Sky Sports

Sky Sports Focus

We now turn to assess the Sky Sports game, as our focus article looks back at the previous weekend’s action before preparing you for the incoming Gameweek.

We’ll examine the recent run of Man of the Match (MoTM) awards, the bonus point beneficiaries, transfer trends and Watchlist, before moving on to the Scout team and our future line-up plans.

Gameweek 31 Man of the Match Awards

These were the players who caught the eye of the Sky Sports reporters and earned an extra five points as a result.

FixtureMoTM
Man United vs LiverpoolMarcus Rashford
Everton vs BrightonPhil Jagielka
West Ham vs BurnleyChris Wood
Newcastle vs SouthamptonJonjo Shelvey
Huddersfield vs SwanseaFederico Fernandez
West Brom vs LeicesterRiyad Mahrez
Chelsea vs Crystal PalaceWillian
Arsenal vs WatfordPetr Cech
Bournemouth vs Tottenham HotspurSon Heung-min
Stoke vs Man CityDavid Silva

Son Heung-min and David Silva both moved onto five awards for the season and sit alongside Mesut Ozil and Marko Arnautovic in the chasing pack, behind the top-four heavyweights of Mohamed Salah (ten), Kevin De Bruyne (nine), Eden Hazard (eight) and Harry Kane (seven).

Son looks a great option right now.  He’s owned by fewer than 5% of the game and has back-to-back scores of 19 and 17 points. With Harry Kane on the sidelines, a straight swap to the South Korean looks tempting in time for Gameweek 34 when Spurs return to Premier League action.

Gameweek 31 Bonus Points

Let’s take a look at any player to earn 45 points or more in bonus for the season

members

Fantasy Football Scout members can access all information regarding bonus points using player stats and clicking the Sky Sports tab.

The Transfer Trends

Top Transfers Out

NameTeamValue% of Managers
KaneSpurs12.922.7%
AgueroMan City12.815.7%
SterlingMan City9.84.8%
LukakuMan United12.43.2%
GomezLiverpool6.52.9%

Top Transfers In

NameTeamValue% of Managers
JesusMan City12.113.4%
SonSpurs10.88.1%
FirminoLiverpool11.65.8%
SaneMan City10.35.2%
D SilvaMan City10.65%

Average Transfers Remaining

Top 10 – 7.60
Top 100 – 8.43
Top 1,000 – 7.94
Top 5,000 – 7.31

Top Five Captains Picked

NameTeamValue% of Managers
KaneSpurs12.925.4%
LukakuMan United12.415.3%
AgueroMan City12.89.6%
De BruyneMan City11.58.2%
SalahLiverpool9.46.1%

Watchlist

Here I aim to highlight a few differential players with low ownership who I think could be good options for the coming six weeks.

Three specific price brackets will be used to cater for our available budgets.

The players will evolve with fixtures and form, and offer Fantasy managers a nudge in the right direction.

BudgetMid-PricePremium
DefenderMartin Jorgensen
5.7m
4.7%
Andrew Robertson
7.8mm
3.1%
Virgil van Dijk
8.9m
2.9%
MidfielderRajiv van La Parra
7m
0.3%
Wilfried Zaha
9.3m
3.5%
Mesut Ozil
11.1m
2.1%
ForwardAlexander Sorloth
8.6m
0%
Cenk Tosun
11.1m
0.1%
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
12.2m
2.3%

My Team

Karius
Davies Ward van der Hoorn Christensen
Walcott De Bruyne Salah
Benteke Jesus Firmino

ITB: 2.0
Transfers remaining: 7/40
Last week’s points: 50
Overall points: 2525
Rank: 256th

Notes

A poor week overall, with my Saturday captain Theo Walcott being hooked off early and Harry Kane repeating the trick on Sunday.

To compound matters, Ben Davies failed to feature and then Christian Benteke decided to put in a sub-par shift of 45 minutes – it was all frustrating to say the least.

Drifting from the safe options in a bid to make ground is fraught with danger, though, and I was well aware it could backfire. I just wish I had been given a sporting chance this week.

With the Harry Kane injury, I decided to act quickly, like many others, settling on Gabriel Jesus as my replacement.

The allure of the Monday night Stoke City match was too much. Jesus, disappointingly, only managed an assist that evening, but looks a good option to me for the rest of the season.

With Sergio Aguero nursing an injury and Man City progressing into the latter stages of the Champions League, I suspect Jesus will be used more often in the Premier League.

Captain Plan
Sat 17th – Salah (WAT)

Weekly Articles and Podcast

As well as the weekly Focus article, I’ll be talking through the week’s action and upcoming plans with FFS posters Buffrey and Lewis on our regular podcast – the latest episode can be found here.

The Fantasy Football Scout League

Our Fantasy Football Scout League is currently topping the League of Leagues as we look to defend our crown in 2017/18.

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527 Comments Post a Comment
  1. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Zaha(C)? 😉

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

      This

    2. Cruz88
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Hasn't had a double figure return all season, why him and not Salah?

