FPL Gameweek 33 Review: Gibbs-White Hat-Trick, DGW Defenders Dominate
Six teams played twice, Gibbs-White bagged 20pts with a hat-trick, and Leeds & Man City DGW defenders piled up clean sheets across a 13-fixture round.
Gameweek 33 was the season's big Double Gameweek, with Leeds, Manchester City, Brighton, Bournemouth, Burnley and Chelsea each playing twice across 13 fixtures. There were no blanks — all 20 sides featured at least once. The average score of 66 reflected a DGW lift, but the standout performance came in a single fixture: Morgan Gibbs-White's 20-point hat-trick for Forest. Our live FPL tracker showed managers who stacked Leeds and Man City defence, rather than chasing a captain on Haaland, took the biggest gains. Here are the essential insights for your FPL captain picks, chips and transfer plans with the run-in accelerating.
GW33 DGW Snapshot
Six teams had a Double Gameweek. These were the fixtures that drove points:
- Leeds (DGW): 3-0 vs Wolves (H) & 2-2 at Bournemouth — 1 clean sheet + 3 goals scored.
- Manchester City (DGW): 2-1 vs Arsenal (H) & 1-0 at Burnley — two wins, one clean sheet.
- Brighton (DGW): 2-2 at Spurs & 3-0 vs Chelsea (H) — 1 clean sheet + 5 goals scored.
- Bournemouth (DGW): 2-1 at Newcastle & 2-2 vs Leeds — 4 goals scored, no clean sheet.
- Burnley (DGW): 1-4 at Forest & 0-1 vs Man City — 5 conceded, a DGW to forget.
- Chelsea (DGW): 0-1 vs Man United (H) & 0-3 at Brighton — 0 scored, 4 conceded, red flags everywhere.
The takeaway: owning DGW assets wasn't automatically profitable. Leeds, City and Brighton paid out; Burnley and Chelsea were net drags on the gameweek.
Top Performers by Position
The top of the leaderboard was a mix of a stunning single-gameweek haul and stacked DGW defenders — exactly the shape a well-planned DGW squad should produce.
Goalkeeper: Leno (10pts) & Lammens (10pts) ⭐
Leno led the goalkeepers with 10 points for Fulham in the 0-0 draw at Brentford (clean sheet, 4 saves, 3 bonus). Lammens matched that tally with a clean sheet and 3 bonus in Man United's 1-0 win at Chelsea. Among DGW keepers, Donnarumma (MCI) and Verbruggen (BHA) each returned 8pts from their doubles — decent but not elite, which says a lot about the value of DGW keepers in practice.
Defender: Justin (19pts) & Kadıoğlu (16pts) ⭐⭐⭐
James Justin (Leeds) was the performance of the gameweek from defence: 19 points from a goal, a clean sheet in the 3-0 win over Wolves, and maximum 3 bonus across the DGW. Ferdi Kadıoğlu (Brighton, 16pts) matched that blueprint — a goal, a clean sheet in the 3-0 rout of Chelsea, and 3 bonus across 180 minutes. Abdukodir Khusanov (MCI, 15pts) delivered from City's double with a clean sheet at Burnley and 3 bonus. Further DGW returns: Truffert (BOU, 13pts, 1G), O'Reilly (MCI, 13pts, 1A + CS) and Van Hecke (BHA, 12pts, 1A + CS).
Midfielder: Gibbs-White (20pts) & Groß (16pts) ⭐⭐⭐
Morgan Gibbs-White produced the gameweek's highest score — a stunning hat-trick and 3 bonus in Forest's 4-1 home win over Burnley, all from a single fixture. Pascal Groß (Brighton, 16pts) was the pick of the DGW midfielders with 2 assists, a clean sheet and a huge 5 bonus points over 180 minutes. Noah Okafor (Leeds, 16pts) delivered a goal, assist, clean sheet and 3 bonus across the double. Rayan Cherki (MCI, 13pts) goaled and kept a clean sheet in City's double. Georginio Rutter (BHA, 12pts) chipped in with a goal and assist.
Forward: Watkins (16pts) & Haaland (13pts) ⭐
Ollie Watkins stole forward honours with a brace and assist for 16pts in Villa's chaotic 4-3 win over Sunderland — from a single fixture. Haaland (MCI, 13pts) was the most-captained player and returned 2 goals and a clean sheet across the DGW — a solid floor but one that Gibbs-White and Groß comfortably beat. Kroupi Jr (BOU, 10pts) scored and kept a clean sheet across the double. Flemming (BUR), Beto (EVE) and Osula (NEW) were the best of the rest with 9pts each.
Team Performance Analysis
Best Performing Teams
Leeds (7.47 avg) ⭐ — DGW
Leeds topped the team averages thanks to their double: a 3-0 home demolition of Wolves followed by a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth. Justin (19pts), Okafor (16pts) and Ampadu (12pts) anchored the DGW haul, with Struijk and Bijol (10pts each) also cashing in. A genuine DGW masterclass from promoted Leeds.
