Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 26

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Gameweek 26 – the longest Gameweek of the season so far. The first match of the inaugural ‘winter break’ kicks off an hour after Saturday’s 11:30 GMT deadline with the last match not taking place until nine days later. 

Between today’s cutoff and FPL updating at the end of the Gameweek, a full 228 hours will have passed. 

The good news for those of a romantic disposition is that we will be completely free to focus on Valentine’s Day next Friday without having to worry about transfers or captain decisions. Our neglected other halves will no doubt be overjoyed!

Although for most Fantasy managers, one love affair could be coming to an end. 

John Lundstram has captured our hearts this season with his swashbuckling flair and rock-solid dependability. We will never forget the unbridled joy we shared when he banged in two goals against Burnley in early November. It felt at the time that this was a relationship that would last forever. 

Although it wasn’t always plain sailing, he has blanked on occasion. And he really shouldn’t have come home empty handed from his trip to Norwich in December. Nonetheless, he’s often surprised and delighted us so he can be forgiven the odd indiscretion.

But sadly it would appear that after six months the honeymoon is over. 

The warning signs were there. Following two early substitutions, he had us worried when he turned up late against Manchester City in Gameweek 24. To then repeat the offence at the next opportunity didn’t go down well. He has since been unceremoniously dumped by thousands of Fantasy managers.

Is there any hope? Can this relationship be salvaged? For those still clinging onto memories of the good times, Neale, who probably knows him better than any of us, had this to say:

Given Wilder’s previous for not for making unnecessary changes – the other eight midfielders and defenders have basically played whenever they’ve been available – then I wouldn’t hold me hopes up. I’ve seen people talking about ‘oh there’ll be rotation now in central midfield’, well that really hasn’t been Wilder’s style this season, Norwood and Fleck, even in the Championship were playing pretty much every game. So I’m not in the slightest bit confident he’ll get his place back.

– Neale, Team News video

Heartbreaking.

The only straw to clutch at is that his attacking threat might be favoured for a winnable home match against Bournemouth. But there are no guarantees. For those still holding him get ready to be let down again.

Indeed when David cast his eye over the new arrival at Bramall Lane, Sander Berge, who appears to have stolen Lundstram’s spot in the Blades’ midfield, he concluded:

It will be hard to expect much more than a series of one-point cameos from Lundstram.

– David

The good news is that there are a number of potential suitors lining-up to take his place in our Fantasy affections. And our friendly Scoutcast trio of Joe, Karam and Tom assessed our options:

Willy Boly of Wolves at just £4.7m finds himself in Joe’s Wildcard team and offers excellent value; we have O’Connell or Egan if we fancy sticking with Sheffield United; there’s Newcastle with Fernandez and Lascelles enticing us ahead of a nice run of fixtures – although Tom cautioned that they have been overperforming their numbers recently; Tom favoured Charlie Taylor who at £4.2m offers a cheap route into a Burnley defence that has kept nine clean sheets this season.

Pro Pundits Az and Ash also had their say, with both opting for slightly more expensive options. Az plumps for team-mate Enda Stevens, while Ash turns to Burnley’s Ben Mee highlighting his improved attacking potential:

What’s telling is that Mee has registered the joint-most number of goal attempts inside the box among all defenders in the past four Gameweeks.

– Ash, Pro Pundit

Out in the Cold

The dispersed nature of the matches over the winter break means that we won’t hear from a dozen managers until after the Gameweek has started. 

There remains the very real possibility, then, that a number of players will be declared as unavailable – or passed fit – long after the Gameweek 26 deadline has been and gone, leaving FPL managers powerless to do anything about it.

– Neale, Guide to the Winter Break

Neale set the scene in his Guide to the Winter Break, while Ginkapo FPL questioned the impact of the mid-season interlude in a hot topic.

Thinking of the captaincy, one strategy Joe is promoting is captaining and vice captaining players from different weekends. Just in case there’s a no show, or perhaps the weather disrupts the fixtures.

Red or Blue?

In the main, this week’s captaincy would seem to be a straight choice between Mohamed Salah and Sergio Aguero. 

Salah currently leads the way in our captaincy poll, chosen by just under 40% of participants compared to Aguero’s 22%. But it was the thought of Aguero taking the armband that prompted Joe to enthuse:

It’s that rare beautiful moment in FPL where you get someone with unbelievable form and stats against the worst defence.

– Joe, Captaincy Video

Over the last four matches the Argentine is top for shots in the box, big chances, shots on target, and he has the best expected goal involvement (xGI) of any player. He faces a West Ham team who have the worst expected goals conceded (xGC) of any team. He also tops this site’s Rate My Team tool.

