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

    In a bit of trouble I reckon. 2.6 in the bank, one free transfer, what should I do?

    Foster - Heaton

    Friend - Fuchs - Holebas - Stones - Cedric

    Firmino - Redmond - Sigurdsson - Capoue - Walcott

    Costa - Kane - Benteke

    All help would be much appreciated - I need it 🙂

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

      Stone to Alonso

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

      Sell Redmond and buy Ali or Eriksen.

      1. Simon Says...
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        This.

    3. Eric Banternaaa
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Stones to Chelsea defender. City defence in shambles.

    4. Carlton P
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Fuchs + Redmond > vertongen + Alli
      Toby/Alonso + son
      Your going to have to take at least one -4 at some point anyway

  2. _Gunner
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Which is better?

    A- Son + Hazard (Have Costa and Kane)

    B- Eriksen + Payet

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

      probably b at the moment

    2. Eric Banternaaa
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      A

    3. HesaCat
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Exactly. B for the next two GW.

    4. Simon Says...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      B. Definitely.

    5. MR SUNSHINE
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Can you see yourself captaining Hazard in any upcoming matches? If not, B

  3. Eric Banternaaa
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Any Suggestions appreciated? 2.1ITB 1 FT

    Boruc
    Evans Pieters Azpi
    Lallana Sanchez Wally Allen
    Lukaku Defoe Kane

    Pickford Fletcher Francis Holebas

    What think to Lukaku > Costa, Pieters > Walker or Allen > Son?

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

      Pieters > Walker seems good.

      1. Sahil Yadav
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        There's no sense in investing money in defence. One premium defender is enough.

    2. Sahil Yadav
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      No doubt.. costa!

  4. Swansea Bloke
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Need some suggestions please ladies!

    This is me currently:
    Foster/Pickford
    Smith/Azpi/McAuley/Friend/Love
    Sanchez/Hazard/Firmino/Siggy/Allen
    Anichebe/Kane/Costa

    Want to get firmino out. Need suggestions please. Lallana in gives me enough to upgrade smith to another Chelsea defender or bellerin. Or eriksen and just upgrade love to further strengthen my bench. Anything I haven't thought of here??

    Cheers for any help

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

      I'm in the same boat and I'm considering Antonio. Then upgrade defence

      1. Swansea Bloke
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        I have thought about it but don't trust West Ham. Had Antonio at start of season before his drought. Hmmmm

    2. Sahil Yadav
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Go for walcott maybe?

      1. Swansea Bloke
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Got Walcott out for Sanchez 2 weeks ago so would be a back track to bring him back In. Or is that stubborn? Lol

    3. the snazzy viking
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      get antonio, then also get alderweireld

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

    Right, decision time.

    A:
    Gundogan -> Zaha
    Stones -> Alsonso
    (-4)

    B:
    Gundogan -> Son
    (Free. Play Stones + can't afford Alonso next week)

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

      Why not Gundogan --> Zaha this week and Stones --> Alonso next?

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

        Yup- that's also a possibility...!

  6. Sharpe Shuffle
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Love watching John Stones play for City

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

      So do there opponents

      1. Sharpe Shuffle
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        The Barnsley Baresi

  7. popcoin
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Anichebe -> Zaha for -4 hit?

    (In effect, because change in formation)

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

    Heaton
    Pieters Alonso Lovren
    Eriksen Firmino Sanchez Capou Antonio
    Kane(c) Costa

    (Pickford, Amat, Holbas, Austin)

    7.6 ITB, 0 FTs

    Thoughts on removing Austin? (Can't afford Defoe or Tekkers, so maybe Nacho, Origi, Lorrente, Rondon?)

  9. Chicken-Mandy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    anyone know if guardiola suggested iheanacho would start tomorrow?

  10. We ain't got no histor…
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Help here

    Captain choice:
    A) Hazard
    B) Costa
    C) Kane
    D) Ibra
    E) Payet

    thanks already

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

      Has to be C!

