Pras’ FPL Blank Gameweek 34 Tips: Expert Highlights Must-Picks & Mavericks Ahead of Popular Free Hit Week

Pras is back with expert FPL tips for Blank Gameweek 34, highlighting three must-picks and three left-field options across defence, midfield, and attack.

I’m Pras, and welcome to my weekly series for SportsCasting, where I will be providing my thoughts on my FPL tips.

For context, over the last 12 seasons of FPL, I have achieved four top 10k finishes, including two top 5k finishes. My seasonal average over the last seven seasons is around 21k. I am currently ranked 6k.

Every week, I’ll be giving you advice on the key defenders, midfielders and attackers in FPL. As a popular Free Hit week, this week I will focus on one must-have (nailed-on) pick and one maverick pick (left-field choice) per position.

Defenders

Nailed on – Rayan Ait-Nouri

He is absolutely locked in on my Free Hit team. He’s had more shots than any Wolves player over the last six Gameweeks, while no defender in FPL can better his tally of 10 attacking returns this season. Leicester have only scored in two games since GW21, so I am backing points for Ait Nouri at both ends of the pitch.

Left field choice –  Reece James

This is not a drill! Yes, James could once again be a viable FPL pick. Everton tend to sit back in away games – so with decent clean sheet odds, likely start given injury to Gusto, and recent freekick record, I think it’s a viable alternative to Cucurella or some of the other defenders being discussed. After all, Chelsea have all to play for to qualify for the Champions League places.

Midfielders

Nailed on – Mo Salah

He delivered a 21-point haul against Tottenham Hotspur in the reverse fixture, a game that saw 9 goals total. Yes, the attacking returns have dried up of late, but the fact that the game at Anfield could very likely wrap up the Premier League title, I am expecting a lot of goals again. Spurs will also have an eye on their Europa League semifinal a few days later, so I am expected minutes for a lot of the first teamers to be managed.

Left field choice – Diogo Jota

The Portuguese is somewhat of a forgotten man. He started the season so well, but injuries and his “false 9” role have somewhat dented his output. However, for all the reasons I have mentioned above with Salah, it is still a great fixture to target attackers and Jota being classified as a midfielder helps with that extra point for a clean sheet and goal.

Forwards

Nailed on – Matheus Cunha

Since coming back from a four-match suspension, he immediately got a goal off the bench, followed up by an assist and maximum bonus in Gameweek 33. Cunha averages 6.0 points per start in 2024/25. Home to a relegated Leicester side, she should get freedom to attack the spaces and take lots of shots. Him being great on bonus points certainly helps as well.

Left field choice – Danny Welbeck

He has nine Premier League goals and 13 Premier League goal involvements (9 goals, 4 assists) this season, both his t-highest ever tallies in a single campaign in the competition. He already scored in GW31 and 33, so his form is picking up and will now be on penalties too, given Joao Pedro’s suspension from the red card he picked up in GW33. Brighton face a West Ham side who are in poor form (17th), and the Seagulls will be backed to score at least a couple of goals.

For a detailed review, I co-host a podcast called FPL Twitter s.