With a few days break in December’s hectic fixture schedule, we take time to pause and assess the players currently under consideration for Gameweek 18’s Scout Picks.

This article attempts to offer some insight into the decision-making process behind our selection, as Mark, Paul and I pick out 18 players that we feel will blossom in the forthcoming Gameweek, listing them in rank order.

The various “discussions” and disagreements that take place behind the scenes are then previewed, as each of us attempts to back our players for a place in the Scout Picks, as well as our Spot the Differential articles.

Finally, we will also reveal the Community Champion who has been selected by our lottery to represent the community and be in with a chance of winning a £100 Amazon voucher.

Goalkeepers

There appears to be little difference of opinion regarding the top stoppers for the Boxing Day fixtures.

Burnley’s Tom Heaton (4.8) is our unanimous number one pick ahead of Middlesbrough’s visit to Turf Moor.

Aitor Karanka’s troops have scored just seven times in their eight away matches and fired in the second lowest amount of shots on the road, with only the Clarets themselves mustering fewer.

Should Heaton’s goal be breached, he also offers the security of extra points, having accrued more saves and bonus point points than any other keeper this term.

Simon Mignolet (4.7) is another to get three votes, for Liverpool’s home clash with Stoke City.

Since wrestling the number one jersey from Loris Karius in Gameweek 16, the 1.9% owned Belgian has earned back to back clean sheets, with a third looking likely next Tuesday. The Potters are another side that have struggled on their travels, scoring a mere eight goals in as many away matches.

Paul and I are backing Kasper Schmeichel (4.9) to help Leicester City earn a shut-out for Everton’s visit.

The Dane looked impressive on his return from a six-match injury lay-off in Leicester’s 2-2 away draw with Stoke at the weekend, making five saves. Meanwhile, the Toffees haven’t won away from Goodison Park in the league since Gameweek 4, registering nine goals on their travels.

Despite conceding a league-worst 16 goals at home, Mark fancies Swansea City keeper Lucasz Fabianski (4.9) to deliver clean sheet points when West Ham drop by the Liberty Stadium.

Given that West Ham have only scored nine goals in as many away league games this term, the Polish international has the fixture to merit inclusion and, like Heaton, he could be among the save points via those Dimitri Payet free-kick efforts.

Defenders

There looks to be no end in sight to our love affair with Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso (6.4), who has proved to be one of Fantasy Football’s most reliable performers since nailing down a left wing-back role back in Gameweek 7.

The Spaniard has only failed to deliver attacking or clean sheet points once over that period, which makes his place at the summit of all three of our defender selections an inevitability.

With just seven goals on their travels, visitors Bournemouth, look primed to offer him his tenth clean sheet of the season.

Paul is so convinced by Chelsea’s potential that he’s doubled up on their assets and put Cesar Azpilicueta (6.5) in second spot.

“I’ve opted for two Chelsea defenders as it now reflects how my own FPL team is set up and has looked a very viable tactic for a number of weeks now. Marcos Alonso brings the attacking verve down the Blues’ left, while Cesar Azpilicueta’s ability to hoover up the bonus points looks equally enticing for Chelsea’s home encounter against Bournemouth” – Paul

Should the Cherries fail to score, the 19% owned Spaniard also offers the strong chance of bonus points, having notched 15 so far, more than any other FPL defender.

Nathaniel Clyne (5.7) tops the defenders chance creation chart to earn a second place nod from Mark and I ahead of Stoke City’s visit.

Both of us have also offered a berth to Danny Rose (5.9) for his own blossoming attacking threat.

Owned by just 6% of FPL managers, the Spurs full-back travels to Southampton at the summit of the defender’s goal attempts table, alongside Sunderland’s Patrick van Aanholt, on 18 efforts.

There’s disagreement as to which Manchester United defender to select when Sunderland drop by Old Trafford.

Mark and I favour the 4.8 price tag and bonus potential of Phil Jones, who earned two extra points in the Red Devils’ last Old Trafford outing, their 1-0 victory over Tottenham in Gameweek 15.

Paul may have a tough task convincing us to opt for the more expensive Antonio Valencia (5.4), who last earned a bonus point back in Gameweek 8.

Arsenal’s defence is also an area of contention.

I’m putting forward cut-price Gunners stand-in centre back Gabriel (4.8) for West Brom’s visit, while Paul is endorsing Hector Bellerin’s attacking threat along with his 6.4 price tag.

Mark, meanwhile, has shunned Arsene Wenger’s back line altogether, nominating Watford’s Jose Holebas (4.8) for selection.

A clean sheet for the Greek set-piece specialist looks unlikely with visitors Crystal Palace scoring 16 times on the road, but he certainly offers the possibility of attacking returns, having collected three assists and two goals already this term.

Alan Pardew’s side have yet to keep a clean sheet on the road and have shipped 19 goals away from Selhurst Park.

“It could be a game of goals at Vicarage Road, with neither defence offering a convincing case for a shut-out. Holebas will likely concede, then, but I feel that his prowess at dead-balls will be a factor. Palace have been exposed from set-pieces all season, and I can see them playing a major role in the Boxing Day clash” – Mark

Middlesbrough’s aforementioned troubles in front of goal on their travels has secured a place for Michael Keane (4.9) in Paul’s Scout Picks nominations.