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

        You’ve answered my question with a question 🙂

        1. Cruz88
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          It was a statement disguised as a question 😉 My advice would be captain a Liverpool player like everyone else

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

    How does she look guys? Anything worth a hit?

    VVD - Schindler - Daniels
    Salah - Wallcott - Shaqiri - Mane
    Quaner - Wilson - Mounie

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

      All good

      1. Meinhoff
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers

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

      Get Butland.

      1. Meinhoff
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Don't really want to take a hit this week, especially for a gk where you can gain just 2-3 points, but will think about it, thanks

    3. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Double Hud attack. Brave man!

      1. Meinhoff
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah if you count Quaner which is very optimistic 🙂

  3. fish66
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Elliot, Ogbonna, Arnie to Butland, Baines, Stanislas for -8?

    1. Meinhoff
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Baines and Stan for -4 imo

      1. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        this

  4. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Its Time for the Magic Bean to Shine !!

  5. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Zaha, Stanislas or Mounie?

    PVA, Baines or A.Smith?

    (already have McArthur, Wilson and Walcott...)

    1. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      i’m going Stan but kind of want both him and zaha

      Baines for second spot purely for set pieces

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers. I've gone Stan and Baines.

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

    Stanislas, Shaqiri and Begovic/Butland in for a –8 hit? To field 10 (incl. DCL though)

    But or Bego?

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

      I think 9 players would be ok.

  7. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    A) mane + Stan (-4). Lose 0.1 in mahrez
    B) vvd + Stan + mounie(-8)
    C) vvd + Stan + zaha(-8) (lose 0.1 in mahrez)
    D) mane + Stan + pva(-8)(lose 0.1 in mahrez)
    Gonna WC in gw32?

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

      A.

  8. Slippy
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Need to decide on taking any hits.

    Score predictions for:

    A) Shaqiri
    B) Walcott
    C) Stanislas
    D) Wilson
    E) Zanka

    1. stat
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Shaqiri: 9
        Walcott: 2
        Stanislas: 8
        Wilson: 6
        Zanka: 1

        1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Someone is free hitting

          1. stat
              6 years, 1 month ago

              I'm not, I took a -4 to have a full 11

        2. J T
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          3
          2
          2
          9
          6

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

          A) 1 he's an angry little man
          B) 2
          C)10 ( non

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

            C 10 non owner
            D 9
            E 2

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

          5
          2
          11
          13
          1

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

            Wilson IN!

        5. Pierce34
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          I'm a Shaqiri and Walcott owner, but honest predictions are:

          Shaqiri: 3
          Walcott: 2
          Stanislas: 7
          Wilson: 2
          Zanka: 1

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

          Thanks all. Consensus seems to be that at least one obvious BOU player will be worth a hit. Mixed on Shaqiri. & Most think HUD won't get a cleanie (bar 1)

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

          A.3
          B.2
          C.3
          D.6
          E.1

      • Pierce34
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        ML rival (24 points behind me) is away, looks like he hasn't made any transfers. (he normally makes them earlier) What would you do in my position? Personally I sent him a message to remind him. If I beat him I want it to be on merit, not because he forgot a week.

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

          I would take every advantage going in my hunger for victory.

        2. J T
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          I had this exact problem but with my own dad, I put it to the community and they said let him burn. I gave him a 20minutes heads up in the end 😀

          1. Pierce34
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            Haha yeah this is a good friend, I would probably be feeling less charitable if he wasn't!

        3. MTPockets
            6 years, 1 month ago

            If there's money on it I'd remind him. Otherwise not.

            1. Pierce34
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 1 month ago

              There's a nominal bet of £5 to the winner but no, there's no real money on it.

          • CloudSky
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            In Love, War and FPL, everything is allowed.

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

              What, he's forgotten there are games on?! FPL is about stamina and attention. I mentioned the gw31 headache to my main ML rival a few weeks ago, expecting a nice chat about its trials and tribulations, only to realize that I'd just broken the news to him with a massive heads-up. Felt like an idiot.

        4. FPL ElasticO
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Which best LIV combo to get??

          A. Salah/ Firmino/ VVD
          B. Salah/ Mane/ VVD

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

            B.

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

            C. Salah/Firmino/Mane 😉

          3. fattfattygavgav
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            A

        5. KUNingas
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Kane + Ayew + Sterling -> Mounie + King + Stanislas (-4)?
          If Kane and Ayew dropping tonight which means I will lose 0.2 total.

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

          wonder how many are just gonna copy a free hit team, not as if they might not be able to afford it

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

          PVA plays on the same side as Zaha guys? If so,I think that means less likely attacking returns for PVA ( Wilfred could be selfish) plus he will have to watch Zaha's back and run more to defence

          1. Limit80
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            Yes, they play on the same side. You can tell this because they wear the same colour top.