The only caveat is rotation. As Neale mentioned in his Captain Sensible article, his rival for the centre-forward role is due a start:

And will Gabriel Jesus (£9.5m) be again deprived of a place in the starting XI, meaning that he will have gone a full month without any kind of start before City are in action again in Gameweek 27.

– Neale, Captain Sensible

If the risk of a benching is too much for you then Salah offers an excellent alternative.

TheFantasyFreÆK highlighted his potential in his Gameweek 25 review, noting that the Egyptian tops the charts for several key stats in midfield and should have recorded even more points of late given that only one of the five big chances he created has been converted by his teammates. 

Neale summarised his appeal:

Salah’s form and all-round points potential (in the top two for both shots in the box and big chances created over his last four matches) will understandably see many FPL managers again handing the armband to the Egyptian.

– Neale, Captain Sensible

The Scout Picks feature Salah as part of a heavy-hitting midfield at the expense of Aguero up front. And FFS Members Cup-finalist Pep Pig revealed he will be handing the Liverpool midfielder the armband in his predictions for Gameweek 26.

Meanwhile RichP_LFC decided to take a novel approach and looked at Fantasy Points Against to pick out players for our FPL teams. His research found that “Salah is the clear choice in midfield, and a punt on Redmond could work well.

Redmond is also the headline differential pick as the Saints begin an excellent run of fixtures.

However, the article’s author, Tom Freeman, went for Harvey Barnes as his under 5%-owned option on the Scoutcast. Over the last four matches, only Salah has a higher xGI than Barnes.

Fellow Pro Pundit Sam Bonfield agrees with his selection, noting in her Sam Says video that the Leicester City youngster has four attacking returns in his last four Premier League games.

And we’ve had reports and analysis on two new Premier League recruits. Steven Bergwijn marked his Spurs debut with a goal and travels to Aston Villa this week, Neale considered his potential. And Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes was the subject of a members-only article by David.  

Finally, following last week’s FA Cup replays, we know a little more about how the fixture schedule is shaping up.   

To view all our discussions please visit our Hot Topics page, and if you’ve got some analysis, scout reports or features brewing, be sure to visit our community section to submit your article.

If you’re a member and are yet to get to grips with the custom statistics tables, you can view this movie for an explanation of how they work. Also, remember to tag them so that people can find the tables with ease.

Fantasy Football Scout Memberships are now available for a reduced price of £9.99 for the remainder of the season. Rolling monthly subscriptions are also available for £2.99 per month. Click here to sign up or upgrade your account.

Community Competitions

For an update on all FFS Mini-Leagues and Community Competitions, please click here to read the latest round-up.

For those interested in the Head-to-Head Leagues, the main page can be linked to here. The fixtures for Gameweek 26 can be found below:


Use the drop-down menus to show your league and division. To find out which league and division you are in, follow the instructions on the main Head-to-Head page.

Once the Gameweek starts, if you click on your opponent’s name you will be linked to their team on the FPL website.

May your arrows be green!


TopMarx Fan of Fantasy Football and Monty Python. "Archimedes out to Socrates, Socrates back to Archimedes, Archimedes out to Heraclitus, he beats Hegel. Heraclitus a little flick, here he comes on the far post, Socrates is there, Socrates heads it in! Socrates has scored! The Greeks are going mad, the Greeks are going mad! Socrates scores, got a beautiful cross from Archimedes. The Germans are disputing it. Hegel is arguing that the reality is merely an a priori adjunct of non-naturalistic ethics, Kant via the categorical imperative is holding that ontologically it exists only in the imagination, and Marx is claiming it was offside. Follow them on Twitter

1,493 Comments Post a Comment
  1. 328345
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Have a real headache this week on my bench. Traore has only ever scored 2/3 when I start him but 10+ when I bench!

    Pope (fodder)
    TAA Robbo Aurier
    Salah KDB fleck Mooy
    Aguero (c) Ings vardy

    Traore tanganga Rico.

    Issues around bench. I have aurier as I'm hoping for a clean sheet. So should I start tang too? I have vardy, don't feel I can bench him. Ings is playing pope! Fleck and mooy have plumb home games. Traore always does well on my bench and is flagged. Help

  2. Critical Observer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    I'm at loss as to how to spend a transfer - have 2FT and it looks like I'll just forfeit one for the second time this season.

    Ramsdale, McCarthy
    Robertson, TAA, Sidibe, Aurier, Rico
    KdB, Salah, Maddison, Hudson-Odoi, Dendoncker
    Vardy, Jimenez, Deeney

    I could lose Maddison & Vardy for Mahrez & Aubameyang, for example, but that would be stupid with the BGW 28 soon upon us. Sidibe needs to go in time for GW 27 but it would be stupid to bail early. Hudson-Odoi is not essential, obviously, but there are hardly any better options priced similarly.

