyond Saka, the search for the ideal captain is the most debated topic among experts. Fantasy Football Scout is currently analyzing the best captaincy options and providing alternative armband suggestions to mitigate risk. The choice often balances the high-ceiling potential of a double-fixture player against the safety of a consistent performer in a single, favorable fixture.

Expert analysis from Holly Shand via the BBC has emphasized the importance of a Q&A approach to these decisions, suggesting that individual team structures should dictate whether a manager pursues an aggressive captaincy pick or a conservative one.

Roster Management and Transfers

For managers not utilizing the Free Hit, the priority is identifying the most effective transfers to bring in the five identified doublers. The risk associated with these transfers is the potential for rotation, as managers of real-world clubs may rotate their squads to handle the congestion of postponed games.

Arsenal.com has noted the impact of specific players during this final DGW phase, highlighting the dominance of certain assets as the season reaches its conclusion. The ability to predict which players will start both games in a double fixture is often the difference between a successful Gameweek 36 and a disappointing one.

Key considerations for transfers this week include:

• Prioritizing players with high expected goal involvement (xGI) across both fixtures.
• Evaluating the defensive stability of teams playing twice to find value in double-fixture defenders.
• Monitoring official team news to avoid players who may be rested for one of their two matches.

As the season winds down, the volatility of Gameweek 36 is expected to create significant shifts in the standings. The combination of the Free Hit chip and the availability of high-value doublers like Saka makes this one of the most tactically demanding weeks of the year.