Scout Picks

Scout Picks Gameweek 1

After rolling out our Scout Picks Squad on Tuesday evening, it’s now time to reveal our selections for Gameweek 1 of the 2016/17 season.

We call upon a trio of Leicester players for their trip to injury-hit Hull, whilst Southampton are also prominent in our plans as Watford roll up to St Mary’s.

As with last season, a Community Champion will be taking us on each week. The budget is currently capped at 83m, although this may be increased as the campaign progresses.

At 4.5, Burnley’s Tom Heaton is our pick of this Gameweek’s goalkeepers. With the third highest number of saves in 2014/15 – the last time Burnley were in the Premier League – we feel he has plenty of points potential this week when Swansea visit. A clean sheet also looks likely as Swansea look to adapt to life without their top scorer last term, Andre Ayew, who has moved to West Ham. Just 4.2% of FPL managers have drafted the Claretsstopper in so far.

Managerless Hull are decimated by injuries, leaving little hope of attacking returns when Leicester visit. Last season’s fifth highest point scoring defender in FPL last term, Christian Fuchs (5.5), is our pick of the Foxes’ backline thanks to his knack of picking up FPL bonus points. Last season no other defender earned more than the 12.5% owned Austrian’s tally of 25.

Promoted Middlesbrough’s team sheet is awash with strong budget options this season, with left-back and 5.4%-owned George Friend no exception. Priced at 4.5, he has a strong chance of a shut out when Stoke visit and his 2.5 interceptions per match with 2.3 tackles won last season bode well for bonus potential.

With three goals and 29 goal attempts in 2015/16, we are hoping for returns at both ends of the pitch for Southampton centre back Virgil van Djik (5.5) when Watford visit. So far 13.4% of FPL managers are also backing his broad potential for points.

Riyad Mahrez (9.5) was poised to miss out in this week’s picks after a summer where his future at Leicester had been dogged by transfer gossip. With promising signs that he is staying put for the time being, a visit to Hull looks ideal for him to continue where he left off last season. The 26.5% of FPL managers that have already drafted him in certainly don’t need reminding of a stellar 2015/16 campaign, where he finished as FPL’s top scorer with 240 points. Encouragingly, 12 of Mahrez’ 17 goals arrived away from home last term.

Our second heavy hitter in midfield is Chelsea’s Eden Hazard (10m), who we are backing to recover from a largely disastrous 2015/16 season. Three goals in pre-season and the faith of new manager Antonio Conte give us cause for optimism ahead of West Ham’s visit to Stamford Bridge. Despite a relatively small tally of just five strikes last term, he has still earned the backing of 17% of FPL managers and could give Hammers’ right-back Michail Antonio a torrid time down the flank on Monday night.

Under new manager Claude Puel, Southampton have revamped their formation to create a midfield diamond with Dusan Tadic sparkling as the most advanced player behind a front two. The 7.5 midfielder, who is owned by only 5.4% of FPL managers, is also on penalties, which further enhances his appeal when Watford come calling.

Andros Townsend (5.9% FPL ownership) excelled for Newcastle at the tail end of last season and we anticipate he will do the same again in a wide role at Alan Pardew’s Crystal Palace. Priced at 6.5 he faces a West Brom side that has struggled in pre-season, where the Baggies kept just one clean sheet in six friendlies.

Sunderland have been historically woeful away to Manchester City, shipping 12 goals n their last four Premier League visits. This presents a golden opportunity for Sergio Aguero (13.0) to add to his 102 league goals since joining City in 2011. Given his pedigree, it is no surprise the Argentine leads our Captain Poll for Gameweek 1 and is currently the most popular player in FPL, with a 41% ownership. There is a word of caution, though. While City have regularly put the Black Cats to the sword at home, Sunderland’s new manager David Moyes has a far better record. In his last four seasons with Everton he was only beaten once away to City in the league.

Our lack of faith in Hull’s decimated squad persuades us to triple up on the champions. With 24 goals Jamie Vardy (10.0) narrowly missed out on the Golden Boot last term and looks set to kick start another challenge for the accolade at the KC tomorrow. A goal against Manchester United in the Community Shield will have further fuelled his confidence and optimism amongst his 23.7% FPL managers. Vardy makes our XI at the expense of Zlatan Ibrahimovic (11.5), due to the Manchester United striker’s lack of Premier League pedigree and slightly less favourable fixture, away to Bournemouth.

Andre Gray (6.5) is our pick of the more reasonably-priced strikers for Gameweek 1. The Burnley forward looks primed to take advantage of Ashley Williams’ departure to Everton this week, as Swansea make their way to Turf Moor. With nine goals in pre-season Gray certainly has strong form on his side to punish the Swans.

Just missing out on a place in our XI is Crystal Palace’s surprise joint top goal scorer last term, Scott Dann (5.5). With the notoriously defensive West Brom visiting, we have strong hopes of a clean sheet as well as the possibility of attacking returns for the centre back.

