Scout Squad

The Scout Squad’s best players for FPL Gameweek 1

The usual Scout Squad foursome of Sam, Neale, Tom and Az are back for 2022/23.

Each week, they’ll be discussing the best Fantasy Premier League (FPL) goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards for the upcoming Gameweek.

No fewer than seven players have been given universal backing for the opening weekend, to make Friday’s final Scout Picks selection all the more tricky.


READ MORE: FPL Gameweek 1 team news: Live updates from Thursday’s press conferences, including Arteta, Conte and more


ABOUT THE SCOUT SQUAD

Everything you ever wanted to know about the FPL Bonus Point System - part one

In this series, our four resident Fantasy Football Scout contributors each propose an 18-man squad of Fantasy players with the focus solely on the upcoming Gameweek.

Their selections serve as a long list for the Scout Picks, as the players nominated will then be narrowed down to a squad of 15 (with the starting XI not exceeding a total cost of £83.0m) for our final weekly selection ahead of Friday’s deadline.

Each writer must meet the following requirements:

  • At least one sub-£5.0m goalkeeper
  • At least one sub-£5.0m defender
  • At least one sub-£6.0m midfielder
  • At least one sub-£7.0m forward
  • No more than three players from the same club

SCOUT SQUAD’S PICK OF THE BEST FPL PLAYERS FOR GAMEWEEK 1

 

 1

The rest of this article is completely free to read but requires a Fantasy Football Scout user account for access – you can get yours at no cost here

 1


Who played the most minutes over the March international break?

908 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Zoostation
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Good to go?

    Ramsdale (Ward)

    TAA Cancelo James Perisic (Williams)

    Salah (C) Kulusevski Martinelli Neto (Andreas)

    Haaland Jesus (Archer)

    1. Brewstercat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Yep

  2. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    What is the downside to going with 3 x 8m mids?

    1. JamTart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Hard to say without knowing the squad and where you've cut budget from

    2. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      You only have 2 midfield spaces left for Son, Martinelli & Andreas

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        And Salah

    3. Assisting the assister
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Means x1 premium but could work well

    4. gart888
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Lack of funds elsewhere, and the value that guys like Bailey, Neto, Martinelli, Andreas present.

      I'm happy with a single 8.0, but Salah, Haaland, Jesus, Trent, Cancelo, James, and Persisic in the squad.

  3. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Best 4.5def? Have dalot

    A) ait nouri
    B) jonny
    C) dunk
    D) botman
    E) white
    F) Justin

    1. Steadzz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      castagne an option too

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      A

    3. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Mykolenko if you already have Dalot

  4. SKENG
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    I'm good to go! Call me insane but Jesus was never in one of my drafts - definitely sticking with it.

    Ederson
    TAA Robertson Cancelo James Perisic
    Salah Saka Martinelli Neto
    Kane

    Ward Andreas 4.5 4.5

    Kane - Haaland (c) GW2 no matter what.

  5. Kane of Thrones
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    From last page:
    A. Mount + haaland
    B. Kdb + havertz

    A or B guys?

    1. Steadzz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      a

    2. Z
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      A

    3. Big Mike
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Yep, A all day long

  6. Letsgo!
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Seems like kdb and son will be the differential for gw1

  7. JamTart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Going to be a lot of Perisic scaremongering going on.

    Keen to see what's said at 2pm

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Are you saying Perisic won't start? Oh man I'd heard rumours, no point going with him now not worth it

        1. JamTart
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          Dead as an FPL asset mate

        2. Pukkipartyy
          • 5 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          What rumors?...

      • Big Mike
        • 1 Year
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Me reckons Perisic will start but won't last the full 90, so he's still a good option for points.

        1. JamTart
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          Brought him in on that basis. See what's said but already seeing people dooming him not to start. If conte wants him match sharp he has to play surely

    2. ViperStripes
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Current backline:
      Sanchez/Steele
      Cancelo, TAA, James, NWilliams, Cash

      a) Cash (I have Bailey)
      b) Cash > Walker/Ake (City defence double up)
      c) Cash > Perisic (I have no other Spurs players)..

    3. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Best 4.5 mid other than Andreas Pereira?

      1. I Must Break You
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Dasilva

      2. Jambot
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        I'd say it's worth punting on DaSilva even though I don't expect him to start. Colback is the safer option in terms of appearance points

    4. Steadzz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Wood, White, Bailey, Salah, Rashford (a)
      Toney, James, Mount, Kulusevski, Neto (b)

      1. Do I Not Like Orange
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        The one that doesn't have Chris Wood in it.

