Scout Picks

Scout Picks – Gameweek 16

With the deadline for Gameweek 16’s midweek set of fixtures just a few hours away, we take some time this afternoon to reveal the players who have won selection in our Scout Picks.

The continued quest for value between the sticks has brought us to Darren Randolph (4.4) for the first time.

The 0.6% owned Irishman has delivered save points in three of four appearances since wrestling the number one jersey from Adrian, but it is West Ham’s clean sheet potential that persuades us to take a punt this week.

Randolph hosts a Burnley side that has managed to score just once away from Turf Moor and has mustered fewer goal attempts than any other team on their travels.

We’ve also opted for value in selecting West Brom’s Jonny Evans (4.5), when Swansea City drop by the Hawthorns.

The 7.4% owned Baggies defender has a goal and clean sheet across his last two fixtures, while Swansea’s attack has stuttered away from the Liberty Stadium, scoring just six goals in seven road trips. Evans gets the nod over team-mates Gareth McAuley (£4.9m) and Chris Brunt (£4.9m) in order to keep us within the 84 million budget.

The money saved by opting for this bargain basement duo has enabled us to splash our cash on two heavyweight defenders, offering the prospect of returns at both ends of the pitch.

Despite missing six matches through injury, Tottenham Hotspur’s Toby Alderweireld (6.3) has registered 10 goal attempts and hosts a Hull City outfit that has conceded 32 times, more than any other Premier League side.

Clean sheets prospects are also high for the 10% owned Belgian, with Mike Phelan’s troops only mustering five goals across their seven away outings.

There’s no shifting Marcos Alonso (6.3) from our weekly Picks on current form, particularly while Chelsea’s schedule continues to shine.

The 7.8% owned Spaniard has only failed to deliver a clean sheet or attacking returns in a single match since making the left-wing back role his own in Gameweek 7. He travels to a Sunderland side that has conceded 14 goals at the Stadium of Light.

In midfield, a couple of value players are drafted in to ensure we can maximise the number of premium attacking picks in our budget.

Wilfried Zaha (5.6)’s form alone warrants selection.

The Crystal Palace winger has delivered attacking points in six of the last seven Gameweeks, including a sensational 16-point return via a goal and two assists away to Hull City last weekend.

Zaha has been drafted in by more than 91,000 FPL managers since that Tigers encounter.

While Manchester United’s visit to Selhurst Park may not appear profitable on paper, we feel that a blooming Zaha will be keen to punish his former club who will also be forced to shuffle their defence in the absence of the suspended Antonio Valencia.

West Brom’s Matt Phillips (5.4) has also made a mockery of his lowly price tag.

In the last five Gameweeks, the 7.4% owned Scotsman has scored three goals and recorded the same number of assists.

Gameweek 16 visitors Swansea offer him an extremely enticing fixture, with Bob Bradley’s troops conceding 15 goals on their travels, securing just a single shut-out.

With this pair in place, we can afford away specialist Alexis Sanchez (11.7) for Arsenal’s visit to Everton.

No other midfielder has scored more goals, had more shots on target or created more chances on their travels than the 35% owned Chilean. A 23-point FPL return in the Gunners’ last away tie, against West Ham, offered a timely reminder of his explosive potential on the road.

We have tripled up on Spurs assets and handed a place to Christian Eriksen (8.4) ahead of Hull’s visit.

The 8.8% owned Dane provided three goals and an assist in two appearances prior to last Sunday’s defeat to Manchester United. Central to Spurs’ dead-ball scenarios, he looks likely to be a pivotal figure in Wednesday’s contest.

West Ham United’s 9.6% own set-piece specialist, Dimitri Payet (9.1), has been quietly racking up attacking returns across a testing run of fixtures.

He has scored or assisted in all of his last three league outings, against Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.

The schedule is about to smile on West Ham and Payet, with Wednesday’s London Stadium meeting against Burnley certainly tempting investment. The Clarets have conceded 15 goals and kept just one clean sheet on their travels.

Our trio of Spurs options is completed by Harry Kane (11.3), who tops our Gameweek 16 Captain Poll for good reason.

Not only does the 19.4% owned striker face that obliging Hull City backline, he also boasts exceptional recent home form, scoring a brace in his last two White Hart Lane run outs.

Thanks to those savings in midfield and defence, we have money left over to offer our final Scout Picks place to Diego Costa (10.9), who is FPL’s most popular player and leads the Golden Boot race with 12 goals.

That aforementioned fragile Sunderland defence looks to be no match for a player that has only failed to bring in attacking returns in two of his 15 Gameweek starts thus far.

At a cost of 4.5, Stoke’s Erik Pieters is another strong value pick this Gameweek.

The 4.9% owned full-back has earned a place on our bench after helping the Potters earn two clean sheets in the last three Gameweeks.

