Dúbravka is the standout budget enabler for GW38. At £4.0m with 4.50 xP, he leads all value picks on this slate with a huge 1.13 xP per £m. When a goalkeeper is projecting that well at the minimum end of the pricing curve, it matters for every squad structure. He is the clearest route to freeing cash for premium attackers without taking a major projected-points hit.
Best value pick overall
Dúbravka tops the entire list, and there is a clear gap too. No other budget option reaches even 1.00 xP per £m. Burnley defenders and cheap Leeds assets rate well, but 4.50 xP at £4.0m is the kind of number that can reshape a final-day squad. If you are looking for pure efficiency, he is the headline name.
Top value picks by position
Goalkeepers
- Dúbravka, BUR, £4.0m, 4.50 xP, 1.13 xP/£m
- Darlow, LEE, £4.0m, 3.54 xP, 0.89 xP/£m
- Petrović, BOU, £4.6m, 4.06 xP, 0.88 xP/£m
Dúbravka is the clear number one, but Petrović also deserves mention. His 4.06 xP at £4.6m gives a strong blend of savings and projected output if you do not want to go all the way down to the cheapest tier.
Defenders
- Estève, BUR, £3.8m, 3.70 xP, 0.97 xP/£m
- Rodon, LEE, £3.9m, 3.55 xP, 0.91 xP/£m
- Guéhi, MCI, £5.1m, 4.45 xP, 0.87 xP/£m
Estève is arguably the most useful defender on the board for enabler builds. £3.8m for 3.70 xP is elite value. Rodon is close behind at 0.91 xP/£m, while Guéhi offers the higher raw total if your budget is slightly looser.
Midfielders
- Zubimendi, ARS, £4.9m, 3.49 xP, 0.71 xP/£m
- Ampadu, LEE, £4.9m, 3.40 xP, 0.69 xP/£m
- Scott, BOU, £4.9m, 3.33 xP, 0.68 xP/£m
Midfield is much thinner for true budget value this week. Zubimendi leads the position, but 0.71 xP/£m is well short of the best goalkeepers and defenders. That makes cheap midfielders more about squad completion than aggressive value chasing.
Forwards
- Kroupi.Jr, BOU, £4.7m, 3.75 xP, 0.80 xP/£m
- Calvert-Lewin, LEE, £5.8m, 4.52 xP, 0.78 xP/£m
- Beto, EVE, £5.1m, 3.52 xP, 0.69 xP/£m
Kroupi.Jr is the cheapest viable front-line enabler, but Calvert-Lewin is arguably the better compromise between price and ceiling. His 4.52 xP is excellent for £5.8m, and he is only narrowly behind on value efficiency.
Squad-building takeaways
The key GW38 takeaway is simple. If you need cash, find it in goal and defence first. Dúbravka at 1.13 xP/£m and Estève at 0.97 xP/£m are the best enablers on the slate, with Rodon also strong at 0.91. Cheap midfielders do not offer the same efficiency, so forcing a fifth budget mid looks suboptimal. Up front, Kroupi.Jr and Calvert-Lewin are the useful release valves if you want to move money into premium captaincy options.
For managers chasing maximum points per pound in GW38, the optimal budget spine is clear, cheap keeper, cheap defender, then selective spending in midfield and attack.