Rate My Team

FPL Rate My Team surgery with five-time top 1k finisher Tom Freeman

There is yet another deadline for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) upon us and the questions are, as ever, coming thick and fast in our comments section.

Most of these are requests for advice on transfer dilemmas or team advice and it’s with that in mind that we’ve asked five-time top 1k finisher and Scout’s Deputy Editor, Tom Freeman, to answer some of them over the next 90 minutes.

He’ll be on hand to reply to comments below the line of this piece and will get through as many as he can until the next article goes up at 11am GMT, with priority given to questions from Premium Members if there is a deluge.

As ever, you can chip in with your own opinions on the raft of RMT requests filtering through – and naturally, feel free to ignore the article subject matter and talk about any other wider FPL topics that you’d normally be musing on.

Don’t forget that, if it’s an algorithmic answer you’re after rather than an opinion-based one, we also have a ‘Rate My Team’ tool available in the Premium Members Area (where there is currently a Black Friday/Cyber Monday discount on annual subscriptions), which gives points projections for this weekend and beyond – an example of which is below:

697 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Stranger Mings
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    If foden out who is the best replacement? A) Gallagher although mixed fixtures? B) gundo but risk of rotation c) silva same as Gundo d) cornet but mixed fixtures? E) other?

    1. TopBinFc
        2 years, 4 months ago

        I assume you have Jota?

        1. Stranger Mings
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Sorry should have said yes

      • pjomara
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Have you someone to sub in for Foden?

        Even if Foden misses this GW, his next fixtures are:
        Watford, Wolves, Leeds, Newcastle

        1. Stranger Mings
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Very true it’s just annoying owning never knowing if he will
          Play whilst other midfielders doing well

        2. Stranger Mings
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Subs Hwang, livra & ESr

      • The Nuttman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Maybe Hudson-Odoi, the stats from the last 4 are really good.

        1. Stranger Mings
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          CHO great value - it’s just whether can keep place with players coming back ?

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

          CHE spots too valuable to waste on an unknown

      • KenyaDigIt
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Cornet would be nice to own!

        1. Stranger Mings
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Yeh another good option - forgot to add Maddison too

    2. ZTF
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Guaita [Ward]
      James TAA Cancelo Livra Coady
      Raphinha Salah Jota Son Maddison
      Saint-Maximin Antonio Gelhardt

      Pick 3 to bench

      1. Jusx8
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Livra, Maddison, Gelhardt in my opinion.

    3. The Nuttman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      RMT, currently thinking which currently flagged player needs replacing + possibly Vardy.

      McCarthy
      James, A.Arnold, Reguilon, Alonso
      Salah, Foden, Saka
      Vardy, Pukki, Antonio

      (Steer, Veltman, Mbuemo, Gray)

      0.4itb 1FT

      1. avfc82
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        See what comes out in the pressers, but Foden > Jota is the obvious move if out.

    4. Teror
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Might jump on Lukaku early. Werner was dire. It's a pretty straight decision for me: either I do Jansson to Alonso or Vardy to Kane. Can't have both. I'll be captaining Salah every GW til AFCON so don't think I can justify the price diff between Kane and Lukaku. The latter also lets me do Raf to Gundo soon. Kane and Spurs have hardly been banging like Chief Keef. It's a risk with the next two fixtures, yes. But could be offset by Alonso and Lukaku. Also, is anyone really going to captain anybody but Salah? Nah. No one with any sanity. Halves the Kane threat really.

      Thanks for attending my Tedx talk

      1. V-2 Schneiderlin
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        I'd get Alonso and keep Vardy - Lei fixtures are decent

        1. Teror
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Won't play this GW probably doe. So I'll be relying on a 532 with Livra as my fifth def and Toney up top with Tonio.

      2. pjomara
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Are you going to captain Lukaku regularly?
        Lukaku is 11.5 and it's been shown that at that price you're not getting good value unless you captain regularly.