Roberto Firmino (8.5), who could be fielded as a false nine away to Arsenal, also has to settle for bench-warming duties in the Picks. With two goals during Liverpool’s pre-season, we are anticipating returns as he takes on a Gunners backline decimated by injury and international fixture fatigue.

Southampton’s kind home tie with Watford ensures Shane Long remains in our thinking. The Irishman, who scored in the Saints final pre-season clash against Athletic Bilbao, is expected to lead the line along with Nathan Redmond. With 10 goals last term, Long offers a strong alternative to Gray for those looking for a reliable 6.5-priced striker.

The Community Champion

The community member who beats our picks by the biggest margin over the campaign will win a £100 Amazon Voucher (we can currently only offer Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk vouchers) and a place in our Contributors and Moderators League for the following season.

This week’s champion is Frankie the Gent, who already has 10 FPL campaigns under his belt.

Community XI: Hart, Shaw, Valencia, Dann, Sanchez, Nolito, Oscar, Redmond, Vardy, Kane, Long.

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

5,416 Comments Post a Comment
  1. pjomara
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Could Charlie Austin start this weekend? Euro players might be rested. 18 goals in his last full PL season.

    1. JÆKS ⭐
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Redmond + Long expected

    2. Sharpe Shuffle
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      don't think so

  2. Sillet Bang
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone else going Kane Vardy and Kun?

    1. Disco Pat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      I was until I saw Kane struggles in dembele absence

  3. Ohhhhh Gary Macca!
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    After finishing 16th OR last season, my advice is not to follow the crowd 🙂

    1. Zebrahimović
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Who is in your team then?

      1. Ohhhhh Gary Macca!
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        I posted it a few pages back

  4. Jose's Magic Omelette
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Is Shaw nailed or should I look elsewhere?

    1. Tansey
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Nailed

  5. JÆKS ⭐
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Hoping Costa has a good game but doesn't do much in terms of end product so I can safely bring him in at 9.5 next week!

  6. Oh Mane Mane
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Guys, your thoughts on my team?

    Forster (Jakupovic)
    Evans Stones Terry (Amat) (Paredes)
    Redmond Alli Firmino Mahrez (Hojberg)
    Negredo Aguero Ibrahimovic

    Thanks

    1. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      I think you have a risky back line. Parades wont play and some of the others aren't nailed.

    2. Zebrahimović
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Needs rooney

  7. Zebrahimović
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Lads this is your league.

    2724685-626231

    The Gabby Logan League was formed tonight after members of The Jeff Stelling league and members of the Ed Chamberlain Conference got together to form this breakaway league.

    Join it if your up for some maverick FPL action.

  8. Saul Gillman
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Hazard and Gray or Firmin and Rooney??

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Haz + Gray

      1. Saul Gillman
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers bud

    2. Tansey
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Firmino and Gray

    3. Kenny Dogleash
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      A

    4. Lyonnais
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      The former.

  9. Sting
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    I have a team but no United attackers. Grateful for some help:

    Heaton Foster

    Shaw Stones Amat Souare Wollscheid

    Hazard Alli Firmino Redmond Anya

    Aguero Vardy Carroll

    0.5 ITB

    1. Zebrahimović
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Just get Ibra mate. Give in!

    2. Morbius
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      I like it. United could falter for the next few weeks, or months; Jose said it's a long process removing old philosophies.

      Either that, or Hazard to Martial.

  10. Coffee-Geek
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone know why we are choosing Friend over Nsue?

    1. t4thomas
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Nope. We just are.

      1. Coffee-Geek
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        Ok, good to know.

    2. NissA
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      I'm not.

    3. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      He's a friend, gotta look after our mate.

  11. JUST W
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    I'm going with Bojan - someone tell me why I shouldn't?

    1. Slartibartfast
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Decent punt, why not?

      1. JUST W
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        Like it - thanks!

    2. George James
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Not nailed

    3. Sharpe Shuffle
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Do it. I am

  12. Stupendous
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Yet again..

    Heaton
    Walker. Stones. Morgan
    Redmond. Oscar. Firmino. Sanchez
    Negredo. Vardy. Aguero

    Jakupovic. Capoue. Kone. McAuley

    1. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Gray for Negredo - Negredo has more competition for his place

      1. Stupendous
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        Decent besides that?

        1. Jimmers
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 2 months ago

          Solid alright

  13. t4thomas
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    BENCH FODDER VOTE:

    A) Smith BOU 4M

    OR

    B) Amat SWA 4M

    1. liiusions
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Amat is more likely to start imo

      1. t4thomas
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers.

    2. dcarlito
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Amat per above.