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

      C for me, thought many on here will yell at you for doing that 🙂

  11. ChadW98
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    A, B or C

    A) Williams + Maloney-> Jones + Antonio

    B) Williams+ Shaqiri-> Jones + Eriksen

    C) Williams + Shaqiri-> Alonso + Antonio

    Thanks mates!

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

      C looks lovely

    2. MR SUNSHINE
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      B and C both look good.

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

    If I sell Walcott to Payet (-4), I'd want him back for GW18 or 19 for Erikssen. TOday, he'd only cost 0.1 more than my SV for him. I can afford up to 0.3 more to buy back and with only 4 days between two deadlines, it's highly unlikely he rises that much.

    Really feel like Payet will repay the hit and then some over the next 2-3, and Walcott may well rest or be limited in minutes in one of the next two.

    1. Hurricane Gilbert
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Keep Wally imo. Didn't you bring in Eriksen already? Too much chopping and changing during this riskful fixture congestion

  13. Ibracadabra9
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Firmino > Eriksen for free?

    Current team:

    Foster
    Van Dijk - Nyom - Alonso
    Firm - Haz - Sanchez - Siggy
    Costa - Kane (c) - Nacho

    Jaku - Holebas - Amat - Hojberg

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

    (a)Firmino + Snoddy to Lallana + Antonio?

    (b) do Firmino to Lallana and Keep Snoddy and upgrade my woeful DF with 1.5
    Vertonghen, PVA, Stones, Amat, Holy bus

    (C) keep Firmino till Cout is back

    1. Hurricane Gilbert
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      C of those

  15. nadman89
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Pickford
    Francis - pieters - Evans
    Sanchez - Antonio - hazard - siggy
    Costa - Defoe - Kane (c) . G2g?

  16. Cheers Geoff
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Is Jones nailed on?

    1. Hurricane Gilbert
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Yup

  17. Hurricane Gilbert
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Is Phil Jones worth a hit instead of bringing in Friend/Aké for free?

    1. Carlton P
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      No, friend is a great pick and potential season keeper
      Jones could be gold but risky (Evans > Jones) for me next week tho

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

        Selling Evans? Fixtures clear up from GW 20, bar gw 20.

  18. MR SUNSHINE
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Hi guys

    Could I please ask for your opinions:

    Firm -> Eriksen before deadline or wait to do 2 FT

    Firm -> Payet
    Walker -> Valencia

    Appreciate your help and time

  19. nobwak
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Stones to Alonso worth a hit, or do it after the deadline for free?

    1. The Enlightener
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I say hold onto him and start him. I foresee a cleanie and a goal. Fat 15-pointer! (don't wake me up, I'm dreaming)

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

        If I hold on to him, i have to start him really.

        Crazy as it may sound, I can actually see a cleanie in way, City need a positive reaction after the weekend's loss.
        However, I can also see him getting dropped.

  20. Cheers Geoff
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Grant (Foster)

    Jones Cedric Alonso Lovren (McAuley)

    Firmino Siggy Sanchez (Allen Gundogan)

    Lukaku Origi Costa(c)

    Any suggestions? I need help.

    1. Mattylfc1114
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I would swap McAuley for Lovren, he's doubtful.

  21. Piyush CR7
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Will Jones play only for this gameweek or will he continue to start in the next gameweeks ?

  22. Ready Manager One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Pls pick one to play:
    1. Holebas
    2. Anichebe
    3. Amat
    4. Capoue

    Atm i have capoue, city are pretty leaky so feel that he is most likely to get points

  23. Mattylfc1114
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    I'm thinking of taking Pedro out for Siggy for -4. I've got a feeling Willian will start. Any suggestions? Cheers

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

    I'm still yet to play my wildcard, I've got a total of 772 points.
    When's the best time to use it before new year?

    Should I use it to manipulate Aguero back in, play the price changes, or save it to get a fresh team if the Christmas period racks up injuries?

    Thanks

  25. Srby87
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Which defence is best for me?
    Amat - Dann - McAuley - Morgan - Stones