        1. Teror
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          I'm never going to captain Lukaku. I'm not going to think about anybody else as a captain as long as Salah is in my team. So yeah, I might even do Vardy to King some gameweek soon. But also okay to keep. The main temptation for me with Lukaku is this fix against Watford. He could bang while Vardy will almost certainly be rested.

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

            No way Kaku starts after just an 8 min introduction

            1. Teror
              • 9 Years
              2 years, 4 months ago

              Thomas, is that you?

    5. braddon
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Sanchez
      TAA Cancelo James Rudiger White
      Salah Jota Son Foden
      Armstrong

      (Foster Toney Mbeumo Davis) 1.5m ITB 1FT, still have WC.

      Current plan is White to Alonso, then rolling next week for some Son-related surgery in GW16.

      Some concern about having three CHE defs (especially if cancellations occur), but outweighed by their sheer points potential and having the WC (which may allow me to either fix if necessary or hold til GW20 when others will be wary of loading up too much pre-CWC).

      Alternatives:
      - Davis to Dennis/King/Pukki
      - Sanchez to Ederson
      - Roll the transfer

      Thanks!

      1. braddon
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        (should mention I'm in Australia so won't be able to stay up for most of the press conferences...)

    6. Hangman Page
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Isn't the fun in FPL making your own mind up rather than farming out decisions to good players?

      1. Teror
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        That's a question whether you're an idealist or a realist. I'm the latter. As a realist the fun comes from scoring points and getting as high of a rank as you can. Fück trying to pretend you're a sage.

        1. Hangman Page
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          What's the point?

          1. Teror
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 4 months ago

            For me the point is doing better than my m8s in my minileagues and staring at a pretty rank for hours and hours and hours.

            1. Cok3y5murf
              • 7 Years
              2 years, 4 months ago

              Dude...

      2. The Nuttman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Yes, it's also interesting to get other people's opinions on your side, as long as someone takes the responsibility for their transfers I don't see too much problem.

      3. Cok3y5murf
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Yes, had fun not buying Foden after his 18 points and not selling Vardy like the sheep

      4. The Knights Template
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        I captained Vardy last week for the haul and am therefore a sage (and knight).

        1. pjomara
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Me too. We're both part of the 0.1%!

        2. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          The sun shines on a dogs arse from time to time

      5. avfc82
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        No harm in getting opinions from others.

      6. TKC07
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        If I was one who don't even wanna hear others opinion or/and analysis/stats, I wouldn't be on FFS.. lol

      7. El Presidente
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        The problem is not having interesting conversations about fpl and/or ask for opinions/advice.. I think the problem in this last years - and the lockdowns exacerbated the trend - with exponential growth of the game came exponential growth of the so called content creators and dedicated social media. So, an ever growing slice of active managers are just a reflection of that, with people just copying what others do. It is what it is, it's a lot harder for sure.

    7. nielsrodgaard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      De Gea

      TAA Cancelo James Alonso B. Johnson

      Salah Jota Bowen Gallagher Mbeumo

      Kane Jimenez Toney

      GW15: Jimenez to King
      GW16: Kane to CR7
      GW18: Toney to Antonio and Mbeumo to Gray

      This leaves me with 0.2 left and I'm trying to have 15 active (and decent) players in the squad, but should I maybe focus on having 1 cheap non-playing squad member and then upgrade Gray or King?
      Cheers 🙂

    8. Tshelby
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Hey

      Any suggestions? Don't know what to do.. Maybe just burn a FT as Christensen might play and Jimenez has Burnley?

      2ft's and 0.0 itb - Still got my WC

      Sanchez
      TAA, Cancelo, Christensen
      Salah, Son, raphina, Jota
      Jimenez, Wilson, Antonio

      Foster, White, Gilmour, Livra

      Christ and Jim out?

      1. pjomara
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Offload Antonio for a few weeks for his bad fixtures, could get him back for GW18 (possible WC) for the Norwich game. maybe get in Toney for him.

