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The Technical Area – The Optimum Gameweek 31 Line-up

Constructing sides with just a single Gameweek in mind is a rare treat in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), which typically prioritises medium-to-long-term thinking when it comes to squad composition.

Yet with just four scheduled matches in Gameweek 31, many of us now find ourselves doing exactly this. Managers who choose to deploy their Free Hit Chip for this coming weekend can assemble a side from scratch, tailored specifically to best exploit the weekend’s fixtures. Meanwhile, a number of other managers may choose to ‘dead-end’ their sides this week ahead of deploying the Wildcard chip in Gameweek 32.

Managers on both sides of the coin have no doubt been observing the form of our eight participating sides (Liverpool, Everton, Watford, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Stoke, Huddersfield and West Brom) closely over the past several Gameweeks, with this particular weekend in mind. With the deadline now looming, however, the time has finally come for us to commit to the players we hope will salvage premium point tallies from this meagre spread of fixtures.

Although managers with active Free Hit chips obviously boast more freedom and are able to tailor their entire squad to this Gameweek, even those preserving this chip for later Gameweeks will no doubt find themselves heavily investing in Gameweek 31 assets over the coming days.

This week’s Technical Area will be closely inspecting the Gameweek 31 candidates, to produce a blueprint for managers – particular Free-Hitters – to follow during the process of their own squad construction.

This will be guided by Fantasy Football Scout’s own Rate My Team tool, as well as some standalone statistical and eye-test observations of recent form among key assets.

780 Comments Post a Comment
  1. TaiwanHC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    What to do with Kane? Already have Firmino and Vardy.

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Sell for a gw31 player if you have wc, sell for Aubameyang if you dont

    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      You’re welcome

      1. TaiwanHC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Thank you for great advice my love ❤️

    3. CRO KLOPP
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Get a room guys

  2. pressdpm
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Sigurdsson > Zaha/Stanislas sound good?
    Gives me 8 players, no hits so far.

    Pickford
    Otamendi - Van Dijk - Ogbonna
    Salah - Walcott - Mahrez - Shaqiri
    Kane - Firmino - Wilson

    Elliott - Sigurdsson - Dunk - Mee

    1. Garlana
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Yeh, pretty decent position to be in considering the siggy issue

  3. Ronnies
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    a or b guys?

    a) Kane > mounie as free ttransfer (gives me 10 gw 31 players)

    or

    b) alonso & stephens > PVA & stanislas -4 have daniels & wilson (gives me 11 gw 31 players)

    tnks.

  4. Mr_Barbs
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Have all chips left. Should I use my FH now? Is there a better time to play this? I only have 6 starters (not all are assured to start!)

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Gw35

    2. @FPL_liverbird (liverpoolfa…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      how many FT?
      if 2 I would take a hit to get 9.
      if 1 then id take a hit to get 8.

      in that strategy id focus on mids and strikers.

      save FH

      1. Garlana
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        This, I'm doing the same.

      2. jdp219
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Ignore what I said. This seems better.

    3. jdp219
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Seems like a decent time to play the FH, then. Depends more on who your 6 starters are and how you're set up for the next few gameweeks.

      1. Mr_Barbs
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Assuming gw35 is another blank week?

        I only have 1ft with the team;
        TAA, Mariappa
        Salah, Van la Parra
        Firmino, Wilson

    4. Team Bobcat
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      With so few fixtures points will be very difficult to come by. If you have six plauers already then no need ro waste the free hit chip. Take a hit for 2 decent options and you have more than enough

  5. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Current starters for gw31: no GK; VVD; Salah, Mili, Shaqiri; Firmino, Wilson
    2FTs, no FH -- Plan to use WC in gw32.

    1) Go w/o keeper: Ogbonna, Sterling, Kane > Baines, Stanislas, Mounie (-4)
    2) Elliot, Ogbonna, Sterling > Butland, Ake, Stanislas (-4)
    3) Elliot, Ogbonna, Kane > Butland, Baines, Tosun (-4)
    4) Some variation thereof -- bit of a crapshoot this week

    1. jdp219
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Just stick to the 2FTs and remove the flagged players -- Kane and Elliot?

