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. Gazpilicueta
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    7.9 budget for my last starting midfield spot, who would you choose?

    A) Zaha
    B) Neto
    C) Siggurdsson
    D) someone else

    let me know your thoughts!

    1. chudbond007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Neto for me

  2. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Just seen Mark's FH team 😆

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

      What’s wrong with it?

      9 out of the 11 are super template and he has punted on the last 2 low value slots

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yes, real punts. Adama and McGoalDraught 😀 Seems quite unneccesary and showboaty. Although I respect his way of playing the game more than most.

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

          His reasoning was solid. McGoldrick vs Wilson doesn't seem showboaty he had good reasons and stats to back it up.

          1. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Doesn't stop it being amusing 😉
            I wouldn't get Wilson or McGoldrick on a FH myself. You don't have to compare the two.

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

              Wilson is a popular cheap 3rd striker pick this week so comparing to Wilson is the natural comparison. I believe the others had him too. Apart from him and Traore it's basically the template. McGoldrick vs Wilson, Traore vs Saka/Foden/ESR/Gundogan.

              1. Deulofail
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                That doesn't make it solid reasoning. You can make up a story to rationalise anything, and Mark often does. He even admits it in the episode. That said, it allows him to fid value where others don't, especially in long-term decisions and decisions that are relative to his own team. On a FH, however, it just seems unnecessary to take the risk of your own biases taking over. Even ESR seems a more obvious choice than McGoldrick. But perhaps that's my own bias.

                And it being template apart from those picks is irrelevant. I'm talking about those 2 picks. At least it will be fun for him to route for them. That's how I play the game too.

    2. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Pics?

      1. Duke Silver ☑
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Eddie McGoldrick hatty incoming.

        1. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Cheers....

    3. Saïss Doesn't Mat…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Just watching the pod now. Apart from traore I think his team is solid. Seen the guys laugh at him about mcgoldrick but I've had him since my first draft lol

  3. I Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Good to go?

    Leno
    Maguire, Dier, Stones, Shaw
    KDB, Sterling, Fernandes, Son, Saka
    Kane

    4.0; Brewster, Mitchell, 4.3.

    No Laca or Rash but prioritising Sterling who I feel could be the top scoring player this week.

    Saka + Shaw or ESR + AWB? More upside with the first I think but the latter is safer.

    1. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Will Shaw start or Telles?

      1. I Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I think Shaw is first choice.

        1. Amans94
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Same problem here too (Saka + Shaw) or (ESR + AWB/Maguire)

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

      I just looked at a draft like this. Not sure I trust sterling enough

  4. ooooo
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    any changes? FH 0.0itb
    Lloris
    Cancelo Dias Tierney
    Bruno KDB Son Saka
    Kane Laca Wilson

    4.0 Kilman Mitchell 4.5

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

      Very tidy

  5. Totti
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    any defender on 3.8 or GK on 3.9?

    i've a deficit 0.1 on freehit

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

      Barry Douglas is your man

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

        you're a hero man 🙂
        thank u

    2. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Douglas 3.8 defender on Leeds

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

        thanks mate 🙂

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

      Douglas from Leeds.

  6. JJO
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Dier or Tierney?
    Better chance of CS vs better attacking potential

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

      Who's you gk?

      Tierney

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

        Ddg

    2. Mighty Wings
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      do you have Leno or Lloris?

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

        No
        DDG + City defs

  7. Von Lipwig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Could drop Rashford for something a little crazy...

    DDG
    Maguire Dier Saiss Kean
    Son Bruno KDB Sterling Gundo
    Kane

  8. Bad Kompany
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any news from Pep presser?

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

      Cancelo a doubt

      1. Bad Kompany
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers! Anything in any of the attackers?

      2. Pukkipartyy
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        How come???

  9. drughi
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    wow pep on cancelo ''hopefully he will be available''

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

      Welcome to the roulette table

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

      I'm going for Dias instead. Less risk for less reward is preferable for me.

  10. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    On FH

    A. Jesus DDG Cancelo Tierney
    B. Sterling Leno Stones Yedlin

    1. Marcin the Pole
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

  11. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    FH:

    A) Foden, Maguire..........(McGoldrick, Saiss, Mitchell)
    B) Wilson, Stones............(Saiss, Mitchell, Anguissa)
    C) Gundogan, Maguire....(Wilson, Coady, Mitchell)

    Rest of Team:

    Lloris
    Tierney, Dias
    KDB, Fernandes, Son, Saka
    Kane, Lacazette

    Cheers

  12. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Plz this last question.
    A- Lloris - Tierney - Saiss - Gundo - Wilson 4-4-2
    B- Leno - Stones - Clark - Rashford -3.9 M 3-5-2

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

    is Smith Rowe an option?