Manchester City (7.31 avg) — DGW
City delivered two wins: 2-1 at home to Arsenal and 1-0 at Burnley. Khusanov (15pts), O'Reilly (13pts), Cherki (13pts) and Haaland (13pts) all returned, while Matheus Nunes (11pts) chipped in from defence. A clinical DGW that punished managers who didn't have 2-3 City assets.
Brighton (6.67 avg) — DGW
A 2-2 draw at Spurs was followed by a ruthless 3-0 home win over Chelsea. Groß (16pts) was the headline act with two assists and 5 bonus. Kadıoğlu (16pts) and Van Hecke (12pts) added defensive value, with Rutter (12pts) and Hinshelwood (10pts) completing a broad attacking contribution.
Manchester United (5.21 avg) — SGW
United produced the best single-fixture team performance with a 1-0 away win at Chelsea. Shaw, Heaven and Lammens all returned 11 points with clean sheets and maximum bonus. A strong reminder that well-timed SGW investments could out-perform poorly-selected DGW options.
Teams to Avoid
Wolves (1.60 avg) ⚠️
Wolves delivered the gameweek's lowest team average after their 0-3 defeat away at Leeds. No goals, no clean sheet and minimal FPL returns. Relegation form continues to make their assets uninvestable for the run-in.
Arsenal (1.73 avg) — SGW
Arsenal's 2-1 defeat at Man City was a brutal single-gameweek return for a team many managers were stacked on. No clean sheet and minimal attacking returns meant a very lean 90 minutes for Saka, Ødegaard and the Gunners defence. A painful week for triple-up owners.
Newcastle (2.00 avg) — SGW
Newcastle's 1-2 home defeat to Bournemouth extended a concerning run. Osula's 9pts was the only bright spot; elsewhere the returns were minimal. Difficult for premium Newcastle owners to justify holds into the run-in.
Chelsea (2.65 avg) — DGW ⚠️
The warning of the week: a DGW that actively hurt managers. Chelsea lost 0-1 at home to Man United and were then hammered 0-3 at Brighton. Zero goals, four conceded, no clean sheets. Captains and triple-ups on Chelsea in DGW33 were punished badly.
DGW33 Lessons: Not All Doubles Are Equal
Six teams played twice, but the outcomes varied wildly. The data underlines three points for the remaining chips and DGWs this season:
- Fixture quality beats fixture quantity: Leeds' (H) Wolves + (A) Bournemouth produced more per-player than Chelsea's (H) Man Utd + (A) Brighton. Always grade the underlying fixtures before triggering a Bench Boost or Triple Captain.
- DGW defenders remain the sharpest tool: Justin (19pts), Kadıoğlu (16pts), Khusanov (15pts) and O'Reilly (13pts) all out-scored Haaland's DGW floor. Two clean-sheet chances at a cheap price is the highest-EV bet in a DGW.
- SGW form can still win the week: Gibbs-White's 20pts and Watkins' 16pts in single fixtures beat most DGW captains. Ignoring in-form premium attackers just because they play once can be costly.
Key FPL Statistics — DGW33 Summary
Gameweek 33 featured 13 fixtures, six DGW teams and no blanks:
- Average score: 66 pts (noticeably up on a normal 10-fixture round)
- Highest score: 177 pts
- Top player: Gibbs-White — 20 pts (hat-trick, SGW)
- Top DGW player: Justin — 19 pts (1G + 1CS + 3 bonus)
- Most captained: Haaland (13pts in DGW — 2G + CS)
- Best team avg: Leeds 7.47, Man City 7.31, Brighton 6.67 — all DGW
- Worst team avg: Wolves 1.60, Arsenal 1.73 — both single-fixture losses
Notable Results & Talking Points
Gibbs-White Hat-Trick Sinks Burnley 4-1
The performance of the gameweek. Morgan Gibbs-White hit a hat-trick with maximum 3 bonus for 20pts in Forest's 4-1 home win over Burnley. A genuine differential captain who out-scored Haaland's DGW — and a reminder that SGW premium mids are still very much alive.
Man City 2-1 Arsenal — Title Shift
City edged a tight home win over Arsenal, then followed up with a 1-0 grind at Burnley. Khusanov, O'Reilly and Cherki all returned. The combined DGW pain for Arsenal owners — a single-fixture loss and no City exposure — was severe. City's form looks set up for a strong run-in.
Aston Villa 4-3 Sunderland — DGW-Beating Thriller
A seven-goal thriller at Villa Park, won 4-3 by the hosts. Watkins' 16pts (2G, 1A, 3 bonus) was the single-gameweek highlight — again out-scoring the most-captained DGW pick. Managers with Villa attack enjoyed a huge SGW ceiling.
Brighton 3-0 Chelsea — DGW Swings Both Ways
The single most important DGW fixture for squad outcomes: Brighton overwhelmed Chelsea 3-0 at the Amex. Groß (16pts, 2A + 5 bonus), Kadıoğlu (16pts) and Van Hecke (12pts) cashed in; Chelsea owners were left with 0 goals and 3 conceded across both of their DGW outings.
