Scout Picks

Blank Gameweek 18 Scout Picks built on Man City and Arsenal’s FPL assets

Manchester City and Arsenal form the spine of the Blank Gameweek 18 Scout Picks.

Ahead of matches against Brighton and Crystal Palace, we have chosen three players from Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta’s squads respectively.

We line up in a 3-5-2 formation, which comes in at £80.4m, £2.6m under our budget of £83.0m.

Goalkeeper

Hugo Lloris (£5.6m) strikes an appealing balance between clean sheet and save potential for Blank Gameweek 18. Spurs have six clean sheets in their last 11 Premier League outings while Fulham have failed to find the net in three of their last five. Meanwhile, Lloris’ 53 saves this season is the sixth-highest in the division and the most of any so-called ‘big six’ goalkeeper.

Defenders

Signing Cancelo a week before fixture swing can give FPL owners the edge

João Cancelo (£5.8m) is our chosen Manchester City defender considering his managed minutes in the FA Cup and the fact Kyle Walker played a full 90 minutes against Birmingham City. Pep Guardiola’s men have conceded just three goals in their last 12 matches in all competitions and, over the last six Gameweeks, Cancelo ranks top among all FPL defenders for expected goal involvement (xGI).

Fresh from back-to-back clean sheets, Kieran Tierney (£5.4m) has explosive potential in Blank Gameweek 18. Discounting their 5-1 win over West Bromwich Albion in Gameweek 11, Crystal Palace have just six goals in their seven remaining away matches this season (0.9 per game). Meanwhile, no Arsenal player has created more chances than Tierney in their last four matches.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin out injured for Everton, Romain Saïss (£5.1m) has potential at both ends of the pitch in Blank Gameweek 18. The welcome return of Leander Dendoncker should further boost Wolves’ defensive potential considering they have no clean sheets without him this season and four in matches when he played 90 minutes. Meanwhile, Saïss ranks top among all defenders for attempts on goal over the last four matches and Everton are inside the bottom four for highest number of headed chances conceded.

Midfielders

A more advanced false-nine role for Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m) against Chelsea helped him to a third double-digit haul since Gameweek 10. While we expect him to be a number 10 against Brighton, a home match against another possession-based side looks perfect for the Belgian to post another big score. No Premier League player has created more big chances than him over their last four matches while only one Blank Gameweek 18 midfielder has managed more attempts on goal than De Bruyne in the same period.

Bruno Fernandes (£11.3m) is that midfielder, having registered 16 shots over his last four. With just one blank away from home this season, trusting the Manchester United man on the road has been easy in 2020/21. No Premier League player has been afforded more big chances than the Red Devils’ penalty taker over their last four matches either.

Son Heung-min (£9.8m) is our chosen representative from the Spurs attack as they face a hastily arranged meeting with Fulham. The South Korean offers a cheaper route into this match than Harry Kane and a better balance of goal and assist potential based on recent form. Over Spurs’ last four matches, Son is ahead of his English colleague for big chances, key passes and big chances created and level with him for efforts on target.

Ilkay Gündogan (£5.4m) could provide excellent value for his owners in Blank Gameweek 18. The midfielder has enjoyed a new number eight role recently, which has helped him outperform both De Bruyne and Sterling in several key areas over the last four matches. During that time, the German international has registered more shots in the box and big chances than his colleagues and his five efforts on target are level with De Bruyne and one more than Sterling, despite less pitch-time than the Englishman over the selected data period.

Bukayo Saka (£5.3m) can benefit from a weakness in Crystal Palace’s defence on Thursday night. Over their last six matches, the Eagles have conceded the joint-fourth-most number of chances down their left-hand side. Saka has operated on the right of Arsenal’s attacking midfield in each of their last three league matches and has two goals and two assists to show for it.

Forwards

Alexandre Lacazette (£8.3m) is also in excellent form as he prepares to face a Crystal Palace side with the worst expected goals conceded (xGC) score over the last four matches. The striker himself ranks joint-top for big chances since Gameweek 14 and is behind only Anwar El Ghazi for efforts on target during that time too. Despite playing 217 minutes in the selected period, Lacazette has produced four goals.

Callum Wilson (£6.6m) may be without a goal since Gameweek 14 but his record against lesser opposition this season suggests he can get something at Sheffield United. In seven meetings with teams inside the bottom nine since joining Newcastle, the former Bournemouth man has accrued four goals and four assists, producing 7.1 points per game in such matches.

SUBSTITUTES

  • Karl Darlow (£5.0m)
  • Luke Shaw (£4.8m)
  • Federico Fernández (£4.7m)
  • Chris Wood (£6.2m)

THE CAPTAIN

Who are the best captain options for FPL Gameweek 36+?

We choose the Scout Picks captain using a four-way vote between our Scout Squad pundits.