        1. Tshelby
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Seems like a good plan keeping the wc in mind

    9. Lenred
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      What would you do here please? 0.0ITB and 2 free transfers.

      Foster McCarthy
      James TAA Cancelo Johnson Emerson
      ESR Bernardo Salah Son Jota
      Antonio Wilson Davis

      Any help very much appreciated as I don’t want to burn a transfer but limited funds making life difficult! Cheers

      1. pjomara
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Antonio -> Toney

        1. Lenred
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Thanks. Won’t be able to afford to get Antonio back though when the fixtures turn shortly as I got him cheaply so I’m loathed to let him go so close to the swing.

    10. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      G2G? on a -4

      Sanchez
      TAA Cancelo Alonso Reguilon
      Salah Son(c) Jota Gallagher
      Jesus Jimenez

      Foster Toney Livramento Sissoko

    11. Budgies
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      GTG guys?

      Mendy
      Alonso, James, Cancelo, TAA
      Salah (v), Jota, Bernardo, ESR
      Kane (c), SMaxim

      Gunn, Hojbjerg, Hwang, Livramento

    12. Nespinha
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      2FT - 0.1ITB

      Sanchez
      TAA, Cancelo, Rudiger
      Salah, Son, Raphinha, Gallagher
      Antonio, Vardy, Toney

      Subs: Gunn, White, Brownhill, Livramento

      Any ideas? I have nothing else to do besides downgrade Antonio, or get rid of a mid to bring in Alonso

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

      I really hope Vardy, Lukaku, Ronaldo and Kane start firing. I'm so bored with looking at TAA, Cancelo, James, Rudiger/Alonso, Livra, Salah (c), Gallagher, Antonio, Jota, Toney RMTs! Would force some hits and restrategising and make things a bit more interesting! Grumbling over 🙂

      1. JBG
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        I agree with Ronaldo and Kane, but not the 2 others haha. But that's from a fans perspective. I agree in general, bored with my team as well.

      2. avfc82
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Exactly, be great to have Kane and Lukaku firing again.

        1. df34
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Hi Tom,

          Alonso for Chilwell
          or
          Gundo for Mbuembo

          Have James already and Cancelo already

          Many thanks

          1. avfc82
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            2 years, 4 months ago

            Prob the defender move, Chilwell needs to go given that he'll be out for a while. Mbeumo looks okay to hold given his price and fixtures.

            1. df34
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              2 years, 4 months ago

              Thanks Tom, thought that too.

              Much appreciated

              David

    14. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Sanchez
      Cancelo Rudiger TAA
      Salah Jota Benrahma Raphinha
      Vardy Antonio ASM

      (Foster Livramento White Brownhill)

      A - keep Benrahma if fit (save ft)
      B - benrahma to maddison
      C - benrahma to cornet

      Thanks

      1. avfc82
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Maybe Benrahma > Bowen?

    15. jimbo90
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Sanchez
      TAA Cancelo James Williams (Livra)
      Salah Jota Gallagher (Gray Sissoko)
      Ronaldo Toney Antonio

      1FT 0.8ITB. Any changes this week or roll transfer? Looking to ship out Gray soon and not convinced by Ronaldo but may keep for this week and assess

    16. Party mode
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Guaita
      James TAA Cancelo Livramento
      Son Jota Salah
      Antonio Jimenez Benteke

      Foster Mbeumo Duffy Brownhill

      Any suggestions for this team? Should I play Mbeumo over Livra?

      1. Party mode
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        1.8m itb too

      2. avfc82
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah, I'd be tempted to play Mbeumo, as I see Leicester scoring.

    17. redsky95
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Foden or Mbeumo to Jota?

      Ramsdale Foster
      TAA Cancelo James Livramento Reguilon
      Foden Salah Mbeumo Raphinha Normann
      Toney Wilson Antonio

      3.5 ITB

    18. Big Ronnie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Who to bench? Antonio, Raphinha or one of the defenders? Might not matter as wouldn't be surprised with some rests/rotation.