He hosts a Southampton side at the bet365 Stadium that has only managed to score six goals on their travels all season and who are without injured striker Charlie Austin.

Yaya Toure (7.5) marked his return to the Manchester City first team in style in Gameweek 12 with a brace against Crystal Palace.

Limited to a substitute appearance in his side’s 4-2 away defeat to Leicester City at the weekend, he looks set to start at home to Watford tomorrow night. With Sergio Aguero absent through suspension, the 1.4% owned Ivorian may also be on spot-kick duties.

Swansea City’s porous backline has prompted us to offer a bench place to our third West Brom pick, Salomon Rondon (6.5).

With 10 goal attempts and just one successful strike over the last four matches, my goals imminent table suggests the striker is due to reward his 5.2% FPL ownership.

The Community Champion

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. The current champion to beat is Boris Bodega, who achieved a 33 point margin of victory over us in Gameweek 15.

This week’s champion is Bash Villa, who has an overall rank of 4,258 and is now in his sixth season. He has selected a 3-4-3 line up of: Grant; McAuley, Brunt, Ogbonna: Payet, Alli, Eriksen, De Bruyne; Costa, Kane, Rondon.

J0E Podcaster and writer. Tweets stats and stuff via @FFScout_Joe Follow them on Twitter

1,680 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Some news on Miki ? Would rly bring him for GW18

    1. Swan - Villa Proud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Mou said he hopes he can play by Xmas. Too risky right now imo

      1. Atimis
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Damn it. Eriksen switch would be perfect

  2. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    last thing before I lock my team in;

    play either

    a. Holebas V MCi

    b. Jones V C/Palace

    thoughts pls?

    1. Swan - Villa Proud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      A just. Better chance for attacking returns.

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      B) This is the exact transfer I am thinking of making

      1. bojack
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Wouldn't lose Holebas.

        1. the dom 1
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          not losing just benching for this GW

    3. LC1
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      B!

  3. Connor's Calling
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    A) Gundogan - > Antonio
    B) Gundogan -> Son
    C) Gundogan -> Walcott (have Sanchez)
    D) Stones & Gundogan -> Alonso & Zaha or Philipps (-4)

    1. Kryten
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      A

    2. Speédy
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      son short term,walcott long term

    3. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      D for a punt...or C Wally

  4. Speédy
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    bottomed last page
    grant (pick)
    alonso cedric ake (lovren friend)
    hazard eriksen walcott siggy antonio
    kane (c) ibra (vc) (defoe)
    0.0 itb
    gtg???or anything worth a -4???

    1. r0scr0w
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Perfect on screen.

  5. Stevie B
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    What is the best?

    A) Firmino -> Hazard
    B) Firmino -> Eriksen
    C) Britos -> Azpilicueta
    D) Allen -> Zaha

    I have money in the bank because of the Kun -> Costa transfer.

    Thank you!

    1. Speédy
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      c

  6. JustPark
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Start Foster or Heaton?

    1. Swan - Villa Proud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Foster, easy

    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Serious? Foster

      1. JustPark
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        They're up against Swansea. Personally both in great form and scoring opportunity would be loads imo.

  7. Aman.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    It's a bit difficult to decide between
    1) mata
    2) eriksen.
    Any helps?

    1. bojack
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I don't think it's difficult at all. 2.

    2. El_Matador
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Mata a rotation risk?

    3. teki0s
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      2

    4. LC1
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Eriksen.

      (I'm a united fan).

      1. Aman.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Said enough, Eriksen it is... xP

  8. JaydenLFC87
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Firmino > Eriksen -4 Yay or Nay???

    1. bojack
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Not for a hit, no.

    2. Kryten
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Naiiii

    3. Swan - Villa Proud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Probably not for a hit, unless you also have Mane. I did it for free.

    4. Top 210 Club
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I did it, will pay off in long term.

      1. teki0s
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        No. Firm > Eriksen long term

  9. #FPLBhuna
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Playing 4-3-3

    Grant
    Cedric - Kolarov - Brunt - Walker
    Siggy - Sanchez - Payet
    Costa - Origi - Kane (c)

    Bench: Valdes, Redmond, Taylor (Swans), Obiang

    I hear it is likely Walker will be rotated in which case this question would seem pointless, but should that not be the case who would you suggest starting with? Redmond/ Cedric?

  10. MGD
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Will Karius start?

    Worth a hit to get rid? 0.6 ITB

    1. Swan - Villa Proud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Not for a hit

    2. teki0s
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Dunno.
      No

      1. MGD
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers. Hope he don't start since i have Jaku on bench ^_^

        1. MGD
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Hope he DOES start*

  11. greghammer95
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Harry Demkanele

  12. Dynamic
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Foster Pickford
    Alonso Chambers Ake Ward Amat
    Hazard Sanchez Firmino Siggy Capoue
    Costa Kane Anichebe
    1FT, 0.0m ITB.