  6. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Was set on Andy king for my fifht mid for my wc team but what about mctominay ? Is he nailed now ? More chances of that extra point for a cs.Thanks 🙂

    1. @FPL_liverbird (liverpoolfa…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      King over Mctominay

      Son,Salah,Mahrez,Silva,King 🙂

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Why over ? More goal threat ? Thanks

      2. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        You re worried about rotation for Silva ?

  7. HD7
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Team is on -4 so far...

    VVD
    Stanislas Shaq Salah
    Firmino Wilson Mounie

    A) Enough
    B) Get Baines ( -8)
    C) Get Zaha (-8)
    D) Get both for -12

    1. Garlana
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Same team as me apart from vpl over mounie. Same hit already too. I think the players you have are strong enough to maybe go ahead without further hits.

      1. Garlana
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        VLP*

    2. Nascimento
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Of those options I'd say A

  8. Red Rock
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    After taking a -4 I will have 9 players:

    VVD Coleman Bauer
    Salah Stanislas Mili
    Firmino King Quaner

    Worth additional -4 to bring in one more? Keeper maybe?

    1. Garlana
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      I'd stick on that, no more hits

      1. Red Rock
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks Garlana

    2. Nascimento
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Stick

  9. TaiwanHC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    So are you guys going to use your WC in GW31?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      GW31 is Free Hit week.

    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      See top of page. Bugger off, not a single acknowledgement of any replies

      1. Prøfeßör …
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        This.

        People should endeavour to acknowledge every reply.

      2. Yozzer
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        There are a few on here WR. Annoying

  10. Frank Koscielny
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Been off the grid for a week and will be for another so a little desperate for some input on what to do with my two FT’s

    Adrian/Pope
    Mee/Kenny/Ota/vvd/bavies
    Salah/mahrez/shaq/Walcott/Eriksen
    Kane/Firmino/Quaner
    0.4 itb

    Prepared to take a hit and will probably wildcard gw 32/33. Any ideas?

  11. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    It’s not possible to answer questions about whether taking a hit this week is worth it without knowing if you still have wc/fhc or not and when you plan using 🙂

  12. Red Rock
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    I was dead set on getting Shaqiri for the weekend but now the scout cast has persuaded me to go for Stanislas.

    I can see their reasoning, King running riot last year and most shots out of any mid. Just that I would be playing very unsafe by not getting Shaqiri.

    Would King be enough Bournemouth?

    1. Team Bobcat
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      It may or it may not. No one knows bud

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Andy the orchestrator of the gw37 free hit?

      #followandy

      Not seen it mentioned here before

      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        EDIT: just seen your article, you may have convinced them there. Give the virgin the credit he deserves

    2. Rash
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      If I had FH and no TC I'd certainly consider it..

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        It's a no brainer if you have no TC for me.

    3. Nascimento
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Poseidon mentioned playing it GW37 a little while back. May well have played a part in this.

    4. BobBradleysOpportunity
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      all the planning is irrelevant for me until i know the DGW fixtures

    5. mookie
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Big names yes, but that doesn't mean they are amongst the best FPL managers, the kind people should follow/learn from.

  13. MartialMatas
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Adrian + Sterling - > Butland + Zaha for - 4?

    better to do Kane to Benteke instead of sterling to Zaha?

    Daniels Schindler Bauer
    Salah Mane Walcott Ibe
    Firmino Mounie

    DDG Adrian Otamendi Ogbonna Sterling Kane

    1ft 1.1m itb

  14. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Liverpool and Nivea just reached a new low

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Actually maybe not, there was no pube shaving

      1. mookie
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        😆

  15. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Arsenal team:

    Ospina; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Xhaka, Ramsey; Ozil, Wilshere, Mkhitaryan; Welbeck

    1. BobBradleysOpportunity
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      i have a feeling navigating arsene's premier league starting 11 will be similar to the way it was navigating pep's earlier in the year......cech and auba perhaps the only safe ones

      1. I Member
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        I tend to agree.

  16. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Pretty certain I’m doing Arnie+Son >> Zaha+Stanislas with my 2FTs for 9 players. Either of these worth a -4. Likely to WC next week or 33 if not.