      Ramsdale
      Rudiger, James, TAA, Cancelo, Reguilon
      Salah, Son, Jota Raphinha
      Wilson

      Foster, Antonio, Janelt, Archer

      1. avfc82
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah, I agree re rotation, prob won't matter, but I'd leave as it is.

    19. Atimis
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      GTG?

      Next week can go Raph Mbeumo to Jota 4.4 -4.

      Rambo
      TAA/Cancelo/James/Alonso
      Salah(c)/Son/Raph/Gallagher
      Vardy/Toney

      Foster/Mbeumo/Duffy/4.4

    20. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      James has just asked me if he can be captain this week.

      1. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Perfect time for a rest

        1. Warby84
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Why would they? WB are so important to the way Chelsea play

          1. avfc82
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            2 years, 4 months ago

            Azpi could come in, so there is a chance, but who knows with Tuchel.

      2. JBG
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Tell him, "don't be crazy, you know Salah's playing a very poor Everton side".

        On a side note though, Salah has only scored 2 goals vs Everton(if i'm not mistaken).

      3. Hangman Page
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        To which you replied "Back in thine box"?

    21. tbos83
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      1ft, 0.0 itb. Really low on ideas...

      Sanchez
      TAA Cancelo James
      Salah Gallagher ESR Benny
      Toney Kane Antonio

      Steele Livra Gray White

    22. Hangman Page
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Among the many changes I'd like to see FPL make is a proper effort to widen the pool of viable picks. That might help differentiate squads more. At the moment I feel as though there are fewer than 30 players most squads are made up from.

      1. JBG
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Even 30 is stretching it imo.

      2. Jordan.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        one player maximum from any team rule

    23. Maarrrr17
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Would you play Hwang (burnley) or Toney (spurs)?

      1. JBG
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Toney. Wolves are pretty toothless in attack, even at home. Might be a 1-0.

      2. Podorsky
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Toney, on penalties.

    24. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      My dilemma this week is-

      Buy Alonso for Christensen or just play Toney and save the FT?

      1. avfc82
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        How is the rest of the team looking?

        1. Hart-ake
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Ramsdale
          TAA James Cancelo
          Salah Jota Gallagher Son
          Jimenez Wilson Toney

          Bench: Christensen, Livramento, Luiz.

          1ft. 1.2 itb.

          Thanks!

          1. avfc82
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            2 years, 4 months ago

            I'd be tempted to save, then reassess next week.

            1. Hart-ake
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              2 years, 4 months ago

              Yep, that's the sensible play I think, cheers Tom.

    25. Tshelby
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Wilson and Christensen to ASM and Reguilon?

      1. avfc82
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Not worth taking Wilson out now.

    26. Who are all Lukakus
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      So no news on Saka before deadline. Would you:
      A. Saka to Gundogan/Bilva
      B. Livramento to Alonso (triple Chelsea def and 5 premium def)
      C. Save FT, play one of Saka/Mbeumo/King/Livramento

    27. Ronnies
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Which is the best option?

      A) Alonso + King
      B) Reguilon + Toney

      Cheers.

      1. avfc82
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        I like all of the players you mention, but would prob put A slightly ahead.

        1. Ronnies
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Cheers Tom.

    28. FredtheRed
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Trying to work the at least another of the 'BIG 3' into my defence - which would you recommend and would you do it this week?

      Guaita (Foster)
      Mitchell (vs lee) / TAA (vs eve) / Dias (vs avl) / Coady (vs BUR) (Livramento vs LEI)
      Brownhill / Salah (c) / Foden (Smith-Rowe / Mbeumo)
      Antonio / Kane / Hwang

      2.6 ITB

      Also, RMT if you're not busy! xD

    29. Ando
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Dias ➡ Alonso or Reguilon?

      1. JBG
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Alonso

      2. Hart-ake
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Alonso.

    30. McSlu
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Quick one, chaps

      Raph -> Maddison on FT?

      A:Yes
      B: No way