Because we use Fantasy Football Scout data so heavily in this process, the skipper we choose each Gameweek is known only to those with a valid Fantasy Football Scout subscription and revealed to the public only when the deadline has passed.

Here’s how we voted for Blank Gameweek 18:

THE COMMUNITY CHAMPION

Each week, one of the Fantasy Football Scout community takes on the Scout Picks by pitting their chosen XI against ours.

The Community Member who beats our team by the largest margin will win a £100 Amazon Voucher and a place in our Moderators and Contributors League for the following season.

Due to the short turnaround, there was no Community Champion for Gameweek 17, although the Scout Picks had an impressive week with an 85-point score.

AA33 is the current leader, defeating the Scout Picks by a 53-point margin in Gameweek 2.

2,514 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Diro
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Need Help Mate !

    I had 2 FT for GW18 and I use them to Salah > KdB and Anguissa > Soucek. If Aston Villa was playing, I would have 10 players playing without replacement possibility but now I only have 7 player playing because of Villa postponement. Here is my team :

    Martinez*, (McCarthy)
    Konsa*, Stones, Mitchell (Justin, KWP)
    Grealish*, Son, Fernandes, KdB (Soucek)
    Bamford*, Wilson, Kane

    0.4 itb

    7 player playing because Martinez, Konsa, Grealish and Bamford don't play GW18. I would like to FH but if I do that, I will lose KdB and Soucek I bought with my 2FT and now KdB is 0.2 expensive than when I bought him and Salah is 0.1 cheaper.

    Knowoing that I planed to take Dallas for GM19 but it won't maybe be possible if I lose the profit made with Kdb over Salah's lost, would you keep this team to hold FH or FH and buy De Bruyne and Soucek next week for -4 ?

    Cheers !

    1. Diro
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Big dilemma so need help

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Maybe WC instead?

      1. Diro
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Not too early to wildcard ? Because my team is good. Just not enough player for GM18.

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Nothing wrong with WCing early

    3. R.C
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Save FH, team is GTG

      1. Diro
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks both !

  2. Nedvěd11
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Son for Captain!

  3. HD7
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Two places left in my team:

    Lloris
    Cancelo Stones
    KDB Bruno Son Saka
    Kane Wilson

    A) Tierney Laca (3-4-3)
    B) Holding Rashford (3-5-2)

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

      1. Scooby75
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        A

    2. LC1
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A and you have the same team as me.

      1. HD7
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Who will you captain, mate?

  4. Hansel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A) Cancelo, Saka, Wilson (3-4-3)
    B) Cancelo, Saka, Neto (3-5-2)
    C) Maguire, Gundo, Wilson (3-4-3)

    1. McSauce
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A) 100%

    2. aapoman
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

    3. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Thx

    4. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

  5. McSauce
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A OR B?

    A) De Gea / Smith Rowe / Rashford
    B) Llloris / Saka / Lacca

    1. George James
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B if FH
      A long term

    2. McSauce
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      ye ye FH

      1. George James
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        B easy then I think mate. Thoughts on my post below appreciated

    3. BOATIES FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Looks very close

  6. George James
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which scores most over next 2 GW?

    A) Robertson / Saka / Antonio

    B) Robertson / Soucek / Lacazette

    C) AWB / Saka / Vardy -4

    D) Lindelof / Rashford / Wilson -8

    1. jayzico
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

  7. FPL Doctor
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which is better?

    A) CURRENT TEAM with a -4

    DDG
    Cancelo Dias
    KDB(c) Rash Son Bruno
    Wood

    B) FH team

    Lloris
    Tierney Stones Cancelo Saiss
    KDB(c) Rash Son Bruno Saka
    Kane

    Steer Brewster Mitchell Davis

    1. LC1
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Obviously the FH team is better.

      Could be worth saving the FH considering you have the main heavy hitters (KDB, Bruno, Son, Rashy, Cancelo Dias).

      I'd save FH personally.

    2. BOATIES FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Save FH

  8. matiakez
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Stones and rashford or lacca and gundo on the FH?

    Siding with the latter currently.

    1. LC1
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Stones and Rashy for me

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

      A

    3. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

    4. Scooby75
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I’ve gone Gundo Lacca for the excitement

  9. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    We gtg?

    Lloris
    Tierney Stones Cancelo
    KDB Son Bruno Saka
    Wilson Kane Laca
    (4.0, Burke, Kilman, Mitchell

  10. Lignja
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    No Kane vs Fulham at home in scout picks? Did i miss something?

    1. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Son Heung-min (£9.8m) is our chosen representative from the Spurs attack as they face a hastily arranged meeting with Fulham. The South Korean offers a cheaper route into this match than Harry Kane and a better balance of goal and assist potential based on recent form. Over Spurs’ last four matches, Son is ahead of his English colleague for big chances, key passes and big chances created and level with him for efforts on target.

