Scout Picks Squad – Gameweek 21

We turn our attentions to next week’s Gameweek 21 matches now and give you an early heads-up on our Scout Picks thinking ahead of Tuesday evening’s deadline. This list of 22 players will also include some names in contention for a place in our Spot the Differential article, though will, of course, be subject to change, depending on the injury situation as the week unfolds.

For now, here’s the players currently on our radar…

Goalkeepers

Jack Butland (5.2) boasts 10 save and bonus points in as many starts, ensuring he’s the prime route into a Stoke City defence that’s carded eight clean sheets ahead of Norwich City’s visit. We’re also considering Palace stopper Wayne Hennessey (4.1), who is matched up against an Aston Villa attack that’s notched just three goals in five outings.

Defenders

With two clean sheets and a pair of assists in his last six, Toby Alderweireld (6.1) has amassed eight more points (95) than any defender this term, rendering him the premier source of Spurs defensive coverage as they prepare to host a Leicester City outfit that’s drawn three successive blanks and has doubts over Jamie Vardy’s fitness.

Ashley Williams (4.8) – who’s claimed maximum bonus points in all but one of the Swans’ five clean sheets this season – represents the best selection among a backline that silenced their opposition in three of the last four Gameweeks. Bolstering the Welshman’s Fantasy appeal, Swansea welcome a Sunderland side that’s tallied four goals in as many road ties.

Scott Dann (5.8) places joint-top among defenders for goals (three) and has been the shining light in a defence that recorded clean sheets in three of their previous five match-ups.

Branislav Ivanovic (6.5) has displayed renewed attacking verve since the appointment of Gus Hiddink, as evidenced by his first goal and assist of the campaign against Sunderland. Furthermore, Chelsea have impressed on the defensive front of late – registering back-to-back clean sheets – so are well-placed to stifle a West Brom team that mustered just three goals in their last four on the road.

With three assists to his name this term, Glen Johnson (5.3) offers the greatest capacity for attacking returns across the Potters’ rearguard. Elsewhere, Chris Smalling (6.8) remains the only secure route into United’s defence ahead of their road clash against Newcastle, who have failed to score since Gameweek 17.

West Ham United have proven a tough nut to crack since early December, chalking up four shut-outs in six outings. As such, Aaron Cresswell (5.5) piques our interest prior to a road encounter against Bournemouth, who have drawn blanks in their previous trio of fixtures. The former Ipswich Town full-back has accrued one goal and three assists and enjoys a share of the Hammers’ free-kicks.

Midfielders

Notwithstanding Yaya Toure’s recent flourish (three goals in four starts), Kevin De Bruyne (10.9) is our preferred City midfielder for the visit of Everton- the Belgian has served up 16 points in each of his last two home starts in the top-flight.

Marko Arnautovic (6.7) is in the midst of a purple patch (three goals in six) and will relish the prospect of facing a Norwich City defence that’s managed just three clean sheets all season.

Bagging two goals and an assist in four outings, Oscar (8.2) has emerged as a viable, mid-priced pick-up under the stewardship of Hiddink. Although Willian comes in cheaper than his Brazilian compatriot and is a skilled free-kick artist, Oscar arguably presents more of a threat from open play and also took Chelsea’s last spot-kick when Eden Hazard was on the pitch.

Riyad Mahrez (7.2) has posted three blanks on the trot but remains in our thoughts for Leicester’s trip to Tottenham, given he’s produced five sets of double-figures on his travels so far.

Mesut Ozil (10.0) has only failed to deliver Fantasy returns on two occasions across the last 14 Gameweeks, which bodes well for his attacking prospects at Anfield. Liverpool’s spate of defensive injuries will surely bolster his points potential.

Deli Alli (5.4) fell into the fifth-midfielder bracket earlier in the campaign but has since elevated his status with three goals and two assists in six starts. Aside from Harry Kane, the former MK Dons starlet is establishing himself as the choice route into a Lilywhites offense that’s tallied eight goals in four match-ups ahead of the visit of Leicester.

West Ham racked up five goals in their previous three fixtures and Michail Antonio (5.2) played a part (two goals and assists) in four of those, cementing his right-wing berth. The budget wide man – and the Irons’ offense as a whole – will doubtless profit from Dmitri Payet’s return to action, given that the Frenchman possess the second-best key-pass frequency (one every 23.4 minutes) of any midfielder this term.

Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson earns the nod for the visit of Sunderland. Having bagged the consolation at United last weekend, the Icelandic international will be looking to justify the underlying stats – he sits top amongst midfielders for shots on target (eight) over the last five Gameweeks.

Forwards

Sergio Aguero (13.1) snapped his barren streak with an authoritative header against Watford, portending a return to form that has already prompted 37,000 Fantasy managers to snap up the explosive marksman for Man City’s home encounter against Everton. The fact that the Toffees conceded eight goals over the last four Gameweeks strengthens Aguero’s case for inclusion in our Scout Squad.

With three goals and one assist in his last two starts, Diego Costa (10.7) has thrust himself back into relevancy on the Fantasy scene. Fuelled by a renewed confidence and determination to impress the newly-installed boss, the irascible frontman could well punish a Baggies defence that notched a solitary clean sheet in their previous 10 outings.

Harry Kane (9.8) has grabbed braces in two of his past four home starts ahead of this weekend’s visit of Leicester. Everton’s trip to the Etihad promises to be a testing match-up, but Romelu Lukaku (9.3) is pitted against a Sky Blues rearguard that hasn’t secured a home clean sheet since Gameweek 4.

Watford’s top scorer Odion Ighalo (6.3) has netted in every fixture bar one since Gameweek 14 and travels to face a floundering Southampton outfit that’s mustered one win in eight match-ups.

On Standby

In addition to the standout players detailed above, there are a half-dozen recruits who are on the periphery of our thinking but could yet make the cut.

West Ham’s upturn in form brings Andy Carroll (6.4) and Dmitri Payet (7.7) into contention. The former has scored in consecutive starts and tallied three more shots on target (seven) than any forward during that time frame, while the latter averaged 6.2 points per appearance prior to picking up his ankle injury.

Yohan Cabaye (6.5) returns from suspension to face a Villains squad that’s registered just one clean sheet at home. Elsewhere in the capital, Willian (7.1) notched one goal and four assists in his previous four outings and charts top among Chelsea’s midfield contingent for shots on target (10).

A move up top for last week’s trip to United suggests Andre Ayew (11) may benefit from an advanced berth for Sunderland’s visit. Georginio Wijnaldum (6.9) is without a goal in five starts yet places top among midfielders for shots inside the box (nine) since Gameweek 17, with a move to a central support role strengthening the Dutchman’s appeal.

The Community Champion

Having scrapped the weekly vote idea from last season, we now operate a lottery system to pick our weekly candidates. The community member who beats our picks by the biggest margin over the campaign will win a £100 Amazon Voucher and a place in our Contributors and Moderators League for the following season. Red Devil leads the way after beating the Picks by 25 points in Gameweek 17.

Gameweek 21’s Community Champion as selected by our lottery, is Lateriser12. He is currently ranked 77,547th and his highest finish in his seven years as a FPL manager was in 2012/13, where he ended the season 189th in the overall rankings.

In addition to a shot at the £100 Amazon prize, FantasyBet are offering a chance for further prizes to Community Champions that are eligible to play their games. More details can be found here.