    Would you do Firmino -> Eriksen for free?

  13. greghammer95
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Firmino to Antonio for -4, yay or nay?

    1. teki0s
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      No

    2. Live Lad
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      No sir

  14. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Play:

    A) Amat (wba)
    B) Holebas (mci)
    C) Capoue (mci)

    1. Phil Dagger ⭐
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      B

  15. SPECIALMOU
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Already on -4

    Thinking on Kos out and Alonso, long term but Arsenal fixtures will be great after the next 2. On the other hand i'm worried about no Chelsea defence coverage...

    What's your thought?

    1. shirtless
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I'm doing the same transfer for the weekend. Pairing up Toby with Alonso!

  16. cruzex
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Predictions for my gw:

    Karius
    Evans Morgan Williams
    Walcott Sanchez De bruyne (c) Hazard
    Origi Kane Ihenacho

    Ty

  17. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    This to go, ty
    A) Pickford or Heaton?
    B) Pick 3 for this GW between: Amat, Walker, Holebas, Coleman and Evans? Cheers

    1. teki0s
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Heaton
      Walker Evans Holebas

      1. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        This

  18. Winks Club
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Pieters or Lovren to start this GW?

    Is there a chance that Lovren will only play a part of the game?

  19. FPL Panda
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Play one of

    A Nyom SWA

    B Pieters SOU

    Already playing brunt. Double up on the wba ? Have siggy too

    1. Phil Dagger ⭐
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Pieters

  20. Phil Dagger ⭐
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    views on this?

    Grant (Heaton)

    Alonso. Walker Cedric. (Evans Amat)

    Sanchez. Hazard. Eriksen. Siggy. (De Roon)

    Kane (c). Costa. Llorente
    0.6 itb

    1. Ravager
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Nice team. GTG

    2. George James
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      very nice phil

  21. George James
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Just done Firminio to Payet to leave me with this... GTG?

    Cech
    Lovren Francis Vertonghen
    Sanchez Allen Payet(vc) Hazard
    Kane (c) Nacho Costa

    Pickford Amat Williams Capoue

    Do I have cap and starting line up right?

    1. Phil Dagger ⭐
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      gtg 🙂 payet 😀

  22. Defoenitely
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    GTG?

    Grant
    Daniels / Alonso / McAuley
    Sanchez / Hazard / Zaha / Mane / Sigurdsson
    Costa / Origi

  23. Feanor
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Embarrassing to admit, but I did not realize till I saw this article that we had midweek fixtures.

    1. Captain Vantastic™
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Casual!!!!!!

    2. Phil Dagger ⭐
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      relax 🙂 you know now

    3. fiveyears
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Better before the deadline than after!

  24. Aman.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Can I trust on Jones' face to give me 4 more points than Smith? :p

  25. Top 210 Club
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    G2G folks?

    Foster
    Toby Alonso Amat
    Sanchez Siggy Antonio Eriksen
    Costa Kane(c) Origi


    Pickford Moses Holebas Dawson

    1. George James
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      AOA

  26. umerlfc
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    The Dembele theory...

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Watching it at the cinemas tomorrow night. Can´ wait.

      1. Royal5
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        *can´t

  27. dodgystats
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Any thoughts?

    0.9 ITB
    4pt hit to take in Eirksen for Firmino?

    Randolph(Grant)
    Walker,Alonso,McAuley(Amat, Pieters)
    Eriksen,Walcott,Sanchez,Zaha(Allen)
    Costa, Kane(C), Iheanacho

    1. Funkyav
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I wouldnt take a hit to get rid of Firmino, he has a good fixture. You have dbl spurs already

  28. Going Home
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Allen (SOU)
    Defoe (CHE)
    Siggy (wba)

    Who to bench?? Leaning towards Defoe, but as he's involved in everything Sunderland do, I can't quite bring myself to do it!

    1. Phil Dagger ⭐
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Allen then

  29. fiveyears
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Currently laying Pickford over Heaton due to save point potential and Holebas over Amat for attacking point potential.

    Good decision or should I reconsider?

    1. fiveyears
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Ha, laying! Of course meant playing

    2. Licious Lizard
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Neither keeper will keep a cleanie and tough to say who gets smashed and who makes a few saves. Personally playing Heaton

      Holebas over Amat, yes .

      1. fiveyears
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers, yeah its tough. Just gotta hope Sunderland less likely to crumble and Chelsea happy to set up for 1-0 or whatever.

  30. Greenbackbøøg…
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Imagine the smug Dembele theory folks on here if Kane blanks

    1. Speédy
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      i dont see him blanking