Six teams play twice this week. Arsenal are limping into the biggest game of their season missing Saka, Odegaard, Timber, Merino, Calafiori and possibly Declan Rice. Erling Haaland just scored a hat-trick against Liverpool in the FA Cup and is about to face a half-fit Arsenal side followed by a Burnley team that hasn’t won in 22 league games. If this isn’t the week to go big on Stardraft, no week is.
Let’s get into it.
The Six Clubs Playing Twice in GW33
- Manchester City — vs Arsenal (H) Sunday, then away to Burnley midweek
- Chelsea — vs Man United (H), then away to Brighton
- Brighton — away to Tottenham, then home vs Chelsea
- Leeds United — home vs Wolves, then away to Bournemouth
- Bournemouth — away to Newcastle, then home vs Leeds
- Burnley — away to Nottingham Forest, then home vs Man City
All six blank in GW34. If you haven’t planned for that yet, the Free Hit chip is your friend next week.
Why Stardraft Sees This Week Differently to FPL
FPL managers are obsessing over goals and assists — as they always do. Fair enough, that’s 80% of how FPL is won. But on Stardraft, goals are worth 9 points for forwards (not FPL’s 4), assists are worth 6–7 points, and the system also rewards interceptions (2pts for midfielders), tackles won (1pt), key passes (1pt), shots on target (2pts) and clean sheets at a serious premium — 9pts for GKs, 7pts for defenders who play 65 minutes or more.
What that means in a double gameweek: the player who racks up stats across two games without necessarily topping the scoresheet can genuinely outscore the one-goal wonder who FPL managers are captain-locking. Ball-winning midfielders, aerial defenders, creative full-backs — they’re where Stardraft managers get their edge. Keep that in mind as you read the picks below.
The Captain Pick: Erling Haaland (Man City)
Two games. Hat-trick form. A hobbled Arsenal followed by the worst defensive team in the league. At 9pts per goal for forwards on Stardraft, a brace against Burnley alone is 18 points before you count shots on target at 2pts each. His ceiling in DGW33 is honestly frightening.
He’s your captain on FPL. He’s your captain on Stardraft. There is no debate. The only question is whether you triple-captain him now or save that chip for a potential DGW36. Given the form he’s in, we’d strongly consider pulling the trigger this week.
Vice-captain: Cole Palmer (Chelsea). Double against Man United and Brighton. Chelsea are in form, Palmer is their most dangerous player in home games, and on Stardraft his shots on target volume and key pass output earn points even in matches where the goal doesn’t come. Strong second pick on both platforms.
Picks by Position
Goalkeepers
Bart Verbruggen (Brighton) — The standout GK of the double gameweek. Brighton face Spurs and Chelsea — at least one clean sheet is very realistic. On Stardraft that’s 9pts minimum, plus 2pts per save on top. He’s the GK pick of the week, full stop.
Martin Dubravka (Man City) — Budget option. City are near-certain to keep a clean sheet against Burnley. Saves against Arsenal are less likely but if City are dominant, Dubravka barely has to work. Frees up funds for premium outfield picks.
Defenders
Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton) — Two games, solid defensive unit, and a profile that goes way beyond clean sheets on Stardraft. Brighton’s build-up play means van Hecke produces key passes (1.5pts each) and aerial wins (1.5pts each) that FPL doesn’t come close to rewarding. Best value defender of the double.
Gabriel Gudmundsson (Leeds) — Cheapest route into the Leeds double against Wolves and Bournemouth. His crossing output (1pt each) and tackling across two manageable fixtures adds up on Stardraft. Bench Boost essential at £3.8m.
James Hill (Bournemouth) — Two fixtures, starts regularly, on set pieces. Stardraft rewards every part of his defensive game — clearances, aerials, tackles. Cheap, reliable, does the ugly work that scores on our platform.
Midfielders
Cole Palmer (Chelsea) — Already covered as VC. Two games, Chelsea attack at home, shots on target volume. Get him in.
Joao Pedro (Chelsea) — 14 returns in his last 10 league games. Pedro generates shots on target in volume, which earns 2pts each on Stardraft even in games he doesn’t finish. The double amplifies everything about his game.
⭐ Stardraft Differential: Nico O’Reilly (Man City) — This is the pick FPL managers are sleeping on. O’Reilly scored both goals in City’s Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal, is now starting regularly in their advanced midfield role, and plays twice in GW33. On Stardraft, his key passes (1pt), shots on target (2pts) and interceptions (2pts) across two games make his ceiling enormous. Low ownership. High ceiling. This is exactly the type of player Stardraft was built to surface. Don’t overthink it — get him in.
Bruno Fernandes (Man United) — Single game against Chelsea but Bruno is on 16 assists for the season and chasing the all-time record. On Stardraft, his key pass output, shots on target and penalty duties give him a floor that most midfielders’ ceilings don’t reach. Worth holding even without a double.
Forwards
Erling Haaland (Man City) — Two games. Captain. Sorted.
Antoine Semenyo (Man City) — Also doubles with City. His shot volume earns Stardraft points across both fixtures — shots on target at 2pts each mean he scores even in games where he doesn’t convert. Popular Wildcard pick and rightly so.
Danny Welbeck (Brighton) — 12 league goals in his career-best season, a conversion rate of 43% — the best in the division — and two fixtures against Spurs and Chelsea. On Stardraft, his aerial wins and shots on target make him more rounded than a pure FPL pick. Serious value at his price.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds) — On penalties, two fixtures, budget-friendly. Stardraft rewards his aerial game — even without a goal his physical contribution scores points. Bench Boost staple.
Avoid This Week
Burnley attacking players. Yes, they play twice. No, it doesn’t matter. One win in 22 league games, one fixture against Man City, and an attacking output that’s been one of the worst in Premier League history this season. The double is a trap. Don’t fall for it.
Chelsea defenders. Trevoh Chalobah and Reece James are out, Chelsea haven’t kept a clean sheet consistently since January, and their defensive replacements don’t carry the Stardraft stat volume to justify the pick.
GW33 Stardraft Cheat Sheet
- ✅ Captain: Haaland (Man City) — both platforms, no debate
- ✅ Vice-captain: Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
- ✅ Stardraft differential: Nico O’Reilly (Man City) — the pick FPL is missing
- ✅ Best budget defender: Gabriel Gudmundsson (Leeds, £3.8m)
- ✅ Best GK: Verbruggen (Brighton) — clean sheet + saves machine
- ✅ Chip: Bench Boost if you wildcarded in GW32. Free Hit if not.
- ❌ Avoid: Burnley attackers. Chelsea defenders.
FPL will tell you to load up on doublers and captain Haaland. We agree — but the real Stardraft edge this week is in the players between those obvious picks. O’Reilly, van Hecke, Welbeck, Pedro — the system rewards the full picture of their performance in ways FPL simply doesn’t. That’s the whole point.
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