      2. Bobby Digital
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        B

    5. phrampton534
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Contemplating a "threemium" of Kane, Haaland and Salah. Weakens defence but can still get TAA, Trippier and Walker alongside a 4.5 (maybe White) and 4.0 (Williams at the moment but Colwill could be an option if priced at 4.0 or also Patterson). Another disdvantage would be losing the 8.0 midfield slot but I couldn't go with Diaz if I had Robbo, don't really want Martinelli and Saka and I'm not convinced enough to start with any of the others yet.

      Really in 2 minds as it essentially boils down to Robertson, Cancelo & Mount vs Walker, Aaronson and Haaland.

      It would take 2 transfers to start rectifying if needed to switch back to a stronger def/mid but a load more to go the other way if both Kane and Haaland start hot. I also feel like Walker is good value and could offset Cancelo a bit, Aaronson seems to be settling in well so could eat into Mount (who may well get rotated) and Haaland could go big. On the flipside any of Robbo, Cancelo or Mount could also score well so it's a bit of a coin toss at the moment!

    6. John Colby (Capt)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Anyone concerned about Martinelli’s game time after the first few weeks? ESR due back in training next week and there’s always Nketiah to come off the bench?

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Yep! Will still get mins and chances if he doesn't start one week. Seems likely to start most for now, and if not, there's the WC, FTs, and the fact he is only 1.5m above the minimum midfielder spend.

      2. The Mentaculus
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Not really worried for now. He'll probably get subbed frequently but expect him to start regularly. Once UEL kicks off, then yeah, I might have to re-evaluate & see if I can predict the rotation pattern with ESR

        1. John Colby (Capt)
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          Thanks for your feedback guys

      3. Sterling Archer
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Yes, i dont like any of the mid priced mids really,

        Currently have Martinelli and Neto but i am not feeling good about it!

    7. TripleHHH
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Think I am set, only debate is captain and also....Mendy Tripper OR Ederson Dalot??

      Mendy
      TAA, Cancelo, Robbo, Trippier (Williams)
      Salah, Mount, Bailey (Andreas)
      Kane, Jesus (Plange)

    8. Sausage™️
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Last season Robertson played 2537 minutes, compared to Van Dijk's 3060 and they scored nearly the same amount of points.

      Was Robertson rested or injured, I have a memory like a sieve.. cheers

      1. Robson-Canoe
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        A bit of both if I recall correctly, rested 1-2 games but also injured 3-4 games at the beginning when he was replaced by Tsimikas

      2. I Must Break You
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        He was not in the squad for 3 games, with a knock

        He was an unused substitute for 4 games against bottom of the table competition - 2 of which were immediately coming off whatever knock kept him out of the previous game’s lineup

        He also served a 2-game red card suspension in the middle of the season

    9. parkerdip
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      current team:

      Sanchez
      James, TAA, Cancelo,
      Mount, Martinelli, Bailey, Salah
      Jesus, Kane, Martial

      SUBS: Ward, Verstergaard, N Williams, Andreas

      Thinking about getting Perisic so would it be better to swap Verstergaard for Peresic and downgrade Martial for Greenwood and play 4-4-2 instead?

      This would leave me 1.0 ITB also so should I upgrade James to Robertson or elsewhere?

    10. Mr.K
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Any feedback for my draft?

      Ward - Sanchez
      TAA - Gabriel - Tomiyuasu - Cancelo - Neco
      Salah - Luis Diaz - Coutinho - Maddison - Andreas
      Vardy - Toney - Johnson

      Arsenal defensive double up too much? Not enough firepower in the front? I'm always a bit hesitant to spend big bucks in the very beginning (except for Salah). I originally had Kane but I just think he's in danger of starting slow. I don't want Haaland. He can certainly bag a ton of points, but I can also see it taking some time for him to adjust and then getting a knock or a longer injury.

      1. tikka mo'salah
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Definitely different, but I like it. Not sold on Tomi tho.

        1. Mr.K
          • 10 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          Me neither, if I'm honest. He's basically the name that I threw in semi randomly and stayed on the sheet cause I couldn't think of another name to replace him 🙂

      2. Boly Would
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        I like the different frontline idea, just not keen on the execution. Not sure about double Leicester attack - would probably prefer Wilson for Vardy and use some of that to upgrade Tomiyasu and maybe Coutinho.

    11. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Which option:

      A) Ward + Perisic
      B) Raya + Trippier

      Thanks a lot!