        8. LIARS POKER
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Already brought King in with an ft, worth doing Quaner -> Wilson for a hit? Quaner only likely to get 1 point from the bench

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

            So Wilson have to score more than 5? I wouldnt do it for a hit

          2. J T
            • 6 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            No, you will be 5 points down before Wilson has kicked a ball

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

              Maths is a great thing I've to say! Couldn't agree more!

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

            No. Unless you captain Wilson

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

          Currently on 9 now.
          Either of these work a hit? WC 32 / 33.

          A. Kane >> Mounie
          B. Christensen >> Coleman/Baines

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

          (Elliot, Mahrez, Otamendi, Duffy, Christensen, Kane)

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

            A might

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

              Cheers! anyone else? 🙂

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

            how is the wc in gw 32 going to work out for you? why not gw 33?

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

              32 or 33. Not decided! Like doing my WC over an international break though. Either worth the hit?

        10. GreenWindmill
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Going to be quite novel having all of the games done and dusted by Saturday evening. Makes benchwankery even more pointless than usual which is nice.

          1. DA Minnion (Former great)
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            Yeah just one big climax.

        11. FPL ElasticO
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          This is my team for this BGW....

          Butland
          Schindler/ Baines/ Bauer/ VVD
          Salah(c)/ Walcott/ Shaqiri/ Stanislas
          Wilson/ Firmino

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

            Without FH?

            1. FPL ElasticO
              • 9 Years
              6 years, 1 month ago

              Yes

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

                Nice!

        12. VFORVANDETA
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Gtg?

          Baines

          Walcott Shaqiri Salah©

          Firmino Tosun Wilson

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

            Mane or VVD?

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

            Take a hit to get Stan / Zaha

          3. Meinhoff
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            Needs one more Liverpool

        13. Ha.
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Shaqiri or Stanislas?

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

            Stan

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

          Who to transfer in for this week only?

          A) Shaqiri
          B) Stanislas

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

            Equally as clueless 😛

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

            B

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

            B

          4. wulfrunian
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            a

          5. stat
              6 years, 1 month ago

              I think Bournemouth will score more goals, but Shaqiri is more likely to be involved if Stoke score. Very tough...

            • Transferred Out
              • 6 Years
              6 years, 1 month ago

              B

          6. stat
              6 years, 1 month ago

              Who scores more points?

              A) Walcott vs stk + 4 pts
              B) Stanislas vs WBA

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

                A

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

                Not worth a hit

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

              I read somewhere shaqiri has not shots in 2 games. Is this true?

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

                Just found out

                Not even a single effort in 2 games lol

              2. Pap Le Cissier
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                6 years, 1 month ago

                Indeed

            • Blame it on Traore
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              6 years, 1 month ago

              Anyone considering Sakho? The bonus system loves him and he does have goal threat.

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

                Atleast great differential

                1. Blame it on Traore
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 9 Years
                  6 years, 1 month ago

                  I think he could do very well this weekend.

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

                Depends if he's fully fit

                1. Blame it on Traore
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 9 Years
                  6 years, 1 month ago

                  Was confirmed by Hodgson yesterday I think.

              3. Pap Le Cissier
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                6 years, 1 month ago

                Hardly any playing time since gw16, will he start?

                1. Blame it on Traore
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 9 Years
                  6 years, 1 month ago

                  I think he has to if he's fit. He's their best centre-back.

            • IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
              • 6 Years
              6 years, 1 month ago

              Choose 1:
              A) vvd zaha
              B) PVA mane
              C) Baines mane(have Pickford coleman)

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

                B

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

                A

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

                A

              4. Transferred Out
                • 6 Years
                6 years, 1 month ago

                A

            • FlyingDutchmanLUFC
              • 9 Years
              6 years, 1 month ago

              Must've been asked before, but is Stanislas worth a hit?

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

                Time will tell

              2. Transferred Out
                • 6 Years
                6 years, 1 month ago

                I would go for it personally but depends on how many players you have playing

            • FirminoIsBetterThanYou
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 1 month ago

              Wilson or Mounie?

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

              Stanislas or Tosun worth a hit? 🙂 have 6 players atm.

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

                Possibly

                You need an attacking return from either for it to be justified

            • pressdpm
              • 11 Years
              6 years, 1 month ago

              Thinking of doing Sigurdsson > Stanislas
              Gives me 8 players, no hits. Sound good, anything worth a hit?

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

              Elliott - Sigurdsson - Dunk - Mee

              1. Transferred Out
                • 6 Years
                6 years, 1 month ago

                Stan or Zaha yeah

            • Transferred Out
              • 6 Years
              6 years, 1 month ago

              How many hits are people willing to take?
              I'm on a -4 with the 8 players below playing. Anyone else worth a hit?

              Vvd
              Salah Walcott Shaqiri Zaha Stanislas
              Firmino Wilson

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

                -4 is my maximum, and that's to get a similar amount to you. I wouldn't go any further.

            • Dazzrb
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 1 month ago

              Carroll > Mili for free? I have 6 players atm..