    A. Kane >> Tosun / Mounie / Benteke
    B. Mahrez >> Walcott
    C. Christensen >> Coleman

    Pickford
    VVD - Kiko
    Salah(C) - Choupo - Stanislas - Zaha
    Firmino - Wilson

    (Elliot, Mahrez, Otamendi, Duffy, Christensen)

    1. Karan14
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Looks good imo.

  17. bitm2007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Nice article. There is a strong case for articles like this for the next couple of week as well with so many of us planning to WC before BBing in DGW34.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      No budget issues this week.

    2. rrcmc
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      agree

      1. rrcmc
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        alhtough a bit late in the day as ive made 2/3 transfers!

        1. rrcmc
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          already

    3. Prøfeßör …
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      The GW 35 one should be interesting.

      1. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        That one looks like a given.

  18. Rash
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    As I'm planning on wildcarding gw32 and trialling in my MLs by as much as 100 points I'm considering taking risks with a -12.. someone talk some sense into me

    Could bringing in Stan shaq/Zaha baines/coleman/pva be worth the hits?

  19. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    3x Liverpool 3x Bournemouth 2x Huddersfield. That’s my gw31 team sorted

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Lol at no Wally 😉

      1. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Got rid for Mahrez 2 gw’s ago

        1. rrcmc
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          wish i had done that

          1. Wild Rover
            • 13 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            Reward incoming 🙂

            1. rrcmc
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              6 years, 1 month ago

              hope so!

          2. THFC4LIFE
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            Don’t worry that’s the only decent move I’ve made all year

  20. Wednesday1
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Any thoughts please
    A) Mane, Stanislas, King
    B) Mane, Shaqiri, King
    C) Mane, Stanislas, Mounie
    D) Mane, Zaha, King
    E) Mane, Stanislas, Tosun
    Thanks

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Mane is a good shout

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        C

        1. rrcmc
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          C or E - see my dilemma below

  21. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Other than Mane is there any other player in GW31 worth bringing in for a hit?

    1. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Salah

    2. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Firmino

  22. rrcmc
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Mounie and Tosun both increasing in price tonight
    Want to shift out Kane for one or tother.

    Tosun - goal scoring form but crap fixtures after
    Mounie - good stats but not goal scoring form - can keep for a week after if needs be.

    Which one to choose?
    anyone any thoughts please?
    what did you go for?

  23. Delph & Safety
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Prediction for this week’s average?

    1. rrcmc
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      kinda depends on the dead teams;

      were Bournemouth and Everton fashionable at the start of the season. LIV probably were.

    2. Woy of the Wovers
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      4 games postponed. 0 points.

  24. Ronnies
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    worth a -4 ?
    a) alonso & stephens > pva & stanislas ?

    b) or just do kane > mounie as a free transfer ?

    Tnks guys.

  25. Woy of the Wovers
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    How is this any different from the scout squad article?

    1. rrcmc
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      a) title
      b) day of posting
      🙂
      i thought it was useful but then i never wait till Friday evening at 7pm to make the transfers

  26. Bleach †
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    What's an absolute minimum to go to this GW? Currently have 6 players(3x Pool, Shaq, Daniels, Wilson)and contemplating whether a hit is reasonable.

    Saving WC for 32/33 and have all chips left.

    1. Woy of the Wovers
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      You're in borderline hit territory.

  27. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Who'd be the one defender you'd readily get for a hit?
    A- Schindler
    B- baines
    C- PVA
    D- Coleman
    E- anyone else?
    Cheers!

    1. Woy of the Wovers
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      The one most likely is Baines

  28. 1justlookin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    I have 2 FT's this week & I still cant get rid of Kane -

    Mahrez & Sterling to Shaqiri & Stanislas seems the better choice.

    Other forwards are Firmino & Wilson.

  29. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Quick question for those wildcarding during the int break.

    Are you going to hit the button saturday night to take advantage of potential price changes?

    Or are you going to wait for the rearranged fixtures to be confirmed- understand that to be Monday

    Thanks