      1. ted mcnure
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        B please

    12. Kane of Thrones
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Mount or Robertson?

      Have TAA and no chelsea cover

      1. Mr.K
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Robertson

    13. FPL MAN 123
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Anyone got the code for the Fanstasy Football Scout league?

    14. Sun God Nika
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      REPOST due to posting at end of the previous page

      Ward/Iversen
      Taa Robertson Walker James - (Neco)
      Bailey Mount Maddison Salah (Andreas)
      Jesus Kane (Plange)

      A. Keep Bailey + James
      B. Martinelli + Digne/Cash/.Trippier

      ?

    15. tikka mo'salah
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Final Final draft. Rip it to pieces, please.

      Ward (Iversen)
      TAA Trippier Perisic Walker (Neco W.)
      Salah Kulu KDB Aaronson (Andreas)
      Jesus Vardy (Archer)

      Plan is Kulu -> Foden GW2 -> Saka GW3 - bar any other pressing issues.

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Nice midfield

        Vardy punt.

        Most points in the defence.

      2. I Must Break You
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Looks as good as anything else I’ve seen on here. Good luck

    16. MBK 42
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Trippier + Cash OR Perisic + Dalot

      T+C may be more reliable for minutes but P+D a higher ceiling?

    17. John Colby (Capt)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Are United assets a big ‘NO’?

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          1 year, 7 months ago

          NO

        • tikka mo'salah
          • 9 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          Dalot is at a pretty good price point, and I think Rashford is one to watch, but I'd wait a few weeks personally.

          1. John Colby (Capt)
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            1 year, 7 months ago

            Cheers for your feedback guys.

        • Amartey Partey
          • 4 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          They don’t have the best early fixtures but I can see us all buying them down the line. Sancho should have a big season.

        • Fish up a tree
          • 2 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          What’s changed from last season & you get your answer

        • thomashl
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          Have been on Rashford until now, fear that he might have to go to strengthen elsewhere. But I think they’ll be good value this season

      2. Fernandito
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Ramsdale
        TAA Robertson Cancelo Dalot
        Mount Salah Rashford Bailey
        Kane Jesus

        Ward Patterson Andreas Archer

        Gtg? Any suggestions?

        1. tikka mo'salah
          • 9 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          Ramsdale for Sanchez - rotates well with Ward. It's the combo I want but I'm .5m short 🙁

          Other than that I like your Rashford pick. He was in a few of my drafts, but not trusting united just yet.

        2. Onana….where’s…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          Guess lots of people have similar teams to this.

          I’m on Rays, Perisic & Martinelli vs Rams, Dalot & Rashford but can’t decide.

          I think I like Saka too much though!

      3. Onana….where’s…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        a) James, Saka, Neto
        b) Perisic, Martinelli, Mount

        1. Sun God Nika
          • 3 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          A)

        2. tikka mo'salah
          • 9 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          B and not even close for me. Not trusting Neto at all.

          1. tikka mo'salah
            • 9 Years
            1 year, 7 months ago

            tho if you go James, Saka, Aaronson I'd probably go for that.

      4. LarsV
        • 1 Year
        1 year, 7 months ago

        A) Son + Haaland
        B) KdB + Kane
        C) Kane + Haaland

        Which is best?

        1. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          A or B

          1. LarsV
            • 1 Year
            1 year, 7 months ago

            Cheers

        2. MBK 42
          • 9 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          For this week Son and Kane, then probably Son and Haaland

          1. LarsV
            • 1 Year
            1 year, 7 months ago

            Cheers

      5. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Having 3 x 8m mids will outscore having one of Haaland or Kane???

      6. thomashl
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Spurs fans:

        Where has most of the action been in pre-season, on Doherty’s or Perisic’ side?

        They’ll be ripe for goals this year

        1. FPL Emu
          • 13 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          They are on the same side, seeing as how the bench is right next to one wing back

      7. FPL Emu
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Hm, so Smith-Rowe likely available for selection, then.

        How should Martinelli owners feel? (And I am not talking in terms of a GW1 start here)

        1. thomashl
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          Hopefully they’ll soil their pants - luckily I splashed the cash on Saka instead

        2. lugs
          • 6 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          they should feel fine, Martinelli is clearly 1st choice, no reason for that to change unless he has some terrible performances

      8. Big Mike
        • 1 Year
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Guys, who's the best £8m midfielder option? Saka or Mount?

        1. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          Kulusevski

          1. tikka mo'salah
            • 9 Years
            1 year, 7 months ago

            At least for GW1. Easy swap to Saka, Foden, Mount etc. to play the fixtures.

        2. Bobby Digital
          • 6 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          Saka