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. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    How about this lame 4-5-1, can't afford a better team:/

    Leno
    Holding,Cancelo,Dier,Dias
    Kdb,Bruno,Rashford,Son,Saka
    Kane

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      That team is perfectly fine

    2. In Bale We Trust
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Looks good

    3. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No Laca or Wilson tho

      1. Hybrid.power
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        So what?

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

          Okay haha

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

        It’s great - you could downgrade Cancelo to fodder and have Wilson if you really wanted

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

          Okay cheers

  2. Eightball
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A) lloris, AWB, gundagan
    B) ddg, dier, foden

    Can't make up my mind on these two options

  3. gorzal7
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    My current team:
    (SOU gk)
    AWB, Dier, Taylor*, Lewis* (Cresswell)
    KDB, Bruno (Salah, Grealish, Souek)
    Kane (Bamford, Davis)

    1FT, 0,1m.
    FH? -4? -8?

    Cheers in advance.

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

    double united defence too risky or ok??
    DDG + WBissaka
    Yes or No?

    1. In Bale We Trust
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      There'd be other defences I'd be more keen on doubling up on, but don't see anything wrong with it. Could be worth a punt.

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

        i am on wc

    2. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Preference of defence:

      City
      Spurs
      United
      Arsenal
      Newcastle
      ...

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

        I agree with this, would put Wolves above Arsenal

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

          I completely forget about the Wolves Everton game. Haven’t considered a single player from either team.

    3. SerieD
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Coin toss. Yes for DDG

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

    Anyone else only got the 1 United player (Bruno) on FH?

    1. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No point then as Bruno's points will anyways count against you unless you captain him.

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

        I don't understand, why will they count against me?

        1. Vlekz
            3 years, 2 months ago

            If the effective ownership is greater than 100% then they count against you

          • The Habib Beyes
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            It's a silly mans heuristic, basically he means that each point Bruno scores will be a net negative against you, because of the high % of captainers. If anything it should mean that he's invaluable, but heyho.

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

          They will count even more against you if you don't have him at all.

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

            Haha, exactly. Don't understand that logic at all.

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

              lol same, wtf

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

        Yep, just Bruno for me with Shaw as first sub. Think Man City, Spurs, and Arsenal are all against worse defences

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

          Exactly my reasoning

    2. john25
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Hey guys, is Stones as nailed on as Dias for the next few GWs?

      Cheers

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

      Didn’t think it would come down to this, but..... Pickford or Ramsdale?

      1. In Bale We Trust
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Ramsdale for me

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

        Rammers

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

          Cheers

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

        Pickford. Ramsdale is terrible.

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

        I’m shocked people are considering Ramsdale....

        Pickford everyday of the week and twice on sundays.

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

      Bottomed. 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,

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

        If you haven't wildcarded yet it's too late. You have to commit to options like that and be sure of it. B.

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

        a

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

          cheers lads

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

      Decent?

      FH:

      Lloris
      Tierney - Dias - Cancelo
      Saka - Son - B.Fer - KDB
      Kane - Wilson - Lacazette

    6. Babit1967
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Who is everyone captaining then? I had it on KDB all week but then switched to Kane with the change of fixtures

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Kane and KDB vc

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

        KDB

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

        Kane, might be a last minute Son switch but definitely one of those two with KDB vice.

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

        KDB.

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

      Bottomed.
      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?

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

      Did Pep say Sterling is okay? Thanks!

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

        Yep

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

          I have seen that yet. Do you have a quote.

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

      Cancelo a doubt oooohhhhhh FFS

      1. FF Dirtbag
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Just go for dias.

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

          I have cancelo at 5.5

      2. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Not how I read it at all!

    10. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Is this enough without having to use FH? Probably losing out on approx 20 points on the FH hit.

      0FT 3.3itb (-4)
      Holding Cancelo Stones
      Son Bruno KDB
      Kane

      Non-GW18 players
      Martinez Johnstone Coufal Balbuena Soucek Raphinha Rodrigo Bamford

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

        Ye it’s right on the edge given you’ve already -4’d

        1. Tonyawesome69
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Cheers. In general what is the FH chip worth?

    11. Heisenberg W. W.
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      BEST FH OPTIONS

      1.

      DDG
      Tierney-Stones-Kilman
      Sterling-Kdb-Bruno-Son
      Kane-Wilson

      2.

      Lloris
      Cancello-Tierny-Maguire/Stones
      Saka-Kdb-Bruo-Son
      Lacca-Kane-Wilson

      3.

      DDG
      Cancello-Tierny-Reguillon
      Saka-Kdb-Bruno-Son
      Lacca-Kane-WIlson

      All 3 teams with the following bench: (Martin-Burke-Mitchell-Douglas)

      1. Heisenberg W. W.
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Which one would you pick?

    12. Sid07
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      On FH
      1) Tierney laca ( yedlin) (343)
      2) stones rashford ( fodder) (352)
      3) dias tierney (fodder) (442)

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

        Big funds difference between a/b and c?

        1. Sid07
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Yed option 3 will have better Bench player

    13. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Anyone on FH with Sterling instead of KdB?

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

        Trying to fit both

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

        will sterling start for sure?

    14. FF Dirtbag
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Who's the captain to choose then?

      Bruno?
      KDB?
      Kane?

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

        Harrrrrrrrrrry

    15. Woy_is_back
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Sterling playing?

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

      who do u rather guys?

      A) leno dier saiss sterling

      B) lloris tierney cancelo rashford

      ownibng de bruyne and stones in botth options

    17. as33
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      So Sterling is fit, should i captain him or Kane? my team without FH:
      No goalkeeper
      Dier, Cancelo, Mitchell, Kilman, Holding
      Son, Bruno, Sterling
      Kane, Laca
      G2G?

    18. DavidKent
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Would you rather

      A: Rashford
      B: Martial

      ?

      1. Kay317
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        A

    19. Kay317
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Anyone going with Sterling now? Can't decide whether to take the chance

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

        Save the headache

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

        is he fit to play?
        any confirmation

        1. Rotation's Alter Ego
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Not mentioned by name, but implied yes.

    20. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I presume we won't hear anything about Leeds V Southampton before this deadline?

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

      Cancelo is a doubt?

    22. Zlatan F.C
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Saka or Wilson?

    23. RedJive79
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Think I'm nearly there on the FH. Any obvious moves?

      Darlow
      Cancelo / Tierney / Dier
      KDB / Son(c) / Gundo / Bruno
      Kane / Lacazette / Wilson

      Steer / Saka / Yedlin / Mitchell

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

        Maybe downgrade Saka to Smith-Rowe as he's on your bench. Upgrade Darlow to DDG?

        Very similar team to mine.

        1. RedJive79
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Good shout. Still undecided on Gundo over Saka. Feels like they could get very similar points totals. Other idea would be to drop Laca for Saka and upgrade Darlow to Leno....

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

      What do you prefer?

      A. Holding + Lloris
      B. Tierney + Darlow
      C. Dier + Leno

    25. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Tempted to FH now with the slight doubt about Cancelo
      Had planned 11 players before the Villa news, now down to maybe 7!

    26. Fernandito
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      was settled on B, having second thoughts now, which would u choose?
      Team A
      Lloris
      AWB Tierney Stones Fernandez
      Son KDB Sterling Bruno ESR
      Kane

      Team B
      Lloris
      Tierney Stones Dias
      Son KDB Rashford Bruno ESR
      Kane WIlson