    1. Saka Punch
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yep, he'll start

  14. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Can someone clone Barry Douglas real quick so I can have another 3.8m defender? Thanks.

  15. Marcin the Pole
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Don't laugh

    Pickford or Ramsdale?

    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      😆

      1. Marcin the Pole
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I said don't laugh! I'm a differential hunter 😉

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

          Theres other words for those picks

    2. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Ramsdale and hope Sheffield win their first match

  16. Rochdale_Cowboy
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    DDG
    Stones Holding Saiss
    KDB Sterling Son Saka Bruno
    Kane Wilson

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

      Good to know

  17. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A. Saiss+Gundog
    B. Stones+Saka

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      On FH

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

        A

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

      Have gone B myself

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

      B

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

    Cavani + Sterling
    OR
    Kane + Rashford

    Can't believe I'm actually considering it, but if it's for one week, anything can happen!

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B regardless

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

      Even if the top two start I'd still rather the second two.

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

        If I knew the top 2 started I'd go with them for sure. For pure differential's sake. It's one week, anything can happen.

    3. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      for a FH I like first option since it has higher upside especially that pep confirmed sterling is fine. cavani might be massive this gw

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

      C&S - live a little

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

      B

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

      A might do ok but you’d need B to blank to actually get green arrow

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

        Not necessarily. If A outscores B then it'll be worthwhile regardless.

  19. liboo
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A. Shaw & tierny

    B. Bissaka & holding

    ??

  20. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Captain Bruno or Kevin?

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

    Stick with Cancelo or switch to Dias?
    Clark as the first sub.

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

      Stick with Cancelo

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

    Newest FH draft:

    DDG
    Dier, Stones, Holding
    KDB, Sterling(c),Bruno, Son, ESR
    Kane, Wilson

    4.0, Yedlin,Mitchell, Davis

    Good to go?

    1. I Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Very nice.

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

    Which combo scores more points?

    A) stones rashford smith rowe wilson
    B) dier gundo saka laca

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

    G2G?

    Lloris
    Tierney Stones Cancelo Saiss
    KDB Bruno Rash Son Saka
    Kane

    Steer Brewster Mitchell Davis

  25. lordkippe
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Please help. Panicking. This is my team and already on a hit. Should I just play my WC and BB 19 ? FH is not on the table. But WC would probably give me 10-12 points more in 18 and 12-16 points more in 19

    Dias - Cancelo - Dier - Taylor

    KDB - Fernandes - Rashford - Son

    Brewster

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

      Have you tried turning it off, then on again?

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

        Hmm?

  26. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    The team:

    Cancelo Mitchel Maquire

    KDB Bruno Son

    Kane

    Options I am considering:

    a) 12 pt hit: Justin, El Ghazi and DCL out for Stones, Rashford, McColdrick
    b) 4pt hit, just get Stones for Justin

    c) Another option is WC.
    WC is

    Martínez Leno
    Mitchell Dallas Stones Cancelo Dier
    Rashford De Bruyne Fernandes Son Soucek
    McGoldrick Bamford Kane

    What you think? reasons for your thinking if possible please.

    thanks,

  27. Sahin
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Thoughts on this team

    Darlow
    Cancelo maguire sais
    Gundogan dbruyne son rash Bruno
    Wilson lacazate

    Sub
    holding Fernandez bruister

  28. TSN
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    After 1 hit:
    Leno (martinez)

    Holding cancelo saiss AWB (cresswell)
    Son bruno grealish salah (bissouma)
    Kane brewster (bamford)

    only 9 players who'll play tonight? Should i just use FH?

  29. Orion
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is it possible to make a good GW18 & 15 players BB squad GW19 with wildcard now? I can't make it 🙁

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

      I have given it up

  30. OLLY G
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    How l missed something?

    Why isn't Kane in the scout picks?

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

      Been asked many times now, reasoning is in the article and their budget is only around 84m so can't have them all.

      1. OLLY G
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks for the reply. Sorry for the repeat.

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

          No need to apologise mate, the pages have started flying in the last hour!

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

      Price