    3. Chenku╰☆╮
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      kingsley.

    4. ArseneAllTheWay
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Always put your faith in a mat

    5. Alex83
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      I'm floating with two possibly structures. Have a balanced team or go cheaper on the defence and bulk up the midfield. Here are my current potential teams:

      Foster Jakupovic
      Stones Shaw Friend Evans Amat
      Hazard Mahrez Redmond Lamela Capoue
      Aguero Ibrahimovic Gray

      Foster Jakupovic
      Friend Evans Pieters Kone Amat
      Hazard Mahrez Redmond Firmino Capoue
      Aguero Ibrahimovic Gray

      I'm torn if losing the two more expensive defensive options is worth upgrading Lamela to Firmino. Thoughts?

  14. Jose's Magic Omelette
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Rhodes or Negredo?

    1. boombaba
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Negredo more likely to play

      Both risky

  15. For Fuchs Sake
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Not convinced by Gray, how about:

    Negredo
    Long
    Carroll

    Have Tadic

    1. liiusions
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Negredo because fixtures

      1. Jimmers
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        But not guaranteed game time

    2. Morbius
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Negredo / Rhodes are a decent punt.
      Carroll if he nails the place and stays fit might be the better choice - better than Gray too

  16. liiusions
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Foster - Jaku
    Stones - Shaw - Friend - (Evans) - (Amat)
    Hazard - Eriksen - Deulofeu - Tadic - (Capoue)
    Aguero(C) - Ibra - Gray

    Pretty sure I'm G2G, thoughts?

    1. Zebrahimović
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Deulofeu? Not nailed imo. I quite like the rest. Would go Heaton instead of Foster as you already have a West Brom def.

      1. liiusions
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        I think he's almost certainly nailed, and may play up front so is worth the punt. I only have Evans in as my defence rotates well for most weeks but week 3 or 4 the only decent 4.5 defender with a good fixture had to be a WBA one

  17. IdrissaGueye
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    A)Martial/Vardy
    B)Mahrez/Rooney as a punt
    Frees up £1mil for defense

    Or Mahrez/Ibra and downgrade alli---->lamela?

  18. devilsutd96
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Hi can you RMT up at 6am need to get some sleep. All the best for the season ahead
    foster, Jaku
    Dann,vanDijk,Valencia,friend,daniels
    Hazard,Townsend,mahrez,routledge,fletcher
    Vardy,gray,Aguero

    1. Zebrahimović
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      6/10

  19. lickwidice
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    1) Shaw vs Valencia?

    2) Amat vs Parades?

    3) Any other 4.0 defs to consider?

    1. Chenku╰☆╮
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      S A kingsley.

      1. Chenku╰☆╮
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        kingsley is good pick for gw1.

  20. Ange Ball
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Vardy (C) goinh against the crowds

    Let's hope hull get smashed 4-0

  21. ArseneAllTheWay
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Do we think Feghouli will start?

  22. Sharpe Shuffle
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    This will be the season Andy Carroll cements a place in the England team. Him and Vardy up top is perfect for playing the Big Sam way

  23. Rodgers's CHARACTER
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Lamela or Ayew?

    1. t4thomas
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      More fool Ayew

  24. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    why do people pick kone when his future is uncertain? will he stay at sunderland or move to Everton and if he does is he nailed there?

    1. S.Kuqi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      well I didn't know his situation before I logged here few hours ago 🙂

    2. Hurricane Gilbert
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Why wouldn't he be nailed at both clubs?

  25. JD @JDCochran2
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Ramsey or Tadic - price right now doesn't matter. Ramsey was fantastic at Euro's...Tadic is Tadic

  26. S.Kuqi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Better strategy?

    A) Start with Vardy and have 1.5 itb in case Kane / Zlatan hit the gournd running. No hits needed

    B) Start with Vardy, spend that 1.5 and take a hit if Z / Kane starts well

    1. Ohhhhh Gary Macca!
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Depends on how the rest of your team is looking. But id be inclined to go with B

    2. Lyonnais
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      I have the same dilemma...

    3. Ohhhhh Gary Macca!
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      A sorry

      1. JUST W
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        I'm going A

  27. BRONALDINHO
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    One last time - would you rather play Tadic for the first few weeks, or a rotation of Redmond and Feghouli for the better fixtures?

    1. Tansey
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Tadic

    2. t4thomas
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Or Redmond on his own?

      1. Jimmers
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        ^this

      2. BRONALDINHO
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        if he starts with a bang, would also mean having Morgan instead of a freaky rotation between Mee-Amat-Evans

  28. Tansey
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    A) Townsend or Deulofeu
    B) Carroll or Negredo

    1. t4thomas
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Townsend for security of minutes.

      Carrol because of Payet, Ayew etc.

  29. Swanmoretime
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    A or B

    A) Fuchs/VVD/Townsend/Tadic

    B)Valencia/Stones/Firmino/Redmond

    Thanks

  30. @Bryan
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    I really like some of the 7.5ish players like Siggy, Ayew, Tadic, Lamela. All have goals in them and the potential, imo, to be perform like 9m+ players! Hard to pick which ones to start with though...

    1. thattreblefeeling
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      and Barkley