With one goal already the 2.5% owned Burnley centre-back is another of our selections to offer potential at both ends of the pitch.

Midfielders

Eden Hazard (10.4) and Alexis Sanchez (11.8) should both earn places in the Scout Picks after picking up nominations in all three selections.

Of the pair, the 36.7% owned Chilean has the edge for the Baggies visit, taking top spot from Paul and I, and second place in Mark’s list. Sanchez has claimed an assist and two goals in his last two Emirates outings.

We expect Hazard to start, despite talk of an ongoing knee problem, and cause significant damage to Bournemouth’s backline. Eddie Howe’s defence has shipped 16 goals on the road this season.

Liverpool’s Sadio Mane (9.4) looks another certainty for the Gameweek 18 picks with three votes.

The Senegalese exemplary home record makes the visit of Stoke City an ideal opportunity for him to once again deliver. He has claimed five goals at Anfield, packaged up with three assists.

If we only opt for four midfield slots, Swansea City’s Gylfi Sigurdsson (7.5) looks a shoo-in to take the final berth.

The dead-ball specialist takes on a West Ham side that has conceded 17 times on the road, as he looks to recapture the home form that has seen him score three times and earn four assists at the Liberty Stadium so far.

Our trio of alternative options features Wilfried Zaha (5.8), who has been chosen for the Eagles’ visit to Watford by Mark on the back of four assists and three successful strikes away from Selhurst Park.

Paul favours doubling up on Arsenal’s midfield assets for their home tie with West Brom and pushes for Theo Walcott’s (7.8) inclusion alongside Sanchez. The England winger’s liking for home comforts is certainly not in doubt, having scored six of his eight goals at the Emirates.

“In midfield, I’ve also picked two players from the same team – Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott. While Sanchez remains the explosive option, Walcott has outscored him by six goals to three at the Emirates ahead of West Brom’s visit. The Baggies have one clean sheet in 14 and with Hector Bellerin (another of my picks) fit again, Walcott’s prospects look very promising as a festive double-up option alongside his premium-priced team-mate” – Paul

Kevin De Bruyne (10.7) is my, admittedly expensive, 9.4% owned differential. With four assists on the road and travelling to a Hull City outfit in search of their first home clean sheet of the season, I just feel that the Belgian could warrant the outlay.

Given the Tigers porous rearguard I’m keen to see representation from Manchester City’s attack in the Gameweek 18 picks and will be hoping to convince Mark and Paul of De Bruyne’s potential.

Forwards

Our forward selections start off in agreement, then descend into discord with a raft of differentials and unfashionable picks making up the lower echelons of our lists.

We’ll start with the harmomious choices and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (11.4)’s top of the list status.

He welcomes Sunderland to Old Trafford on the back of seven goals and an assist in his last six starts. The Black Cats have allowed 13 goals on the road, without keep a clean sheet reinforcing the Swede’s appeal ahead of the Boxing Day clash.

Another with a trio of votes is 10.4% owned Christian Benteke (7.7), who visits Watford in fine away form, having scored six goals on his travels.

A heated debate is set to ensue when we decide on who should take the remaining striker spot, should we opt for a three-man strike force.

Mark and I like the look of Fernando Llorente (6.3)’s recent home form, which has seen the 5.2% owned Swansea striker score four goals in his last two Liberty Stadium encounters.

Meanwhile, Paul and I will be urging Mark to consider our pick of 1.1% owned Michy Batshuayi (8.5), who looks poised to lead the Chelsea attack against Bournemouth while Diego Costa serves a one-match ban.

During his brief cameos from the bench this season, he boasts an impressive minutes per penalty area attempt rate of 17.5, bettering Sergio Aguero, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Diego Costa.

Our glut of off-trend strikers includes Paul’s choice of Harry Kane (11.2), who failed to find the net against both Burnley and Hull at home over the last two Gameweeks. Paul will be trying to convince us that the Spurs forward can add to his two goals on the road when he travels to Southampton.

Another passé pick that gets a nod is Romelu Lukaku (9.4). The ailing Toffees forward has failed to deliver returns in six of his last seven league games, but his brace away to Watford gives Mark hope that his woeful form may be improving ahead of the visit to Leicester.

“Lukaku is hardly brimming with confidence but we have to remember that Leicester City are without both Christian Fuchs and Robert Huth in defence and that will be a blow to their chances of repelling the Belgian. Under normal circumstances Lukaku would be a shoo-in for me but, with Everton’s form still very much in question, I remain wary” – Mark

Islam Slimani (8.3) claims Mark’s final striker nomination, as he backs him to lead the charge against Everton in the absence of the suspended Jamie Vardy. Everton arrive at the King Power Stadium with just a single clean sheet in eight away matches, having shipped 14 goals.

I’ve put forward Daniel Sturridge (9.7) for either a Scout Picks or Spot the Differential place after he came off the bench to create Mane’s winner against the Toffees.

With festive rotation looking inevitable, I’m taking a gamble that the out of favour 0.8% England forward may even earn a start for Stoke’s visit.

Community Champion

Representing the Community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 18 will be Kryten, who is in his ninth season, with 2012/13’s finish of 8,195 his best to date.

The community champion who has the best lead over the Scouts during 2016/17 will win a £100 Amazon voucher (currently we can only offer Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com vouchers).

Last Gameweek’s champion Badgevilla beat the Scouts 65-55.

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