    Any ideas?

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      There are about 5-6 players there I would try to move on soon. Wasting a FT is madness

      1. Critical Observer
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Ok, who would these 5-6 players be? Leicester meet Norwich on GW28 so I'm not sure now is the time to get rid - same goes for Jimenez who has Norwich at home next week. Sidibe has Palace at home this GW. Hudson-Odoi is a placeholder and easiest to move whenever but the problem is it's slim-pickings in the sub-6.0 category.

        1. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Norwich have conceded 10 in the last 7 and 15 in the last 10. The notion they are whipping boys in defence doesn’t stack up - I defo wouldn’t hold players just for that fixture in 3 weeks time

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      CHO to Westwood? If Burnley score his delivery is one of the most likely routes.

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        They won't score.
        Hopefully:P

        1. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Got burned by Southampton defence last time and sceptical now.

          Add in FA cup and it’s 10 in the last 4 - that’s not great given neither Wolves or Spurs are prolific. I’m reasoning they’ve opened up since they hit form. If Bertrand or Stephens get attacking returns all well and good but..

          1. Amey
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            I'm on BB bro.
            Need a CS from them

            1. pingissimus
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 1 month ago

              A chance I imagine - this could be one of their on weeks. Who does your oppo have?

              1. Amey
                • 5 Years
                4 years, 1 month ago

                Stevens Digne Robbo Traore Auba (his)

                Lascells Taylor VVD Son Vardy (mine)

                This is the difference. I'm doing Taylor to mariappa FT

                1. pingissimus
                  • 5 Years
                  4 years, 1 month ago

                  Digne looks dangerous.

  3. Fishy
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Good to go?
    Henderson
    Stephens sidibe taa
    Salah martial pepe grealish
    Aguero ings dcl
    Captain currently on aguero but could also go for salah, grealish, ings???

  4. ALegendJ
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    My planned for next GW invloves a hit. There is a 0.4 swing if i do not do them early, maybe even tonight before any of them play.

    Is 0.4 worth the risk?

    1. Phlajo
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      No

    2. Boyd to Sven
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      No way I'd take that risk with this big a gap between games.

  5. thewhitepele
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    What's the move here? Got 2 ft and 1.4m itb. Don't want to burn an ft..

    McCarthy
    TAA Soy Lund
    Salah KDB Maddison Grealish
    Firmino Vardy Ings

    Button, Cantwell, Lascelles, Rico

    1. wanaj84
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      lund to others defender...

    2. DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Vardy and lundstram out

      1. thewhitepele
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Who you you bring in for Vardy?

  6. DandyDon
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Any Moura interest out there? think Cantwell to Moura is going to be my -4 transfer this week but no idea on his stats, just he plays furthest forward. Got to be a good alternative to Son

    1. ALegendJ
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      He played upfront since Kane's injury. Could be a great differential

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

        Thought Son did?

        1. ALegendJ
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Son was LW, they rotated abit, but mostly was Moura CF. If I have funds I'd go Son definitely though since he is on pens as well

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Son looking like he will take the furthest-forward spot from now.

      Moura is better in the wing, and Son better up top.

      Moura is inconsistent - that's all there is to it.

  7. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Auba (C) before Salah anyone?

    1. DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Just no

      1. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        No way did it last week and cost me 12 points

        Don’t!

    2. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I don't see why not, I don't think Auba will blank and I think Norwich will be a harder game than some think.

  8. jtreble
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Is my math right: overall Aguero + KDB + Mahrez ownership is approximately 1.2%?

    1. Monya Meow Meow
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Start Traore and first bench Grealish?

      Playing a 3-4-3 this week and won't be dropping any of the others.

      1. Monya Meow Meow
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Sorry reply fail...

  9. DRINKWINE
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Worth to take a risk Grealish to Bergwjin for free? Cant afford Son and will reduce the number if blankers in gw28

  10. FPL_Crisis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Kdb or Salah captain, and why?
    Salah has been good to me (us) the past couple but is it too risky to jump off given his EO

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

      Pep could troll u and rest him lol

      1. FPL_Crisis
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Always a chance
        Think he’s started last 17 PL games though...

  11. El Copo
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Worth swapping Mane to Mahrez for a week? Would be for a hit.

    1. ALegendJ
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      No

    2. kime67
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      no

  12. Uncle Gamst
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    a) Pope (sou)
    b) Ryan (WAT)

    Thanks

    1. ALegendJ
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Tough, I'd go B

      1. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        A

    2. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      gotta be pope

      1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        form > fixtures

  13. kime67
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Starting to think lundstram could get a game here. I mean he cant suddenly be dropped completely and this is an easy home game..

