Bench Boost in GW38 is mostly about floor, not chasing miracles. You want cheap starters with a clear route to 90 minutes, reasonable clean sheet or return odds, and enough xP to justify using the chip. This week, the standout bench profiles are the players priced in the £4.0m to £5.9m range who still project in the 3.5 to 4.5 point bracket. That is exactly the type of bench you want if your starting XI is already strong.
Top Bench Boost picks by position
Goalkeepers
Martin Dúbravka is the best pure value keeper for GW38. At just £4.0m, he carries 4.50 xP, the highest among the bench-suitable goalkeepers listed, with a home fixture against WOL. If you are looking to free up cash while still getting a playable second keeper, he is the obvious starting point.
Jordan Pickford is the safer premium bench keeper option. He is more expensive at £5.6m, but 4.20 xP is still solid for a goalkeeper, and his 13.0% selection shows he is a realistic squad piece rather than a total punt. Robert Sánchez at £4.8m and 4.16 xP also works well for managers who want a cheaper route into a playable backup keeper.
Defenders
Defence is where this Bench Boost looks strongest. Marc Guéhi leads the group on 4.45 xP at £5.1m, which is excellent for a fourth or fifth defender. Senesi is right behind on 4.37 xP, and his recent form of 7.0 is the best in this section, which makes him one of the best one week bench plays if you can cover the Bournemouth slot.
James Tarkowski also stands out. At £5.8m, he is not the cheapest, but 4.25 xP and 5.2 form give him both floor and some attacking upside. O’Reilly at £5.3m with 4.17 xP is another strong option if you want a defender with enough projection to comfortably sit first on the bench, or even start.
Midfielders
Midfield is thinner for Bench Boost. Elliot Anderson is the standout because 3.73 xP at £5.7m is paired with strong recent form of 6.8. He looks like the best budget fifth midfielder for the chip. Gravenberch is close enough on 3.62 xP at £5.4m, especially if you prefer the home fixture against BRE.
Wilson at £5.8m and 3.55 xP is playable, but the profile is less convincing. Zubimendi is the cheapest of the main names at £4.9m with 3.49 xP, which keeps him relevant if your budget is stretched elsewhere.
Forwards
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the best Bench Boost forward this week. At £5.8m, he posts 4.52 xP, the top mark in this section, and even carries decent form at 5.3. If you need a cheap third forward with genuine bench utility, he is the clear leader.
Behind him, Igor Jesus at £5.9m with 3.76 xP and Kroupi.Jr at £4.7m with 3.75 xP are both viable budget enablers. Raúl is the weakest of the four on current numbers, with just 3.67 xP and 0.7 form.
Squad fit notes
- If you need maximum value, start with Dúbravka, Guéhi, Anderson, and Calvert-Lewin.
- If your bench already has one non-playing slot, prioritise defenders, because this pool has more 4.1 to 4.5 xP options there than in midfield.
- If budget is tight, Kroupi.Jr at £4.7m and Zubimendi at £4.9m are the key enablers who still project close to 3.5 xP.
- If you are choosing between similar prices, lean toward the players with both xP and form, namely Senesi, Tarkowski, Anderson, and Calvert-Lewin.
For GW38 Bench Boosts, the best builds look defence-heavy, with one playable budget keeper and at least one cheap forward who can reach 4.0 xP or better. That gives you a bench that contributes without forcing too many compromises in the starting XI.