There is a very specific kind of joy that Fantasy Premier League delivers in its closing weeks, the kind that keeps grown adults glued to their phones at midnight, refreshing live scores while their partners sleep. For me, that feeling reached its apex during the 2021/22 season, when a bold captaincy call on Richarlison, then fighting relegation with Everton, launched me to a world ranking of 461st overall and 1st place in Zimbabwe.
Richarlison was playing for a club in a relegation battle, but that is exactly what made it interesting.
He delivered in those last two game weeks and the rank gains were huge. Motivated teams, with everything to play for, they produce big numbers, as we saw in the game between Arsenal and West ham. A hard fought game between the two teams who are both fighting at both ends of the league. West Ham desperately trying to hold on to avoid relegation, Arsenal going for the title.
That lesson in motivation and fixture context is timeless, and it forms the backbone of my approach to the final game weeks of 2025/26.
With mini-league standings tightening and rank gaps narrowing, I have identified three distinct strategies: the high-risk differential, the creative engine, and the defensive anchor, each serving a specific purpose in a well-constructed end-of-season squad.
In a league full of managers chasing the same template picks, Keane is the kind of player who can separate mini-league contenders from the pack.
The 33-year-old has logged 31 appearances this season, scoring three goals, more than any other Everton defender. His underlying numbers tell an even richer story: 24 shots this campaign, 20 of which came from inside the penalty area, and an xG of 2.87.
For a centre-back, that is elite attacking production. His aerial menace at set-pieces remains one of the most underrated weapons in the game.
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What truly elevates Keane above most low-owned defenders is what the data community calls DEFCON, defensive contribution actions. He averages 9.19 per game and has claimed DEFCON bonus points in 14 of his 31 appearances, meaning he offers a route to points even without the clean sheet. With Everton still with things to play for and facing winnable fixtures, I believe this is the kind of bold, low-ownership call that shifts rank just as Richarlison did four years ago.
If Keane is the surprise package from the back, Dewsbury-Hall is the midfield weapon of choice. In 2025/26, he has registered 8 goals and 4 assists across his league appearances, averaging an impressive 7.23 FotMob rating.
In five of his last eight matches he has either scored or assisted, including a goal at Brentford, an assist against Liverpool, and a strike at West Ham. His creative output and box-to-box energy make him a genuine dual-threat asset.
Crucially, Dewsbury-Hall's ownership in FPL remains relatively modest given his numbers, precisely the kind of profile that delivers rank-moving green arrows when he hauls.
Every good FPL endgame strategy needs its bedrock, the players you trust to bank points consistently while your differentials hunt for the big scores. That role falls to Arsenal's defensive core.
The Gunners have been one of the tightest defensive units in the Premier League all season, and with Burnley among their final opponents, the case for doubling up on Arsenal defenders is straightforward. Burnley's attack will not trouble them.
Gabriel Magalhães remains the flagship choice, a consistent clean-sheet merchant and bonus-point collector who can anchor any defensive investment.
For managers looking to stretch the budget further, William Saliba offers similar set-piece involvement at a fraction of the ownership, making him the differential route into the same Arsenal backline.
Either way, loading up on Gunners defenders against bottom-half opposition is the low-variance, high-confidence move that keeps your floor high while your differentials swing for the fences.
The final whistle on the 2025/26 FPL season is approaching fast.
For managers desperate to claw back ground in their mini-leagues, the message is clear, trust the data, back the motivated players, and don't be afraid to be different.
The rank gains will follow.