    1. ALegendJ
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I think he is already dropped, and better options out there now including his teammates

    2. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      he may, but its not worth the risk of another 1pt cameo imo

    3. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      He's dropped from the first 11.
      It's not sudden too

    4. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      He might do OK as a sub.

    5. Ohh1454
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Was starting to get reduced minutes before Berge arrived can only see them decreasing

  14. Ohh1454
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Gtg ? BB activated
    Henderson
    Taa Robbo Baldock
    Traoré Grealish Kdb Salah(C)
    Ings Jiménez Auba
    Bench - McCarthy Pérez Stephens Holgate

  15. Monya Meow Meow
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Start Traore and first bench Grealish?

    Playing a 3-4-3 this week and won't be dropping any of the others.

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Start Grealish imo

    2. clodhopper
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Play grealish

    3. Monya Meow Meow
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Wow ok, didn't expect the reverse to be more popular.
      Thabks guys!

  16. Holmes
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    -4 for a SHU defender, hopefully Clara don't mess up 😀

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

      Ciara*

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Oops

        Google says Clara 😮

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      😮
      I'm still not sure what to do with my team

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        When in doubt save FT 😉

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Cheers
          Starting Lascells & Taylor then.

  17. Bad Butcher
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    a) Save FT
    b) Vardy Maddi -> Barnes Kun (C) for -4

    Leno
    VVD TAA Dunk
    KDB Salah Madd Traore
    Vardy Ings Auba

    Lund Rico Hayden 1.2 itb 1FT

  18. Test Eagles
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Would you rather play Cantwell (LIV) or Söyüncü (wol)?

    1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      soy

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Soyuncu

  19. Fishy
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Pick a captain?
    1. Salah
    2. Ings
    3 aguero

    1. Ohh1454
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      1 safe option but if I owned Aguero I’d be very tempted

  20. Slim25
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Set on the following
    Kelly > Fernandez
    Vardy > Auba

    for a -4 hit I'm thinking of doing this
    Grealish > Barnes, Almiron, Mount.
    Which one should I do and why?

    Cheers!

    1. Ohh1454
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Getting rid of grealish for a hit makes no sense

      1. Slim25
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        So just stick to the 2 free transfers?

        1. Ohh1454
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Yes

  21. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Firmino and Enda Stevens in for -4. See you on the other side!

    Henderson
    TAA - Dunk - Stevens
    Salah - Mahrez - KdB - Traore
    Vardy - Firmino - Ings

    McCarthy - CHO - Lascelles - Williams

  22. lordkippe
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Want Aguero (C) so much. But would be for a bad -8 or to play my WC. I really believe in him, but probably not worth it for me ?

    1. Ohh1454
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      No not worth it if u own Salah just captain him

  23. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    McCarthy
    TAA Lund Holgate
    Salah Traore Grealish KDB
    Auba Vardy Jimenez
    (Button Rico Dendoncker Soy)

    1FT and 0.2ITB

    1) Lund > Egan
    2) Vardy > Ings
    3) Lund & Soy > Egan & Gomez (-4)
    4) Lund & Vardy > Gomez & Ings (-4)

  24. Salarrivederci
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Best way to bring in Ings?
    WC, BB & FH intact.

    A: Firmino + AWB -> VVD & Ings (save up funds to do Mahrez -> Son and Doucouré -> Redmond next GW)
    B: AWB + Doucouré + Greenwood -> Egan + 4.8 + Ings (-4)
    C: Use a FT on something else and have 2 again next week
    D: Something else

    2FTs
    1.1 ITB

    Ryan
    TAA - AWB - Stephens
    Salah - KDB - Mahrez - Maddison - Doucouré
    Vardy - Firmino

    (Button, Rico, Lascelles, Greenwood)

    1. Benjustjamin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      B

  25. BobbyDoesNotLook
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Boly or SHU 4.6? Boly makes defence better and goal threath and no blanks?

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Boly

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Boly is 4.7m, no?

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

        Yes but can afford

  26. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Don't do this often but...

    McCarthy is my GK.

    Play Stephens (BUR) or Traore (LIE)?

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Stephens

  27. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Any chance Lund starting or play Targett instead of him ??

  28. umerlfc
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Any suggestions?

    A) Maddison - > Mahrez
    B) Martial - > Mahrez
    C) Save

    1. amit1964
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      b

  29. abaalan
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Play 2:
    A) Rico
    B) Cantwell
    C) Soyuncu
    D) sarr (worth the risk?)

  30. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Start 1 (yikes)

    A-G.Cahill
    B-Lascelles
    C-B.Williams.