Liverpool Win Merseyside Derby 2-1
Liverpool edged a tight 2-1 at Goodison to keep pressure on the top two. Beto's 9pts was the only standout for Everton; Liverpool's returns were spread thinly with a 3.13 team average — a reminder that away-derby wins aren't always FPL gold.
Tactical Takeaways for FPL Managers
1. Grade Each DGW Fixture Individually
GW33 proved that a "DGW asset" label isn't enough. Leeds, City and Brighton doubles were profitable; Burnley and Chelsea doubles were outright traps. Before DGW34/35 moves, grade each leg separately using our fixture planner.
2. DGW Defenders Remain the Sharpest Bet
Four of the top 10 scorers were DGW defenders (Justin 19, Kadıoğlu 16, Khusanov 15, O'Reilly 13). Two clean-sheet chances at sub-£5.0m prices is the highest-EV play in any DGW. Prioritise full-backs on set pieces or attacking wing-backs.
3. Don't Abandon Premium SGW Form
Gibbs-White (20pts) and Watkins (16pts) proved that a single, juicy fixture can beat a mediocre double. If a premium attacker has elite underlying numbers and a great SGW matchup, don't auto-sell for any DGW body.
4. Re-Evaluate Haaland as Captaincy Default
Haaland's 13pts across a DGW was fine, not great — comfortably beaten by single-fixture hauls from Gibbs-White, Watkins and multiple DGW defenders. With EO's still high, he remains the safe armband, but differential captains on a big SGW ceiling are live options for the run-in.
Looking Ahead: Transfer Priorities
Based on Gameweek 33 data, consider these strategic moves for your FPL squad:
Priority Targets
Gibbs-White (Forest mid, 20pts hat-trick and genuine run-in differential), Justin (Leeds DGW def, 19pts), Groß (Brighton mid, 16pts + 5 bonus), Khusanov (MCI def, 15pts) and Watkins (AVL forward back in form, 16pts). Prioritise assets with strong underlying form and favourable remaining fixtures.
Consider Offloading
Chelsea attackers after a 0-goal DGW, Wolves assets after another defeat, Newcastle premiums who continue to underdeliver, and Burnley DGW holds following 5 conceded across two fixtures. Redirect funds to Leeds, City and Brighton run-in coverage.
Differential Options
Kadıoğlu (Brighton def, 16pts), Okafor (Leeds mid, 16pts), Cherki (MCI mid, 13pts), Truffert (BOU def, 13pts) and Kroupi Jr (BOU forward, 10pts across DGW). All were sub-10% owned and delivered a strong ceiling — watch price rises before rivals catch up.
Monitor Closely
Haaland's captaincy edge vs in-form differentials, Leeds' remaining fixtures after a superb DGW, Brighton's set-piece routines producing for Groß, and Arsenal's response after the Man City defeat. Also monitor any upcoming DGW fixtures to plan Bench Boost and Triple Captain chips.
Maximize Returns with FPL Pulse
Gameweek 33 showed that a DGW is only as good as its fixtures — and that in-form SGW premiums can still out-score the most-captained name. FPL Pulse gives you the live FPL tracking, fixture grading and differential tools needed to separate genuinely profitable DGW plays from cosmetic ones.
From Gibbs-White's 20-point hat-trick to Justin's DGW masterclass and Groß's 5-bonus display, our suite of fantasy premier league tools helps you capture these performers before the ownership catches up and the prices move.
FAQs
- Which teams had a Double Gameweek in GW33?
- Six teams played twice in Gameweek 33: Leeds, Manchester City, Brighton, Bournemouth, Burnley, and Chelsea. There were no blank gameweek teams — all 20 clubs played at least once across 13 total fixtures. Leeds (7.47 avg), Man City (7.31) and Brighton (6.67) delivered the highest team averages, rewarding managers who doubled up on DGW defenders.
- Who was the top FPL scorer in Gameweek 33?
- Morgan Gibbs-White was the gameweek's top scorer with 20 points, smashing a hat-trick in Nottingham Forest's 4-1 home win over Burnley. Remarkably, he achieved this in a single fixture. James Justin (Leeds, 19pts) was the top DGW performer with a goal, a clean sheet and maximum 3 bonus across two matches.
- Did Haaland deliver for captaincy in the DGW33?
- Haaland was the most-captained player and returned a reasonable — but not elite — 13 points from Man City's double. He scored twice and picked up a clean sheet across the 2-1 win over Arsenal and 1-0 win at Burnley. Captains who backed Gibbs-White (20pts) or Groß (16pts, 2 assists and 5 bonus) out-scored the obvious pick.
- What was the average score in FPL Gameweek 33?
- The GW33 average was 66 points with a top score of 177. The lift came primarily from the six DGW teams — Leeds and Man City defenders with two clean-sheet opportunities were the biggest drivers, and Brighton's double (3-0 vs Chelsea, 2-2 at Spurs) produced multiple 12+ point hauls.