      1. boombaba
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Why not have both?

        1. FPL.team
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          They only have 84 million or so to play with.

  11. Fergiesarmy
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A) Dias, Holding & Saka
    Or
    B) Tierney, Gundo & Dier

    I have stones as city def

  12. HonestBlatter
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you do below 3 transfers and take -4 hit or FH?

    2FTs, 0.0 ITB
    Salah, DCL and Grealish --> Kane, Gundogan, Rashford (-4p hit) would give below 9 players for BGW18

    Team for BGW18:
    - (no GK)
    Cancelo-Dier-Bellerin
    KdB(C)-Gundogan-Bruno-Saka-Rashford
    Kane

  13. Captain_Shirokov
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Reguilon is likely to start over Ben Davies this week - yes or no?

    1. boombaba
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Si Senior

    2. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Depends if Mourinho has forgiven him over the suckling pig incident.

  14. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Guys 8-10 picks, this is going to be a disaster! 😆

  15. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    If Spurs score 2 goals then Kane is my captain but I'm afraid they will score only 1 given Fulham's latest results

  16. KAALI_DAAL
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    All free hit squads copying the scout picks then?

    1. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Probably not, I imagine a lot have Kane in them.

      1. FPL.team
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I have 8 out of the 11.

    2. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I have 7 of them, so no.

  17. Lignja
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A. Wilson, Stones 343
    B. Dias, Wan Bissaka 442

    Have Cancelo

  18. Do I Not Like Orange
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which of these combos on FH?

    A) Rash/ESR/Wilson/Stones/Darlow

    B) Gundo/Saka/Saiss/Laca/Lloris

  19. jayzico
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    So I've WCed. And this is my team. Fielding 11 in GW18 and BB in GW19.

    Leno. Meslier
    WanB. Cancelo. Stones. Yedlin. Cresswell.
    Kdb. Bruno. Son. Smith Rowe. Souchek
    Kane. Laca. Bamford.

    Should I lose my Leeds players? I'd lose 0.5m on Bamford?

    Cheers guys

    1. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'd keep Bamford. Single game against Brighton is still decent. Maybe Areola instead of Meslier for a double game though.

    2. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Even if they lose a game next week their other one is Brighton at home. I’d keep.

      1. jayzico
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Me too guys. Cheers

    3. Invincibles
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No Salah for the DGW? cant have all I guess.

  20. The-Red-1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Dias and Saka

    Or
    Saiss and Gundo

    1. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      First

    2. Scooby75
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I’ve gone Saiss/Gundo
      Gundo is being overlooked so a decent differential

  21. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    -8 with this team
    Stones Taylor
    Kdb Rashford Fernandes son
    Kane

    Or this team with -4

    Stones Taylor Mitchell
    Kdb Fernandes son
    Kane

    1. Disco Stu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I think the extra -4 could pay off

    2. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      The one with Rash

    3. Invincibles
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      transferring in utd/city assets for a hit is worth it due to gw18 fixture and dgw19

  22. b91jh
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Maybe I should stop thinking about the FH team when I start taking Bogle and McGoldrick into consideration...

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      The mind Bogles

  23. Hansel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A) Stones, Wilson
    B) Stones, Neto
    C) Maguire, Gundo
    D) Dier, Foden

    1. b91jh
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B/C

  24. Invincibles
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Took a -8 to field:

    Stones, Tierney, Bernado
    KDB, Son, Bruno, Gundogan, Stephens
    Laca, Kane
    Subs: McCarthy, Justin, KWP, Bamford

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Ok?

      1. Invincibles
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        hopefully!

  25. Enes_Sahini1
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I've got 3 players playing this week DCL (who is injured, Son and Fernandes.

    So effectively 2 players.

    Would this be the best time to use the free hit chip?

    1. Disco Stu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Seems like a pretty good time to use it

      1. Invincibles
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        potentially wc, bb

    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      WC?

    3. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      or WC

    4. Invincibles
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      rest of team?

  26. Disco Stu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A. Gundogan

    B. Neto

    C. Foden

    1. Scooby75
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Gundo

    2. Invincibles
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      C

  27. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which one sounds best?

    A) Dias Laca in 433
    B) Gundo/Saka Laca in 343
    C) Rashford Saka in 352
    D) Stones Rash in 442

    1. b91jh
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'm on B atm

    2. Scooby75
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

  28. southernrocker1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Help please!

    Is a Man City defensive double-up wise or asking for trouble? The other is Tierney.

    I see Saiss mentioned a lot but Everton don't ship loads and Wolves are ropey at the back - right?!

  29. Lord Flashheart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    is saka worth the 0.9 over ESR?

    1. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      More nailed since the beginning of season

  30. Drexl Spivey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is anyone else fielding less than nine players this week?

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yep

    2. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes