Scout Squad
21 August 2025 295 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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The Scout Squad returns for Gameweek 2 ahead of the earlier-than-usual Friday deadline.

If you’re new to this piece, our in-house team discusses who they think the best FPL players are for the upcoming Gameweek in isolation.

One-week-only punts might be slightly more relevant than usual this time, with circa 10% of polled users playing their Free Hit.

There’s a Scout Squad debutant today, as Alex (aka regular contributor FPL Scoop) fills in for the absent Sam. He joins regulars Marc, Tom and Neale.

MORE ABOUT THE SCOUT SQUAD

Scout Squad Gameweek 1

The focus is only on the upcoming Gameweek with the Scout Squad, so there’s no medium-term planning involved.

The players who get the most votes are much more likely to make the Scout Picks, although the final XI can’t exceed £83.0m – so occasionally, cheaper alternatives have to be found.

Each of our writers must meet the following requirements for this feature:

  • 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: BEST FPL PLAYERS FOR GAMEWEEK 2

 

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

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  1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 16 days ago

    Gabriel best frimpong replacement?

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 6 Years
      3 months, 16 days ago

      Yes

    2. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 16 days ago

      Cucurella

  2. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    3 months, 16 days ago

    Are there any changes that you would make to this FH team

    Dubravka
    Chalobah Murillo Ballard
    Saka Palmer Rice Semenyo
    Watkins Gyokeres Evanlison

    Verbruggen Kudus Dorgu Porro

    Any ideas would be appreciated

    1. FPL_Devil
      • 5 Years
      3 months, 16 days ago

      don't go Dubravka on a FH. Also wouldn't trust Ballard. Otherwise it's a one off so not much to say.

    2. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 16 days ago

      What an FH bench...

    3. champ20ns
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 16 days ago

      Really?

      Why would you have so much on the bench on a FH.

      Downgrade all 3 and it gives you 4m more and you can upgrade that shocking defence and keeper.

      1. chocolove
        • 15 Years
        3 months, 16 days ago

        Exactly my thought.
        You're more helpful and put more effort to type it than me. Haha

    4. Not again Shirley
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 16 days ago

      Ballard won’t score 17 points every week. Lose him. Murillo deffo would not be in my FH team against palace. No arsenal defemce take your fancy? No need for too much money on bench. Cunha or Boom could be good this weekend.

  3. FPL_Devil
    • 5 Years
    3 months, 16 days ago

    Thoughts on double Chelsea defence? Already have Sanchez, thinking Frimpong to Cucurella. Also considering, Munoz, RAN and Tarkowski.

    1. A Trout
        3 months, 16 days ago

        Did the same. Cucurella feels like the best option. It was either him, Gabriel, or Lacroix for me.

    2. Bob B
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 16 days ago

      Played BB last week, wondering what to do with Frimpong?

      A. Same pricepoint - Gabriel / Cucu / Munoz

      B. Down to 4.0 - 4.5, save money for future transfers

      Current team:

      Sanchez (Verbruggen)
      RAN Murillo Frimpong* (Porro Gudmundsson)
      Wirtz Gakpo Palmer Bruno Reijnders
      Watkins JP (Fullkrug)

      1. chocolove
        • 15 Years
        3 months, 16 days ago

        Keep at least until gw 4.

      2. cfc_andrew4
        • 2 Years
        3 months, 16 days ago

        I have the same front 2 as you and thinking if I downgrade Frimpong to a 4.0/4.5 it might help towards an upgrade to Haaland. However, I do have Cucurella as my other 6.0 defender and if I didn't I'd be tempted to get him.
        Who are you thinking in the 4.0/4.5 bracket? Dorgu, Cash, VdV, Ballard?

        1. Bob B
          • 12 Years
          3 months, 16 days ago

          Dorgu/Yoro, or Guehi.
          Reinaldo/Steve

    3. Mother Farke
      • 1 Year
      3 months, 16 days ago

      Am I set?

      Sels
      Cucurella De Cuyper Dorgu
      Palmer Rogers Wirtz Reijnders Semenyo
      Haaland (C) Ekitike

      Dubravka Porro Guiu Konsa

      So tempted by Semenyo (C).

    4. Dunkaboy
      • 2 Years
      3 months, 16 days ago

      I have João, Watkins and Bowen as my front 3. Looking to get Bowen out before price drops tonight.

      Can't decide between Wood, Gykoreres or Richarlison? Or any other recommendations?! Wood seems safe bet with decent run.

      Richarlison has great fixture run after Man city.

      I have Kudus already.

      1. White Pony
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 16 days ago

        Once Solanke is fully up to speed do you think Rich carries on as first choice?

        I think I would go Mateta or Wood, or maybe down to JSL but I hear he's been linked with Newcastle so there's uncertainty there.

        Am giving Bowen another game I think, think he could score tomorrow.

        1. Dunkaboy
          • 2 Years
          3 months, 16 days ago

          Gone for Wood. Off to bed I go! Thanks all.

      2. Feanor
        • 16 Years
        3 months, 16 days ago

        Richarlison won't start when Solanke is fit

        1. Dunkaboy
          • 2 Years
          3 months, 16 days ago

          Won't Rich play on the wing? I did wonder whether he would sulk at the apparent player-ex offer for Eze so prob rule him out for me.

      3. Weasel Boy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 months, 16 days ago

        Gykoreres

    5. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 16 days ago

      Thoughts on doing Frimpong to Porro but benching him this week for Dorgu? Or you’d rather just get Gabriel or RAN?

      1. Punned It
          3 months, 16 days ago

          If it's just to bench him, I'd wait.

          1. Atimis
            • 9 Years
            3 months, 16 days ago

            Don’t want to lose funds at this stage

      2. g40steve
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 16 days ago

        Is this site F’d?

        The articles had latest tab has that been moved.

      3. FPLMACKEM
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 months, 16 days ago

        Start one?

        A Sanchez
        B Dubravka

        Defence is Andersen, Williams, Richards

        1. royals forever
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          3 months, 16 days ago

          A

      4. Weasel Boy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 months, 16 days ago

        Rudolph the red nose Reindeer(c)?

        1. g40steve
          • 7 Years
          3 months, 16 days ago

          Considered it along with Semenyo & Cucu

      5. royals forever
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        3 months, 16 days ago

        Are there any changes that you would make to this FH team

        Roefs
        Cucurella Murillo Lacroix
        Saka Palmer Bruno Semenyo
        Watkins Gyokeres Evanlison

        Dubravka Esteve KDH Rodon

        Any ideas would be appreciated

        1. White Pony
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 months, 16 days ago

          Yeah another Arsenal player - a defender - and Haaland at least from City, if not two or three City players.

      6. Skout
        • 6 Years
        3 months, 16 days ago

        G2g? Start Verb or Dubravka?

        Verb
        Porro Esteve Milenkovic
        Salah Palmer Bruno Wirtz Reijnders
        Watkins StrandLarsen

        Dubravka Guiu Diouf Rodon

      7. pundit of punts
        • 12 Years
        3 months, 16 days ago

        Best Villa defender to get on WC?

        1. Kiwivillan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 months, 16 days ago

          Don't get any

          1. pundit of punts
            • 12 Years
            3 months, 16 days ago

            Why?

        2. Wet Bandits
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 months, 16 days ago

          I have Konsa. I'd avoid them all

          1. pundit of punts
            • 12 Years
            3 months, 16 days ago

            Any particular reason?

            1. NoOneCares
                3 months, 16 days ago

                Take a whopping guess?

              • TallestJohn
                • 8 Years
                3 months, 16 days ago

                Have you heard of a football manager called Unai Emery

        3. Daddymac
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 months, 16 days ago

          Will Frimpong drop tonight ?

        4. Stimps
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 months, 16 days ago

          On WC

          A) Porro, Richards
          B) Lacroix, Romero
          C) Munoz, VDV

          1. Wet Bandits
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 months, 16 days ago

            Can you afford Munoz & Romero?

            1. Stimps
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              3 months, 16 days ago

              I can't...

              1. Wet Bandits
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                3 months, 16 days ago

                I think Romero will be the most consistent with DefCon and the odd goal.

                So maybe B

        5. Bonus magnet
          • 8 Years
          3 months, 16 days ago

          The most obvious captain for me is Palmer but I hate captaining first match (Friday for that Matter)

          Who else between
          Salah ; Watkins, Mbeumo

          1. Wet Bandits
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 months, 16 days ago

            It's a painful weekend when early capos blank..

          2. AC/DC AFC
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 months, 16 days ago

            I know it's sort of stupid but a Friday night game is more likely to have goals than a Saturday lunchtime time kick off.

            Don't know if this is factual but instinctively I'd say 'don't captain the first match of the game week' doesn't apply on a Friday night.

        6. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
          • 9 Years
          3 months, 16 days ago

          On WC

          A) Gakpo
          B) Gordon

          Have Ekitike

          1. Wet Bandits
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 months, 16 days ago

            A for me.

        7. Wet Bandits
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 months, 16 days ago

          72pts last week, Currently rolling my FT and not playing a chip... although with no Arsenal, and a questionable defence, I'm having doubts!

          A) Roll
          B) FH
          C) Use FT & possible hit (suggestions welcome)

          Sanchez
          Aina, Esteve, Diouf
          Palmer, Bruno, Reijnders, Wirtz, Gapko
          Haaland(c), Watkins

          Dub, VDV, Konsa*,Guiu

          1. White Pony
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 months, 16 days ago

            I would save yeah think you are making the right choice.

            1. Wet Bandits
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              3 months, 16 days ago

              Cheers - I'm just feeling a little trigger happy I think.

        8. Royal5
          • 14 Years
          3 months, 16 days ago

          Who to start?

          A) PM Sarr (city)
          B) Porro (city)
          C) Dewsbury-Hall (BRI)

          1. More Tragic
            • 10 Years
            3 months, 16 days ago

            c

          2. BrockLanders
            • 10 Years
            3 months, 16 days ago

            Similar quandary with Porro & KDH. Think KDH is the play here. Decent home fixture. Porro won't see much joy at City

            1. Royal5
              • 14 Years
              3 months, 16 days ago

              Porro has also lost his corners to Kudus. KDH was the plan until he looked awful in GW1.. still leaning towards him if he keeps the 10

          3. Hazz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 months, 16 days ago

            A. Feel like floor for all three is similar.

            1. Royal5
              • 14 Years
              3 months, 16 days ago

              Sarr could always get an assist I guess, but not expecting a whole lot. Tbf he was very close to get Defcon points against Burnley - but that was home.

        9. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 months, 16 days ago

          Porro / Milenkovic / Murillo / Richards / Esteve
          Which three start?

          1. Froes
            • 12 Years
            3 months, 16 days ago

            Richards Porro Milenkovic

            1. Hazz
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              3 months, 16 days ago

              Thanks for the response buddy.

          2. royals forever
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 16 Years
            3 months, 16 days ago

            MME

            1. Hazz
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              3 months, 16 days ago

              This is what I'm closer to after Palace's European exploits. Richards vs. a Forest lad to hedge bets a tricky call.

          3. BrockLanders
            • 10 Years
            3 months, 16 days ago

            Murillo, Richards, Esteve

            1. Hazz
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              3 months, 16 days ago

              Cheers. See above comment. Possible!

        10. Froes
          • 12 Years
          3 months, 16 days ago

          Who do i leave on the bench from this miedfield (4/5 available)

          Rjienders - O'riley - Bruno - Wirtz - Palmer

        11. FPL_trail_runner
          • 5 Years
          3 months, 16 days ago

          I think this WC draft will cook no?

          Petrovic
          Gabriel Cucurella Esteve
          Salah Semenyo Gakpo Reindeer Anderson
          Haaland Gyokeres (c)

          Dub Gudmonson Reinildo Guiu

          Freehit for week 3 to avoid all the bad fixtures.

          Week 4 can generate funds by downgrading Gyokeres to get a better 3rd playing defender.

          1. C0YS
            • 9 Years
            3 months, 16 days ago

            Gakpo and Anderson are a bit on the punty side, others look solid

            1. FPL_trail_runner
              • 5 Years
              3 months, 16 days ago

              Yep its possible, but could offer great value in the short term with the fixtures and how attacking Liverpool are.

        12. NoOneCares
            3 months, 16 days ago

            Was Ben Doak not in FPL at 5.0? I can't see him now.

            1. Tonyawesome69
              • 6 Years
              3 months, 16 days ago

              Changed to hyphenated surname, Gannon-Doak. Alternatively look at Bournemouth midfielders

          • Froes
            • 12 Years
            3 months, 16 days ago

            Sanchez
            VVD Dorgu Porro ( Romero / Milenkovic )
            Reijnders Wirts O´riley Palmer Bruno
            Gyo Watkins S.Larsen

            Please tell me a midfielder to bench

          • RUUD!
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 months, 16 days ago

            Lookin at Frimpong to Cucu, should I wait until tomorrow or is there a chance Frimpong drops tonight?

            1. Hazz
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              3 months, 16 days ago

              LiveFPL estimates the drop is tomorrow. A little risky but may get away with it.

              And thank you - I had no clue the deadline was tomorrow (no less a Chelsea match)!

              1. Hazz
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                3 months, 16 days ago

                (Tomorrow, as in not tonight)

          • Royal5
            • 14 Years
            3 months, 16 days ago

            Florian Worst owners keeping then? Not expecting much against Newcastle :/

            1. x.jim.x
              • 11 Years
              3 months, 16 days ago

              Great slander name, will remember that for his next stinker

          • C0YS
            • 9 Years
            3 months, 16 days ago

            Thoughts on this WC team?

            Sa (Dubravka)
            VdV Guehi Dorgu (Bijol Esteve)
            Salah Semenyo Kudus Reijnders (4.5)
            Haaland Watkins Ekitike

            Alternatively considering:
            B. Ekitike Dorgu -> Evanilson Virgil
            C. Ekitike Dorgu Sa -> Thiago Virgil Sanchez

            Cheers!

            1. Royal5
              • 14 Years
              3 months, 16 days ago

              Would not go near that Pool defense. Looks lost.

              1. C0YS
                • 9 Years
                3 months, 16 days ago

                Fair point. Would you choose B or C with RAN instead of Virgil?

            2. Not again Shirley
              • 9 Years
              3 months, 16 days ago

              On WC would not be touching Sa. Better options than a wolves defence. Henderson or Pope better options but you’d have to find the extra 0.5 obvs. Shift Guehi to Richard’s would do that in easy swap.

              1. C0YS
                • 9 Years
                3 months, 16 days ago

                Both at 4.5 unfortunately

                1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
                  • 9 Years
                  3 months, 16 days ago

                  Petrovic

            3. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
              • 9 Years
              3 months, 16 days ago

              Looking good with both Salah and Haaland
              I think defence is a bit too cheap though

              1. C0YS
                • 9 Years
                3 months, 16 days ago

                Agreed, anyone you would sacrifice to beef it up?

                1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
                  • 9 Years
                  3 months, 16 days ago

                  Salah

                  1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
                    • 9 Years
                    3 months, 16 days ago

                    Or maybe Watkins to Mateta?

          • 1912 F.A Cup Winners
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 months, 16 days ago

            Most profitable duo moving forward folks??

            A- Haaland and Cunha
            Or
            B- Salah and Mateta

            Cheers everyone!!

            1. Pep Roulette
              • 8 Years
              3 months, 16 days ago

              A

              1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                3 months, 16 days ago

                Thankyou mate!!

          • billnats
            • 14 Years
            3 months, 16 days ago

            Wondering which is better:
            A) Van De Ven, Guehi, Kudus & Wood
            B) Gabriel, RAN, Kudus & Kroupi
            C) Gabriel, VDV, Anderson & Wood

            One of Kudus or Wood has to start (not both)

          • Pep Roulette
            • 8 Years
            3 months, 16 days ago

            Best set & forget GK under 5m?

            1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              3 months, 16 days ago

              Tricky one mate!! Petrovic maybe??

              1. Pep Roulette
                • 8 Years
                3 months, 16 days ago

                Better than Sels you reckon?

                1. Punned It
                    3 months, 16 days ago

                    Under 5.